Lectionary Calendar
Monday, September 16th, 2024
the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Bible Reading Plan

Daily Bible Reading

June 4 - Old & New Testament
csb

 

Psalms 68,72,86

Resource Toolbox

Psalm 68

God's Majestic Power

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm. A song.

1 God arises. His enemies scatter,
and those who hate Him flee from His presence.(a)
2 As smoke is blown away,
so You blow them away.
As wax melts before the fire,
so the wicked are destroyed before God.(b)
3 But the righteous are glad;
they rejoice before God and celebrate with joy.(c)

4 Sing to God! Sing praises to His name.
Exalt Him who rides on the clouds[a]
His name is Yahweh[b]—and rejoice before Him.(d)
5 God in His holy dwelling is
a father of the fatherless
and a champion of widows.(e)
6 God provides homes for those who are deserted.
He leads out the prisoners to prosperity,[c]
but the rebellious live in a scorched land.(f)

7 God, when You went out before Your people,
when You marched through the desert, Selah
8 the earth trembled and the skies poured down rain
before God, the God of Sinai,[d]
before God, the God of Israel.(g)
9 You, God, showered abundant rain;
You revived Your inheritance when it languished.(h)
10 Your people settled in it;
God, You provided for the poor by Your goodness.(i)

11 The Lord gave the command;
a great company of women brought the good news:(j)
12 "The kings of the armies flee—they flee!"
She who stays at home divides the spoil.(k)
13 While[e] you lie among the sheepfolds,[f]
the wings of a dove are covered with silver,
and its feathers with glistening gold.(l)
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in the land,
it snowed on Zalmon.[g](m)

15 Mount Bashan is God's towering mountain;
Mount Bashan is a mountain of many peaks.(n)
16 Why gaze with envy, you mountain peaks,
at the mountain[h] God desired for His dwelling?
The Lord will live there forever!(o)
17 God's chariots are tens of thousands,
thousands and thousands;(p)
the Lord is among them in the sanctuary[i]
as He was at Sinai.(q)
18 You ascended to the heights, taking away captives;
You received gifts from[j] people,
even from the rebellious,
so that the Lord God might live there.[k](r)

19 May the Lord be praised!
Day after day He bears our burdens;
God is our salvation.(s) Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation,
and escape from death belongs to the Lord God .(t)
21 Surely God crushes the heads of His enemies,
the hairy head of one who goes on in his guilty acts.(u)
22 The Lord said, "I will bring them back from Bashan;
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea(v)
23 so that your foot may wade[l] in blood
and your dogs' tongues may have their share
from the enemies."(w)
24 People have seen Your procession, God,
the procession of my God,
my King, in the sanctuary.[m](x)
25 Singers[n] lead the way,
with musicians following;
among them are young women
playing tambourines.(y)
26 Praise God in the assemblies;
praise the Lord from the fountain of Israel.(z)
27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them,
the rulers of Judah in their assembly,[o]
the rulers of Zebulun, the rulers of Naphtali.(aa)

28 Your God has decreed your strength.
Show Your strength, God,
You who have acted on our behalf.(ab)
29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem,
kings will bring tribute to You.(ac)
30 Rebuke the beast[p] in the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.(ad)
Trample underfoot those with bars of silver.[q]
Scatter the peoples who take pleasure in war.(ae)
31 Ambassadors will come[r] from Egypt;
Cush will stretch out its hands[s] to God.(af)

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth;
sing praise to the Lord,(ag) Selah
33 to Him who rides in the ancient, highest heavens.(ah)
Look, He thunders with His powerful voice!(ai)
34 Ascribe power to God.
His majesty is over Israel,
His power among the clouds.(aj)
35 God, You are awe-inspiring in Your sanctuaries.
The God of Israel gives power and strength to His people.
May God be praised!(ak)

Psalm 69

A Plea for Rescue

For the choir director: according to "The Lilies."[a] Davidic.

1 Save me, God,
for the water has risen to my neck.(a)
2 I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing;
I have come into deep waters,
and a flood sweeps over me.(b)
3 I am weary from my crying;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail, looking for my God.(c)
4 Those who hate me without cause
are more numerous than the hairs of my head;
my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me,
are powerful.(d)
Though I did not steal, I must repay.(e)

5 God, You know my foolishness,
and my guilty acts are not hidden from You.(f)
6 Do not let those who put their hope in You
be disgraced because of me,
Lord God of Hosts;
do not let those who seek You
be humiliated because of me,
God of Israel.(g)
7 For I have endured insults because of You,
and shame has covered my face.(h)
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers
and a foreigner to my mother's sons(i)
9 because zeal for Your house has consumed me,(j)
and the insults of those who insult You
have fallen on me.(k)
10 I mourned and fasted,
but it brought me insults.(l)
11 I wore sackcloth as my clothing,
and I was a joke to them.
12 Those who sit at the city gate talk about me,
and drunkards make up songs about me.(m)

