Psalms 34

1 Of David, when he feigned madness in the presence of Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left. I will bless the Lord at all times, in my mouth will his praise be forever.

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 In the Lord will my heart make her boast, the humble will hear 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 O magnify the Lord with me and let us extol 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, in answer, he saved me from all my terrors.

I was searching for the Lord, and he gave ear to my voice, and made me free from all my fears.

5 Look to him and you will be radiant, with faces unashamed.

Let your eyes be turned to him and you will have light, and your faces will not be shamed.

6 Here is one who was crushed, but cried and was heard by the Lord, and brought safe out of every trouble.

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

7 The Lord’s angel encamps about those who fear him, and rescues them.

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

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good, happy those who take refuge in him.

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

9 Fear the Lord, all his people, for they who fear him lack nothing.

Keep yourselves in the fear of the Lord, all you his saints; for those who do so will have no need of anything.

10 Even young lions may be poor and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will 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, 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 Which of you is desirous of life, loves many and happy days?

What man has a love of life, and a desire that his days may be increased so that he may see good?

13 Then guard your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.

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

14 Depart 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 towards the righteous, his ears are towards their cry for help.

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

16 The Lord sets his face against those who do evil, to root their memory out of the earth.

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

17 When righteous cry, they are heard by the Lord, and he saves them from all their distresses.

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

18 The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, he helps those whose spirit is crushed.

The Lord is near the broken-hearted; he is the saviour of those whose spirits are crushed down.

19 Many misfortunes befall the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all.

Great are the troubles of the upright: but the Lord takes him safely out of them all.

20 He guards all their bones, none are broken.

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

21 Misfortune will slay the ungodly; those who hate the righteous are doomed.

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

22 The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, and none will be doomed who takes refuge in him.

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.