Psalms 34

1 [A Psalm] of David, when he changed his countenance before Abimelech; and he let him go, and he departed. I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall be continually in my mouth.

To David, when he changed his appearance in the sight of Abimelech, and so he dismissed him, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will be ever in my mouth.

2 My soul shall boast herself in the Lord: let the meek hear, and rejoice.

In the Lord, my soul will be praised. May the meek listen and rejoice.

3 Magnify you the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name in itself.

4 I sought the Lord diligently, and he listened to me, and delivered me from all my sojournings.

I sought the Lord, and he heeded me, and he carried me away from all my tribulations.

5 Draw near to him, and be enlightened: and your faces shall not [by any means] be ashamed.

Approach him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be confounded.

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord listened to him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions.

This poor one cried out, and the Lord heeded him, and he saved him from all his tribulations.

7 The angel of the Lord will encamp round about them that fear him, and will deliver them.

The Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear him, and he will rescue them.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man who hopes in him.

Taste and see that the Lord is sweet. Blessed is the man who hopes in him.

9 Fear the Lord, all you his saints: for there is no lack to them that fear him.

Fear the Lord, all you his saints. For there is no destitution for those who fear him.

10 The rich have become poor and hungry: but they that seek the Lord diligently shall not lack any good thing. (Pause)

The rich have been needy and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good thing.

11 Come, you children, hear me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Come forward, sons. Listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 What man is there that desires life, loving to see good days?

Which is the man who wills life, who chooses to see good days?

13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile.

Prohibit your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

14 Turn away from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Turn away from evil, and do good. Inquire about peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears [are open] to their prayer:

The eyes of the Lord are on the just, and his ears are with their prayers.

16 but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to destroy their memorial from the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord listened to them,

But the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil, to perish the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 and delivered them out of all their afflictions.

The just cried out, and the Lord heard them, and he freed them from all their tribulations.

18 The Lord is near to them that are of a contrite heart; and will save the lowly in spirit.

The Lord is near to those who are troubled in heart, and he will save the humble in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but out of them all Lord will deliver them.

Many are the afflictions of the just, but from them all the Lord will free them.

20 He keeps all their bones: not one of them shall be broken.

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

21 The death of sinners is evil: and they that hate righteousness will go wrong.

The death of a sinner is very harmful, and those who hate the just will fare badly.

22 The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of those that hope in him shall go wrong.

The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants, and none of those who hope in him will fare badly.