13 But as for me, Lord ,
my prayer to You is for a time of favor.
In Your abundant, faithful love, God,
answer me with Your sure salvation.(n)
14 Rescue me from the miry mud; don't let me sink.
Let me be rescued from those who hate me
and from the deep waters.(o)
15 Don't let the floodwaters sweep over me
or the deep swallow me up;
don't let the Pit close its mouth over me.(p)
16 Answer me, Lord ,
for Your faithful love is good;
in keeping with Your great compassion,
turn to me.(q)
17 Don't hide Your face from Your servant,
for I am in distress.
Answer me quickly!(r)
18 Draw near to me and redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies.(s)

19 You know the insults I endure—
my shame and disgrace.
You are aware of all my adversaries.(t)
20 Insults have broken my heart,
and I am in despair.
I waited for sympathy,
but there was none;
for comforters, but found no one.(u)
21 Instead, they gave me gall[b] for my food,
and for my thirst
they gave me vinegar to drink.(v)

22 Let their table set before them be a snare,
and let it be a trap for their allies.(w)
23 Let their eyes grow too dim to see,
and let their loins continually shake.(x)
24 Pour out Your rage on them,
and let Your burning anger overtake them.(y)
25 Make their fortification desolate;
may no one live in their tents.(z)
26 For they persecute the one You struck
and talk about the pain of those You wounded.(aa)
27 Add guilt to their guilt;
do not let them share in Your righteousness.(ab)
28 Let them be erased from the book of life
and not be recorded with the righteous.(ac)

29 But as for me—poor and in pain—
let Your salvation protect me, God.(ad)
30 I will praise God's name with song
and exalt Him with thanksgiving.(ae)
31 That will please Yahweh more than an ox,
more than a bull with horns and hooves.(af)
32 The humble will see it and rejoice.
You who seek God, take heart!(ag)
33 For the Lord listens to the needy
and does not despise
His own who are prisoners.(ah)

34 Let heaven and earth praise Him,
the seas and everything that moves in them,(ai)
35 for God will save Zion
and build up[c] the cities of Judah.
They will live there and possess it.(aj)
36 The descendants of His servants will inherit it,
and those who love His name will live in it.(ak)

Psalm 70

A Call for Deliverance

For the choir director. Davidic. To bring remembrance.(a)

1 God, deliver me.
Hurry to help me, Lord !(b)

2 Let those who seek my life
be disgraced and confounded;
let those who wish me harm
be driven back and humiliated.
3 Let those who say, "Aha, aha!"
retreat because of their shame.(c)

4 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
let those who love Your salvation
continually say, "God is great!"(d)
5 I am afflicted and needy;
hurry to me, God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord , do not delay.(e)

Psalm 71

God's Help in Old Age

1  Lord , I seek refuge in You;
let me never be disgraced.(a)
2 In Your justice, rescue and deliver me;
listen closely to me and save me.(b)
3 Be a rock of refuge for me,
where I can always go.
Give the command to save me,
for You are my rock and fortress.(c)
4 Deliver me, my God, from the power of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and oppressive.(d)
5 For You are my hope, Lord God ,
my confidence from my youth.(e)
6 I have leaned on You from birth;
You took me from my mother's womb.(f)
My praise is always about You.(g)
7 I have become an ominous sign to many,
but You are my strong refuge.(h)
8 My mouth is full of praise
and honor to You all day long.(i)

9 Don't discard me in my old age;
as my strength fails, do not abandon me.(j)
10 For my enemies talk about me,
and those who spy on me plot together,(k)
11 saying, "God has abandoned him;
chase him and catch him,
for there is no one to rescue him."(l)
12 God, do not be far from me;
my God, hurry to help me.(m)
13 May my adversaries be disgraced and destroyed;
may those who seek my harm
be covered with disgrace and humiliation.(n)
14 But I will hope continually
and will praise You more and more.(o)
15 My mouth will tell about Your righteousness
and Your salvation all day long,
though I cannot sum them up.(p)
16 I come because of the mighty acts of the Lord God ;
I will proclaim Your righteousness, Yours alone.(q)

17 God, You have taught me from my youth,
and I still proclaim Your wonderful works.(r)
18 Even when I am old and gray,
God, do not abandon me.(s)
Then I will[a] proclaim Your power
to another generation,
Your strength to all who are to come.(t)
19 Your righteousness reaches heaven, God,
You who have done great things;
God, who is like You?(u)
20 You caused me to experience
many troubles and misfortunes,(v)
but You will revive me again.(w)
You will bring me up again,
even from the depths of the earth.(x)
21 You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.(y)
22 Therefore, I will praise You with a harp
for Your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing to You with a lyre,
Holy One of Israel.(z)
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to You
because You have redeemed me.(aa)
24 Therefore, my tongue will proclaim
Your righteousness all day long,
for those who seek my harm
will be disgraced and confounded.(ab)

