Psalms 34

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Of David himself. O Lord, judge those who harm me; assail those who attack me.	1 A Psalm of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 Take hold of weapons and a shield, and rise up in assistance to me.	2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad.
3 Bring forth the spear, and close in on those who persecute me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”	3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
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.	4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 May they become like dust before the face of the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord hem them in.	5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6 May their way become dark and slippery, and may the Angel of the Lord pursue them.	6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 For, without cause, they have concealed their snare for me unto destruction. Over nothing, they have rebuked my soul.	7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
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.	8 O taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 But my soul will exult in the Lord and delight over his salvation.	9 O fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want!
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.	10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Unfair witnesses have risen up, interrogating me about things of which I am ignorant.	11 Come, O sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 They repaid me evil for good, to the deprivation of my soul.	12 What man is there who desires life, and covets many days, that he may enjoy good?
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.	13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Like a neighbor, and like our brother, so did I please; like one mourning and contrite, so was I humbled.	14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 And they have been joyful against me, and they joined together. Scourges have been gathered over me, and I was ignorant of it.	15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, and his ears toward their cry.
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.	16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 Lord, when will you look down upon me? Restore my soul from before their malice, my only one from before the lions.	17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 I will confess to you in a great Church. I will praise you among a weighty people.	18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
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.	19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 For indeed, they spoke peacefully to me; and speaking with passion to the earth, they intended deceit.	20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
21 And they opened their mouth wide over me. They said, “Well, well, our eyes have seen.”	21 Evil shall slay the wicked; and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 You have seen, O Lord, do not be silent. Lord, do not depart from me.	22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
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.