Psalm 34-36

New International Version

⁴ I sought the Lord,^(G) and he answered me;
    he delivered^(H) me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;^(I)
    their faces are never covered with shame.^(J)
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.^(K)
7 The angel of the Lord^(L) encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers^(M) them.

⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good;^(N)
    blessed is the one who takes refuge^(O) in him.
⁹ 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.

⁴ 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.
⁵ May they be like chaff^(BB) before the wind,
    with the angel of the Lord^(BC) driving them away;
⁶ may their path be dark and slippery,
    with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

⁷ Since they hid their net^(BD) for me without cause^(BE)
    and without cause dug a pit^(BF) for me,
⁸ may ruin overtake them by surprise—^(BG)
    may the net they hid entangle them,
    may they fall into the pit,^(BH) to their ruin.
⁹ 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)

² In their own eyes they flatter themselves
    too much to detect or hate their sin.^(DD)
3 The words of their mouths^(DE) are wicked and deceitful;^(DF)
    they fail to act wisely^(DG) or do good.^(DH)
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;^(DI)
    they commit themselves to a sinful course^(DJ)
    and do not reject what is wrong.^(DK)

⁵ Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness^(DL) to the skies.^(DM)
6 Your righteousness^(DN) is like the highest mountains,^(DO)
    your justice like the great deep.^(DP)
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.^(DQ)
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!^(DR)
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.^(DS)
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;^(DT)
    you give them drink from your river^(DU) of delights.^(DV)
9 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)