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Those Who Trust in God Are Happy

34 I will honor the Lord at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. My soul will be proud to tell about the Lord. Let those who suffer hear it and be filled with joy. Give great honor to the Lord with me. Let us praise His name together.

I looked for the Lord, and He answered me. And He took away all my fears. They looked to Him and their faces shined with joy. Their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him. And He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord stays close around those who fear Him, and He takes them out of trouble.

O taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who trusts in Him! O fear the Lord, all you who belong to Him. For those who fear Him never want for anything. 10 The young lions suffer want and hunger. But they who look for the Lord will not be without any good thing. 11 Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Who is the man who has a desire for life, and wants to live long so that he may see good things? 13 Keep your tongue from sin and your lips from speaking lies. 14 Turn away from what is sinful. Do what is good. Look for peace and follow it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on those who do what is right and good. His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who sin. He will keep the people of the earth from remembering them. 17 Those who are right with the Lord cry, and He hears them. And He takes them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart. And He saves those who are broken in spirit.

19 A man who does what is right and good may have many troubles. But the Lord takes him out of them all. 20 He keeps all his bones safe. Not one of them is broken. 21 Sin will kill the sinful. And those who hate God’s people will be held guilty and punished forever. 22 The Lord saves the soul of those who work for Him. None of those who trust in Him will be held guilty.

Prayer for Help

35 O Lord, stand against those who stand against me. Fight those who fight me. Take hold of a safe-covering and rise up to help me. Take a spear and battle-ax against those who come to get me. Say to my soul, “I am the One Who saves you.” Let the people be ashamed and without honor who want to take my life. Let those be turned away and brought to shame who plan to hurt me. Let them be like straw in the wind. May the angel of the Lord drive them away. Let their way be dark and dangerous, with the angel of the Lord going to get them. For without a reason they hid their net for me. Without a reason, they dug a hole for my soul. Let them be destroyed before they know it. And let them be caught in their own net. May they destroy themselves as they fall into their own hole.

My soul will be happy in the Lord. It will be full of joy because He saves. 10 All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You? Who saves the weak from those too strong for them? Who saves the poor from those who would rob them?” 11 People come telling lies. They ask me of things that I do not know. 12 They pay me what is bad in return for what is good. My soul is sad. 13 But when they were sick, I put on clothes made from hair. With no pride in my soul, I would not eat. And I prayed with my head on my chest. 14 I went about as if it were my friend or brother. I put my head down in sorrow, like one crying for his mother. 15 But when I would fall, they would gather together in joy. Those who say things to hurt people would gather against me. I did not know them. They spoke against me without stopping. 16 They ground their teeth at me like bad people making fun of others at a special supper.

17 Lord, how long will You look on? Save me from being destroyed by them. Save my life from the lions. 18 I will give You thanks in the big meeting. I will praise You among many people. 19 Do not let those who hate me for no reason stand over me with joy. Do not let those who hate me for no reason wink their eye. 20 They do not speak peace. But they make up lies against those who are quiet in the land. 21 And they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “O, O, our eyes have seen it.”

22 You have seen it, O Lord. Do not keep quiet. O Lord, do not be far from me. 23 Awake Yourself. Come and help me. Fight for me, my God and my Lord. 24 Say what is right or wrong with me, O Lord my God, because You are right and good. Do not let them have joy over me. 25 Do not let them say in their heart, “O, just what we wanted!” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!” 26 Let all who are happy because of my trouble be ashamed and without honor. Let those who think they are better than I, be covered with shame and without honor.

27 Let them call out for joy and be glad, who want to see the right thing done for me. Let them always say, “May the Lord be honored. He is pleased when all is going well for His servant.” 28 And my tongue will tell about how right and good You are, and about Your praise all day long.

Sinful Men—Loving God

36 Sin speaks to the sinful man within his heart. There is no fear of God in his eyes. For he makes much of himself in his own eyes. So his sin is not known and hated. The words of his mouth are sinful and false. He has stopped being wise and doing good. He plans wrong-doing upon his bed. He sets himself on a path that is not good. He does not hate what is bad.

O Lord, Your loving-kindness goes to the heavens. You are as faithful as the sky is high. You are as right and good as mountains are big. You are as fair when You judge as a sea is deep. O Lord, You keep safe both man and animal. Of what great worth is Your loving-kindness, O God! The children of men come and are safe in the shadow of Your wings. They are filled with the riches of Your house. And You give them a drink from Your river of joy. All life came from You. In Your light we see light.

10 Keep on giving Your loving-kindness to those who know You. Keep on being right and good to the pure in heart. 11 Do not let the foot of pride come near me. Do not let the hand of the sinful push me away. 12 There have the wrong-doers fallen. They have been thrown down, and cannot rise.

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.

Psalm 35

Of David.

Contend,(AP) Lord, with those who contend with me;
    fight(AQ) against those who fight against me.
Take up shield(AR) and armor;
    arise(AS) and come to my aid.(AT)
Brandish spear(AU) and javelin[c](AV)
    against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
    “I am your salvation.(AW)

May those who seek my life(AX)
    be disgraced(AY) and put to shame;(AZ)
may those who plot my ruin
    be turned back(BA) in dismay.
May they be like chaff(BB) before the wind,
    with the angel of the Lord(BC) driving them away;
may their path be dark and slippery,
    with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

Since they hid their net(BD) for me without cause(BE)
    and without cause dug a pit(BF) for me,
may ruin overtake them by surprise—(BG)
    may the net they hid entangle them,
    may they fall into the pit,(BH) to their ruin.
Then my soul will rejoice(BI) in the Lord
    and delight in his salvation.(BJ)
10 My whole being will exclaim,
    “Who is like you,(BK) Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong(BL) for them,
    the poor and needy(BM) from those who rob them.”

11 Ruthless witnesses(BN) come forward;
    they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good(BO)
    and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth(BP)
    and humbled myself with fasting.(BQ)
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14     I went about mourning(BR)
    as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
    as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;(BS)
    assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
    They slandered(BT) me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[d](BU)
    they gnashed their teeth(BV) at me.

17 How long,(BW) Lord, will you look on?
    Rescue me from their ravages,
    my precious life(BX) from these lions.(BY)
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;(BZ)
    among the throngs(CA) I will praise you.(CB)
19 Do not let those gloat over me
    who are my enemies(CC) without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason(CD)
    maliciously wink the eye.(CE)
20 They do not speak peaceably,
    but devise false accusations(CF)
    against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer(CG) at me and say, “Aha! Aha!(CH)
    With our own eyes we have seen it.”

22 Lord, you have seen(CI) this; do not be silent.
    Do not be far(CJ) from me, Lord.
23 Awake,(CK) and rise(CL) to my defense!
    Contend(CM) for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
    do not let them gloat(CN) over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha,(CO) just what we wanted!”
    or say, “We have swallowed him up.”(CP)

26 May all who gloat(CQ) over my distress(CR)
    be put to shame(CS) and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me(CT)
    be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication(CU)
    shout for joy(CV) and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
    who delights(CW) in the well-being of his servant.”(CX)

28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,(CY)
    your praises all day long.(CZ)

Psalm 36[e]

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.

I have a message from God in my heart
    concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[f](DA)
There is no fear(DB) of God
    before their eyes.(DC)

In their own eyes they flatter themselves
    too much to detect or hate their sin.(DD)
The words of their mouths(DE) are wicked and deceitful;(DF)
    they fail to act wisely(DG) or do good.(DH)
Even on their beds they plot evil;(DI)
    they commit themselves to a sinful course(DJ)
    and do not reject what is wrong.(DK)

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness(DL) to the skies.(DM)
Your righteousness(DN) is like the highest mountains,(DO)
    your justice like the great deep.(DP)
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.(DQ)
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!(DR)
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.(DS)
They feast on the abundance of your house;(DT)
    you give them drink from your river(DU) of delights.(DV)
For with you is the fountain of life;(DW)
    in your light(DX) we see light.

10 Continue your love(DY) to those who know you,(DZ)
    your righteousness to the upright in heart.(EA)
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
    nor the hand of the wicked(EB) drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
    thrown down, not able to rise!(EC)

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.
  3. Psalm 35:3 Or and block the way
  4. Psalm 35:16 Septuagint; Hebrew may mean Like an ungodly circle of mockers,
  5. Psalm 36:1 In Hebrew texts 36:1-12 is numbered 36:2-13.
  6. Psalm 36:1 Or A message from God: The transgression of the wicked / resides in their hearts.

34 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

35 Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them.

Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.

For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

22 This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

36 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.