Psalm 34

A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.

1        God will I bless all times; his praise

                   my mouth shall still express.

2        My soul shall boast in God: the meek

                   shall hear with joyfulness.

3        Extol the Lord with me, let us

                   exalt his name together.

4        I sought the Lord, he heard, and did

                   me from all fears deliver.

5        They look'd to him, and lighten'd were:

                   not shamed were their faces.

6        This poor man cry'd, God heard, and sav'd

                   him from all his distresses.

7        The angel of the Lord encamps,

                   and round encompasseth

          All those about that do him fear,

                   and them delivereth.

8        O taste and see that God is good:

                   who trusts in him is bless'd.

9        Fear God his saints: none that him fear

                   shall be with want oppress'd.

10      The lions young may hungry be,

                   and they may lack their food:

          But they that truly seek the Lord

                   shall not lack any good.

11      O children, hither do ye come,

                   and unto me give ear;

          I shall you teach to understand

                   how ye the Lord should fear.

12      What man is he that life desires,

                   to see good would live long?

13      Thy lips refrain from speaking guile,

                   and from ill words thy tongue.

14      Depart from ill, do good, seek peace,

                   pursue it earnestly.

15      God's eyes are on the just; his ears

                   are open to their cry.

16      The face of God is set against

                   those that do wickedly,

          That he may quite out from the earth

                   cut off their memory.

17      The righteous cry unto the Lord,

                   he unto them gives ear;

          And they out of their troubles all

                   by him deliver'd are.

18      The Lord is ever nigh to them

                   that be of broken sp'rit;

          To them he safety doth afford

                   that are in heart contrite.

19      The troubles that afflict the just

                   in number many be;

          But yet at length out of them all

                   the Lord doth set him free.

20      He carefully his bones doth keep,

                   whatever can befall;

          That not so much as one of them

                   can broken be at all.

21      Ill shall the wicked slay; laid waste

                   shall be who hate the just.

22      The Lord redeems his servants' souls;

                   none perish that him trust.