the Week of Proper 17 / Ordinary 22
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
July 22 - Old & New Testament
csb
Psalms 33,43,66
Psalm 33
Praise to the Creator
1 Rejoice in the
Lord
, you righteous ones;
praise from the upright is beautiful.(a)
2 Praise the
Lord
with the lyre;
make music to Him with a ten-stringed harp.(b)
3 Sing a new song to Him;(c)
play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.(d)
4 For the word of the
Lord
is right,
and all His work is trustworthy.(e)
5 He loves righteousness and justice;(f)
the earth is full of the
Lord
's unfailing love.(g)
6 The heavens were made by the word of the
Lord
,(h)
and all the stars, by the breath of His mouth.(i)
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into a heap;[a]
He puts the depths into storehouses.(j)
8 Let the whole earth tremble before the
Lord
;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.(k)
9 For He spoke, and it came into being;
He commanded, and it came into existence.(l)
10 The
Lord
frustrates the counsel of the nations;
He thwarts the plans of the peoples.(m)
11 The counsel of the
Lord
stands forever,
the plans of His heart from generation to generation.(n)
12 Happy is the nation whose God is Yahweh—
the people He has chosen to be His own possession!(o)
13 The
Lord
looks down from heaven;
He observes everyone.(p)
14 He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth
from His dwelling place.(q)
15 He alone shapes their hearts;
He considers all their works.(r)
16 A king is not saved by a large army;
a warrior will not be delivered by great strength.(s)
17 The horse is a false hope for safety;
it provides no escape by its great power.(t)
18 Now the eye of the
Lord
is on those who fear Him—
those who depend on His faithful love(u)
19 to deliver them from death
and to keep them alive in famine.(v)
20 We wait for Yahweh;(w)
He is our help and shield.(x)
21 For our hearts rejoice in Him(y)
because we trust in His holy name.(z)
22 May Your faithful love rest on us, Yahweh,
for we put our hope in You.(aa)
Psalm 34
The Lord Delivers the Righteous
Concerning David, when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech,[a](a) who drove him out, and he departed.
1 I[b] will praise the
Lord
at all times;
His praise will always be on my lips.(b)
2 I will boast in the
Lord
;(c)
the humble will hear and be glad.(d)
3 Proclaim Yahweh's greatness with me;(e)
let us exalt His name together.(f)
4 I sought the
Lord
, and He answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.(g)
5 Those who look to Him are[c] radiant with joy;(h)
their faces will never be ashamed.(i)
6 This poor man cried, and the
Lord
heard him
and saved him from all his troubles.(j)
7 The Angel of the
Lord
encamps
around those who fear Him, and rescues them.(k)
8 Taste and see that the
Lord
is good.(l)
How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!(m)
9 You who are His holy ones, fear Yahweh,
for those who fear Him lack nothing.(n)
10 Young lions[d] lack food and go hungry,(o)
but those who seek the
Lord
will not lack any good thing.(p)
11 Come, children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the
Lord
.(q)
12 Who is the man who delights in life,
loving a long life to enjoy what is good?(r)
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceitful speech.(s)
14 Turn away from evil and do what is good;(t)
seek peace and pursue it.(u)
15 The eyes of the
Lord
are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their cry for help.(v)
16 The face of the
Lord
is set
against those who do what is evil,(w)
to erase[e] all memory of them from the earth.(x)
17 The righteous[f] cry out, and the
Lord
hears,
and delivers them from all their troubles.(y)
18 The
Lord
is near the brokenhearted;
He saves those crushed in spirit.(z)
19 Many adversities come to the one who is righteous,
but the
Lord
delivers him from them all.(aa)
20 He protects all his bones;
not one of them is broken.(ab)
21 Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.(ac)
22 The
Lord
redeems the life of His servants,
and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished.(ad)
Psalm 35
Prayer for Victory
Davidic.
1 Oppose my opponents,
Lord
;
fight those who fight me.(a)
2 Take Your shields—large and small—
and come to my aid.(b)
3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers,
and assure me: "I am your deliverance."(c)
4 Let those who seek to kill me
be disgraced and humiliated;
let those who plan to harm me
be turned back and ashamed.(d)
5 Let them be like chaff in the wind,
with the angel of the
Lord
driving them away.(e)
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the
Lord
pursuing them.(f)
7 They hid their net for me without cause;
they dug a pit for me without cause.(g)
8 Let ruin come on him unexpectedly,
and let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it—to his ruin.(h)
9 Then I will rejoice in the
Lord
;
I will delight in His deliverance.(i)
10 My very bones will say,
"
Lord
, who is like You,(j)
rescuing the poor from one too strong for him,
the poor or the needy from one who robs him?"(k)
11 Malicious witnesses come forward;
they question me about things I do not know.(l)
12 They repay me evil for good,
making me desolate.(m)
13 Yet when they were sick,
my clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting,
and my prayer was genuine.[a](n)
14 I went about grieving as if for my friend or brother;
I was bowed down with grief,
like one mourning a mother.(o)
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
they gathered against me.
