Praising God at All Times
Study note
David commits to praising God at all times. He sought the Lord, who delivered him from all his fears. The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear him.
1 I will keep praising the Lord no matter what. Words of praise for him will always be on my lips. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 The Lord is the only one I will brag about. Let the humble hear that and be encouraged. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 Join me in declaring how great the Lord is. Let's lift up his name together. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I went looking for the Lord, and he responded. He set me free from everything I was afraid of. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 People who turn their faces toward him start glowing with joy. They never have to walk around looking ashamed. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 Here was a poor man with nothing, and he called out — and the Lord heard him and pulled him out of every problem. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord sets up camp all around people who honor him, and he brings them to safety. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Taste and See That God Is Good
Study note
David invites everyone to experience God's goodness. He teaches that the fear of the Lord means turning from evil, speaking truth, seeking peace, and pursuing it.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man who trusts in him. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 Honor the Lord, all you who belong to him, because people who honor him will never go without. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 Even young, powerful lions sometimes go hungry and starve. But people who look to the Lord will never lack anything good. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11 Gather around, children, and listen closely. I'm going to teach you what it means to truly honor the Lord. Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Do you want to truly live? Do you want to see many good and happy days? What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Then guard your tongue from saying hurtful things and keep your lips from telling lies. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Walk away from what is wrong and do what is right. Go after peace — chase it down and grab hold of it. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
God Rescues the Brokenhearted
Study note
God watches over the righteous and hears their cries. He is close to the brokenhearted. Though the righteous face many troubles, God rescues them from every one.
15 The Lord's eyes are watching over people who do right, and his ears are wide open to their cries. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 But the Lord sets his face against people who do evil, ready to erase every trace of them from the earth. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 When people who live right call out, the Lord hears them and pulls them free from every one of their troubles. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord stays especially close to those whose hearts have been shattered. He rescues those whose spirits have been crushed. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 A person who lives right may go through many hard times, but the Lord brings them safely through every one. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20 He watches over every bone in their body. Not one of them gets broken. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil is what will destroy the wicked in the end. Those who hate people who do right will face judgment. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 The Lord buys back the lives of those who serve him. Not one person who runs to him for shelter will be found guilty. The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.