Chapter Thirty-Four

The psalm belongs to David and was written during his persecutions by Saul. For instance, David speaks here of his complete innocence before God (Ps 34:7) and the undeservedness of his persecution; enemies sought to take his life (Ps 34:4), they plotted against him (Ps 34:7). David’s situation was similar to this when he was persecuted by Saul.

O Lord! Come forth to my defense against my enemies, who plot evil against me (1–6). Let my enemies perish by the angel You send, and I with all my being will praise You (7–10). My enemies repay my goodness and compassion with only evil and hypocrisy (11–16). Do not let my solitary enemies triumph over me, who plot against me (17–21). You have seen my undeserved suffering and the joy of my enemies in my afflictions; rise up in my defense and grant me the ability to always praise You (22–28).

Psalm 34:1. Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me; “Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me”—the image is borrowed from human judgment, where each side was given the right to prove their innocence by the facts of their activity. David testifies that the strictest judgment would not find such guilt in him and would not justify his enemies.

Psalm 34:2. Take hold of shield and armor, and rise up for my help; Psalm 34:3. Draw Your sword and block the way of those who pursue me; say to my soul: “I am your salvation! The images of God rising up in David’s defense are borrowed from the order of a warrior’s armor going to battle.

Psalm 34:5. Let them be like chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the Lord drive them; Psalm 34:6. Let their path be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the Lord pursue them, “Let the angel of the Lord drive” and “pursue them”—a reference to one aspect of the activity of the guardian angel: he drives out and pursues wicked people, thus protecting the righteous from their attacks. —“Let their path be dark and slippery”—their plots against the righteous shall be unsuccessful, shall meet obstacles, just as a traveler meets them on a dark night on a slippery path.

Psalm 34:10. All my bones shall say: “O Lord! Who is like You, who deliver the weak from the strong, the poor and needy from those who plunder them? “All my bones shall say.” Bones, as the hardest part of the organism and the bearer of the whole body, hidden within, signify the depth of grateful feeling that fills the entire being of the saved person.

Psalm 34:11. Unjust witnesses rise up against me: they ask me about things I do not know; Unjust accusations were brought against David before Saul, as can be seen from 1 Sam 24:8-10.

Psalm 34:12. They repay me evil for good, and my soul is orphaned. “My soul is orphaned”—the abandonment of David by those close to him.

Psalm 34:13. But I, when they were sick, clothed myself in sackcloth; I afflicted my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into my bosom. Psalm 34:14. I behaved as though it were my friend, my brother; I went about in grief, bowing down as one mourning for a mother. David’s depiction of the compassion he formerly found in those now his enemies, and certainly in Saul. He was always grieved by their afflictions. —“My prayer returned into my bosom”—an unclear expression. It can be understood as an external manner of prayer with the head bowed to the chest (“bosom”), or in the sense that my prayer came forth from within and returned to within, that is, it was silent but deep and internal.

Psalm 34:15. But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered scoffers against me, whom I did not know; they slandered me without ceasing; Psalm 34:16. With hypocritical mockers gnashing their teeth at me. Entirely opposite to David were the acts of his enemies: they rejoiced in his misfortune and were hypocritical toward him.

Psalm 34:17. O Lord! How long will You look on this? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my life from the lions; “Lions”—representation of the bloodthirstiness of enemies, “my soul”—me, solitary.

Psalm 34:20. For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful things against the peaceful of the earth; “Peaceful of the earth”—David and his few followers, they are peaceful, not plotting against anyone and not stirring up strife among the people.

Psalm 34:21. They open their mouths wide against me; they say: “Aha! Aha! Our eyes have seen it! “They open their mouths wide”—they smile broadly at the sight of my afflictions.

Psalm 34:23. Rise up and come to my aid, to my judgment, my God and my Lord! “Come to my aid in my judgment”—rise up in my defense and in the condemnation of my enemies.

Psalm 34:24. Judge me according to Your righteousness, O Lord, my God, and do not let them triumph over me; “Judge me according to Your righteousness”—according to all Your justice. David boldly appeals to God’s judgment, for he is conscious of his complete innocence before Him.

Psalm 34:25. Do not let them say in their hearts: “Aha! [Aha!] We have satisfied our desire!” Do not let them say: “We have consumed him. Do not let triumph over me those who try to consume me and for whom my destruction would be complete satisfaction of their evil desire (“according to our desire”—according to our will).

Psalm 34:27. Let those who desire my vindication rejoice and be glad, and let them say continually: “The Lord be magnified, who desires peace for His servant! “Let those who desire my vindication rejoice and be glad”—save me from enemies so that I may bring joy to those who wish my righteousness to triumph over the unrighteousness of my enemies.