Psalm 34:11-22

Contemporary English Version

¹¹ Come, my children, listen
as I teach you
    to respect the Lord.
^12 (A) 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 (B) 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.