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Psalm 34
EasyEnglish Bible

David wrote this song when he made the Philistine king think that he was crazy. He wanted the king to send him away.[a]

God is great![b]

34 I will always praise the Lord.
    All the time I will sing to praise him.
2 I will boast that the Lord is great!
I want weak people to hear that.
    I want them to be happy!
3 Join with me to tell people that the Lord is great!
    Together we will make his name famous.
4 I asked the Lord to help me,
    and he answered me.
He saved me from everything that made me afraid.
5 People who trust the Lord to help them
    will be very happy.
Their faces will be bright,
    and they will not be ashamed.
6 I was weak and helpless,
    so I called out to the Lord.
The Lord heard me.
    He saved me from all my troubles.
7 The Lord's angel is very near
    to people who respect and obey the Lord.
He keeps them safe from danger.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good!
God blesses people who turn to him
    to keep them safe.
9 All you people who belong to the Lord,
    continue to obey him.
People who respect the Lord
    will have the things that they need.
10 Even young lions may not have food,
    so that they become hungry.
But people who trust the Lord for help
    will receive every good thing that they need.

11 Children, come and listen to me!
    I will teach you how to respect the Lord.
12 Do you want to live a good life?
Do you want your life to be long and happy?
13 If so, do not speak any evil words.
    Do not tell lies to deceive people.
14 Do good things instead of evil things.
Try to bring peace into people's lives.
15 The Lord watches over righteous people.
    He hears them when they call to him for help.
16 But the Lord turns against people who do evil things.
    He causes everybody to forget that they ever lived.
17 The Lord hears his righteous people
    when they call for help.
He saves them from all their troubles.
18 When people are upset,
    the Lord is near to them.
He saves those who feel very weak and upset.
19 Righteous people may often have troubles,
    but the Lord saves them from every danger.
20 The Lord keeps them safe.
    Not even one of their bones is broken!
21 Evil things will return to kill wicked people.
Whoever hates God's own people
    will receive punishment.
22 The Lord saves the lives of his servants.
Everyone who trusts the Lord to keep them safe
    will not receive punishment as a guilty person.

Footnotes

  1. 34:0 See 1 Samuel 21:10-15. When King Saul wanted to kill David, David ran away to Gath, which was a Philistine city. David did not want to join the Philistine army to fight against his own people. So David made the king think that he was crazy. The king sent David away. In Psalm 34 David thanks God that he was now safe.
  2. 34:1 Psalm 34 is an alphabet psalm. There are 22 verses in it. Each verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
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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.

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

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.

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.
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