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Praise God Who Judges and Saves

David’s song from the time he acted crazy so Abimelech would send him away. And David did leave.

34 I will praise the Lord at all times.
    His praise is always on my lips.
My whole being praises the Lord.
    The poor will hear and be glad.
Tell the greatness of the Lord with me.
    Let us praise his name together.

I asked the Lord for help, and he answered me.
    He saved me from all that I feared.
Those who go to him for help are happy.
    They are never disgraced.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him.
    The Lord saved him from all his troubles.
The Lord saves those who fear him.
    His angel camps around them.

Examine and see how good the Lord is.
    Happy is the person who trusts the Lord.
People who belong to the Lord, fear him!
    Those who fear him will have everything they need.
10 Even lions may become weak and hungry.
    But those people who go to the Lord for help will have every good thing.
11 Children, come and listen to me.
    I will teach you to worship the Lord.
12 You must do these things
    to enjoy life and have many happy days.
13 You must not say evil things.
    You must not tell lies.
14 Stop doing evil and do good.
    Look for peace and work for it.

15 The Lord sees the good people.
    He listens to their prayers.
16 But the Lord is against those who do evil.
    He makes the world forget them.
17 The Lord hears good people when they cry out to him.
    He saves them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
    He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.

19 People who do what is right may have many problems.
    But the Lord will solve them all.
20 He will protect their very bones.
    Not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will kill the wicked people.
    Those who hate good people will be judged guilty.
22 But the Lord saves his servants’ lives.
    No one who trusts him will be judged guilty.

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.

By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

34 [a]I will bless Yahweh at all times.
    His praise will always be in my mouth.
My soul shall boast in Yahweh.
    The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh magnify Yahweh with me.
    Let’s exalt his name together.
I sought Yahweh, and he answered me,
    and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to him, and were radiant.
    Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him,
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him,
    and delivers them.
Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good.
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints,
    for there is no lack with those who fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger,
    but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me.
    I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
12 Who is someone who desires life,
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
    and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Depart from evil, and do good.
    Seek peace, and pursue it.
15 Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous.
    His ears listen to their cry.
16 Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil,
    to cut off their memory from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears,
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart,
    and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
20 He protects all of his bones.
    Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall kill the wicked.
    Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants.
    None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.

Footnotes

  1. 34:1 Psalm 34 is an acrostic poem, with each verse starting with a letter of the alphabet (ordered from Alef to Tav).