Psalms 34:16 (DRB)

Passage

They were separated, and repented not: they tempted me, they scoffed at me with scorn: they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

Nearby Context

Psalms 34:14 As a neighbour and as an own brother, so did I please: as one mourning and sorrowful so was I humbled.

Psalms 34:15 But they rejoiced against me, and came together: scourges were gathered together upon me, and I knew not.

Psalms 34:16 They were separated, and repented not: they tempted me, they scoffed at me with scorn: they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

Psalms 34:17 Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? rescue thou my soul from their malice: my only one from the lions.

Psalms 34:18 I will give thanks to thee in a great church; I will praise thee in a strong people.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "separated", "repented", "tempted", "scoffed", "scorn", "gnashed", "upon", and "teeth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "separated" and "repented", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "But they rejoiced against me and came..." into verse 17's "Lord when wilt thou look upon me...", so "separated" and "repented" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "separated" and "repented" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.