Psalm 72

A Prayer for the King

Solomonic.(a)

1 God, give Your justice to the king
and Your righteousness to the king's son.(b)
2 He will judge Your people with righteousness
and Your afflicted ones with justice.(c)
3 May the mountains bring prosperity[a] to the people
and the hills, righteousness.(d)
4 May he vindicate the afflicted among the people,
help the poor,
and crush the oppressor.(e)

5 May he continue[b] while the sun endures
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.(f)
6 May he be like rain that falls on the cut grass,
like spring showers that water the earth.(g)
7 May the righteous[c] flourish in his days
and prosperity[d] abound
until the moon is no more.(h)

8 May he rule from sea to sea
and from the Euphrates
to the ends of the earth.(i)
9 May desert tribes kneel before him
and his enemies lick the dust.(j)
10 May the kings of Tarshish
and the coasts and islands bring tribute,
the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.(k)
11 Let all kings bow down to him,
all nations serve him.(l)

12 For he will rescue the poor who cry out
and the afflicted who have no helper.(m)
13 He will have pity on the poor and helpless
and save the lives of the poor.(n)
14 He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
for their lives are[e] precious[f] in his sight.(o)

15 May he live long!
May gold from Sheba be given to him.
May prayer be offered for him continually,
and may he be blessed all day long.(p)
16 May there be plenty of grain in the land;
may it wave on the tops of the mountains.
May its crops be like Lebanon.
May people flourish in the cities
like the grass of the field.(q)
17 May his name endure forever;
as long as the sun shines,
may his fame increase.
May all nations be blessed by him
and call him blessed.(r)

18 May the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wonders, be praised.(s)
19 May His glorious name be praised forever;
the whole earth is filled with His glory.(t)
Amen and amen.
20 The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded.(u)

Psalm 73

God's Ways Vindicated

A psalm of Asaph.(a)

1 God is indeed good to Israel,
to the pure in heart.(b)
2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped;
my steps nearly went astray.(c)
3 For I envied the arrogant;
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(d)

4 They have an easy time until they die,[a]
and their bodies are well fed.[b](e)
5 They are not in trouble like others;
they are not afflicted like most people.(f)
6 Therefore, pride is their necklace,
and violence covers them like a garment.(g)
7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness;
the imaginations of their hearts run wild.(h)
8 They mock, and they speak maliciously;
they arrogantly threaten oppression.(i)
9 They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues strut across the earth.(j)
10 Therefore His people turn to them[c]
and drink in their overflowing words.[d](k)
11 The wicked say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High know everything?"(l)
12 Look at them—the wicked!
They are always at ease,
and they increase their wealth.(m)

13 Did I purify my heart
and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?(n)
14 For I am afflicted all day long
and punished every morning.(o)
15 If I had decided to say these things aloud,
I would have betrayed Your people.[e](p)
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it seemed hopeless[f](q)
17 until I entered God's sanctuary.
Then I understood their destiny.(r)
18 Indeed, You put them in slippery places;
You make them fall into ruin.(s)
19 How suddenly they become a desolation!
They come to an end, swept away by terrors.(t)
20 Like one waking from a dream,
Lord, when arising, You will despise their image.(u)

21 When I became embittered
and my innermost being[g] was wounded,(v)
22 I was stupid and didn't understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward You.(w)
23 Yet I am always with You;
You hold my right hand.(x)
24 You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward You will take me up in glory.[h](y)
25 Who do I have in heaven but You?
And I desire nothing on earth but You.(z)
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[i] of my heart,
my portion forever.(aa)
27 Those far from You will certainly perish;
You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.(ab)
28 But as for me, God's presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all You do.(ac)

Psalm 74

Prayer for Israel

A Maskil of Asaph.(a)

1 Why have You rejected us forever, God?
Why does Your anger burn
against the sheep of Your pasture?(b)
2 Remember Your congregation,
which You purchased long ago
and redeemed as the tribe for Your own possession.(c)
Remember Mount Zion where You dwell.(d)
3 Make Your way[a] to the everlasting ruins,
to all that the enemy has destroyed in the sanctuary.(e)
4 Your adversaries roared in the meeting place
where You met with us.[b]
They set up their emblems as signs.(f)
5 It was like men in a thicket of trees,
wielding axes,(g)
6 then smashing all the carvings
with hatchets and picks.(h)
7 They set Your sanctuary on fire;
they utterly[c] desecrated
the dwelling place of Your name.(i)
8 They said in their hearts,
"Let us oppress them relentlessly."
They burned down every place throughout the land
where God met with us.[d](j)
9 There are no signs for us to see.
There is no longer a prophet.
And none of us knows how long this will last.(k)
10 God, how long will the enemy mock?
Will the foe insult Your name forever?(l)
11 Why do You hold back Your hand?
Stretch out[e] Your right hand and destroy them!(m)

