Psalms 34

1 A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour 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.

To David, when he changed his appearance in the sight of Abimelech, and so he dismissed him, and he went away. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will be ever in my mouth.

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

In the Lord, my soul will be praised. May the meek listen and rejoice.

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

Magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name in itself.

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

I sought the Lord, and he heeded me, and he carried me away from all my tribulations.

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

Approach him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be confounded.

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

This poor one cried out, and the Lord heeded him, and he saved him from all his tribulations.

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

The Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear him, and he will rescue them.

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

Taste and see that the Lord is sweet. Blessed is the man who hopes in him.

9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no lack to them that fear him.

Fear the Lord, all you his saints. For there is no destitution for those who fear him.

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

The rich have been needy and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good thing.

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

Come forward, sons. Listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

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

Which is the man who wills life, who chooses to see good days?

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

Prohibit your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

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

Turn away from evil, and do good. Inquire about peace, and pursue it.

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

The eyes of the Lord are on the just, and his ears are with their prayers.

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

But the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil, to perish the remembrance of them from the earth.

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

The just cried out, and the Lord heard them, and he freed them from all their tribulations.

18 The LORD is near to them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.

The Lord is near to those who are troubled in heart, and he will save the humble in spirit.

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

Many are the afflictions of the just, but from them all the Lord will free them.

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

The Lord preserves all of their bones, not one of them shall be broken.

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

The death of a sinner is very harmful, and those who hate the just will fare badly.

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

The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants, and none of those who hope in him will fare badly.