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.

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 From the bottom of my heart I am proud of the Lord; those who are humble will hear and be happy.

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

3 Glorify God with me; together let's honor his reputation.

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

4 I asked the Lord for help, and he answered me. He set me free from all my fears.

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

5 The faces of those who look to him will shine with joy; they will never be downcast with shame.

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

6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard me, and saved me from all my 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 stands guard over all those who honor him, keeping them safe.

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

8 Taste, and you will see that the Lord is good! How happy are those who trust in his protection!

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

9 Show your reverence for the Lord, you who are his holy people, for those who respect him have everything they need.

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

10 Lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who trust in the Lord have all that is 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 Children, listen to me! I will teach you how to respect the Lord.

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

12 Who of you wants to live a long and happy life?

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

14 Reject what is evil, do what is good. Look for peace, and work to make it a reality.

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

15 The Lord watches over those who do right, and he hears when they cry for help.

The eyes of the Lord are on the upright, and his ears are open 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 face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to take away the memory of them from the earth.

17 But when his people call out for help, he hears them and rescues them from 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 close beside those who are broken-hearted; he saves those whose spirits are crushed.

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

19 Those who do right have many problems, but the Lord solves all of them.

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

20 He keeps them safe—not a single one of their bones will be broken.

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

21 Evil kills the wicked. Those who hate good people will suffer for their wrongdoing.

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

22 The Lord saves the lives of his servants. Those who trust in his protection will not suffer for their wrongdoings.

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.