Psalms 34

1 [A Psalm] of David; when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless Jehovah at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

I will always thank Yahweh; I will constantly praise him [MTY].

2 My soul shall make its boast in Jehovah: the meek shall hear, and rejoice.

I will boast about what Yahweh [has done]. All those who are oppressed/discouraged should hear me and rejoice.

3 Magnify Jehovah with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Join with me in telling others that Yahweh is great! You and I should together proclaim how glorious he is!

4 I sought Jehovah, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

I prayed to Yahweh, and he (answered my prayer/did what I asked him to do); he rescued me from [all those who caused me] to be afraid.

5 They looked unto him, and were enlightened, and their faces were not confounded.

Those who trust [IDM] that he [will help them] will be joyful; (they will never be disappointed/he will always do for them the things that he promises) [LIT].

6 This afflicted one called, and Jehovah heard [him], and saved him out of all his troubles.

I was miserable/helpless, but I called out to Yahweh, and he heard me. He rescued me from all my troubles.

7 The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

An angel from Yahweh guards those who revere him, and the angel rescues them.

8 Taste and see that Jehovah is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him!

Find out for yourself, and you will experience that Yahweh is good to you! He is very pleased with those who ask him to protect them.

9 Fear Jehovah, ye his saints; for there is no want to them that fear him.

All you who belong to him, revere him! Those who do that will always have the things that they need [LIT].

10 The young lions are in need and suffer hunger; but they that seek Jehovah shall not want any good.

Lions [are usually] very strong, [but sometimes] even young lions are hungry and become weak, but those who trust in Yahweh will (have everything/not lack any good thing) [LIT] [that they need].

11 Come, ye sons, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah.

You (who are my students/whom I teach), come and listen to me, and I will teach you how to revere Yahweh.

12 What man is he that desireth life, [and] loveth days, that he may see good?

If [RHQ] any of you wants to enjoy life and have a good long life,

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

do not say anything that is evil! Do not tell lies!

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

Turn away from doing evil, and do what is good! Always try hard to enable people to live peacefully [with each other.]

15 The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous, and his ears are toward their cry;

Yahweh [MTY] carefully watches over those who [act] righteously; he always responds [MTY] to them when they call [to him for help].

16 The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth:

But Yahweh [SYN] (is opposed to/turns away from) those who do what is evil. [And after they die], people will forget them completely.

17 [The righteous] cry, and Jehovah heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Yahweh hears righteous people when they call out to him; he rescues them from all their troubles.

18 Jehovah is nigh to those that are of a broken heart, and saveth them that are of a contrite spirit.

Yahweh is always ready to help those who are discouraged; he rescues those who have nothing good to hope for.

19 Many are the adversities of the righteous, but Jehovah delivereth him out of them all:

Righteous people may have many troubles, but Yahweh rescues them from all those troubles.

20 He keepeth all his bones; not one of them is broken.

Yahweh protects them from being harmed; [when their enemies attack them], they will not break any bones of those righteous people.

21 Evil shall destroy the wicked; and they that hate the righteous shall bear their guilt.

Wicked people will be killed by their own evil deeds (OR, by [people doing to them] the same evil things [that the wicked do to others]) [PRS], and Yahweh will punish those who oppose righteous people.

22 Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants; and none of them that trust in him shall bear guilt.

Yahweh will save those who serve him. He will (not condemn/forgive) [LIT] those who trust in him.