Psalm 34 (Verses 1–8)
King James Version
The opening of David's psalm of praise, ending with the well-known verse "O taste and see that the LORD is good."
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About this text
Psalm 34 carries a superscription connecting it to an episode in 1 Samuel where David feigned madness before Abimelech (called Achish in Samuel) to escape danger — though the psalm itself never mentions that story directly and reads as a general song of deliverance. Like Psalm 25 and 37, it's also an acrostic in the Hebrew, one verse per letter of the alphabet, though that structure doesn't carry over into English.
This excerpt ends on verse 8, "O taste and see that the LORD is good," one of the more physical, sensory images in the Psalms — taste, rather than hear or know. It's worth copying slowly for that reason: most of the psalm's verbs are about speech and sound (bless, boast, magnify, cried, heard), and the sudden shift to taste in the final line stands out by contrast.
What to watch for
- 4 colons: a colon points ahead to what explains or completes the first half of the sentence.
- Capital letters in the middle of a sentence: LORD. Ask why each one is capitalized before typing it.
- Old-fashioned words: unto, encampeth, delivereth, trusteth. These are easy to "correct" by accident into modern spelling, so copy them exactly as written.
- Longest word: "continually" (11 letters). Try spelling it aloud once before reaching it.
- 8 lines averaging about 15 words each. A comfortable line length for a single sitting.
Full text (reference)
1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.