Psalm 34
A psalm of David when he was with Abimelek and pretended to be out of his mind. Abimelek drove him away, and David left.
1I will thank the Lord at all times.
My lips will always praise him.
2I will find my glory in knowing the Lord.
Let those who are hurting hear me and be joyful.
3Join me in giving glory to the Lord.
Let us honor him together.
4I looked to the Lord, and he answered me.
He saved me from everything I was afraid of.
5Those who look to him have joyful faces.
They are never covered with shame.
6This poor man called out, and the Lord heard him.
He saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the Lord stands guard
around those who have respect for him.
And he saves them.
8Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed is the person who goes to him for safety.
9You holy people of God, have respect for the Lord.
Those who respect him have everything they need.
10The lions may grow weak and hungry.
But those who look to the Lord have every good thing they need.
11My children, come. Listen to me.
I will teach you to have respect for the Lord.
12Do you love life
and want to see many good days?
13Then keep your tongues from speaking evil.
Keep your lips from telling lies.
14Turn away from evil, and do good.
Look for peace, and go after it.
15The Lord looks with favor on those who are godly.
His ears are open to their cry.
16But the Lord doesn’t look with favor on those who do evil.
He removes all memory of them from the earth.
17Godly people cry out, and the Lord hears them.
He saves them from all their troubles.
18The Lord is close to those whose hearts have been broken.
He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.
19The person who does what is right may have many troubles.
But the Lord saves him from all of them.
20The Lord watches over all his bones.
Not one of them will be broken.
21Sinners will be killed by their own evil.
The enemies of godly people will be judged.
22The Lord will save those who serve him.
No one who goes to him for safety will be found guilty.
Psalm 34This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
