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Psalm 34[a]

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

I will thank Yahweh at all times.
    My mouth will always praise him.
My soul will boast about Yahweh.
    Those who are oppressed will hear it and rejoice.
Praise Yahweh’s greatness with me.
    Let us highly honor his name together.
I went to Yahweh for help.
    He answered me and rescued me from all my fears.
All who look to him will be radiant.[b]
    Their faces will never be covered with shame.
Here is a poor man who called out.
    Yahweh heard him and saved him from all his troubles.
The Messenger of Yahweh camps around those who fear him,
    and he rescues them.
Taste and see that Yahweh is good.
    Blessed is the person who takes refuge in him.
Fear Yahweh, you holy people who belong to him.
    Those who fear him are never in need.
10 Young lions go hungry and may starve,
    but those who seek Yahweh’s help have all the good things they need.
11 Come, children, listen to me.
    I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
12 Which of you wants a full life?
    Who would like to live long enough to enjoy good things?
13 Keep your tongue from saying evil things
    and your lips from speaking deceitful things.
14 Turn away from evil, and do good.
    Seek peace, and pursue it!
15 Yahweh’s eyes are on righteous people.
    His ears hear their cry for help.
16 Yahweh confronts those who do evil
    in order to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.
17 Righteous people cry out.
    Yahweh hears and rescues them from all their troubles.
18 Yahweh is near to those whose hearts are humble.
    He saves those whose spirits are crushed.
19 The righteous person has many troubles,
    but Yahweh rescues him from all of them.
20 Yahweh guards all of his bones.
    Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil will kill wicked people,
    and those who hate righteous people will be condemned.
22 Yahweh protects the souls of his servants.
    All who take refuge in him will never be condemned.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:1 Psalm 34 is a poem in Hebrew alphabetical order.
  2. Psalm 34:5 Hebrew meaning uncertain.

Psalm 34[a][b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

I will extol the Lord at all times;(B)
    his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory(C) in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(D)
Glorify the Lord(E) with me;
    let us exalt(F) his name together.

I sought the Lord,(G) and he answered me;
    he delivered(H) me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;(I)
    their faces are never covered with shame.(J)
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.(K)
The angel of the Lord(L) encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers(M) them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;(N)
    blessed is the one who takes refuge(O) in him.
Fear the Lord,(P) you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.(Q)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(R)
11 Come, my children, listen(S) to me;
    I will teach you(T) the fear of the Lord.(U)
12 Whoever of you loves life(V)
    and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(W) from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.(X)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(Y)
    seek peace(Z) and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord(AA) are on the righteous,(AB)
    and his ears are attentive(AC) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(AD) those who do evil,(AE)
    to blot out their name(AF) from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(AG) them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(AH) to the brokenhearted(AI)
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,(AJ)
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;(AK)
20 he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.(AL)

21 Evil will slay the wicked;(AM)
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue(AN) his servants;
    no one who takes refuge(AO) in him will be condemned.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.