What does Psalms Chapter 34 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The speaker requests judgment, combat aid and shame upon persecutors. Reported fasting while opponents were troublesome contrasts with their mockery. Petitions and promised praise remain distinct from completed vindication.

Chapter breakdown

The Latin incipit is Judica, Domine, nocentes me. The separate heading presents David in Christ's person praying against persecutors and prophetically foretelling punishments. In this psalm for David himself the speaker asks judgment of wrongdoers and overthrow of fighters, with arms, shield and sword brought to his aid, the persecutors' way blocked and assurance of salvation spoken to his soul. He wishes shame and confusion on pursuers and evil devisers, dust before wind, a dark slippery way and the Lord's angel constraining and pursuing them. Uncaused nets and reproach lead to a request that a hidden snare catch its maker.

His soul shall rejoice in salvation and all his bones praise God's delivery of the poor from stronger people and strippers. Unjust witnesses asked unknown things and repaid good with evil to deprive his soul. When they were troublesome to him, he wore haircloth and fasted; his prayer shall turn into his bosom. He describes pleasing as neighbor and brother and being humbled as a mourner. The text does not say those opponents had fallen sick. They rejoiced against him, gathered scourges unknown to him, were separated without repentance, tempted and scoffed and gnashed teeth.

He asks when God will look and rescue his soul from malice and his only one from lions. He will give thanks in a great church and praise in a strong people. He asks wrongful enemies, haters without cause and winkers not to rejoice. They spoke peace but devised guile in the anger of earth and opened mouths saying their eyes had seen. He asks the Lord who saw not to be silent or depart, to attend his cause and judge in justice without allowing boasts of swallowing him. Shame is wished on those rejoicing in his evils and speaking greatly against him; joy on those favoring his justice and magnifying the Lord who delights in His servant's peace. His tongue shall meditate justice and praise all day. These petitions do not narrate the opponents' completed ruin.

The story inside

Opening: The speaker requests judgment, combat aid and shame upon persecutors. Development: Reported fasting while opponents were troublesome contrasts with their mockery. Conclusion: Petitions and promised praise remain distinct from completed vindication.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The speaker requests judgment, combat aid and shame upon persecutors.
2
Reported fasting while opponents were troublesome contrasts with their mockery.
3
Petitions and promised praise remain distinct from completed vindication.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 59642–59643
Bring out the sword, and shut up the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul: I am thy salvation.
Lines 59663–59665
All my bones shall say: Lord, who is like to thee? Who deliverest the poor from the hand of them that are stronger than he; the needy and the poor from them that strip him.
Lines 59671–59673
But as for me, when they were troublesome to me, I was clothed with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer shall be turned into my bosom.
Lines 59687–59688
I will give thanks to thee in a great church; I will praise thee in a strong people.
Lines 59715–59717
Let them rejoice and be glad, who are well pleased with my justice, and let them say always: The Lord be magnified, who delights in the peace of his servant.