Psalm 34 is an acrostic (each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hb. alphabet), consisting of an individual’s thanksgiving (vv. 1–7), exhortation (imperatives dominate vv. 8–14), and praise or instruction (vv. 15–22 are statements). It reflects motifs from the wisdom tradition (esp. in vv. 11–14). The opening thanksgiving and closing praises focus on deliverance from distress, and the exhortations in the middle focus on blessing, especially for provision and long life. A public setting is presupposed, whether the psalm be a testimony for a congregation or instruction for an assembly. Participation from the audience is invited (vv. 2–3), and the psalm’s imperatives are plural (vv. 3, 8, 9, 11, with the exception of the wisdom, moral imperatives of vv. 13–14 (addressed to “whoever …