Psalms 34

1 “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.

[A Psalm] of David, when he changed his countenance before Abimelech; and he let him go, and he departed. I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall be continually in my mouth.

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

My soul shall boast herself in the Lord: let the meek hear, and rejoice.

3 Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Magnify you the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and from all that I dreaded did he deliver me.

I sought the Lord diligently, and he listened to me, and delivered me from all my sojournings.

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

Draw near to him, and be enlightened: and your faces shall not [by any means] be ashamed.

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

This poor man cried, and the Lord listened to him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions.

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

The angel of the Lord will encamp round about them that fear him, and will deliver them.

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

Taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man who hopes in him.

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

Fear the Lord, all you his saints: for there is no lack to them that fear him.

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

The rich have become poor and hungry: but they that seek the Lord diligently shall not lack any good thing. (Pause)

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

Come, you children, hear me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

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

What man is there that desires life, loving to see good days?

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

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

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 directed unto the righteous, and his ears unto their cry.

The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears [are open] to their prayer:

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

but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to destroy their memorial from the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord listened to them,

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

and delivered them out of all their afflictions.

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

The Lord is near to them that are of a contrite heart; and will save the lowly in spirit.

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

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but out of them all Lord will deliver them.

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

He keeps all their bones: not one of them shall be broken.

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

The death of sinners is evil: and they that hate righteousness will go wrong.

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

The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of those that hope in him shall go wrong.