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.

“By David, when he disguised his reason before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.” I will bless the Lord at all times: continually shall his praise be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear it, and be rejoiced.

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

Oh magnify the Lord with me, and 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, and from all that I dreaded did he deliver me.

5 They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.

They [who] looked unto him, were indeed enlightened, and their faces were not put to the blush.

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

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and out of all his distresses did he save him.

7 The LORD’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about those who fear him, and delivereth them.

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

Experience and see that the Lord is good: happy is the man that trusteth in him.

9 Oh fear the LORD, you his holy ones, for there is no lack with those who fear him.

Oh fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to those who fear him.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not want any good.

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

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

12 Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

Who is the man that desireth life, loveth [many] days, that he may see happiness?

13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.

Guard thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking deceit.

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

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

15 The LORD’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.

The eyes of the Lord are directed unto the righteous, and his ears unto their cry.

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

[But] the anger of the Lord is against those that do evil, to cut off from the earth their remembrance.

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

Those cry, and the Lord heareth, and from all their distresses he delivereth them.

18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.

The Lord is nigh unto those that are broken-hearted: and he saveth those that are of a contrite spirit.

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

Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but out of them all the Lord ever delivereth him.

20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.

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

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

The evil will slay the wicked: and they who hate the righteous shall incur guiltiness.

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

The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and all that trust in him shall not incur guiltiness.