Encountering God

⁴ I sought the LORD and he answered me. He delivered me from all my fears. ⁵ Those who look to God will shine; their faces are never ashamed. ⁶ This suffering person cried out: the LORD listened and saved him from every trouble. ⁷ On every side, the LORD’s messenger protects those who honor God; and he delivers them. ⁸ Taste and see how good the LORD is! The one who takes refuge in him is truly happy! ⁹ You who are the LORD’s holy ones, honor him, because those who honor him don’t lack a thing. ¹⁰ Even strong young lions go without and get hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. ¹¹ Come, children, listen to me. Let me teach you how to honor the LORD: ¹² Do you love life; do you relish the chance to enjoy good things? ¹³ Then you must keep your tongue from evil and keep your lips from speaking lies! ¹⁴ Turn away from evil! Do good! Seek peace and go after it! ¹⁵ The LORD’s eyes watch the righteous, his ears listen to their cries for help. ¹⁶ But the LORD’s face is set against those who do evil, to eliminate even the memory of them from the earth. ¹⁷ When the righteous cry out, the LORD listens; he delivers them from all their troubles. ¹⁸ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he saves those whose spirits are crushed. ¹⁹ The righteous have many problems, but the LORD delivers them from every one.