11 Come, children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.(A)
12 Who is someone who desires life,
loving a long life to enjoy what is good?(B)
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceitful speech.(C)
14 Turn away from evil and do what is good;(D)
seek peace and pursue it.(E)

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry for help.(F)
16 The face of the Lord is set
against those who do what is evil,(G)
to remove[a] all memory of them from the earth.(H)
17 The righteous[b] cry out, and the Lord hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.(I)
18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
he saves those crushed in spirit.(J)

19 One who is righteous has many adversities,
but the Lord rescues him from them all.(K)
20 He protects all his bones;
not one of them is broken.(L)
21 Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.(M)
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants,
and all who take refuge in him will not be punished.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. 34:16 Or cut off
  2. 34:17 Lit They

11 Come, my children, listen(A) to me;
    I will teach you(B) the fear of the Lord.(C)
12 Whoever of you loves life(D)
    and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(E) from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.(F)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(G)
    seek peace(H) and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord(I) are on the righteous,(J)
    and his ears are attentive(K) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(L) those who do evil,(M)
    to blot out their name(N) from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(O) them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(P) to the brokenhearted(Q)
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,(R)
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;(S)
20 he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.(T)

21 Evil will slay the wicked;(U)
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue(V) his servants;
    no one who takes refuge(W) in him will be condemned.

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