Psalms 34

1 [A Psalm] of David, when he changed his countenance before Abimelech; and he let him go, and he departed. I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall be continually in my mouth.

“By David, when he disguised his reason before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.” I will bless the Lord at all times: continually shall his praise be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall boast herself in the Lord: let the meek hear, and rejoice.

My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear it, and be rejoiced.

3 Magnify ye the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord diligently, and he hearkened to me, and delivered me from all my sojournings.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and from all that I dreaded did he deliver me.

5 Draw near to him, and be enlightened: and your faces shall not [by any means] be ashamed.

They [who] looked unto him, were indeed enlightened, and their faces were not put to the blush.

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord hearkened to him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and out of all his distresses did he save him.

7 The angel of the Lord will encamp round about them that fear him, and will deliver them.

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about those who fear him, and delivereth them.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man who hopes in him.

Experience and see that the Lord is good: happy is the man that trusteth in him.

9 Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Oh fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to those who fear him.

10 The rich have become poor and hungry: but they that seek the Lord diligently shall not want any good thing. (Pause)

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not want any good.

11 Come, ye children, hear me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

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

12 What man is there that desires life, loving to see good days?

Who is the man that desireth life, loveth [many] days, that he may see happiness?

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

Guard thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking deceit.

14 Turn away from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears [are open] to their prayer:

The eyes of the Lord are directed unto the righteous, and his ears unto their cry.

16 but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to destroy their memorial from the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord hearkened to them,

[But] the anger of the Lord is against those that do evil, to cut off from the earth their remembrance.

17 and delivered them out of all their afflictions.

Those cry, and the Lord heareth, and from all their distresses he delivereth them.

18 The Lord is near to them that are of a contrite heart; and will save the lowly in spirit.

The Lord is nigh unto those that are broken-hearted: and he saveth those that are of a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but out of them all Lord will deliver them.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but out of them all the Lord ever delivereth him.

20 He keeps all their bones: not one of them shall be broken.

He watcheth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21 The death of sinners is evil: and they that hate righteousness will go wrong.

The evil will slay the wicked: and they who hate the righteous shall incur guiltiness.

22 The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of those that hope in him shall go wrong.

The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and all that trust in him shall not incur guiltiness.