Psalm 34

William Helder © 1980, 2006

1. The LORD I will extol,
   At all times bless His holy name.
   I will not cease to sing His praise;
   His goodness I proclaim.
   I glory in the LORD;
   Let the afflicted hear my voice.
   O magnify the LORD with me!
   With me in Him rejoice.
   
2. I sought the LORD in prayer;
   He heard my plea and answered me.
   From all my worries and my fears
   The LORD has set me free.
   Those who on Him rely
   Will never hang their heads in shame.
   When this poor man cried out for help,
   The LORD delivered him.
   
3. The Angel of the LORD
   Ever encamps around all those
   Who fear him and exalt His name;
   God saves them from their woes.
   O come, then, taste and see
   That He, the LORD, is good and just.
   Blest is the man who turns to Him
   And puts in Him his trust.
   
4. All you who are His saints,
   Revere the LORD and worship Him,
   For those who fear Him have no want;
   He richly blesses them.
   Though lions may grow faint
   And pangs of hunger may endure,
   Those seeking Him lack no good thing;
   In Him they rest secure.
   
5. Come, children, hear my voice;
   You I will teach to fear the LORD.
   Who is the man desiring life,
   Its pleasures and rewards?
   Keep then Your tongue from wrong
   And let your lips no falsehood speak.
   Depart from evil and do good;
   True peace and concord seek.
   
6. The LORD from heaven above
   Regards the righteous with His eyes,
   And when they call on Him, His ears
   Are open to their cries.
   But evildoers all
   The anger of the LORD must face;
   He cuts them off, and from the earth
   Their name He will erase.
   
7. But when the righteous cry,
   The LORD in mercy hears their pleas;
   He graciously delivers them
   From all their miseries.
   The LORD is always near;
   The brokenhearted He will heal.
   Those crushed in spirit He will save,
   To them His love reveal.
   
8. The righteous man may grieve;
   He many troubles may endure.
   The LORD will free him from them all;
   His help is ever sure.
   Why should he then despair?
   God keeps his bones from injury;
   Not one of them will come to harm,
   For great and good is He!
   
9. Their countless evil deeds
   Will slay the wicked in the end.
   All those who hate the righteous ones
   He’ll to perdition send.
   The LORD redeems the life
   Of those who serve and honour Him;
   All who in Him their refuge take
   He never will condemn.