Psalms 34:10

The young lions Best understood literally, not as a metaphor for the rich (LXX πλούσιοι, though possibly from a different reading), or powerful oppressors (Psalms 35:17). The sense is that the strongest beasts of prey, most capable of providing for themselves, may suffer want (Job 4:11); not so God's people. Cp. Psalms 23:1.

For the touching connexion of these words with St Columba's last hours see Ker's Psalms in History and Biography, p. 62. He was transcribing the Psalter, and at this verse he laid down his pen. "Here at the end of the page I must stop; what follows let Baithen write." "The last verse he had written," says his biographer Adamnan, "was very applicable to the saint who was about to depart, and to whom eternal good shall never be wanting; while the one that followeth is equally applicable to the father who succeeded him, the instructor of his spiritual children."

11ff. If such are the blessings promised to those who fear the Lord, how essential to know what the fear of the Lord is! Accordingly the poet adopts the language of a teacher and addresses his sons. So the teacher in Proverbs 1-8 constantly addresses his disciples as sons(Psalms 4:1), or my son.