Psalms 34

1 A psalm of David concerning the time he pretended to be mad in front of Abimelech who then sent him away. I will always bless the Lord; my mouth will continually praise him.

[A Psalm] of David, when he changed his behavior 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 From the bottom of my heart I am proud of the Lord; those who are humble will hear and be happy.

My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear [of it] and be glad.

3 Glorify God with me; together let's honor his reputation.

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

4 I asked the Lord for help, and he answered me. He set me free from all my fears.

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

5 The faces of those who look to him will shine with joy; they will never be downcast with shame.

They looked to him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard me, and saved me from all my troubles.

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

7 The angel of the Lord stands guard over all those who honor him, keeping them safe.

The angel of the LORD encampeth around them that fear him, and delivereth them.

8 Taste, and you will see that the Lord is good! How happy are those who trust in his protection!

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

9 Show your reverence for the Lord, you who are his holy people, for those who respect him have everything they need.

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

10 Lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who trust in the Lord have all that is good.

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

11 Children, listen to me! I will teach you how to respect the Lord.

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

12 Who of you wants to live a long and happy life?

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

13 Then don't let your tongue speak evil, or your lips tell lies.

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

14 Reject what is evil, do what is good. Look for peace, and work to make it a reality.

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

15 The Lord watches over those who do right, and he hears when they cry for help.

The eyes of the LORD [are] upon the righteous, and his ears [are open] to their cry.

16 The Lord sets himself against those who do evil. He will wipe out even the memory of them from the earth.

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

17 But when his people call out for help, he hears them and rescues them from all their troubles.

[The righteous] cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18 The Lord is close beside those who are broken-hearted; he saves those whose spirits are crushed.

The LORD [is] nigh to them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.

19 Those who do right have many problems, but the Lord solves all of them.

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

20 He keeps them safe—not a single one of their bones will be broken.

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

21 Evil kills the wicked. Those who hate good people will suffer for their wrongdoing.

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

22 The Lord saves the lives of his servants. Those who trust in his protection will not suffer for their wrongdoings.

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