Chapter 34

¹ [A Psalm] of David.

Ps 34:1

² Take hold of shield and buckler, and arise for my help.

Ps 34:2

³ Bring forth a sword, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me:

Ps 34:3

⁴ Let them that seek my soul be ashamed and confounded:

Ps 34:4

⁵ Let them be as dust before the wind,

Ps 34:5

⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery,

Ps 34:6

⁷ For without cause they have hidden for me their destructive snare:

Ps 34:7

⁸ Let a snare which they know not come upon them;

Ps 34:8

⁹ But my soul shall exult in the Lord:

Ps 34:9

¹⁰ All my bones shall say, O Lord, who is like to thee?

Ps 34:10

¹¹ Unjust witnesses arose, and asked me of things I knew not.

Ps 34:11

¹² They rewarded me evil for good,

Ps 34:12

¹³ But I, when they troubled me, put on sackcloth,

Ps 34:13

¹⁴ I behaved agreeably toward them as [if it had been] our neighbor [or] brother:

Ps 34:14

¹⁵ Yet they rejoiced against me,

Ps 34:15

¹⁶ They tempted me, they sneered at me most contemptuously,

Ps 34:16

¹⁷ O Lord, when wilt thou look upon me?

Ps 34:17

¹⁸ I will give thanks to thee even in a great congregation:

Ps 34:18

¹⁹ Let not them that are mine enemies without a cause rejoice against me;

Ps 34:19

²⁰ For to me they spoke peaceably,

Ps 34:20

²¹ And they opened wide their mouth upon me;

Ps 34:21

²² Thou hast seen [it], O Lord: keep not silence:

Ps 34:22

²³ Awake, O Lord, and attend to my judgment,

Ps 34:23

²⁴ Judge me, O Lord, according to thy righteousness, O Lord my God;

Ps 34:24

²⁵ Let them not say in their hearts, Aha, aha, [it is pleasing] to our soul:

Ps 34:25

²⁶ Let them be confounded and ashamed together that rejoice at my afflictions:

Ps 34:26

²⁷ Let them that rejoice in my righteousness exult and be glad:

Ps 34:27

²⁸ And my tongue shall meditate on thy righteousness,

Ps 34:28