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.

[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.

2 In YHWH my soul boasts herself, The humble hear and rejoice.

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

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

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

4 I sought YHWH, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.

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

5 They looked expectingly to Him, And they became bright, And their faces are not ashamed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 Fear YHWH, you His holy ones, For there is no lack to those fearing Him.

Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10 Young lions have lacked and been hungry, And those seeking YHWH do not lack any good,

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

11 Come, children, listen to me, I teach you the fear of YHWH.

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

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

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

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

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Turn aside from evil and do good, Seek peace and pursue it.

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

15 The eyes of YHWH [are] to the righteous, And His ears to their cry.

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

16 (The face of YHWH [is] on doers of evil, To cut off their memorial from earth.)

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 hearkened to them,

17 They cried, and YHWH heard, And delivered them from all their distresses.

and delivered them out of all their afflictions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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