Assailants I did not know
tore at me and did not stop.(p)
16 With godless mockery[b]
they gnashed their teeth at me.(q)
17 Lord, how long will You look on?(r)
Rescue my life from their ravages,
my only one from the young lions.(s)
18 I will praise You in the great congregation;
I will exalt You among many people.(t)
19 Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me;
do not let those who hate me without cause(u)
look at me maliciously.(v)
20 For they do not speak in friendly ways,
but contrive deceitful schemes[c]
against those who live peacefully in the land.(w)
21 They open their mouths wide against me and say,
"Aha, aha! We saw it!"[d](x)
22 You saw it,
Lord
; do not be silent.
Lord, do not be far from me.(y)
23 Wake up and rise to my defense,
to my cause, my God and my
Lord
!(z)
24 Vindicate me,
Lord
my God,
in keeping with Your righteousness,
and do not let them rejoice over me.(aa)
25 Do not let them say in their hearts,
"Aha! Just what we wanted."
Do not let them say,
"We have swallowed him up!"(ab)
26 Let those who rejoice at my misfortune
be disgraced and humiliated;
let those who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and reproach.(ac)
27 Let those who want my vindication
shout for joy and be glad;
let them continually say,
"The
Lord
be exalted.
He takes pleasure in His servant's well-being."(ad)
28 And my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness,
Your praise all day long.(ae)
Psalm 36
Human Wickedness and God's Love
For the choir director. A psalm of David, the Lord 's servant.
1 An oracle within my heart
concerning the transgression of the wicked person:
There is no dread of God before his eyes,(a)
2 for in his own eyes he flatters himself too much
to discover and hate his sin.(b)
3 The words of his mouth are malicious and deceptive;(c)
he has stopped acting wisely and doing good.(d)
4 Even on his bed he makes malicious plans.(e)
He sets himself on a path that is not good
and does not reject evil.(f)
5
Lord
, Your faithful love reaches to heaven,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.(g)
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains;
Your judgments, like the deepest sea.(h)
Lord
, You preserve man and beast.(i)
7 God, Your faithful love is so valuable
that people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.(j)
8 They are filled from the abundance of Your house;
You let them drink from Your refreshing stream,(k)
9 for with You is life's fountain.(l)
In Your light we will see light.(m)
10 Spread Your faithful love over those who know You,
and Your righteousness over the upright in heart.(n)
11 Do not let the foot of the arrogant man come near me
or the hand of the wicked one drive me away.(o)
12 There the evildoers fall;
they have been thrown down and cannot rise.(p)
Psalm 37
Instruction in Wisdom
Davidic.
1 Do[a] not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong.(a)
2 For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants.(b)
3 Trust in the
Lord
and do what is good;(c)
dwell in the land and live securely.[b](d)
4 Take delight in the
Lord
,
and He will give you your heart's desires.(e)
5 Commit your way to the
Lord
;
trust in Him, and He will act,(f)
6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.(g)
7 Be silent before the
Lord
and wait expectantly for Him;(h)
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the man who carries out evil plans.(i)
8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.(j)
9 For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the
Lord
will inherit the land.[c](k)
10 A little while, and the wicked person will be no more;
though you look for him, he will not be there.(l)
11 But the humble will inherit the land[d](m)
and will enjoy abundant prosperity.(n)
12 The wicked person schemes against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him.(o)
13 The Lord laughs at him(p)
because He sees that his day is coming.(q)
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the[e] bow
to bring down the afflicted and needy
and to slaughter those whose way is upright.(r)
15 Their swords will enter their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.(s)
16 The little that the righteous man has is better
than the abundance of many wicked people.(t)
17 For the arms[f] of the wicked will be broken,(u)
but the
Lord
supports the righteous.(v)
18 The
Lord
watches over the blameless all their days,
and their inheritance will last forever.(w)
19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;
they will be satisfied in days of hunger.(x)
20 But the wicked will perish;
the
Lord
's enemies, like the glory of the pastures,
will fade away—
they will fade away like smoke.(y)
21 The wicked man borrows and does not repay,
but the righteous one is gracious and giving.(z)
22 Those who are blessed by Him will inherit the land,[g]
but those cursed by Him will be destroyed.(aa)
23 A man's steps are established by the
Lord
,
and He takes pleasure in his way.(ab)
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
because the
Lord
holds his hand.[h](ac)
25 I have been young and now I am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned
or his children begging for bread.(ad)
26 He is always generous, always lending,
and his children are a blessing.(ae)
27 Turn away from evil and do what is good,
and dwell there[i] forever.(af)
28 For the
Lord
loves justice
and will not abandon His faithful ones.(ag)
They are kept safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.(ah)
29 The righteous will inherit the land[j]
and dwell in it permanently.(ai)
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just.(aj)
31 The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.(ak)
32 The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous
and seeks to kill him;(al)
33 the
Lord
will not leave him
in the power of the wicked one
or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.(am)
34 Wait for the
Lord
and keep His way,
and He will exalt you to inherit the land.