12 God my King is from ancient times,
performing saving acts on the earth.(n)
13 You divided the sea with Your strength;
You smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the waters;(o)
14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan;
You fed him to the creatures of the desert.(p)
15 You opened up springs and streams;(q)
You dried up ever-flowing rivers.(r)
16 The day is Yours, also the night;
You established the moon and the sun.(s)
17 You set all the boundaries of the earth;
You made summer and winter.(t)

18 Remember this: the enemy has mocked Yahweh,
and a foolish people has insulted Your name.(u)
19 Do not give the life of Your dove to beasts;[f]
do not forget the lives of Your poor people forever.(v)
20 Consider the covenant,(w)
for the dark places of the land are full of violence.(x)
21 Do not let the oppressed turn away in shame;
let the poor and needy praise Your name.(y)
22 Rise up, God, defend Your cause!(z)
Remember the insults
that fools bring against You all day long.(aa)
23 Do not forget the clamor of Your adversaries,
the tumult of Your opponents that goes up constantly.(ab)

Psalm 75

God Judges the Wicked

For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy."[a] A psalm of Asaph.(a) A song.

1 We give thanks to You, God;
we give thanks to You, for Your name is near.
People tell about Your wonderful works.(b)

2 "When I choose a time,
I will judge fairly.(c)
3 When the earth and all its inhabitants shake,
I am the One who steadies its pillars.(d) Selah
4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,'
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn.(e)
5 Do not lift up your horn against heaven
or speak arrogantly.'"(f)

6 Exaltation does not come
from the east, the west, or the desert,
7 for God is the Judge:
He brings down one and exalts another.(g)
8 For there is a cup in the Lord 's hand,
full of wine blended with spices, and He pours from it.
All the wicked of the earth will drink,
draining it to the dregs.(h)

9 As for me, I will tell about Him forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.(i)

10 "I will cut off all the horns of the wicked,(j)
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up."(k)

Psalm 76

God, the Powerful Judge

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph.(a) A song.

1 God is known in Judah;
His name is great in Israel.(b)
2 His tent is in Salem,[a]
His dwelling place in Zion.(c)
3 There He shatters the bow's flaming arrows,
the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war.(d) Selah

4 You are resplendent and majestic
coming down from the mountains of prey.(e)
5 The brave-hearted have been plundered;
they have slipped into their final sleep.
None of the warriors was able to lift a hand.(f)
6 At Your rebuke, God of Jacob,
both chariot and horse lay still.(g)

7 And You—You are to be feared.[b]
When You are angry,
who can stand before You?(h)
8 From heaven You pronounced judgment.
The earth feared and grew quiet(i)
9 when God rose up to judge
and to save all the lowly of the earth.(j) Selah
10 Even human wrath will praise You;
You will clothe Yourself
with their remaining wrath.[c](k)

11 Make and keep your vows
to the Lord your God;(l)
let all who are around Him bring tribute
to the awe-inspiring One.[d](m)
12 He humbles the spirit of leaders;
He is feared by the kings of the earth.(n)

Psalm 77

Confidence in a Time of Crisis

For the choir director: according to Jeduthun. Of Asaph.(a) A psalm.

1 I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and He will hear me.(b)
2 I sought the Lord in my day of trouble.
My hands were continually lifted up
all night long;
I refused to be comforted.(c)
3 I think of God; I groan;
I meditate; my spirit becomes weak.(d) Selah

4 You have kept me from closing my eyes;
I am troubled and cannot speak.(e)
5 I consider days of old,
years long past.(f)
6 At night I remember my music;
I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders.(g)

7 "Will the Lord reject forever
and never again show favor?(h)
8 Has His faithful love ceased forever?
Is His promise at an end for all generations?(i)
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has He in anger withheld His compassion?"(j) Selah

10 So I say, "I am grieved[a]
that the right hand of the Most High has changed."(k)
11 I will remember the Lord 's works;
yes, I will remember Your ancient wonders.(l)
12 I will reflect on all You have done
and meditate on Your actions.(m)

13 God, Your way is holy.
What god is great like God?(n)
14 You are the God who works wonders;
You revealed Your strength among the peoples.(o)
15 With power You redeemed Your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.(p) Selah

