Psalm 34

Psalm 34^a

By David when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech; Abimelech threw him out, so David left. 

¹I will thank the Lord at all times. 

My mouth will always praise him. 

²My soul will boast about the Lord. 

Those who are oppressed will hear it and rejoice. 

³Praise the Lord’s greatness with me. 

Let us highly honor his name together. 

⁴I went to the Lord for help. 

He answered me and rescued me from all my fears. 

⁵All who look to him will be radiant. 

Their faces will never be covered with shame. 

⁶Here is a poor man who called out. 

The Lord heard him and saved him from all his troubles. 

⁷The Messenger of the Lord camps around those who fear him, 

and he rescues them. 

⁸Taste and see that the Lord is good. 

Blessed is the person who takes refuge in him. 

⁹Fear the Lord, you holy people who belong to him. 

Those who fear him are never in need. 

¹⁰Young lions go hungry and may starve, 

but those who seek the Lord’s help have all the good things they need. 

¹¹Come, children, listen to me. 

I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 

¹²Which of you wants a full life? 

Who would like to live long enough to enjoy good things? 

¹³Keep your tongue from saying evil things 

and your lips from speaking deceitful things. 

¹⁴Turn away from evil, and do good. 

Seek peace, and pursue it! 

¹⁵The Lord’s eyes are on righteous people. 

His ears hear their cry for help. 

¹⁶The Lord confronts those who do evil 

in order to wipe out all memory of them from the earth. 

¹⁷⸤Righteous people⸥ cry out. 

The Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles. 

¹⁸The Lord is near to those whose hearts are humble. 

He saves those whose spirits are crushed. 

¹⁹The righteous person has many troubles, 

but the Lord rescues him from all of them. 

²⁰The Lord guards all of his bones. 

Not one of them is broken. 

²¹Evil will kill wicked people, 

and those who hate righteous people will be condemned. 

²²The Lord protects the souls of his servants. 

All who take refuge in him will never be condemned.