Psalms 34

1 A Psalm of David; when he changed his demeanour before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be 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 My soul shall glory in the LORD; the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

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 exalt 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 answered me, and delivered me 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 They looked unto Him, and were radiant; and their faces shall never be abashed.

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, 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 encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.

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

8 O consider and see that the LORD is good; happy is the man that taketh refuge in Him.

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

9 O fear the LORD, ye His holy ones; 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 young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek the LORD want not any good thing.

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, ye children, hearken unto 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, and loveth days, that he may see good therein?

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 Depart from evil, and do good; seek 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 toward the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.

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

16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, 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 They cried, and the LORD heard, 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 broken heart, and saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.

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

19 Many are the ills of the righteous, but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

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

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

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

21 Evil shall kill the wicked; and they that hate the righteous shall be held guilty.

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

22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of His servants; and none of them that take refuge in Him shall be desolate.

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.