Previous Book (JOB)PSA 33 OET Book index, Intro, and KeyPSA 35Next Book (PRO)FAQsGlossary

Song (Psalm) 34

Note: This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public. Some things (like capitalisation of ‘him’ referring to Jesus or ‘father’ referring to God) in the RV haven’t been decided yet so we’re still testing both ways.

Note: The Readers’ Version on the left is a translation into contemporary English aimed at the person on the street who hasn’t necessarily been brought up with exposure to Biblical jargon and/or 500-year old English. It’s designed to be used alongside the Literal Version on the right which gives the English reader a window into what’s actually written in the original languages. (See the introduction for more details—we recommend that you read the introduction first if you’re wanting to fully understand the Literal Version.) By comparing the left and right columns, you should be able to easily get the message of the text, while at the same time keeping an eye on what it was actually translated from.

Note that greyed words in the RV are words that the translators consider were most probably in the mind of the writer, but as none of us can double-check with the original speakers or writers, the reader is free to disagree. They are clearly marked because we’ve tried to be as honest and transparent as possible.

The lighter coloured words in the LV are words which aren’t needed in the grammar of the original languages but are required or implied in English. You can read the Key to learn more about them. The underlines joining words in the LV show when one original language word needs to be translated into two or more English words. (Just hide them with the button if you don’t need that information and find it distracting.) Also, the majority of sentences in the LV don’t have the words put into a sensible English order yet. (This should be completed by the end of 2023.)

See also the FAQs and the Glossary.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

34:1 Praising Yahweh’s goodness together

In Praise of God’s Goodness; Praise for Deliverance from Trouble

A song by David who pretended to be insane in front of King Avimelek, ≈causing the king to send him away.

Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.; A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away.; For David (when he feigned madness in Abimelech’s presence—Abimelech then drove him away, and he departed); Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.

א (Alef)

34 I will praise Yahweh at all times.

≈I’ll always be praising him out loud.

ב (Beyt)

2 I will praise Yahweh!

Let those who are oppressed hear and ≈celebrate.

ג (Gimel)

3 Praise Yahweh with me.

Let’s ≈compliment him together.

ד (Dalet)

4 I searched for Yahweh and he answered me,

and he ≈helped me overcome all my fears.

ה (He)

5 Those who ≈put their trust in him are radiant,

and ≈have no need to feel ashamed.

ו (Vav)

6 This oppressed man called out for help

and Yahweh heard him and saved him from all his troubles.

ז (Zayin)

7 Yahweh’s messenger ≈stands guard around those who fear @Yahweh

and rescues them.

ח (Het)

8 Taste and see that Yahweh is good.

≈Anyone who looks to him for their safety will prosper.

ט (Tet)

9 Fear Yahweh, you ≈who belong to him.

There’s no lack for those who ≈honour him.

י (Yod)

10 Young lions sometimes lack food and ≈go hungry,

but those who ≈put their trust in Yahweh won’t lack anything good.

כ (Kaf)

11 Come and listen to me, &my children.

I’ll teach you ≈how to honour Yahweh.

ל (Lamed)

12 ≈Anyone who desires life and ≈wants a long life

in order ≈to experience good >things

מ (Mem)

13 then ≈don’t let evil words come out of your mouth,

≈and keep your lips from speaking lies.

נ (Nun)

14 Turn away from evil

≈and do good.

Seek peace

≈and go after it.

ס (Samek)

15 Yahweh’s eyes are on ≈those who try to obey him

and his ears are directed toward their calls for help.

ע (Ayin)

16 Yahweh ≈works against those who do evil

to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

פ (Pe)

17 The ≈godly >people cry out and Yahweh hears

and he rescues them from all their troubles.

צ (Tsade)

18 Yahweh is close to the brokenhearted,

and he saves whose spirits ≈feel crushed.

ק (Qof)

19 ≈Godly people have many troubles,

but Yahweh rescues them from them all.

ר (Resh)

20 He keeps all his bones

≈not one of them will be broken.

ש (Sin/Shin)

21 Evil will bounce back and kill the wicked.

≈and those who hate ≈godly >people will be condemned.

ת (Tav)

22 Yahweh rescues the lives of his servants.

≈None of those who ≈go to him for safety will be condemned.

34Of_Dāvid in/on/at/with_pretended_he DOM insane_of_his to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before ʼAⱱīmelek and_drove_out_him and_departed.

2 \f + \fr 34:2 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

1\f* I_will_bless DOM YHWH in_all time continually praise_of_his in/on/at/with_mouth_of_my.

3 \f + \fr 34:3 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

2\f* in/on/at/with_LORD soul_of_my it_will_boast let_them_hear humble_people and_glad.

4 \f + \fr 34:4 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

3\f* magnify to/for_YHWH with_me and_exalt his/its_name together.

5 \f + \fr 34:5 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

4\f* I_sought DOM YHWH and_answered_me and_from_all_of fears_of_my delivered_me.

6 \f + \fr 34:6 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

5\f* people_look to_him/it and_radiant and_faces_of_their not may_they_be_abashed.

7 \f + \fr 34:7 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

6\f* this was_poor_person who_he_called_out and_LORD he_heard and_from_all_of troubles_of_his saved_him.

8 \f + \fr 34:8 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

7\f* the_messenger_of is_encamping of_YHWH around about_fear_of_him and_rescues_them.

9 \f + \fr 34:9 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

8\f* taste and_see if/because_that is_good YHWH how_blessed the_man who_he_takes_refuge in/on/over_him/it.

10 \f + \fr 34:10 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

9\f* fear DOM YHWH saints_of_his if/because there_is_not lack for_fear_of_him.

11 \f + \fr 34:11 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

10\f* young_lions they_are_in_want and_suffer_hunger and_seek_of (of)_YHWH not they_lack any_of good_thing.

12 \f + \fr 34:12 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

11\f* come Oh_children listen to_me the_fear_of YHWH teach_you_all.

13 \f + \fr 34:13 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

12\f* who the_man the_desires life who_loves days to_see good.

14 \f + \fr 34:14 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

13\f* keep tongue_of_your from_evil and_lips_of_your from_speaking deceit.

15 \f + \fr 34:15 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

14\f* turn_away from_evil and_do good seek peace and_pursue_it.

16 \f + \fr 34:16 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

15\f* the_eyes_of YHWH are_to righteous_people and_ears_of_his are_to cry_of_their.

17 \f + \fr 34:17 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

16\f* the_face_of YHWH in/on/at/with_do_of (of)_evil to_cut_off from_earth memory_of_them.

18 \f + \fr 34:18 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

17\f* they_cry_out and_LORD he_hears and_from_all_of troubles_of_their delivers_them.

19 \f + \fr 34:19 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

18\f* is_near YHWH to_ones_being_broken_of heart and_DOM people_crushed_of spirit he_delivers.

20 \f + \fr 34:20 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

19\f* are_many the_troubles_of a_righteous_person and_from_all_of_them delivers_him YHWH.

21 \f + \fr 34:21 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

20\f* he_is_keeping all_of bones_of_his one of_them not it_is_broken.

22 \f + \fr 34:22 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

21\f* it_will_kill the_wicked evil and_hate_of (of)_the_righteous they_will_be_held_guilty.

23 \f + \fr 34:23 \ft Note: KJB: Ps.

34.

22\f* YHWH is_redeeming the_life_of servants_of_his and_not all_of they_will_be_held_guilty the_take_refuge in/on/over_him/it.

Previous Book (JOB)PSA 33 OET Book index, Intro, and KeyPSA 35Next Book (PRO)FAQsGlossary