Psalms 34:17

17 (33-18) The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles.

Psalms 34:17 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 34:17

[The righteous] cry
The word "righteous" is not in the original text, but is rightly supplied in our version, as it is in the Targum, and by Jarchi; and so Kimchi and Ben Melech observe, that these words are not to be connected with ( Psalms 34:16 ) , but with ( Psalms 34:15 ) ; and they are indeed an amplification of the last clause of it; and the cry of the righteous is meant, to which the ears of the Lord are open; though Aben Ezra thinks that these words are to be understood of them that do evil, and of their cry to the Lord, when they turn from their evil ways; but the former sense is best;

and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles;
their inward troubles, through the workings of corruption in their hearts; through the violent assaults of Satan, the blasphemous thoughts he injects into them, and his solicitations of them to sin; and through divine desertions, and their outward troubles; through afflictions of body, losses of estate and friends, and the reproaches and persecutions of men; out of all these the Lord sooner or later delivers his people who cry unto him.

Psalms 34:17 In-Context

15 (33-16) The eyes of the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their prayers.

16 (33-17) But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 (33-18) The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles.

18 (33-19) The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of spirit.

19 (33-20) Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will the Lord deliver them.