PSALM 34
1For David, when he altered his good sense before Abimelech, who banished him, and he went away.
2Let me bless the LORD at all times,ℵ
always His praise in my mouth.
3In the LORD do I glory.ב
Let the lowly hear and rejoice.
4Extol the LORD with me,ג
let us exalt His name one and all.
5I sought the LORD and He answered me,ד
and from all that I dreaded He saved me.
6They looked to Him and they beamed,ה
and their faces were no longer dark.
7When the lowly calls, God listensז
and from all his straits rescues him.
8The LORD’s messenger encampsח
round those who fear Him and sets them free.
9Taste and see that the LORD is good,ט
happy the man who shelters in Him.
10Fear the LORD, O His holy ones,י
for those who fear Him know no want.
11Lions are wretched, and hunger,כ
but the LORD’s seekers lack no good.
12Come, sons, listen to me,ל
the LORD’s fear will I teach you.
13Whoever the man desiring life,מ
who loves long days to see good,
14keep your tongue from evilנ
and your lips from speaking deceit.
15Swerve from evil and do good,ט
seek peace and pursue it.
16The LORD’s eyes are on the righteousע
and His ears to their outcry.
17The LORD’s face is against evildoers,פ
to cut off from the earth their name.
18Cry out and the LORD hears,צ
and from all their straits He saves them.
19Near is the LORD to the broken-hearted,ק
and the crushed in spirit He rescues.
20Many the evils of the righteous man,ר
yet from all of them the LORD will save him.
21He guards all his bones,ש
not a single one is broken.
22Evil will kill the wicked,ת
and the righteous man’s foes will bear guilt.
23The LORD ransoms His servants’ lives,
they will bear no guilt, all who shelter in Him.