Psalms 34

1 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue hath cleaved to my jaws: and thou hast brought me down into the dust of death. 2 For many dogs have encompassed me: the council of the malignant hath besieged me. They have dug my hands and feet. 3 They have numbered all my bones. And they have looked and stared upon me. 4 They parted my garments amongst them; and upon my vesture they cast lots. 5 But thou, O Lord, remove not thy help to a distance from me; look towards my defence. 6 Deliver, O God, my soul from the sword: my only one from the hand of the dog. 7 Save me from the lion’s mouth; and my lowness from the horns of the unicorns. 8 I will declare thy name to my brethren: in the midst of the church will I praise thee. 9 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him: all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him. 10 Let all the seed of Israel fear him: because he hath not slighted nor despised the supplication of the poor man. Neither hath he turned away his face from me: and when I cried to him he heard me. 11 With thee is my praise in a great church: I will pay my vows in the sight of them that fear him. 12 The poor shall eat and shall be filled: and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their hearts shall live for ever and ever. 13 All the ends of the earth shall remember, and shall be converted to the Lord: And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight. 14 For the kingdom is the Lord’s; and he shall have dominion over the nations. 15 All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and have adored: all they that go down to the earth shall fall before him. 16 And to him my soul shall live: and my seed shall serve him. 17 There shall be declared to the Lord a generation to come: and the heavens shall shew forth his justice to a people that shall be born, which the Lord hath made. 19 A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing. 20 He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment: 21 He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name’s sake. 22 For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.