When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes that God "hears" the cry of the righteous. This isn't just about Him noticing, but His attentive, active listening, signifying His immediate awareness and readiness to respond to their pleas. It's a profound assurance that in their distress, the righteous aren't crying into a void but directly to a God who is fully present and engaged.
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a larger section where the psalmist is teaching about the "fear of the Lord," contrasting the blessedness of the righteous with the fate of the wicked. Following descriptions of God's watchful care over those who trust Him and the severe consequences for evildoers, this verse emphasizes the direct connection between the righteous and God in times of distress. It flows from the teaching on seeking peace and avoiding evil, highlighting that even when afflictions come, God hears the cries of the faithful.
What does it mean to be 'righteous' in the eyes of God, and why does this matter when we cry out in distress?
The verse speaks of 'the righteous' crying out to God. This isn't about perfect people who never falter, but about those who have a right relationship with God through faith.
Does God really hear us when we cry? And does He always deliver us in the way we expect?
This verse offers a powerful double promise: God hears, and God delivers. It's a testament to His active involvement in the lives of His people.
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Understand the original words
tsaddiq · Hebrew Adjective
Those who are in a right relationship with God by faith, characterized by obedience to His commands and adherence to His moral standard. It denotes a person whose life aligns with God's justice and covenant requirements.
natsal · Hebrew Verb
To rescue, liberate, or save from distress, danger, or oppression. It signifies God's active intervention to bring His people out of perilous circumstances.
tsarah · Hebrew Noun
A state of internal distress, physical hardship, or adversity that tests one’s faith. Biblically, these trials are often allowed by God to produce endurance and reliance upon Him.
This psalm, likely reflecting on David's perilous flight from King Saul and his subsequent time as a fugitive, highlights the profound truth that even in the darkest, most desperate moments, God hears the cries of those who trust Him and delivers them.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David flees from Saul
David, pursued by King Saul, pretends to be insane before King Achish of Gath to escape. This period of hiding and hardship likely inspired many Psalms, including Psalm 34, reflecting on God's deliverance.
c. 1000 BC
David flees to Adullam Cave
After his escape from Gath, David and his family took refuge in the cave of Adullam, and his band of outlaws grew significantly. This was a time of great vulnerability and reliance on God.
c. 970 BC
David becomes King of Israel
Following Saul's death, David was eventually anointed King over all Israel. This marked the end of his long period of persecution and the beginning of a more stable, though still challenging, reign.
This passage speaks directly about God hearing the cries of His chosen people, echoing the assurance in Psalms that the Lord is attentive to the pleas of the righteous.
Jeremiah 33:3This verse is a powerful promise from God to answer those who call on Him, highlighting the responsive relationship between God and those who seek Him, much like in Psalms 34:17.
Romans 8:28While Psalms 34:17 focuses on deliverance from trouble, Romans 8:28 broadens the scope to show that God works all things for good for those who love Him, including their troubles, reinforcing the idea of divine care for the righteous.
1 Peter 3:12This verse explicitly states that the Lord's eyes are on the righteous and His ears are open to their prayers, directly paralleling the assurance given in Psalms 34:17 about God hearing and responding to the righteous.
cambridgePsalms 34:17: "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."
17 . They cried, and Jehovah heard; And rescued them out of all their distresses. We may understand a subject from the verb, they who cried cried , as in Psalm 34:5 , i.e., when any cried: or with LXX and Vulg. supply the righteous . (Had the LXX this reading, or did they merely insert the word from Psalm 34:15 ?) It is however possible that Psalm 34:15-16 should be transposed, and then the r…
clarkePsalms 34:17: "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."
The righteous cry - There is no word in the present Hebrew text for righteous; but all the versions preserve it. I suppose it was lost through its similitude to the word צעקו tsaaku, they cry צעקו צדיקים tsaaku tsaddikim, the righteous cry.
The verse emphasizes that God "hears" the cry of the righteous. This isn't just about Him noticing, but His attentive, active listening, signifying His immediate awareness and readiness to respond to their pleas. It's a profound assurance that in their distress, the righteous aren't crying into a void but directly to a God who is fully present and engaged.
This verse is part of a larger section where the psalmist is teaching about the "fear of the Lord," contrasting the blessedness of the righteous with the fate of the wicked. Following descriptions of God's watchful care over those who trust Him and the severe consequences for evildoers, this verse emphasizes the direct connection between the righteous and God in times of distress. It flows from the teaching on seeking peace and avoiding evil, highlighting that even when afflictions come, God hears the cries of the faithful.
This verse is part of a larger section where the psalmist is teaching about the "fear of the Lord," contrasting the blessedness of the righteous with the fate of the wicked. Following descriptions of God's watchful care over those who trust Him and the severe consequences for evildoers, this verse emphasizes the direct connection between the righteous and God in times of distress. It flows from the teaching on seeking peace and avoiding evil, highlighting that even when afflictions come, God hears the cries of the faithful.
"When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles." — The verse emphasizes that God "hears" the cry of the righteous. This isn't just about Him noticing, but His attentive, active listening, signifying His immediate awareness and readiness to respond to…
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Last reviewed October 2026