Psalm 34 Catholic: Taste and See That the Lord Is Good

Psalm 34, “I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be always in my mouth,” is a joyful song of thanksgiving from someone God has rescued. Its verse “O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet” has been sung at Communion since the early centuries. In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 33. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.

Psalm 34 in the Douay-Rheims Bible

I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be always in my mouth.
In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the meek hear and rejoice.
O magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all my troubles.
Come ye to him and be enlightened: and your faces shall not be confounded.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him: and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him: and shall deliver them.
O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth in him.
Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.
Come, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who is the man that desireth life: who loveth to see good days?
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Turn away from evil and do good: seek after peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their prayers.
But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will the Lord deliver them.
The Lord keepeth all their bones, not one of them shall be broken.
The death of the wicked is very evil: and they that hate the just shall be guilty.
The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall offend.

Psalm 34 or Psalm 33?

The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 33 is Psalm 34 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore. See how many psalms are there?

What the psalm means

Praise at all times: not only when things go well, but always.
God hears the poor: “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him.”
“Taste, and see”: experience God’s goodness for yourself; the early Church applied this verse to the Eucharist.
Near to the brokenhearted: “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart.”
Protection of the just: many are their troubles, but the Lord delivers them; “he keepeth all their bones,” a verse fulfilled at the Cross (John 19:36).

How the Church uses Psalm 34

At Communion, as a Communion antiphon and chant since ancient times.
On many Sundays, especially in the “Bread of Life” Sundays of Ordinary Time (Year B, John 6).
In thanksgiving after a recovery or an answered prayer. See Catholic prayers of gratitude.

A prayer with Psalm 34

Written for this page:

Lord, I will bless you at all times;
your praise will always be on my lips.
Let me taste and see how good you are,
especially when I receive you in the Eucharist,
and stay near me when my heart is broken. Amen.

Frequently asked questions

Where is “Taste and see that the Lord is good”?

Psalm 34:9 in the New American Bible (34:8 in some Bibles, and 33:9 in the Douay-Rheims: “O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet”).

Why is Psalm 34 sung at Communion?

Because the early Church saw in “taste and see” an invitation to receive Christ in the Eucharist.

Why are psalm numbers different in Catholic Bibles?

Older Catholic Bibles such as the Douay-Rheims follow the Greek and Latin numbering; modern Bibles follow the Hebrew, which is usually one number higher.

More psalms and prayers

Texts and sources

Scripture: Psalm 33 (34), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
The prayer was written for this page.