Psalm 34:11-22

Common English Bible

¹¹ Come, children, listen to me.
    Let me teach you how to honor the Lord:
¹² Do you love life;
    do you relish the chance to enjoy good things?
¹³     Then you must keep your tongue from evil
        and keep your lips from speaking lies!
¹⁴ Turn away from evil! Do good!
    Seek peace and go after it!

¹⁵ The Lord’s eyes watch the righteous,
    his ears listen to their cries for help.
¹⁶ But the Lord’s face is set against those who do evil,
    to eliminate even the memory of them from the earth.
¹⁷ When the righteous cry out, the Lord listens;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he saves those whose spirits are crushed.

¹⁹ The righteous have many problems,
    but the Lord delivers them from every one.
²⁰ He protects all their bones;
    not even one will be broken.
²¹ But just one problem will kill the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be held responsible.
²² The Lord saves his servants’ lives;
    all those who take refuge in him
    won’t be held responsible for anything.