16 The waters saw You, God.
The waters saw You; they trembled.
Even the depths shook.(q)
17 The clouds poured down water.
The storm clouds thundered;
Your arrows flashed back and forth.(r)
18 The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
lightning lit up the world.(s)
The earth shook and quaked.(t)
19 Your way went through the sea
and Your path through the great waters,
but Your footprints were unseen.(u)
20 You led Your people like a flock(v)
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.(w)

Psalm 78

Lessons from Israel's Past

A Maskil of Asaph.(a)

1 My people, hear my instruction;
listen to what I say.(b)
2 I will declare wise sayings;
I will speak mysteries from the past(c)
3 things we have heard and known
and that our fathers have passed down to us.(d)
4 We must not hide them from their children,
but must tell a future generation
the praises of the Lord ,
His might, and the wonderful works
He has performed.(e)
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and set up a law in Israel,
which He commanded our fathers
to teach to their children(f)
6 so that a future generation—
children yet to be born—might know.
They were to rise and tell their children(g)
7 so that they might put their confidence in God
and not forget God's works,
but keep His commands.(h)
8 Then they would not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not loyal
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.(i)

9 The Ephraimite archers turned back
on the day of battle.(j)
10 They did not keep God's covenant
and refused to live by His law.(k)
11 They forgot what He had done,
the wonderful works He had shown them.(l)
12 He worked wonders in the sight of their fathers
in the land of Egypt, the region of Zoan.(m)
13 He split the sea and brought them across;
the water stood firm like a wall.(n)
14 He led them with a cloud by day
and with a fiery light throughout the night.(o)
15 He split rocks in the wilderness
and gave them drink as abundant as the depths.(p)
16 He brought streams out of the stone
and made water flow down like rivers.(q)

17 But they continued to sin against Him,
rebelling in the desert against the Most High.(r)
18 They deliberately[a] tested God,
demanding the food they craved.(s)
19 They spoke against God, saying,
"Is God able to provide food in the wilderness?
20 Look! He struck the rock and water gushed out;
torrents overflowed.(t)
But can He also provide bread
or furnish meat for His people?"(u)
21 Therefore, the Lord heard and became furious;
then fire broke out against Jacob,
and anger flared up against Israel(v)
22 because they did not believe God
or rely on His salvation.(w)
23 He gave a command to the clouds above
and opened the doors of heaven.(x)
24 He rained manna for them to eat;
He gave them grain from heaven.(y)
25 People[b] ate the bread of angels.[c]
He sent them an abundant supply of food.(z)
26 He made the east wind blow in the skies
and drove the south wind by His might.(aa)
27 He rained meat on them like dust,
and winged birds like the sand of the seas.
28 He made them fall in His camp,
all around His tent.[d][e](ab)
29 They ate and were completely satisfied,
for He gave them what they craved.(ac)
30 Before they had satisfied their desire,
while the food was still in their mouths,
31 God's anger flared up against them,
and He killed some of their best men.
He struck down Israel's choice young men.(ad)

32 Despite all this, they kept sinning
and did not believe His wonderful works.(ae)
33 He made their days end in futility,
their years in sudden disaster.(af)
34 When He killed some of them,
the rest began to seek Him;
they repented and searched for God.(ag)
35 They remembered that God was their rock,
the Most High God, their Redeemer.(ah)
36 But they deceived Him with their mouths,
they lied to Him with their tongues,(ai)
37 their hearts were insincere toward Him,
and they were unfaithful to His covenant.(aj)
38 Yet He was compassionate;
He atoned for[f] their guilt
and did not destroy them.
He often turned His anger aside
and did not unleash[g] all His wrath.(ak)
39 He remembered that they were only flesh,
a wind that passes and does not return.(al)

40 How often they rebelled against Him
in the wilderness
and grieved Him in the desert.
41 They constantly tested God(am)
and provoked the Holy One of Israel.(an)
42 They did not remember His power shown
on the day He redeemed them from the foe,(ao)
43 when He performed His miraculous signs in Egypt
and His wonders in the region of Zoan.(ap)
44 He turned their rivers into blood,
and they could not drink from their streams.(aq)
45 He sent among them swarms of flies,(ar)
which fed on them,
and frogs, which devastated them.(as)
46 He gave their crops to the caterpillar
and the fruit of their labor to the locust.(at)
47 He killed their vines with hail
and their sycamore fig trees with a flood.
48 He handed over their livestock to hail
and their cattle to lightning bolts.(au)
49 He sent His burning anger against them:
fury, indignation, and calamity—
a band of deadly messengers.[h](av)
50 He cleared a path for His anger.
He did not spare them from death
but delivered their lives to the plague.(aw)
51 He struck all the firstborn(ax) in Egypt,
the first progeny of the tents of Ham.[i](ay)
52 He led His people out like sheep
and guided them like a flock in the wilderness.(az)
53 He led them safely, and they were not afraid;
but the sea covered their enemies.(ba)
54 He brought them to His holy land,
to the mountain His right hand acquired.(bb)
55 He drove out nations before them.(bc)
He apportioned their inheritance by lot
and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.(bd)

