King James Version

Psalms 34:14

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

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 34:15.

ס֣וּרsurturnסוּרverb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “turn”, a commandH5493to turn off (literal or figurative)be(-head), bring, call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), [idiom] grievous, lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, [idiom] be sour, take (away, off), turn…מֵ֭רָעmerafrom badרַעpreposition, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “from bad”, the ordinary formH7451bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery…וַעֲשֵׂהvaasehand doעָשָׂהconjunction, verb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “and do”, a commandH6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationaccomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, f…ט֑וֹבtovgoodטוֹבadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “good”, the ordinary formH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant,…בַּקֵּ֖שׁbaqeshbeseechבָּקַשׁverb, piel, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “beseech”, a commandH1245to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive afterask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).שָׁל֣וֹםshalomhealthשָׁלוֹםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “health”, the ordinary formH7965safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace[idiom] do, familiar, [idiom] fare, favour, [phrase] friend, [idiom] great, (good) health, ([idiom] perfect, such as be at) peace(-able, -ably), prosper(-ity, -ous), rest, safe(-ty), salute, welfare, ([idiom] all is, be) well, [idiom] whol…וְרָדְפֵֽהוּveradefehvand chaseרָדַףconjunction, verb, qal, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and chase”, a commandH7291to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by)chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(34-15) Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.

Young’s Literal Translation

Turn aside from evil and do good, Seek peace and pursue it.

World English Bible

Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.

Darby Translation

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

Douay-Rheims

As a neighbour and as an own brother, so did I please: as one mourning and sorrowful so was I humbled.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(34-15) Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Turn away from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἔκκλινον ἀπὸ κακοῦ, καὶ ποίησον ἀγαθὸν· ζήτησον εἰρήνην, καὶ δίωξον αὐτήν.

Quoted in

1 Peter 3:11 1 Peter 3:11 · King James VersionLet him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.1 Peter 3:11 · King James VersionOpen the Source
Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.