Psalms 34

1 BY DAVID, IN HIS CHANGING HIS BEHAVIOR BEFORE ABIMELECH, AND HE DRIVES HIM AWAY, AND HE GOES. [ALEPH-BET] I bless YHWH at all times, His praise [is] continually 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 In YHWH my soul boasts herself, The humble hear and rejoice.

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

3 Ascribe greatness to YHWH with me, And we exalt His Name together.

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

4 I sought YHWH, 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 expectingly to Him, And they became bright, And their faces are not ashamed.

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

6 This poor [one] called, and YHWH heard, And saved him from all his distresses.

This poor man's cry came before the Lord, and he gave him salvation from all his troubles.

7 A messenger of YHWH is encamping, Around those who fear Him, And He arms them.

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

8 Taste and see that YHWH [is] good, O the blessedness of the man who trusts in Him.

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

9 Fear YHWH, you His holy ones, For there is no lack to those fearing 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 Young lions have lacked and been hungry, And those seeking YHWH do not lack any 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 Come, children, listen to me, I teach you the fear of YHWH.

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

12 Who [is] the man that is desiring life? Loving days to see good?

What man has a love of life, and a desire that his days may be increased so that he may see good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.

Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from words of deceit.

14 Turn aside 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 YHWH [are] to the righteous, And His ears to their cry.

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

16 (The face of YHWH [is] on doers of evil, To cut off their memorial from 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 YHWH heard, And delivered them from all their distresses.

The cry of the upright comes before the Lord, and he takes them out of all their troubles.

18 YHWH [is] near to the broken of heart, And He saves the bruised of spirit.

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

19 Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous, YHWH delivers him out of them all.

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

20 He is keeping all his bones, Not one of them has been broken.

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

21 Evil puts the wicked to death, And those hating the righteous are desolate.

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

22 YHWH redeems the soul of His servants, And none trusting in Him are 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.