You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.(an)
35 I have seen a wicked, violent man
well-rooted[k] like a flourishing native tree.(ao)
36 Then I passed by and[l] noticed he was gone;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.(ap)
37 Watch the blameless and observe the upright,
for the man of peace will have a future.[m](aq)
38 But transgressors will all be eliminated;
the future[n] of the wicked will be destroyed.(ar)
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the
Lord
,
their refuge in a time of distress.(as)
40 The
Lord
helps and delivers them;
He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them
because they take refuge in Him.(at)
Psalm 38
Prayer of a Suffering Sinner
A Davidic psalm for remembrance.(a)
1
Lord
, do not punish me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath.(b)
2 For Your arrows have sunk into me,
and Your hand has pressed down on me.(c)
3 There is no health in my body
because of Your indignation;
there is no strength[a] in my bones
because of my sin.(d)
4 For my sins have flooded over my head;
they are a burden too heavy for me to bear.(e)
5 My wounds are foul and festering
because of my foolishness.(f)
6 I am bent over and brought low;
all day long I go around in mourning.(g)
7 For my loins are full of burning pain,
and there is no health in my body.(h)
8 I am faint and severely crushed;
I groan because of the anguish of my heart.(i)
9 Lord, my every desire is known to[b] You;
my sighing is not hidden from You.(j)
10 My heart races, my strength leaves me,
and even the light of my eyes has faded.[c](k)
11 My loved ones and friends stand back from my affliction,
and my relatives stand at a distance.(l)
12 Those who seek my life set traps,
and those who want to harm me threaten to destroy me;
they plot treachery all day long.(m)
13 I am like a deaf person; I do not hear.
I am like a speechless person
who does not open his mouth.(n)
14 I am like a man who does not hear
and has no arguments in his mouth.(o)
15 I put my hope in You,
Lord
;
You will answer, Lord my God.(p)
16 For I said, "Don't let them rejoice over me—
those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble."(q)
17 For I am about to fall,
and my pain is constantly with me.(r)
18 So I confess my guilt;
I am anxious because of my sin.(s)
19 But my enemies are vigorous and powerful;[d]
many hate me for no reason.(t)
20 Those who repay evil for good
attack me for pursuing good.(u)
21
Lord
, do not abandon me;
my God, do not be far from me.(v)
22 Hurry to help me,
Lord, my Savior.(w)
Psalm 39
The Fleeting Nature of Life
For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Davidic psalm.
1 I said, "I will guard my ways
so that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle
as long as the wicked are in my presence."(a)
2 I was speechless and quiet;
I kept silent, even from speaking good,
and my pain intensified.(b)
3 My heart grew hot within me;
as I mused, a fire burned.(c)
I spoke with my tongue:
4 "
Lord
, reveal to me the end of my life
and the number of my days.
Let me know how short-lived I am.(d)
5 You, indeed, have made my days short in length,
and my life span as nothing in Your sight.
Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor.(e)
6 "Certainly, man walks about like a mere shadow.
Indeed, they frantically rush around in vain,
gathering possessions
without knowing who will get them.(f)
7 Now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You.(g)
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the taunt of fools.(h)
9 I am speechless; I do not open my mouth
because of what You have done.(i)
10 Remove Your torment from me;
I fade away because of the force of Your hand.(j)
11 You discipline a man with punishment for sin,
consuming like a moth what is precious to him;(k)
every man is only a vapor.(l)
12 "Hear my prayer,
Lord
,
and listen to my cry for help;
do not be silent at my tears.(m)
For I am a foreigner residing with You,
a temporary resident like all my fathers.(n)
13 Turn Your angry gaze from me
so that I may be cheered up
before I die and am gone."(o)
Psalm 40
Thanksgiving and a Cry for Help
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.
