Psalms 34

1 By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.

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.

2 My soul shall boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

In the Lord will my heart make her boast, the humble will hear and be glad.

3 Oh magnify the LORD with me. Let’s exalt his name together.

O magnify the Lord with me and let us extol his name together.

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

I sought the Lord, and, in answer, he saved me from all my terrors.

5 They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.

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

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

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

7 The LORD’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

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

8 Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

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

9 Oh fear the LORD, you his holy ones, for there is no lack with those who fear him.

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

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

Even young lions may be poor and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Come, children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

Which of you is desirous of life, loves many and happy days?

13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.

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

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

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

15 The LORD’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.

The eyes of the Lord are towards the righteous, his ears are towards their cry for help.

16 The LORD’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.

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

17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

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

18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.

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

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

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

20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.

He guards all their bones, none are broken.

21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

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

22 The LORD redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.

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