34:1 [A Psalm of David, when he pretended to be insane before ①Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.]
I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
▷ ①Possibly a title of King Achish of Gath, see 1 Sam 21:10-15
34:2 My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
34:3 Exalt the LORD with me,
And let’s exalt His name together.
34:4 I sought the LORD and He answered me,
And rescued me from all my fears.
34:5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
34:6 This wretched man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.
34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
34:9 Fear the LORD, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no lack of anything.
34:10 The young lions do without and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.
34:11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
34:12 Who is the person who desires life
And loves length of days, that he may see good?
34:13 Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
34:14 Turn from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
34:15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous,
And His ears are toward their cry for help.
34:16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers,
To eliminate the memory of them from the earth.
34:17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears
And rescues them from all their troubles.
34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are ①crushed in spirit.
▷ ①Or contrite
34:19 The afflictions of the righteous are many,
But the LORD rescues him from them all.
34:20 He protects all his bones,
Not one of them is broken.
34:21 Evil will bring death to the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will suffer for their guilt.
34:22 The LORD redeems the souls of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will suffer for their guilt.