Devine Scripture

Psalms 34:17

What does Psalms 34:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Psalms 34:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Psalms 34:17 means

This verse reiterates the promise of God's immediate and effective help for the righteous when they are in distress. When "the righteous cried," a desperate plea to God, He unfailingly "heard" them and "delivered them out of all their troubles." This reinforces the earlier theme from David's own testimony, applying it as a universal principle for all who live righteously. It emphasizes God's faithfulness and His ability to provide comprehensive deliverance from every kind of difficulty that His devoted servants encounter.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

The righteous cried, and Jehovah heard, And delivered them out of all their troubles.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

The righteous cried, and Jehovah heard, And delivered them out of all their troubles.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

The cry of the upright comes before the Lord, and he takes them out of all their troubles.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

They cried, and Jehovah heard, And from all their distresses delivered them.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? rescue thou my soul from their malice: my only one from the lions.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

[The righteous] cry, and Jehovah heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Context

After presenting the contrasting fate of the wicked in verse 16, David returns to the theme of God's responsiveness to the righteous. This verse echoes earlier statements (like verse 4 and 6), reinforcing the certainty of God's hearing and deliverance for those who cry out. It transitions to a more specific description of God's proximity to the suffering within the righteous community, setting up the compassionate imagery of the next verse.

v.16The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

v.17This passage

v.18Jehovah is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Psalms 34:19

    Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But Jehovah delivereth him out of them all.

  • Psalms 91:15

    He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honor him.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:20

    And Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:24

    In those days Hezekiah was sick even unto death: and he prayed unto Jehovah; and he spake unto him, and gave him a sign.

  • Isaiah 65:24

    And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

  • Psalms 34:15

    The eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous, And his ears are open unto their cry.

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