1 I waited patiently for the
Lord
,
and He turned to me and heard my cry for help.(a)
2 He brought me up from a desolate[a] pit,
out of the muddy clay,(b)
and set my feet on a rock,
making my steps secure.(c)
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.(d)
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the
Lord
.(e)
4 How happy is the man
who has put his trust in the
Lord
and has not turned to the proud
or to those who run after lies!(f)
5
Lord
my God, You have done many things—
Your wonderful works and Your plans for us;
none can compare with You.
If I were to report and speak of them,
they are more than can be told.(g)
6 You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;
You open my ears to listen.[b]
You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.(h)
7 Then I said, "See, I have come;
it is written about me in the volume of the scroll.(i)
8 I delight to do Your will, my God;(j)
Your instruction lives within me."[c](k)
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
see, I do not keep my mouth closed[d]—
as You know,
Lord
.(l)
10 I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart;
I spoke about Your faithfulness and salvation;
I did not conceal Your constant love and truth
from the great assembly.(m)
11
Lord
, do not withhold Your compassion from me;
Your constant love and truth will always guard me.(n)
12 For troubles without number have surrounded me;
my sins have overtaken me; I am unable to see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my courage leaves me.(o)
13
Lord
, be pleased to deliver me;
hurry to help me,
Lord
.(p)
14 Let those who seek to take my life
be disgraced and confounded.
Let those who wish me harm
be driven back and humiliated.(q)
15 Let those who say to me, "Aha, aha!"
be horrified because of their shame.(r)
16 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
let those who love Your salvation continually say,
"The
Lord
is great!"(s)
17 I am afflicted and needy;
the Lord thinks of me.
You are my helper and my deliverer;
my God, do not delay.(t)
Psalm 41
Victory in Spite of Betrayal
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.
1 Happy is one who cares for the poor;
the
Lord
will save him in a day of adversity.(a)
2 The
Lord
will keep him and preserve him;
he will be blessed in the land.(b)
You will not give him over to the desire of his enemies.(c)
3 The
Lord
will sustain him on his sickbed;
You will heal him on the bed where he lies.(d)
4 I said, "
Lord
, be gracious to me;
heal me, for I have sinned against You."(e)
5 My enemies speak maliciously about me:
"When will he die and be forgotten?"(f)
6 When one of them comes to visit, he speaks deceitfully;
he stores up evil in his heart;
he goes out and talks.(g)
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
they plan to harm me.(h)
8 "Lethal poison has been poured into him,
and he won't rise again from where he lies!"(i)
9 Even my friend[a] in whom I trusted,
one who ate my bread,
has raised his heel against me.(j)
10 But You,
Lord
, be gracious to me and raise me up;
then I will repay them.(k)
11 By this I know that You delight in me:(l)
my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.(m)
12 You supported me because of my integrity(n)
and set me in Your presence forever.(o)
13 May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen.(p)
Psalm 42
Longing for God
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
1 As a deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for You, God.(a)
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I come and appear before God?(b)
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
while all day long people say to me,
"Where is your God?"(c)
4 I remember this as I pour out my heart:(d)
how I walked with many,
leading the festive procession to the house of God,
with joyful and thankful shouts.(e)
5 Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.(f)
6 I[a] am deeply depressed;
therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan
and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.(g)
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls;
all Your breakers and Your billows have swept over me.(h)
8 The
Lord
will send His faithful love by day;(i)
His song will be with me in the night—
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God, my rock,(j)
"Why have You forgotten me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy's oppression?"(k)
10 My adversaries taunt me,
as if crushing my bones,
while all day long they say to me,
"Where is your God?"(l)
11 Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.(m)
Psalm 43[a]
1 Vindicate me, God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly nation;
rescue me from the deceitful and unjust man.(a)
