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Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Psalms 34:14 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.
  • BSB Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
  • NKJV Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
  • NASB Turn from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
  • NLT Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Turn from evil, do good, and actively seek and pursue peace.

Overview

David's instruction continues with a call to forsake evil, practice good, and eagerly pursue peace. True religion shows itself in changed conduct and peacemaking. This finds its fullest expression in Christ, who makes peace and calls his followers to be peacemakers.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 24

  • Ps 37:27Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
  • 1 Pet 3:11Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
  • Heb 12:14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
  • 3 Jn 1:11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
  • Rom 12:9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
  • Rom 12:18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
  • Jas 3:17–18But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
  • Prov 3:7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
  • Rom 14:19Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
  • 2 Cor 13:11Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
  • 1 Th 4:11And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
  • Matt 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
  • Titus 2:14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
  • Rom 14:17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
  • Prov 8:13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
  • Prov 13:14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
  • Ps 120:7I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
  • Job 28:28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
  • 2 Tim 2:19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
  • Isa 1:16–17Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
  • Acts 10:38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
  • Prov 16:16–17How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
  • Gal 6:10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
  • Heb 13:16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 34:14YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.

How Psalms 34:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.