1 ¶ Aleph I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

I will honor the Lord at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.

2 B eth My soul shall glory in the LORD; the meek shall hear of this, and be glad.

My soul will be proud to tell about the Lord. Let those who suffer hear it and be filled with joy.

3 G imel O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Give great honor to the Lord with me. Let us praise His name together.

4 D aleth I sought the LORD, and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears.

I looked for the Lord, and He answered me. And He took away all my fears.

5 H e They looked unto him and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed.

They looked to Him and their faces shined with joy. Their faces will never be ashamed.

6 V au This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him. And He saved him out of all his troubles.

7 Z ain The angel of the LORD encamps round about those that fear him and delivers them.

The angel of the Lord stays close around those who fear Him, and He takes them out of trouble.

8 C heth O taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man that shall trust in him.

O taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who trusts in Him!

9 T eth O fear the LORD, ye his saints; for those that fear him lack nothing.

O fear the Lord, all you who belong to Him. For those who fear Him never want for anything.

10 J od The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but those that seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

The young lions suffer want and hunger. But they who look for the Lord will not be without any good thing.

11 ¶ Caph Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 L amed Who is the man that desires life and loves many days that he may see good?

Who is the man who has a desire for life, and wants to live long so that he may see good things?

13 M em Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Keep your tongue from sin and your lips from speaking lies.

14 N un Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Turn away from what is sinful. Do what is good. Look for peace and follow it.

15 S amech The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

The eyes of the Lord are on those who do what is right and good. His ears are open to their cry.

16 A in The anger of the LORD is against those that do evil to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

The face of the Lord is against those who sin. He will keep the people of the earth from remembering them.

17 P e The righteous cried out, and the LORD heard and delivered them out of all their troubles.

Those who are right with the Lord cry, and He hears them. And He takes them from all their troubles.

18 T zaddi The LORD is near unto those that are of a broken heart and saves such as are of a contrite spirit.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart. And He saves those who are broken in spirit.

19 K oph Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD shall deliver him out of them all,

A man who does what is right and good may have many troubles. But the Lord takes him out of them all.

20 R esh keeping all his bones; not one of them shall be broken.

He keeps all his bones safe. Not one of them is broken.

21 S chin Evil shall slay the wicked; and those that hate the righteous shall be declared guilty.

Sin will kill the sinful. And those who hate God’s people will be held guilty and punished forever.

22 T au The LORD ransoms the soul of his slaves, and none of those that trust in him shall be declared guilty.

The Lord saves the soul of those who work for Him. None of those who trust in Him will be held guilty.