Bible / Psalms
Psalm 34 [Douay 33]
World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision, the traditional Catholic English Bible. About the translations
Psalm 34 in modern numbering
1 I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh magnify the LORD with me. Let’s exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The LORD’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Oh fear the LORD, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The LORD’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
16 The LORD’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
1 For David, when he changed his countenance before Achimelech, who dismissed him, and he went his way. [1 Kings 21.]
2 I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be always in my mouth.
3 In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the meek hear and rejoice.
4 O magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol his name together.
5 I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all my troubles.
6 Come ye to him and be enlightened: and your faces shall not be confounded.
7 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him: and saved him out of all his troubles.
8 The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him: and shall deliver them.
9 O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth in him.
10 Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
11 The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.
12 Come, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
13 Who is the man that desireth life: who loveth to see good days?
14 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
15 Turn away from evil and do good: seek after peace and pursue it.
16 The eyes of the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their prayers.
17 But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
18 The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles.
19 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of spirit.
20 Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will the Lord deliver them.
21 The Lord keepeth all their bones, not one of them shall be broken.
22 The death of the wicked is very evil: and they that hate the just shall be guilty.
23 The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall offend.
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text. The Catechism uses modern verse numbers and psalm numbers (one higher than Douay-Rheims for most psalms), so these are listed by chapter.
- Psalm 34:3 in modern BiblesCCC 716
Read the Catechism
- CCC 716 “The People of the "poor" - those who, humble and meek, rely solely on their God's mysterious plans, who await the justice,…”
- Psalm 34:7 in modern BiblesCCC 336
Read the Catechism
- CCC 336 “From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector…”
- Psalm 34:11 in modern Bibles
Read the Fathers
“The righteous cried, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles.”
Quoted in First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Clement of Rome (c. AD 96), Chapter XXII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“By hearing let him hear the voice of my servant.”
Quoted in The Letter of Barnabas, Unknown author (early 2nd century), Chapter IX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
- Psalm 34:12 in modern Bibles
Read the Fathers
“By hearing let him hear the voice of my servant.”
Quoted in The Letter of Barnabas, Unknown author (early 2nd century), Chapter IX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
- Psalm 34:13 in modern Bibles
Read the Fathers
“By hearing let him hear the voice of my servant.”
Quoted in The Letter of Barnabas, Unknown author (early 2nd century), Chapter IX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“Shun evil, and do good: seek peace, and pursue it.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… the oppressed, judge the fatherless (pupillo), plead for the widow; and come, let us reason together, saith the Lord." And again: "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile; depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
- Psalm 34:14 in modern Bibles
Read the Fathers
“Shun evil, and do good: seek peace, and pursue it.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… the oppressed, judge the fatherless (pupillo), plead for the widow; and come, let us reason together, saith the Lord." And again: "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile; depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1