Psalms 34

1 [A Psalm] of David, when he changed his behaviour 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.

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

2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear [thereof], and be glad.

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 exalt 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 delivered me from all my fears.

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 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

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

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

8 O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth 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 O fear the LORD, 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 young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good [thing].

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, ye children, hearken unto 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 What man [is he that] desireth life, [and] loveth [many] days, that he may see good?

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 Depart from evil, and do good; seek 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 righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their cry.

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

16 The face of the LORD [is] against them that do evil, 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 righteous] cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth 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 broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite 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 righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

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

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

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

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

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 redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

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