Psalm 34  Contemporary English Version

⁴ I asked the Lord for help,
and he saved me
    from all my fears.
⁵ Keep your eyes on the Lord!
You will shine like the sun
    and never blush with shame.
⁶ I was a nobody, but I prayed,
and the Lord saved me
    from all my troubles.

⁷ If you honor the Lord,
    his angel will protect you.
^8 (B) Discover for yourself
    that the Lord is kind.
Come to him for protection,
    and you will be glad.

⁹ Honor the Lord!
    You are his special people.
No one who honors the Lord
    will ever be in need.
¹⁰ Young lions^[a] may go hungry
    or even starve,
but if you trust the Lord,
you will never miss out
    on anything good.

¹¹ Come, my children, listen
as I teach you
    to respect the Lord.
^12 (C) Do you want to live
    and enjoy a long life?
¹³ Then don't say cruel things
    and don't tell lies.
¹⁴ Do good instead of evil
    and try to live at peace.

¹⁵ If you obey the Lord,
he will watch over you
    and answer your prayers.
¹⁶ But God despises evil people,
    and he will wipe them all
from the earth,
    till they are forgotten.
¹⁷ When his people pray for help,
he listens and rescues them
    from their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is there to rescue
all
    who are discouraged
    and have given up hope.

¹⁹ The Lord's people
    may suffer a lot,
but he will always
    bring them safely through.
^20 (D) Not one of their bones
    will ever be broken.

²¹ Wicked people are killed
    by their own evil deeds,
and if you hate God's people
    you will be punished.
²² The Lord saves the lives
    of his servants.
Run to him for protection,
    and you won't be punished.