56 But they rebelliously tested the Most High God,
for they did not keep His decrees.(be)
57 They treacherously turned away like their fathers;
they became warped like a faulty bow.(bf)
58 They enraged Him with their high places
and provoked His jealousy with their carved images.(bg)
59 God heard and became furious;
He completely rejected Israel.(bh)
60 He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh,
the tent where He resided among men.[j](bi)
61 He gave up His strength[k] to captivity
and His splendor to the hand of a foe.(bj)
62 He surrendered His people to the sword
because He was enraged with His heritage.(bk)
63 Fire consumed His chosen young men,
and His young women had no wedding songs.[l](bl)
64 His priests fell by the sword,
but the[m] widows could not lament.[n](bm)

65 Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep,
like a warrior from the effects of wine.(bn)
66 He beat back His foes;
He gave them lasting shame.(bo)
67 He rejected the tent of Joseph
and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.
68 He chose instead the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which He loved.(bp)
69 He built His sanctuary like the heights,[o]
like the earth that He established forever.(bq)
70 He chose David His servant
and took him from the sheepfolds;(br)
71 He brought him from tending ewes
to be shepherd over His people Jacob—
over Israel, His inheritance.(bs)
72 He shepherded them with a pure heart
and guided them with his skillful hands.(bt)

Psalm 79

Faith amid Confusion

A psalm of Asaph.(a)

1 God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance,
desecrated Your holy temple,
and turned Jerusalem into ruins.(b)
2 They gave the corpses of Your servants
to the birds of the sky for food,
the flesh of Your godly ones
to the beasts of the earth.(c)
3 They poured out their blood
like water all around Jerusalem,
and there was no one to bury them.(d)
4 We have become an object of reproach
to our neighbors,
a source of mockery and ridicule
to those around us.(e)

5 How long, Yahweh? Will You be angry forever?
Will Your jealousy keep burning like fire?(f)
6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations
that don't acknowledge You,
on the kingdoms that don't call on Your name,(g)
7 for they have devoured Jacob
and devastated his homeland.(h)
8 Do not hold past sins[a] against us;
let Your compassion come to us quickly,
for we have become weak.(i)

9 God of our salvation, help us(j)
for the glory of Your name.
Deliver us and atone for[b] our sins,
because of Your name.(k)
10 Why should the nations ask,
"Where is their God?"(l)
Before our eyes,
let vengeance for the shed blood of Your servants
be known among the nations.(m)
11 Let the groans of the prisoners reach You;
according to Your great power,
preserve those condemned to die.(n)

12 Pay back sevenfold to our neighbors(o)
the reproach they have hurled at You, Lord.(p)
13 Then we, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture,(q)
will thank You forever;
we will declare Your praise
to generation after generation.(r)

Psalm 80

A Prayer for Restoration

For the choir director: according to "The Lilies."[a] A testimony of Asaph.(a) A psalm.

1 Listen, Shepherd of Israel,
who leads Joseph like a flock;(b)
You who sit enthroned on the cherubim,(c)
rise up(d)
2 before Ephraim,
Benjamin, and Manasseh.[b](e)
Rally Your power and come to save us.(f)
3 Restore us, God;
look on us with favor,
and we will be saved.(g)

4  Lord God of Hosts,
how long will You be angry
with Your people's prayers?(h)
5 You fed them the bread of tears
and gave them a full measure[c]
of tears to drink.(i)
6 You make us quarrel with our neighbors;
our enemies make fun of us.(j)
7 Restore us, God of Hosts;
look on us with favor, and we will be saved.(k)

8 You uprooted a vine from Egypt;
You drove out the nations and planted it.(l)
9 You cleared a place for it;
it took root and filled the land.(m)
10 The mountains were covered by its shade,
and the mighty cedars[d] with its branches.(n)
11 It sent out sprouts toward the Sea[e]
and shoots toward the River.[f](o)

12 Why have You broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its fruit?(p)
13 The boar from the forest tears it
and creatures of the field feed on it.(q)
14 Return, God of Hosts.(r)
Look down from heaven and see;
take care of this vine,
15 the root[g] Your right hand has planted,
the shoot[h] that You made strong for Yourself.(s)
16 It was cut down and burned up;[i]
they[j] perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.(t)
17 Let Your hand be with the man at Your right hand,
with the son of man
You have made strong for Yourself.(u)
18 Then we will not turn away from You;
revive us, and we will call on Your name.(v)
19 Restore us, Yahweh, the God of Hosts;(w)
look on us with favor, and we will be saved.(x)

