34
Find out for yourself that God is really good
This is one of David’s songs for God. It’s from the time when David pretended he was crazy in front of big boss Abimelek, so Abimelek sent David away.
1 I will always say, “God is good.”
Yes, I will keep on saying good things about God.
2 I will tell people, “God has all the power.”
I want everybody that has a hard life to hear that and be happy.
3 Come here everybody. I want us all to say, “God is great.”
Let’s come together and say, “God is really powerful.”
4 You see, I prayed to God, and he listened to me.
He took away everything that frightened me.
5 People that trust God are really happy.
They will never feel shame.
6 I had a lot of trouble, but I prayed to God, and he listened to me.
He saved me from all my troubles.
7 Some people know that God is powerful,
so they have strong respect for him.
God sends his special angel spirit to be with those people,
and that angel keeps those people safe from trouble.
8 Find out for yourself that God is really good.*
Look at all the things he does.
Whenever you get trouble, ask God to look after you.
He will do that, and he will make you really happy.
9 You are God’s special people.
You know that he is powerful, so you have to really respect him.
If you really respect God,
he will give you everything that you need.
10 Sometimes even strong young lions can’t find food and they go hungry,
but people that trust God, they have all the good things that they need.
11 Come here everyone, and listen to me.
I will teach you to respect God properly.
12 Do you want to live well?*
Do you want a long and happy life?
13 If that’s what you want,
don’t say bad things about other people,
and don’t lie to them.
14 Turn away from doing bad things, and do good things.
Don’t fight with people or make trouble.
Try very hard to live happily with other people.
15 God looks after people that live the right way.
And if they ask him for help, he listens to them.
16 But God punishes people that do bad things.
After they die, God doesn’t want anybody in the world to remember
those bad people.
So God will make everybody forget them.
17 But some people live the right way,
and whenever they ask God for help, he listens to them.
He saves them from all their troubles.
18 Some people are really sad and feel hurt inside.
God stays really close to those people.
And some people think nothing good will happen to them.
God helps those people too.
19 If somebody lives the right way,
that person might still have a lot of troubles.
But God will save that person from all those troubles.
20 God will keep that person safe,
and nobody will break any of that person’s bones.*
21 But people that do bad things,
they will get trouble and die.
And if somebody hates people that live the right way,
God will punish that person.
22 But if people work hard for God,
he will keep them safe.
And if people trust God and if they ask him to look after them,
God will not punish them.
* 34:8 1 Peter 2:3 * 34:12 1 Peter 3:10-16 * 34:20 John 19:36