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 pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.

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

My soul shall boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

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

Oh magnify the LORD with me. Let’s 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 delivered me from all my fears.

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

They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.

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 saved him out of all his troubles.

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

The LORD’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

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

Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

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

Oh fear the LORD, you his saints, for there is no lack with 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 lack any good thing.

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

Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

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

Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

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

Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.

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 LORD’s eyes are towards the righteous. His ears listen to 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,

The LORD’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.

17 and delivered them out of all their afflictions.

The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

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

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed 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 the LORD delivers him out of them all.

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

He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.

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

Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

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

The LORD redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.