Psalm 81

A Call to Obedience

For the choir director: on the Gittith. Of Asaph.(a)

1 Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.(b)
2 Lift up a song—play the tambourine,
the melodious lyre, and the harp.(c)
3 Blow the horn on the day of our feasts[a][b]
during the new moon(d)
and during the full moon.
4 For this is a statute for Israel,
a judgment of the God of Jacob.(e)
5 He set it up as an ordinance for Joseph
when He went throughout[c] the land of Egypt.(f)

I heard an unfamiliar language:
6 "I relieved his shoulder from the burden;
his hands were freed from carrying the basket.(g)
7 You called out in distress, and I rescued you;
I answered you from the thundercloud.(h)
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.(i) Selah
8 Listen, My people, and I will admonish you.
Israel, if you would only listen to Me!(j)
9 There must not be a strange god among you;
you must not bow down to a foreign god.(k)
10 I am Yahweh your God,
who brought you up from the land of Egypt.(l)
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.(m)

11 "But My people did not listen to Me;
Israel did not obey Me.(n)
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own plans.(o)
13 If only My people would listen to Me
and Israel would follow My ways,(p)
14 I would quickly subdue their enemies
and turn My hand against their foes."(q)
15 Those who hate the Lord
would pretend submission to Him;(r)
their doom would last forever.(s)
16 But He would feed Israel[d] with the best wheat.
"I would satisfy you with honey from the rock."(t)

Psalm 82

A Plea for Righteous Judgment

A psalm of Asaph.(a)

1 God has taken His place in the divine assembly;
He judges among the gods:[a](b)
2 "How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?(c) Selah
3 Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless;
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.(d)
4 Rescue the poor and needy;
save them from the power of the wicked."(e)

5 They do not know or understand;
they wander in darkness.(f)
All the foundations of the earth are shaken.(g)

6 I said, "You are gods;(h)
you are all sons of the Most High.(i)
7 However, you will die like men
and fall like any other ruler."(j)

8 Rise up, God, judge the earth,
for all the nations belong to You.(k)

Psalm 83

Prayer against Enemies

A song. A psalm of Asaph.(a)

1 God, do not keep silent.
Do not be deaf, God; do not be idle.(b)
2 See how Your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate You have acted arrogantly.[a](c)
3 They devise clever schemes against Your people;
they conspire against Your treasured ones.(d)
4 They say, "Come, let us wipe them out as a nation
so that Israel's name will no longer be remembered."(e)
5 For they have conspired with one mind;
they form an alliance[b] against You(f)
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,(g)
Moab and the Hagrites,(h)
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek,(i)
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.(j)
8 Even Assyria has joined them;
they lend support[c] to the sons of Lot.[d](k) Selah

9 Deal with them as You did with Midian,(l)
as You did with Sisera
and Jabin at the Kishon River.(m)
10 They were destroyed at En-dor;
they became manure for the ground.(n)
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,(o)
and all their tribal leaders like Zebah and Zalmunna,(p)
12 who said, "Let us seize God's pastures for ourselves."(q)

13 Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
like straw before the wind.(r)
14 As fire burns a forest,
as a flame blazes through mountains,(s)
15 so pursue them with Your tempest
and terrify them with Your storm.(t)
16 Cover their faces with shame
so that they will seek Your name Yahweh.(u)
17 Let them be put to shame and terrified forever;
let them perish in disgrace.(v)
18 May they know that You alone—
whose name is Yahweh—
are the Most High over all the earth.(w)

Psalm 84

Longing for God's House

For the choir director: on the Gittith.(a) A psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 How lovely is Your dwelling place,
Lord of Hosts.(b)
2 I long and yearn
for the courts of the Lord ;
my heart and flesh cry out for[a] the living God.(c)

3 Even a sparrow finds a home,
and a swallow, a nest for herself
where she places her young—
near Your altars, Lord of Hosts,
my King and my God.(d)
4 How happy are those who reside in Your house,
who praise You continually.(e) Selah

5 Happy are the people whose strength is in You,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(f)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,[b]
they make it a source of springwater;
even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings.[c](g)
7 They go from strength to strength;
each appears before God in Zion.(h)

8  Lord God of Hosts, hear my prayer;
listen, God of Jacob.(i) Selah
9 Consider our shield,[d] God;(j)
look on the face of Your anointed one.(k)

10 Better a day in Your courts
than a thousand anywhere else.
I would rather be at the door of the house of my God
than to live in the tents of wicked people.(l)
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield.(m)
The Lord gives grace and glory;
He does not withhold the good
from those who live with integrity.(n)
12 Happy is the person who trusts in You,
Lord of Hosts!(o)

