Psalms 34
1 A psalm of David concerning the time he pretended to be mad in front of Abimelech who then sent him away. I will always bless the Lord; my mouth will continually praise him.
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 From the bottom of my heart I am proud of the Lord; those who are humble will hear and be happy.
My soul shall boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Glorify God with me; together let's honor his reputation.
Oh magnify the LORD with me. Let’s exalt his name together.
4 I asked the Lord for help, and he answered me. He set me free from all my fears.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 The faces of those who look to him will shine with joy; they will never be downcast with shame.
They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard me, and saved me from all my troubles.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord stands guard over all those who honor him, keeping them safe.
The LORD’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Taste, and you will see that the Lord is good! How happy are those who trust in his protection!
Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Show your reverence for the Lord, you who are his holy people, for those who respect him have everything they need.
Oh fear the LORD, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.
10 Lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who trust in the Lord have all that is good.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
11 Children, listen to me! I will teach you how to respect the Lord.
Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who of you wants to live a long and happy life?
Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Then don't let your tongue speak evil, or your lips tell lies.
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Reject what is evil, do what is good. Look for peace, and work to make it a reality.
Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The Lord watches over those who do right, and he hears when they cry for help.
The LORD’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
16 The Lord sets himself against those who do evil. He will wipe out even the memory of them from the earth.
The LORD’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.
17 But when his people call out for help, he hears them and rescues them from all their troubles.
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close beside those who are broken-hearted; he saves those whose spirits are crushed.
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
19 Those who do right have many problems, but the Lord solves all of them.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps them safe—not a single one of their bones will be broken.
He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil kills the wicked. Those who hate good people will suffer for their wrongdoing.
Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The Lord saves the lives of his servants. Those who trust in his protection will not suffer for their wrongdoings.
The LORD redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
