Verse

Psalm 34:1

ESV Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
NIV Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left. I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
NASB I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
CSB I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
NLT I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.
KJV {A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.} I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

What does Psalm 34:1 mean?

David promises to praise the Lord, using a Hebrew phrase which literally means "at every time." No matter what the situation, David would praise God. This is the most prominent source of the scriptural concept of a writer's praise for the Lord being "on my lips." David had experienced deliverance by the Lord from the Philistines at Gath (1 Samuel 21) and praised the Lord for that deliverance. His escape from a dangerous situation is probably what motivated him to write this psalm.

However, he was determined to praise the Lord in every situation. The Lord is good all the time. Whether a given moment is difficult or delightful, we ought to praise the Lord. Even in dire circumstances we can see His hand of grace and mercy. He comforts us in our sorrow, and He helps us withstand every adversity.

When Paul wrote to the Philippian believers, he was under house arrest and chained to Roman soldier around the clock, but he regarded his adversity as serving to advance the gospel (Philippians 1:12). Not only did he rejoice in prison (Philippians 1:18), but he also called upon the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4).
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