Psalm 34
New International Version

Psalm 34^[a]^[b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane^(A)before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

¹I will extol theLordat all times;^(B)
    his praise will always be on my lips.
²I will glory^(C)in theLord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.^(D)
³Glorify theLord^(E)with me;
    let us exalt^(F)his name together.

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

⁸Taste and see that theLordis good;^(N)
    blessed is the one who takes refuge^(O)in him.
⁹Fear theLord,^(P)you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.^(Q)
¹⁰The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek theLordlack no good thing.^(R)
¹¹Come, my children, listen^(S)to me;
    I will teach you^(T)the fear of theLord.^(U)
¹²Whoever of you loves life^(V)
    and desires to see many good days,
¹³keep your tongue^(W)from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.^(X)
¹⁴Turn from evil and do good;^(Y)
    seek peace^(Z)and pursue it.

¹⁵The eyes of theLord^(AA)are on the righteous,^(AB)
and his ears are attentive^(AC)to their cry;
¹⁶but the face of theLordis against^(AD)those who do evil,^(AE)
to blot out their name^(AF)from the earth.

¹⁷The righteous cry out, and theLordhears^(AG)them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
¹⁸TheLordis close^(AH)to the brokenhearted^(AI)
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

¹⁹The righteous person may have many troubles,^(AJ)
but theLorddelivers him from them all;^(AK)
²⁰he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.^(AL)

²¹Evil will slay the wicked;^(AM)
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
²²TheLordwill rescue^(AN)his servants;
no one who takes refuge^(AO)in him will be condemned.

Footnotes

Psalm 34:1This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 34:1In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.