2 For You are the God of my refuge.
Why have You rejected me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy's oppression?(b)
3 Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me.(c)
Let them bring me to Your holy mountain,
to Your dwelling place.(d)
4 Then I will come to the altar of God,
to God, my greatest joy.(e)
I will praise You with the lyre,
God, my God.(f)
5 Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.(g)
Psalm 44
Israel's Complaint
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
1 God, we have heard with our ears—
our ancestors have told us—
the work You accomplished in their days,
in days long ago:(a)
2 to plant them,
You drove out the nations with Your hand;
to settle them,
You crushed the peoples.(b)
3 For they did not take the land by their sword—
their arm did not bring them victory—
but by Your right hand, Your arm,
and the light of Your face,
for You were pleased with them.(c)
4 You are my King, my God,
who ordains[a] victories for Jacob.(d)
5 Through You we drive back our foes;
through Your name we trample our enemies.(e)
6 For I do not trust in my bow,
and my sword does not bring me victory.(f)
7 But You give us victory over our foes
and let those who hate us be disgraced.(g)
8 We boast in God all day long;
we will praise Your name forever.(h)
9 But You have rejected and humiliated us;
You do not march out with our armies.(i)
10 You make us retreat from the foe,
and those who hate us
have taken plunder for themselves.(j)
11 You hand us over to be eaten like sheep
and scatter us among the nations.(k)
12 You sell Your people for nothing;
You make no profit from selling them.(l)
13 You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors,
a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.(m)
14 You make us a joke among the nations,
a laughingstock[b] among the peoples.(n)
15 My disgrace is before me all day long,
and shame has covered my face,(o)
16 because of the voice of the scorner and reviler,
because of the enemy and avenger.(p)
17 All this has happened to us,
but we have not forgotten You
or betrayed Your covenant.(q)
18 Our hearts have not turned back;
our steps have not strayed from Your path.(r)
19 But You have crushed us in a haunt of jackals
and have covered us with deepest darkness.(s)
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
and spread out our hands to a foreign god,(t)
21 wouldn't God have found this out,
since He knows the secrets of the heart?(u)
22 Because of You we are slain all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.(v)
23 Wake up,
Lord
! Why are You sleeping?
Get up! Don't reject us forever!(w)
24 Why do You hide Yourself
and forget our affliction and oppression?(x)
25 For we have sunk down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.(y)
26 Rise up! Help us!
Redeem us because of Your faithful love.(z)
Psalm 45
A Royal Wedding Song
For the choir director: according to "The Lilies."[a] A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song.
1 My heart is moved by a noble theme
as I recite my verses to the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.(a)
2 You are the most handsome of men;
grace flows from your lips.(b)
Therefore God has blessed you forever.(c)
3 Mighty warrior, strap your sword at your side.
In your majesty and splendor(d)—
4 in your splendor ride triumphantly
in the cause of truth, humility, and justice.
May your right hand show your awe-inspiring acts.(e)
5 Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies;
the peoples fall under you.(f)
6 Your throne,(g) God, is[b] forever and ever;
the scepter of Your[c] kingdom is a scepter of justice.(h)
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;(i)
therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy
more than your companions.
8 Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume all your garments;
from ivory palaces harps bring you joy.(j)
9 Kings' daughters are among your honored women;(k)
the queen, adorned with gold from Ophir,
stands at your right hand.(l)
10 Listen, daughter, pay attention and consider:
forget your people and your father's house,(m)
11 and the king will desire your beauty.
Bow down to him, for he is your lord.(n)
12 The daughter of Tyre, the wealthy people,
will seek your favor with gifts.(o)
13 In her chamber, the royal daughter is all glorious,
her clothing embroidered with gold.(p)
14 In colorful garments she is led to the king;
after her, the virgins, her companions, are brought to you.(q)
15 They are led in with gladness and rejoicing;
they enter the king's palace.(r)
16 Your sons will succeed your ancestors;
you will make them princes throughout the land.(s)
17 I will cause your name to be remembered for all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.(t)
Psalm 46
God Our Refuge
For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.[a](a)
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.(b)
2 Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,(c)
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with its turmoil.(d)
4 There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.(e)
5 God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns.(f)
6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple;
the earth melts when He lifts His voice.(g)
7 The
Lord
of Hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.(h)
8 Come, see the works of the
Lord
,
who brings devastation on the earth.(i)
9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
He burns up the chariots.[b](j)
10 "Stop your fighting—and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth."(k)
11 Yahweh of Hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.(l)
Psalm 47
God Our King
For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 Clap your hands, all you peoples;(a)
shout to God with a jubilant cry.(b)
2 For Yahweh, the Most High, is awe-inspiring,
a great King over all the earth.(c)
3 He subdues peoples under us
and nations under our feet.(d)
4 He chooses for us our inheritance—
the pride of Jacob, whom He loves.(e)
5 God ascends among shouts of joy,
the
Lord
, among the sound of trumpets.(f)
6 Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our King, sing praise!(g)
7 Sing a song of wisdom,[a]
for God is King of all the earth.(h)
8 God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on His holy throne.(i)
9 The nobles of the peoples have assembled
with the people of the God of Abraham.(j)
For the leaders[b] of the earth belong to God;
He is greatly exalted.(k)
Psalm 48
Zion Exalted
A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 The
Lord
is great and highly praised
in the city of our God.(a)
His holy mountain,
2 rising splendidly,
is the joy of the whole earth.
