Psalm 34:13-14 NASB,NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:13

Here are three great things. I. A GREAT GIFT . Speech is one of our highest endowments. It enables us to utter our thoughts and to converse one with another. Man's advancement in knowledge and virtue has mainly followed from his possessing this faculty. There have been many ingenious speculations as to how speech has been obtained, but it is enough for us to say that it is from God. When we see a dumb man, we may learn the worth from the want, and should bless God for his goodness in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 34:14

Depart from evil, and do good. From words the psalmist proceeds to acts, and, in the briefest possible way, says all that can be said. First, he enjoins negative goodness—"depart from evil," i.e. do nothing that is wrong; break no laws of God, no command of conscience; have a conscience void of offence, both towards God and towards man. Secondly, he requires positive goodness—"Do good;" i.e. actively perform the will of God from the heart; discharge every duty; practise every virtue;... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 34:13

Keep thy tongue from evil - From speaking wrong things. Always give utterance to truth, and truth alone. The meaning is, that this is one of the methods of lengthening out life. To love the truth; to speak the truth; to avoid all falsehood, slander, and deceit, will contribute to this, or will be a means which will tend to prolong life, and to make it happy.And thy lips from speaking guile - Deceit. Do not “deceive” others by your words. Do not make any statements which are not true, or any... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 34:14

Depart from evil - From all evil; from vice and crime in every form.And do good - Do good to all people, and in all the relations of life.Seek peace - Strive to live in peace with all the world. Compare the notes at Romans 12:18.And pursue it - Follow after it. Make it an object of desire, and put forth constant efforts to live in peace with all human beings. There can be no doubt that this is appropriate advice to one who wishes to lengthen out his days. We have only to remember how many are... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 34:13-14

Psalms 34:13-14. Keep thy tongue from evil From all manner of evil speaking, from all injurious, false, and deceitful speeches; and thy lips from speaking guile Or, guileful words, contrary to truth and sincerity, and the real thoughts and intentions of thy heart, and used with a purpose of deceiving others by them. Depart from evil From all sin, and especially from all wicked, and injurious acts and practices against thy neighbour. And do good Be ready to perform all good and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 34:1-22

Psalms 34:0 Thanks for deliveranceWhen he first fled from Saul to the Philistine city of Gath, David expected the Philistines would welcome him as a deserter from Israel’s army, and so provide him with refuge. But the Philistines had probably not yet heard of David’s break with Saul. They knew only that David had killed thousands of their own Philistine people; perhaps he was spying out their city in preparation for more slaughter. They decided to kill him, and David escaped only by pretending... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 34:13

Keep, &c. Figure of speech Apostrophe. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 34:13

13, 14. Sins of thought included in those of speech (Luke 6:45), avoiding evil and doing good in our relations to men are based on a right relation to God. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 34:1-22

Psalms 34In this combination individual thanksgiving and wisdom psalm, David glorified God for delivering His people, and he reflected on the Lord’s promise to bless the godly with long life.The title identifies the occasion on which David composed this psalm (cf. 1 Samuel 21:10-15). It is another acrostic with all but the last verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet and with the omission of a verse beginning with the letter waw. read more