Psalm 33–34

^1–333Good people, cheer God!

Right-living people sound best when praising.

Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs!

Play his praise on a grand piano!

Invent your own new song to him;

give him a trumpet fanfare.

^4–5For God’s Word is solid to the core;

everything he makes is sound inside and out.

He loves it when everything fits,

when his world is in plumb-line true.

Earth is drenched

in God’s affectionate satisfaction.

^6–7The skies were made by God’s command;

he breathed the word and the stars popped out.

He scooped Sea into his jug,

put Ocean in his keg.

^8–9Earth-creatures, bow before God;

world-dwellers—down on your knees!

Here’s why: he spoke and there it was,

in place the moment he said so.

^10–12God takes the wind out of Babel pretense,

he shoots down the world’s power-schemes.

God’s plan for the world stands up,

all his designs are made to last.

Blessed is the country with God for God;

blessed are the people he’s put in his will.

^13–15From high in the skies God looks around,

he sees all Adam’s brood.

From where he sits

he overlooks all us earth-dwellers.

He has shaped each person in turn;

now he watches everything we do.

^16–17No king succeeds with a big army alone,

no warrior wins by brute strength.

Horsepower is not the answer;

no one gets by on muscle alone.

^18–19Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him,

the ones who are looking for his love.

He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times;

in lean times he keeps body and soul together.

^20–22We’re depending on God;

he’s everything we need.

What’s more, our hearts brim with joy

since we’ve taken for our own his holy name.

Love us, God, with all you’ve got—

that’s what we’re depending on.

A David Psalm, When He Outwitted Abimelech and Got Away

¹34I bless God every chance I get;

my lungs expand with his praise.

²I live and breathe God;

if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy:

³Join me in spreading the news;

together let’s get the word out.

⁴God met me more than halfway,

he freed me from my anxious fears.

⁵Look at him; give him your warmest smile.

Never hide your feelings from him.

⁶When I was desperate, I called out,

and God got me out of a tight spot.

⁷God’s angel sets up a circle

of protection around us while we pray.

⁸Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—

how good God is.

Blessed are you who run to him.

⁹Worship God if you want the best;

worship opens doors to all his goodness.

¹⁰Young lions on the prowl get hungry,

but God-seekers are full of God.

¹¹Come, children, listen closely;

I’ll give you a lesson in God worship.

¹²Who out there has a lust for life?

Can’t wait each day to come upon beauty?

¹³Guard your tongue from profanity,

and no more lying through your teeth.

¹⁴Turn your back on sin; do something good.

Embrace peace—don’t let it get away!

¹⁵God keeps an eye on his friends,

his ears pick up every moan and groan.

¹⁶God won’t put up with rebels;

he’ll cull them from the pack.

¹⁷Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,

ready to rescue you.

¹⁸If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there;

if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.

¹⁹Disciples so often get into trouble;

still, God is there every time.

²⁰He’s your bodyguard, shielding every bone;

not even a finger gets broken.

²¹The wicked commit slow suicide;

they waste their lives hating the good.

²²God pays for each slave’s freedom;

no one who runs to him loses out.