Mount Zion on the slopes of the north
is the city of the great King.(b)
3 God is known as a stronghold
in its citadels.(c)
4 Look! The kings assembled;
they advanced together.(d)
5 They looked and froze with fear;
they fled in terror.(e)
6 Trembling seized them there,
agony like that of a woman in labor,(f)
7 as You wrecked the ships of Tarshish
with the east wind.(g)
8 Just as we heard, so we have seen
in the city of Yahweh of Hosts,
in the city of our God;
God will establish it forever.(h)
9 God, within Your temple,
we contemplate Your faithful love.(i)
10 Your name, God, like Your praise,
reaches to the ends of the earth;(j)
Your right hand is filled with justice.(k)
11 Mount Zion is glad.
The towns[a] of Judah rejoice
because of Your judgments.(l)
12 Go around Zion, encircle it;
count its towers,
13 note its ramparts; tour its citadels
so that you can tell a future generation:(m)
14 "This God, our God forever and ever—
He will always lead us."[b](n)
Psalm 49
Misplaced Trust in Wealth
For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who inhabit the world,(a)
2 both low and high,[a]
rich and poor together.(b)
3 My mouth speaks wisdom;
my heart's meditation brings understanding.(c)
4 I turn my ear to a proverb;
I explain my riddle with a lyre.(d)
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble?
The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.(e)
6 They trust in their wealth
and boast of their abundant riches.(f)
7 Yet these cannot redeem a person[b]
or pay his ransom to God(g)—
8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly,
one should forever stop trying[c](h)—
9 so that he may live forever
and not see the Pit.(i)
10 For one can see that wise men die;
foolish and stupid men also pass away.(j)
Then they leave their wealth to others.(k)
11 Their graves are their eternal homes,[d]
their homes from generation to generation,
though they have named estates after themselves.(l)
12 But despite his assets,[e] man will not last;
he is like the animals that perish.(m)
13 This is the way of those who are arrogant,
and of their followers,
who approve of their words.[f](n)
14 Like sheep they are headed for Sheol;
Death will shepherd them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning,(o)
and their form will waste away in Sheol,[g]
far from their lofty abode.(p)
15 But God will redeem my life
from the power of Sheol,
for He will take me.(q)
16 Do not be afraid when a man gets rich,
when the wealth[h] of his house increases.(r)
17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all;
his wealth[i] will not follow him down.(s)
18 Though he praises himself during his lifetime—
and people praise you when you do well for yourself(t)—
19 he will go to the generation of his fathers;
they will never see the light.(u)
20 A man with valuable possessions[j]
but without understanding
is like the animals that perish.(v)
Psalm 50
God as Judge
A psalm of Asaph.(a)
1 Yahweh, the God of gods[a] speaks;
He summons the earth from east to west.[b](b)
2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God appears in radiance.[c](c)
3 Our God is coming; He will not be silent!
Devouring fire precedes Him,
and a storm rages around Him.(d)
4 On high, He summons heaven and earth
in order to judge His people.(e)
5 "Gather My faithful ones to Me,
those who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."(f)
6 The heavens proclaim His righteousness,(g)
for God is the Judge.(h)
7 "Listen, My people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel.
