Psalms 34
1 “By David, when he disguised his reason before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.” I will bless the Lord at all times: continually shall his praise be in my mouth.
Of David, when he feigned madness in the presence of Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left. I will bless the Lord at all times, in my mouth will his praise be forever.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear it, and be rejoiced.
In the Lord will my heart make her boast, the humble will hear and be glad.
3 Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
O magnify the Lord with me and let us extol his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and from all that I dreaded did he deliver me.
I sought the Lord, and, in answer, he saved me from all my terrors.
5 They [who] looked unto him, were indeed enlightened, and their faces were not put to the blush.
Look to him and you will be radiant, with faces unashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and out of all his distresses did he save him.
Here is one who was crushed, but cried and was heard by the Lord, and brought safe out of every trouble.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about those who fear him, and delivereth them.
The Lord’s angel encamps about those who fear him, and rescues them.
8 Experience and see that the Lord is good: happy is the man that trusteth in him.
O taste and see that the Lord is good, happy those who take refuge in him.
9 Oh fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to those who fear him.
Fear the Lord, all his people, for they who fear him lack nothing.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not want any good.
Even young lions may be poor and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: the fear of the Lord will I teach you.
Come, children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Who is the man that desireth life, loveth [many] days, that he may see happiness?
Which of you is desirous of life, loves many and happy days?
13 Guard thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking deceit.
Then guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are directed unto the righteous, and his ears unto their cry.
The eyes of the Lord are towards the righteous, his ears are towards their cry for help.
16 [But] the anger of the Lord is against those that do evil, to cut off from the earth their remembrance.
The Lord sets his face against those who do evil, to root their memory out of the earth.
17 Those cry, and the Lord heareth, and from all their distresses he delivereth them.
When righteous cry, they are heard by the Lord, and he saves them from all their distresses.
18 The Lord is nigh unto those that are broken-hearted: and he saveth those that are of a contrite spirit.
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, he helps those whose spirit is crushed.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but out of them all the Lord ever delivereth him.
Many misfortunes befall the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all.
20 He watcheth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
He guards all their bones, none are broken.
21 The evil will slay the wicked: and they who hate the righteous shall incur guiltiness.
Misfortune will slay the ungodly; those who hate the righteous are doomed.
22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and all that trust in him shall not incur guiltiness.
The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, and none will be doomed who takes refuge in him.
