Psalms 34

Psalm 34¹

Written by David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, causing the king to send him away.²

34:1 I will praise³ the Lord at all times;

my mouth will continually praise him.⁴

34:2 I will boast⁵ in the Lord;

let the oppressed hear and rejoice!⁶

34:3 Magnify the Lord with me!

Let’s praise⁷ his name together!

34:4 I sought the Lord’s help⁸ and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

34:5 Those who look to him for help are happy;

their faces are not ashamed.⁹

34:6 This oppressed man cried out and the Lord heard;

he saved him¹⁰ from all his troubles.

34:7 The Lord’s angel camps around

the Lord’s¹¹ loyal followers¹² and delivers them.¹³

34:8 Taste¹⁴ and see that the Lord is good!

How blessed¹⁵ is the one¹⁶who takes shelter in him!¹⁷

34:9 Remain loyal to¹⁸ the Lord, you chosen people of his,¹⁹

for his loyal followers²⁰ lack nothing!

34:10 Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

34:11 Come children! Listen to me!

I will teach you what it means to fear the Lord.²¹

34:12 Do you want to really live?²²

Would you love to live a long, happy life?²³

34:13 Then make sure you don’t speak evil words²⁴

or use deceptive speech!²⁵

34:14 Turn away from evil and do what is right!²⁶

Strive for peace and promote it!²⁷

34:15 The Lord pays attention to the godly

and hears their cry for help.²⁸

34:16 But the Lord opposes evildoers

and wipes out all memory of them from the earth.²⁹

34:17 The godly³⁰ cry out and the Lord hears;

he saves them from all their troubles.³¹

34:18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted;

he delivers³² those who are discouraged.³³

34:19 The godly³⁴ face many dangers,³⁵

but the Lord saves³⁶ them³⁷ from each one of them.

34:20 He protects³⁸ all his bones;³⁹

not one of them is broken.⁴⁰

34:21 Evil people self-destruct;⁴¹

those who hate the godly are punished.⁴²

34:22 The Lord rescues his servants;⁴³

all who take shelter in him escape punishment.⁴⁴

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