Psalms 34

1 [A Psalm] of David; when he changed his behaviour 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.

Of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, so that the king drove him away. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.

2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the meek shall hear thereof, and be glad.

My soul boasts in the LORD; let the oppressed hear and rejoice.

3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces shall never be confounded.

Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces shall never be ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.

8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

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

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth [many] days, that he may see good?

Who is the man who delights in life, who desires to see good days?

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

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.

14 Depart 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 the LORD are toward the righteous, and his ears are [open] unto their cry.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.

16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.

17 [The righteous] cried, and the LORD heard, and delivered them out of all their troubles.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.

18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.

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

He protects all his bones; not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be condemned.

Evil will slay the wicked, and the haters of the righteous will be condemned.

22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be condemned.

The LORD redeems His servants, and none who take refuge in Him will be condemned.