Psalms 34 · Verse 12

Psalms 34:12

What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
Psalms 34:12, King James Version

Psalms 34:12 in other translations

BSBWho is the man who delights in life, who desires to see good days?
WEBWho is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
ASVWhat man is he that desireth life, And loveth many days, that he may see good?
YLTWho is the man that is desiring life? Loving days to see good?
DARBYWhat man is he that desireth life, and loveth days, that he may see good?
BBEWhat man has a love of life, and a desire that his days may be increased so that he may see good?
WebsterWhat man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

What does Psalms 34:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. What man--Whoever desires the blessings of piety, let him attend.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 What man is he that desireth life - He who wishes to live long and to live happily, let him act according to the following directions. For a comment upon this and the four ensuing verses, see the notes on 1Pet 3:10-12 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 34:11-22

Let young persons set out in life with learning the fear of the Lord, if they desire true comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter. Those will be most happy who begin the soonest to serve so good a Master. All aim to be happy. Surely this must look further than the present world; for man's life on earth consists but of few days, and those full of trouble. What man is he that would see the good of that where all…

Read the full comment on Psalms 34:11-22 →

Psalms 34:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מִֽי\־mi-who?H4310
הָ֭אִישׁHa.'ish[is] the personH376
הֶחָפֵ֣ץhe.cha.Fetz<the> desiringH2655
חַיִּ֑יםchai.YimlifeH2416
אֹהֵ֥ב'o.Hev[who] loves?H157
יָ֝מִ֗יםya.MimdaysH3117
לִרְא֥וֹתlir.'otto seeH7200
טֽוֹב\׃TovgoodH2896

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 34:12

  • 1 Peter 3:10-12

    For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

  • Deuteronomy 30:20

    That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

  • Deuteronomy 6:2

    That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

  • Psalms 91:16

    With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

  • Ecclesiastes 12:13

    Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

  • Psalms 21:4

    He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:13

    And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

  • Psalms 4:6

    There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

  • Job 7:7

    O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:3

    I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
What.
21:4; 91:16; De 6:2; 30:20; 1Pe 3:10,11
that he.
4:6; Job 7:7; Ec 2:3; 12:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 34:11

    Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

  • Psalms 34:12

    What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

  • Psalms 34:13

    Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Read all of Psalms 34

Psalms 34:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
¿Quién es el hombre que desea vida, que codicia días para ver bien?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Venez, fils, écoutez-moi: je vous enseignerai la crainte de l’ Éternel.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Wer ist der Mann, der Lust zum Leben hat, der Tage liebt, um Gutes zu sehen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Retribuebant mihi mala pro bonis, sterilitatem animæ meæ.