Psalms 34

1 For David, when he changed his countenance before Achimelech, who dismissed him, and he went his way. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be always in my mouth.

Of David. When he made a change in his behaviour before Abimelech, who sent him away, and he went. I will be blessing the Lord at all times; his praise will be ever in my mouth.

2 In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the meek hear and rejoice.

My soul will say great things of the Lord: the poor in spirit will have knowledge of it and be glad.

3 O magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol his name together.

O give praise to the Lord with me; let us be witnesses together of his great name.

4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all my troubles.

I was searching for the Lord, and he gave ear to my voice, and made me free from all my fears.

5 Come ye to him and be enlightened: and your faces shall not be confounded.

Let your eyes be turned to him and you will have light, and your faces will not be shamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him: and saved him out of all his troubles.

This poor man's cry came before the Lord, and he gave him salvation from all his troubles.

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

The angel of the Lord is ever watching over those who have fear of him, to keep them safe.

8 O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth in him.

By experience you will see that the Lord is good; happy is the man who has faith in him.

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

Keep yourselves in the fear of the Lord, all you his saints; for those who do so will have no need of anything.

10 The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.

The young lions are in need and have no food; but those who are looking to the Lord will have every good thing.

11 Come, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Come, children, give attention to me; I will be your teacher in the fear of the Lord.

12 Who is the man that desireth life: who loveth to see good days?

What man has a love of life, and a desire that his days may be increased so 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 words of deceit.

14 Turn away from evil and do good: seek after peace and pursue it.

Be turned from evil, and do good; make a search for peace, desiring it with all your heart.

15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their prayers.

The eyes of the Lord are on the upright, and his ears are open to their cry.

16 But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to take away the memory of them from the earth.

17 The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles.

The cry of the upright comes before the Lord, and he takes them out of all their troubles.

18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of spirit.

The Lord is near the broken-hearted; he is the saviour of those whose spirits are crushed down.

19 Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will the Lord deliver them.

Great are the troubles of the upright: but the Lord takes him safely out of them all.

20 The Lord keepeth all their bones, not one of them shall be broken.

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

21 The death of the wicked is very evil: and they that hate the just shall be guilty.

Evil will put an end to the sinner, and those who are haters of righteousness will come to destruction.

22 The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall offend.

The Lord will be the saviour of the souls of his servants, and no one who has faith in him will be put to shame.