Psalm 34

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.