Psalms 34

1 [By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.] I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise will always be 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 My soul shall boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.

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

3 Oh magnify the LORD with me. Let us exalt his name together.

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

4 I sought the LORD, 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 to him and were radiant, 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 man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

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

7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

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

8 Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

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

9 Oh fear the LORD, you his holy ones, for there is no lack with those who fear 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 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

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, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

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

12 Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may 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 lies.

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

14 Turn away 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 the LORD are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.

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

16 The LORD's face is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to take away the memory of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

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

18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed 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, but the LORD 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 protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.

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

21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

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

22 The LORD redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.

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.