Psalms 34:14
in Psalms 34Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.
KJV
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
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This verse in Psalms 34
Commentary
17 notes on this verseMere abstinence from evil is not a characteristic of a perfect person, but for one recently instructed in basic principles it is fitting to turn aside from the impulse to evil and, being delivered from the habits of a depraved life as from a bad road, to pursue the performance of good.
This site's exposition
Come, children, listen to me
on Psalms 34:11-14
The psalm turns from praise to teaching on the fear of the LORD. Verse 12 asks who wants life and good days, and verses 13 and 14 answer with the tongue, the lips, and what a man does. Peter quotes both verses at 1 Peter 3:10 and 11.
This site's exposition
seek peace and pursue it
Augustine pressed the second command hard, since a man who steals nothing has still to clothe the naked. Basil of Caesarea called turning from evil a beginner's step. John Wesley read pursue as following hard after peace when it seems to run away.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
But what is, "Depart from evil"? (ver. 14). It is little that thou injure none, murder none, steal not, commit not adultery, do no wrong, speak no false witness; "Depart from evil." When thou hast departed, thou sayest, Now I am safe, I have done all, I shall have life, I shall see good days. Not only saith he, "Depart from evil," but also, "and do good." It is nothing that thou spoil not: clothe the naked. If thou hast not spoiled, thou hast declined from evil; but thou wilt not do good, except thou receive the stranger into thine house. So then depart from evil, as to do good. "Seek peace, and ensue it." He hath not said, Thou shalt have peace here; seek it, and ensue it. Whither shall I ensue it? Whither it hath gone before. For the Lord is our peace, hath risen again, and hath ascended into Heaven. "Seek peace, and ensue it;" because when thou also hast risen, this mortal shall be changed, and thou shall embrace peace there where no man shall trouble thee. For there is perfect peace, where thou wilt not hunger. ...
A commentator
Philoxenus of Mabbug13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 9 -- Second Discourse on Poverty · Written before 523.
proposed
The commandments which Jesus spake unto him, "Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, and Thou shalt not bear false witness," agree with the words of David, who said, "Depart from evil, and do good"; and with those which …
The peaceable person entertains peace toward everyone, not purloining the neighbor's property furtively, not committing homicide, not undermining marriages, not speaking evil, not doing evil, doing favors, showing respect, sharing, lending support, sharing dangers and struggles—such is unalloyed love and genuine friendship.
To see good days it is insufficient simply to abstain from evil acts; our compassion must also compel us to perform good works. The first stage of virtue is not to covet what belongs to others, but then the higher stage is not to hold …
The person of peace ought to seek and follow peace; he who knows and loves the bond of charity ought to restrain his tongue from the evil of dissension. Among his divine commands and salutary instructions the Lord now very near his passion added the following: "Peace I leave you, my peace I give you." This inheritance he gave us, all the gifts and rewards of his promise he assured us in the conservation of peace. If we are heirs of Christ, let us remain in the peace of Christ; if we are children of God, we ought to be peacemakers. "Blessed," he said, "are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." The children of God should be peacemakers, gentle in heart, simple in speech, harmonious in affection, clinging to one another faithfully in the bonds of unanimity.
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
In the same manner, there are four acts of justice: to do good, to flee evil, to beware of prosperity, and to withstand misfortune. Of the first two, the Psalm says: "Turn from evil, and do good. The Lord has eyes for the just. The …
Likewise, in deed he shows two things to be done. For a person ought to order his life, first with regard to himself; and with regard to this he says, "Turn away." Second, with regard to neighbor; and with regard to this he says, "Seek," …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Do good - Be ready to perform all good offices to all men. Seek - Study by all means possible to live peaceable with all men. Pursue it - Do not only embrace it gladly when it is offered, but follow hard after it, when it seems to flee away from thee.
Depart from evil,....
To enforce this good counsel he shows God's favour to the righteous and his displeasure against the wicked, in which he sets before us good and evil, the blessing and the curse,
Since nothing is more contrary to that love which never fails (which is the summary both of law and gospel, both of grace and glory) than strife and contention, which bring confusion and every evil work, we must seek peace and pursue it; we must show a peaceable disposition, study the things that make for peace, do nothing to break the peace and to make mischief.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Depart from evil. Go away from it. Not merely take your hands off, but yourself off. Live not near the pest house. Avoid the lion's lair, leave the viper's nest. Set a distance between yourself and temptation. And do good. Be practical, active, energetic, persevering in good. Positive virtue promotes negative virtue; he who does good is sure to avoid evil. Seek peace. Not merely prefer it, but with zeal and care endeavour to promote it. Peace with God, with thine own heart, with thy fellow man, search after this as the merchantman after a precious pearl.
Depart from evil. Go away from it. Not merely take your hands off, but yourself off. Live not near the pest house. Avoid the lion's lair, leave the viper's nest. Set a distance between yourself and temptation. And do good. Be practical, active, energetic, persevering in good. Positive virtue promotes negative virtue; he who does good is sure to avoid evil. Seek peace. Not merely prefer it, but with zeal and care endeavour to promote it. Peace with God, with thine own heart, with thy fellow man, search after this as the merchantman after a precious pearl. Nothing can more effectually promote our own happiness than peace; strife awakens passions which eat into the heart with corroding power. Anger is murder to one's own self, as well as to its objects. And pursue it. Hunt after it, chase it with eager desire. It may soon be lost, indeed, nothing is harder to retain, but do your best, and if enmity should arise let it be no fault of yours. Follow after peace when it shuns you; be resolved not to be of a contentious spirit. The peace which you thus promote will be returned into your own bosom, and be a perennial spring of comfort to you.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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 Rom 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 cut down by indulging in a quarrelsome, litigious, and contentious spirit - by seeking revenge - by quarrels, duels, wars, and strife - to see the wisdom of this counsel.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ס֣וּר | sur | turn away | H5493 → | 299 times |
| מֵ֭רָע | mero' | from evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
| וַעֲשֵׂה־ | vaaseh- | and do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| ט֑וֹב | tov | good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| בַּקֵּ֖שׁ | bakesh | seek | H1245 → | 225 times |
| שָׁל֣וֹם | shalom | peace | H7965 → | 236 times |
| וְרָדְפֵֽהוּ׃ | veradefehu | and pursue it | H7291 → | 143 times |
ס֣וּרturn away
surH5493 →299 times
מֵ֭רָעfrom evil
mero'H7451 →662 times
וַעֲשֵׂה־and do
vaaseh-H6213 →2628 times
ט֑וֹבgood
tovH2896 →538 times
בַּקֵּ֖שׁseek
bakeshH1245 →225 times
שָׁל֣וֹםpeace
shalomH7965 →236 times
וְרָדְפֵֽהוּ׃and pursue it
veradefehuH7291 →143 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- 1 Peter 1:15–16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
- Matthew 5:8–9
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
- Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Through
Romans 12:9Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- 1 Timothy 1:5
The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
- 1 Peter 4:8
Through
3 John 1:11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
it leads to
- Isaiah 1:16–17
Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!
- Isaiah 1:16–17
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 34; Basil of Caesarea, HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 16:10 (PS 34); Basil of Caesarea, Homilies on the Psalms; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18; Cassiodorus, EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 34:15; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; Cyprian, Treatise I. On the Unity of the Church 24; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 9 -- Second Discourse on Poverty; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 34:8 and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.