I am God, your God.(i)
8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices
or for your burnt offerings,
which are continually before Me.(j)
9 I will not accept a bull from your household
or male goats from your pens,(k)
10 for every animal of the forest is Mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird of the mountains,[d]
and the creatures of the field are Mine.(l)
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and everything in it is Mine.(m)
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?(n)
14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God,(o)
and pay your vows to the Most High.(p)
15 Call on Me in a day of trouble;
I will rescue you, and you will honor Me."(q)
16 But God says to the wicked:
"What right do you have to recite My statutes
and to take My covenant on your lips?(r)
17 You hate instruction
and turn your back on My words.[e](s)
18 When you see a thief,
you make friends with him,
and you associate with adulterers.(t)
19 You unleash your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue for deceit.(u)
20 You sit, maligning your brother,
slandering your mother's son.(v)
21 You have done these things, and I kept silent;
you thought I was just like you.(w)
But I will rebuke you
and lay out the case before you.[f](x)
22 "Understand this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you apart,
and there will be no one to rescue you.(y)
23 Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me,
and whoever orders his conduct,
I will show him the salvation of God."(z)
Psalm 51
A Prayer for Restoration
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.(a)
1 Be gracious to me, God,
according to Your faithful love;
according to Your abundant compassion,
blot out my rebellion.(b)
2 Wash away my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.(c)
3 For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.(d)
4 Against You—You alone—I have sinned
and done this evil in Your sight.(e)
So You are right when You pass sentence;
You are blameless when You judge.(f)
5 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.(g)
6 Surely You desire integrity in the inner self,
and You teach me wisdom deep within.(h)
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.(i)
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones You have crushed rejoice.(j)
9 Turn Your face away[a] from my sins
and blot out all my guilt.(k)
10 God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast[b] spirit within me.(l)
11 Do not banish me from Your presence
or take Your Holy Spirit from me.(m)
12 Restore the joy of Your salvation to me,
and give me a willing spirit.[c](n)
13 Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways,
and sinners will return to You.(o)
14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God,(p)
the God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.(q)
15 Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare Your praise.(r)
16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;
You are not pleased with a burnt offering.(s)
17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is[d] a broken spirit.
God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.(t)
18 In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;
build[e] the walls of Jerusalem.(u)
19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on Your altar.(v)
Psalm 52
God Judges the Proud
For the choir director. A Davidic Maskil. When Doeg the Edomite went and reported to Saul, telling him, "David went to Ahimelech's house."(a)
1 Why brag about evil, you hero!(b)
God's faithful love is constant.(c)
2 Like a sharpened razor,
your tongue devises destruction,
working treachery.(d)
3 You love evil instead of good,
lying instead of speaking truthfully.(e)
4 You love any words that destroy,
you treacherous tongue!(f)
5 This is why God will bring you down forever.
He will take you, ripping you out of your tent;
He will uproot you from the land of the living.(g)
6 The righteous will look on with awe
and will ridicule him:(h)
7 "Here is the man
who would not make God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches,
taking refuge in his destructive behavior."[a](i)
8 But I am like a flourishing olive tree
in the house of God;(j)
I trust in God's faithful love forever and ever.(k)
9 I will praise You forever for what You have done.
In the presence of Your faithful people,
I will put my hope in Your name, for it is good.(l)
Psalm 53
A Portrait of Sinners
For the choir director: on Mahalath.[a](a) A Davidic Maskil.
1 The fool says in his heart, "God does not exist."
They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds.
There is no one who does good.(b)
2 God looks down from heaven on the human race
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.(c)
3 All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.(d)
4 Will evildoers never understand?
They consume My people as they consume bread;(e)
they do not call on God.(f)
5 Then they will be filled with terror—
terror like no other(g)—
because God will scatter
the bones of those who besiege you.(h)
You will put them to shame,
for God has rejected them.(i)
6 Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come from Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of His people,[b]
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.(j)
Psalm 54
Prayer for Deliverance
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil. When the Ziphites went and said to Saul, "Is David not hiding among us?"(a)
1 God, save me by Your name,
and vindicate me by Your might!(b)
2 God, hear my prayer;
listen to the words of my mouth.(c)
3 For strangers rise up against me,
and violent men seek my life.
They have no regard for God.[a](d)
4 God is my helper;
the Lord is the sustainer of my life.[b](e)
5 He will repay my adversaries for their evil.
Because of Your faithfulness, annihilate them.(f)
6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to You.(g)
I will praise Your name, Yahweh,
because it is good.(h)
7 For He has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked down on my enemies.(i)
Psalm 55
Betrayal by a Friend
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil.
1 God, listen to my prayer
and do not ignore[a] my plea for help.(a)
2 Pay attention to me and answer me.(b)
I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,(c)
3 because of the enemy's voice,
because of the pressure[b] of the wicked.
For they bring down disaster on me[c]
and harass me in anger.(d)
4 My heart shudders within me;(e)
terrors of death sweep over me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me;
horror has overwhelmed me.(f)
6 I said, "If only I had[d] wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest.(g)
7 How far away I would flee;
I would stay in the wilderness.(h)
8 I would hurry to my shelter
from the raging wind and the storm."(i)
9 Lord, confuse[e] and confound their speech,[f](j)
for I see violence and strife in the city;
10 day and night they make the rounds on its walls.
