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.

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

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

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

3 O magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol 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 the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all my troubles.

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 Come ye to him and be enlightened: and your faces shall not be 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 poor man cried, and the Lord 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 the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him: and shall deliver them.

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

8 O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth 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 the Lord, all 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 rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of 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, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

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

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

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 Turn away from evil and do good: seek after 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 the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their prayers.

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

16 But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things: 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 just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles.

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

18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of 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 afflictions of the just; but out of them all will the Lord deliver them.

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

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

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

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

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

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