34:1 (大衛在亞比米勒面前裝瘋,被他趕出去,就作這詩。)我要時時稱頌耶和華;讚美他的話必常在我口中。
34:2 我的心必因耶和華誇耀;謙卑人聽見就要喜樂。
34:3 你們和我當稱耶和華為大,一同高舉他的名。
34:4 我曾尋求耶和華,他就應允我,救我脫離了一切的恐懼。
34:5 凡仰望他的,便有光榮;他們的臉必不蒙羞。
34:6 我這困苦人呼求,耶和華便垂聽,救我脫離一切患難。
34:7 耶和華的使者在敬畏他的人四圍安營,搭救他們。
34:8 你們要嘗嘗主恩的滋味,便知道他是美善;投靠他的人有福了!
34:9 耶和華的聖民哪,你們當敬畏他,因敬畏他的一無所缺。
34:10 少壯獅子還缺食忍餓,但尋求耶和華的甚麼好處都不缺。
34:11 眾弟子啊,你們當來聽我的話!我要將敬畏耶和華的道教訓你們。
34:12 有何人喜好存活,愛慕長壽,得享美福,
34:13 就要禁止舌頭不出惡言,嘴唇不說詭詐的話。
34:14 要離惡行善,尋求和睦,一心追趕。
34:15 耶和華的眼目看顧義人;他的耳朵聽他們的呼求。
34:16 耶和華向行惡的人變臉,要從世上除滅他們的名號。
34:17 義人呼求,耶和華聽見了,便救他們脫離一切患難。
34:18 耶和華靠近傷心的人,拯救靈性痛悔的人。
34:19 義人多有苦難,但耶和華救他脫離這一切,
34:20 又保全他一身的骨頭,連一根也不折斷。
34:21 惡必害死惡人;恨惡義人的,必被定罪。
34:22 耶和華救贖他僕人的靈魂;凡投靠他的,必不致定罪。
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
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大衛逃避掃羅的追殺,只好逃到迦特王亞吉那裡,沒想到「掃羅殺死千千,大衛殺死萬萬」的傳言也到了那裏,還被號稱為「以色列國王」,怕引起殺身之禍,大衛只好裝瘋,使他免除災害。
大衛有這樣的日子,我們每一位敬畏上帝的人,也是會遇見許多人生的考驗。雖然我們感受到被逼迫,甚至性命受到威脅,但是我們卻可以回頭倚靠上帝,就可以感受到投靠上帝才有真正的平安。
也因為大衛這首詩歌,讓我們感受到上帝的護理(攝理)的奇妙,「義人多有苦難,但耶和華救他脫離這一切,又保全他一身的骨頭,連一根也不折斷」。而且是十分美好,「你們要嘗嘗主恩的滋味,便知道他是美善;投靠他的人有福了!」
求主幫助,讓我們也像大衛一般,即使在苦難中,心中卻蒙上帝的賜福,十分平安,並且「離惡行善,尋求和睦,一心追趕」。這裡的「一心追趕」,就是努力尋求!