Psalms 34

1 To David, when he changed his appearance in the sight of Abimelech, and so he dismissed him, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will be ever 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 In the Lord, my soul will be praised. May the meek listen and rejoice.

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

3 Magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name in itself.

Oh magnify the LORD with me. Let’s exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he heeded me, and he carried me away from all my tribulations.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5 Approach him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be confounded.

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

6 This poor one cried out, and the Lord heeded him, and he saved him from all his tribulations.

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 around those who fear him, and he will rescue them.

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

8 Taste and see that the Lord is sweet. 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 you his saints. For there is no destitution for those who fear him.

Oh fear the LORD, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.

10 The rich have been needy and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good thing.

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come forward, sons. Listen to 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 Which is the man who wills life, who chooses to see good days?

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

13 Prohibit your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

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

14 Turn away from evil, and do good. Inquire about peace, and pursue it.

Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the just, and his ears are with their prayers.

The LORD’s eyes are towards the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.

16 But the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil, to perish the remembrance of them from the earth.

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

17 The just cried out, and the Lord heard them, and he freed them from all their tribulations.

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

18 The Lord is near to those who are troubled in heart, and he will save the humble 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 just, but from them all the Lord will free them.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

20 The Lord preserves all of 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 a sinner is very harmful, and those who hate the just will fare badly.

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 who hope in him will fare badly.

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