Psalms 34

1 David’s. When he disguised his sanity before Abimelech, —who dismissed him, and he departed. [An Alphabetical Psalm.] Let me bless Yahweh at all times, Continually be his praise 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 In Yahweh, boasteth my soul, The patient oppressed-ones shall hear and be glad.

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

3 Ascribe ye greatness unto Yahweh with me, and let us exalt his Name together.

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

4 I enquired of Yahweh, and he hath answered me, And, out of all my terrors, hath he rescued me.

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

5 They looked unto him and were radiant, And, as for their faces, let them not be abashed.

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

6 This, oppressed one cried, and, Yahweh, heard—and, out of all his distresses, saved him.

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

7 The messenger of Yahweh encampeth around them who revere him, Thus hath he delivered them.

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

8 Oh taste and see, that good is Yahweh, —How happy the man who seeketh refuge in him!

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

9 Revere Yahweh, ye his holy ones, For there is no want to them who revere him.

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

10 Young lions, have come short, and suffered hunger, but, they who seek Yahweh, shall not lack any good thing.

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

11 Come, ye children! hearken unto me, The reverence of Yahweh, will I teach you.

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

12 Who is the man that desireth life, Loving days, that he may see good?

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

13 Keep thy tongue from wickedness, And thy lips from speaking deceit:

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

14 Depart from wickedness and do good, Aim at well-being, and pursue it.

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

15 The eyes of Yahweh, are towards the righteous, And, his ears, towards their cry for help:

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

16 the face of Yahweh, is against such as do wickedness, To cut off, from the earth, their memory.

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 hearkened to them,

17 They made outcry, and Yahweh heard, And, out of all their straits, hath he rescued them.

and delivered them out of all their afflictions.

18 Near is Yahweh, to the broken in heart, And, the crushed in spirit, will he save.

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

19 Many are the misfortunes of the righteous, But, out of them all, doth Yahweh rescue him.

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

20 Keeping all his bones, Not, one from among them, is broken.

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

21 Misfortune shall be the death of the lawless one, And, the haters of the righteous man, shall be held guilty.

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

22 Yahweh ransometh the soul of his servants, And none shall be held guilty, who seek refuge in him.

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