Psalm 85

Restoration of Favor

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

1  Lord , You showed favor to Your land;(a)
You restored Jacob's prosperity.[a](b)
2 You took away Your people's guilt;
You covered all their sin.(c) Selah
3 You withdrew all Your fury;
You turned from Your burning anger.(d)

4 Return to us, God of our salvation,
and abandon Your displeasure with us.(e)
5 Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger for all generations?(f)
6 Will You not revive us again
so that Your people may rejoice in You?(g)
7 Show us Your faithful love, Lord ,
and give us Your salvation.(h)

8 I will listen to what God will say;
surely the Lord will declare peace
to His people, His godly ones,
and not let them go back to foolish ways.(i)
9 His salvation is very near those who fear Him,
so that glory may dwell in our land.(j)

10 Faithful love and truth will join together;
righteousness and peace will embrace.(k)
11 Truth will spring up from the earth,
and righteousness will look down from heaven.(l)
12 Also, the Lord will provide what is good,
and our land will yield its crops.(m)
13 Righteousness will go before Him
to prepare the way for His steps.(n)

Psalm 86

Lament and Petition

A Davidic prayer.

1 Listen, Lord , and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.(a)
2 Protect my life, for I am faithful.(b)
You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You.(c)
3 Be gracious to me, Lord,
for I call to You all day long.(d)
4 Bring joy to Your servant's life,
because I turn to You, Lord.(e)

5 For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive,(f)
rich in faithful love to all who call on You.(g)
6  Lord , hear my prayer;
listen to my plea for mercy.(h)
7 I call on You in the day of my distress,
for You will answer me.(i)

8 Lord, there is no one like You among the gods,
and there are no works like Yours.(j)
9 All the nations You have made
will come and bow down before You, Lord,
and will honor Your name.(k)
10 For You are great and perform wonders;
You alone are God.(l)

11 Teach me Your way, Yahweh,
and I will live by Your truth.
Give me an undivided mind to fear Your name.(m)
12 I will praise You with all my heart, Lord my God,
and will honor Your name forever.(n)
13 For Your faithful love for me is great,
and You deliver my life from the depths of Sheol.(o)

14 God, arrogant people have attacked me;
a gang of ruthless men seeks my life.
They have no regard for You.(p)
15 But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth.(q)
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me.
Give Your strength to Your servant;
save the son of Your female servant.(r)
17 Show me a sign of Your goodness;
my enemies will see and be put to shame
because You, Lord , have helped and comforted me.(s)

John 14

Resource Toolbox

Chapter 14

The Way to the Father

1  "Your heart must not be troubled.(a) Believe[a] in God;(b) believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many dwelling places;[b] if not, I would have told you. I am going away(c) to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back(d) and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.(e) 4 You know the way to where I am going." [c](f)

5 "Lord," Thomas(g) said, "we don't know where You're going. How can we know the way?"

6 Jesus told him, "I am(h) the way,(i) the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus Reveals the Father

7 "If you know Me, you will also know[d] My Father.(j) From now on you do know Him(k) and have seen Him."

8 "Lord," said Philip,(l) "show us the Father, and that's enough for us."

9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father.(m) How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?(n) The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own.(o) The Father who lives in Me does His works.(p) 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe[e] because of the works themselves. (q)

Praying in Jesus' Name

12 "I assure you: The one who believes in Me(r) will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these,(s) because I am going to the Father.(t) 13 Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified(u) in the Son.(v) 14 If you ask Me[f] anything in My name,(w) I will do it. [g](x)

Another Counselor Promised

15 "If you love Me, you will keep[h] My commands. (y) 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor(z) to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit(aa) of truth.(ab) The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn't see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be[i] in you.(ac) 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

19 "In a little while the world will see Me no longer,(ad) but you will see Me.(ae) Because I live, you will live(af) too. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father,(ag) you are in Me, and I am in you. 21 The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.(ah) And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father.(ai) I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him."

22 Judas(aj) (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it You're going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?"(ak)

23 Jesus answered, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.(al) 24 The one who doesn't love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me. (am)

25 "I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit(an)—the Father will send(ao) Him in My name—will teach you all things(ap) and remind you of everything I have told you. (aq)

Jesus' Gift of Peace

27 "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.(ar) 28 You have heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away(as) and I am coming to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father,(at) because the Father is greater than I.(au) 29 I have told you now before it happens(av) so that when it does happen you may believe. 30 I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world(aw) is coming. He has no power over Me. [j](ax) 31 On the contrary, I am going away[k] so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do.

"Get up; let's leave this place.

 
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