Psalm 34

Psalm 34 is the 34th psalm of the Book of Psalms, or Psalm 33 according to the Greek numbering system. It is an acrostic poem in the Hebrew Alphabet, one of a series of the songs of thanksgiving. It is the first Psalm which describes angels as guardians of the righteous.

Psalm 34 attributes its own authorship to David. The Psalm's sub-title, A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed, derives from when David was living with the Philistines, but the account of this event in 1 Samuel 21 refers to the king as Achish, not Abimelech.

Structure
The psalm could be structured in the following manner:
 Vers 2-4: Hymn Introduction
 Vers 5: Basic praising, preaching the fate of the Psalmist
 Vers 6-11: teaching, which is evident from his fate
 Vers 12-22: didactic poem 1.Vers 12: psalmist is now "teacher"
 Vers 13-15: Question - Answer:  
 Vers 16-22
 Collection of wise sayings

It is an acrostic poem in the Hebrew Alphabet, with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet beginning a verse in sequential order; the lone exception is waw ( ו ), which begins the second clause of verse six. Verse 22, the concluding statement, begins with pe, outside the acrostic scheme. The Old Testament scholar Hermann Gunkel felt that the acrostic nature of the Psalm made any historical, or theological analysis impossible. This psalm is an acrostic of confidence as is Psalm 25 with which it has many similarities.

Uses

Judaism
Is recited in its entirety during Pesukei Dezimra on Shabbat, Yom Tov, and Hoshana Rabbah.
Verse 4 is recited when the Torah scroll is taken out of the ark.
Verses 10-11 are part of the final paragraph of Birkat Hamazon.
Verses 14-15 form the basis for part of the closing paragraph of the Amidah.

New Testament
Some verses of Psalm 34 are referenced in the New Testament:
 Verse 8 is quoted by St. Peter in 1 Peter . 
 Verses 12-16 are cited in 1 Peter . 
 Verse 18 is paraphrased in Matthew 5:3.
 Verse 20 is alluded to in the Gospel according to John (John ).

Catholicism
According to the Rule of St. Benedict around 530, this psalm was traditionally performed at the office of Matins Monday with monasteries.

Currently, in the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 34 is recited Saturday from the first and third weeks and for the holy celebrations, the median time. It is often taken to church as a responsorial psalm.

References

External links

 in Hebrew and English - Mechon-mamre
 King James Bible - Wikisource
Recording of a slow tune to verses 12-14.

034
Category:Shacharit for Shabbat and Yom Tov
Category:Works attributed to David