An Essay on Psalm 34 Inspired by the Literary Style of Ernest Hemingway

1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. 11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.


In the quiet of the heart, the words of Psalm 34 bring solace, like rain on parched land. The verses, a balm for the weary, speak of trust and deliverance. From the depths, King David offers praise, and the soul finds refuge in the divine embrace. The truth, it is ancient, steadfast as the stars in the night sky. Yet, like the wind, it whispers and moves, ever adapting. This Psalm, a testament to the power of faith in times of strife, an anthem of hope for the weary soul.

David, a man of many trials, sings of the Lord's rescue and the joy of praise. His voice, a clarion call, urges us to magnify the Lord, to exalt His name. Amidst fear and turmoil, the heart finds solace in the divine presence. The prayers of the faithful, heard and answered, grant deliverance from the shadows of fear. In God's embrace, the soul is fortified, a refuge against life's tempests. Together with David, we stand in awe of the Lord's goodness, and we join in his song of triumph.

The angel of the Lord, a sentinel in the darkness, stands guard over those who fear God. Encircling the faithful, the angel's presence a shield from life's storms. The psalmist invites us to taste and see the Lord's goodness, to embrace the divine through experience. By seeking God, one's spirit is nourished, finding strength in the depths of trust. The angel, a symbol of protection, echoes the promise of deliverance for those who call upon the Lord. Thus, we find solace in this divine assurance, an anchor in times of doubt.

In the third movement of the Psalm, the righteous path is laid bare, a guide for the faithful. The psalmist offers wisdom, urging us to guard our speech, to turn from evil and embrace peace. These actions, the building blocks of a life aligned with the divine will, are the gateway to blessing. Trust in the Lord, the source of all good, and the soul shall not want. The contrast between the righteous and the wicked, a reminder of the path we must choose. Like the stars guiding sailors, the wisdom of the Psalm directs our journey through life.

The final verses of Psalm 34 speak of divine justice, a force that balances the scales of life. The Lord, a righteous judge, bestows favor upon the faithful and metes out punishment to the wicked. His face, turned against those who choose the path of darkness, while the cries of the righteous reach His ears. The promise of redemption, a beacon for the faithful, shines brightly in the face of life's trials. The heart, once burdened, finds hope in this divine assurance. The Lord's justice, a foundation of strength for those who seek righteousness.

In conclusion, Psalm 34 is a song of faith, trust, and deliverance, woven with the threads of divine protection and justice. The words of King David, a comfort for generations, resonate with the wisdom of the ages. The heart, uplifted in praise, finds refuge in the Lord's embrace. The truth of the Psalm, enduring as the hills, stands as a testament to the power of faith in overcoming adversity. Let us, like the Psalmist, embrace the divine and find solace in the eternal love of God. May this anthem of hope be a light that guides us through the darkest of nights.

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