Psalms 34

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 [Of David, when he had feigned insanity before Abimelech, and Abimelech sent him away] I wil blessYahweh at al times, his praise continual y on my lips.	1 Of David himself. O Lord, judge those who harm me; assail those who attack me.
2 I will praise Yahweh from my heart; let the humble hear and rejoice.	2 Take hold of weapons and a shield, and rise up in assistance to me.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of Yahweh, let us acclaim his name together.	3 Bring forth the spear, and close in on those who persecute me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4 I seek Yahweh and he answers me, frees me from al my fears.	4 Let them be confounded and in awe, who pursue my soul. Let them be turned back and be confounded, who think up evil against me.
5 Fix your gaze on Yahweh and your face wil grow bright, you wil never hang your head in shame.	5 May they become like dust before the face of the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord hem them in.
6 A pauper calls out and Yahweh hears, saves him from all his troubles.	6 May their way become dark and slippery, and may the Angel of the Lord pursue them.
7 The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.	7 For, without cause, they have concealed their snare for me unto destruction. Over nothing, they have rebuked my soul.
8 Taste and see that Yahweh is good. How blessed are those who take refuge in him.	8 Let the snare, of which he is ignorant, come upon him, and let the deception, which he has hidden, take hold of him: and may he fall into that very snare.
9 Fear Yahweh, you his holy ones; those who fear him lack for nothing.	9 But my soul will exult in the Lord and delight over his salvation.
10 Young lions may go needy and hungry, but those who seek Yahweh lack nothing good.	10 All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like you?” He rescues the needy from the hand of the stronger one, the indigent and the poor from those who plunder him.
11 Come, my children, listen to me, I wil teach you the fear of Yahweh.	11 Unfair witnesses have risen up, interrogating me about things of which I am ignorant.
12 Who among you delights in life, longs for time to enjoy prosperity?	12 They repaid me evil for good, to the deprivation of my soul.
13 Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from any breath of deceit.	13 But as for me, when they were harassing me, I was clothed with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer will become my sinews.
14 Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.	14 Like a neighbor, and like our brother, so did I please; like one mourning and contrite, so was I humbled.
15 The eyes of Yahweh are on the upright, his ear turned to their cry.	15 And they have been joyful against me, and they joined together. Scourges have been gathered over me, and I was ignorant of it.
16 But Yahweh's face is set against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.	16 They have been scattered, yet they were unremorseful. They have tested me. They scoffed at me with scorn. They gnashed their teeth over me.
17 They cry in anguish and Yahweh hears, and rescues them from al their troubles.	17 Lord, when will you look down upon me? Restore my soul from before their malice, my only one from before the lions.
18 Yahweh is near to the broken-hearted, he helps those whose spirit is crushed.	18 I will confess to you in a great Church. I will praise you among a weighty people.
19 Though hardships without number beset the upright, Yahweh brings rescue from them all.	19 May those who are my unjust adversaries not be glad over me: those who have hated me without cause, and who nod agreement with their eyes.
20 Yahweh takes care of all their bones, not one of them wil be broken.	20 For indeed, they spoke peacefully to me; and speaking with passion to the earth, they intended deceit.
21 But to the wicked evil brings death, those who hate the upright wil pay the penalty.	21 And they opened their mouth wide over me. They said, “Well, well, our eyes have seen.”
22 Yahweh ransoms the lives of those who serve him, and there wil be no penalty for those who takerefuge in him.	22 You have seen, O Lord, do not be silent. Lord, do not depart from me.
	23 Rise up and be attentive to my judgment, to my cause, my God and my Lord.
	24 Judge me according to your justice, O Lord, my God, and do not let them be glad over me.
	25 Do not let them say in their hearts, “Well, well, to our soul.” Neither let them say, “We have devoured him.”
	26 Let them blush and be in awe together, those who congratulate at my misfortunes. Let them be clothed with confusion and awe, who speak great things against me.
	27 Let them exult and rejoice, who wish my justice, and let them ever say, “The Lord be magnified,” who will the peace of his servant.
	28 And so my tongue will express your justice: your praise all day long.