Psalm 34

Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.
¹ I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
² My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
³ O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together.

⁴ I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Look to him, and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
⁶ This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
and was saved from every trouble.
⁷ The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
⁸ O taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
⁹ O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,
for those who fear him have no want.
¹⁰ The young lions suffer want and hunger,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

¹¹ Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
¹² Which of you desires life,
and covets many days to enjoy good?
¹³ Keep your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking deceit.
¹⁴ Depart from evil, and do good;
seek peace, and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry.
¹⁶ The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
¹⁷ When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to the broken-hearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit.

¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord rescues them from them all.
²⁰ He keeps all their bones;
not one of them will be broken.
²¹ Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
²² The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned

Prayer of the Day

By your spirit, O God,  give us hearts to love you, minds to know you, souls to bless you, and strength to serve you.   Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen