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 feigned himself mad 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.

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

In the LORD doth my soul boast; Let the afflicted hear, and rejoice!

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

O magnify 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, and he heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

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

Look up to him, and ye shall have light; Your faces shall never be ashamed.

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

This afflicted man cried, and the LORD heard, And saved him from all his troubles.

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

The angels of the LORD encamp around those who fear him, And deliver them.

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

O taste, and see how good is the LORD! Happy the man who trusteth in him!

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

O fear the LORD, ye his servants! For to those who fear him there shall be no want.

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

Young lions want, and suffer hunger; But they who fear the LORD want no good thing.

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

Come, ye children, hearken to me! I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

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

Who is he that loveth life, And desireth many days, in which he may see good?

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

Guard well thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile!

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

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, 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.)

But the face of the LORD is against evil-doers, To cut off their remembrance from the earth.

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

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, And delivereth them from all their troubles.

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 broken heart, And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.

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

Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But the LORD delivereth him from them all.

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

He guardeth all his bones; Not one of them shall be broken.

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

Calamity destroyeth the wicked, And they who hate the righteous suffer for it.

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

The LORD redeemeth the life of his servants, And none that put their trust in him will suffer for it.