Psalms 34

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 For David, when he changed his countenance before Achimelech, who dismissed him, and he went his way. [1 Kings 21.]	1 Of David himself. O Lord, judge those who harm me; assail those who attack me.
2 I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be always in my mouth.	2 Take hold of weapons and a shield, and rise up in assistance to me.
3 In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the meek hear and rejoice.	3 Bring forth the spear, and close in on those who persecute me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4 O magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol 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.
5 I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all my troubles.	5 May they become like dust before the face of the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord hem them in.
6 Come ye to him and be enlightened: and your faces shall not be confounded.	6 May their way become dark and slippery, and may the Angel of the Lord pursue them.
7 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.
8 The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him: and shall deliver 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.
9 O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth in him.	9 But my soul will exult in the Lord and delight over his salvation.
10 Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.	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 The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.	11 Unfair witnesses have risen up, interrogating me about things of which I am ignorant.
12 Come, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.	12 They repaid me evil for good, to the deprivation of my soul.
13 Who is the man that desireth life: who loveth to see good days?	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 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.	14 Like a neighbor, and like our brother, so did I please; like one mourning and contrite, so was I humbled.
15 Turn away from evil and do good: seek after 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.
16 The eyes of the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their prayers.	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 But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things: 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.
18 The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles.	18 I will confess to you in a great Church. I will praise you among a weighty people.
19 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of 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.
20 Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will the Lord deliver them.	20 For indeed, they spoke peacefully to me; and speaking with passion to the earth, they intended deceit.
21 The Lord keepeth all their bones, not one of them shall be broken.	21 And they opened their mouth wide over me. They said, “Well, well, our eyes have seen.”
22 The death of the wicked is very evil: and they that hate the just shall be guilty.	22 You have seen, O Lord, do not be silent. Lord, do not depart from me.
23 The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall offend.	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.