Crime and trouble are within it;(k)
11 destruction is inside it;
oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.(l)
12 Now it is not an enemy who insults me—
otherwise I could bear it;
it is not a foe who rises up against me—
otherwise I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man who is my peer,
my companion and good friend!(m)
14 We used to have close fellowship;
we walked with the crowd into the house of God.(n)
15 Let death take them by surprise;(o)
let them go down to Sheol alive,
because evil is in their homes and within them.(p)
16 But I call to God,
and the
Lord
will save me.(q)
17 I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,(r)
and He hears my voice.(s)
18 Though many are against me,
He will redeem me from my battle unharmed.(t)
19 God, the One enthroned from long ago,(u)
will hear and will humiliate them
because they do not change
and do not fear God.(v)
20 My friend(w) acts violently
against those at peace with him;(x)
he violates his covenant.(y)
21 His buttery words are smooth,[g]
but war is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,
but they are drawn swords.(z)
22 Cast your burden on the
Lord
,
and He will sustain you;(aa)
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.(ab)
23 God, You will bring them down
to the Pit of destruction;(ac)
men of bloodshed and treachery
will not live out half their days.(ad)
But I will trust in You.(ae)
Psalm 56
A Call for God's Protection
For the choir director: according to "A Silent Dove Far Away."[a] A Davidic Miktam. When the Philistines seized him in Gath.(a)
1 Be gracious to me, God, for man tramples me;
he fights and oppresses me all day long.
2 My adversaries trample me all day,
for many arrogantly fight against me.[b](b)
3 When I am afraid,
I will trust in You.(c)
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?(d)
5 They twist my words all day long;
all their thoughts against me are evil.(e)
6 They stir up strife,[c] they lurk;
they watch my steps
while they wait to take my life.(f)
7 Will they escape in spite of such sin?
God, bring down the nations in wrath.(g)
8 You Yourself have recorded my wanderings.[d]
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your records?(h)
9 Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call.(i)
This I know: God is for me.(j)
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the
Lord
, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?(k)
12 I am obligated by vows[e] to You, God;
I will make my thank offerings to You.(l)
13 For You delivered me from death,
even my feet from stumbling,
to walk before God in the light of life.(m)
Psalm 57
Praise for God's Protection
For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy."[a] A Davidic Miktam. When he fled before Saul into the cave.(a)
1 Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
for I take refuge in You.
I will seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings
until danger passes.(b)
2 I call to God Most High,
to God who fulfills His purpose for me.[b](c)
3 He reaches down from heaven and saves me,
challenging the one who tramples me.(d)
God sends His faithful love and truth.(e)
4 I am surrounded by lions;
I lie down with those who devour men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows;
their tongues are sharp swords.(f)
5 God, be exalted above the heavens;
let Your glory be over the whole earth.(g)
6 They prepared a net for my steps;
I was despondent.
They dug a pit ahead of me,
but they fell into it!(h)
7 My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident.
I will sing; I will sing praises.(i)
8 Wake up, my soul![c]
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.(j)
9 I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.(k)
10 For Your faithful love is as high as the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches the clouds.(l)
11 God, be exalted above the heavens;(m)
let Your glory be over the whole earth.(n)
Psalm 58
A Cry against Injustice
For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy."[a] A Davidic Miktam.
1 Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones?[b]
Do you judge people fairly?(a)
2 No, you practice injustice in your hearts;
with your hands you weigh out violence in the land.(b)
3 The wicked go astray from the womb;
liars err from birth.(c)
4 They have venom like the venom of a snake,
like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears,(d)
5 that does not listen to the sound of the charmers
who skillfully weave spells.(e)
6 God, knock the teeth out of their mouths;
Lord
, tear out the young lions' fangs.(f)
7 They will vanish like water that flows by;
they will aim their useless arrows.[c][d](g)
8 Like a slug that moves along in slime,
like a woman's miscarried child,
they will not see the sun.(h)
9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—
whether green or burning—
He will sweep them away.[e](i)
10 The righteous one will rejoice
when he sees the retribution;(j)
he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.(k)
11 Then people will say,
"Yes, there is a reward for the righteous!
There is a God who judges on earth!"(l)
Psalm 59
God Our Stronghold
For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy."[a] A Davidic Miktam. When Saul sent agents to watch the house and kill him.(a)
1 Deliver me from my enemies, my God;(b)
protect me from those who rise up against me.(c)
2 Deliver me from those who practice sin,
and save me from men of bloodshed.(d)
3
Lord
, look! They set an ambush for me.(e)
Powerful men attack me,
but not because of any sin or rebellion of mine.(f)
4 For no fault of mine,
they run and take up a position.
Awake to help me, and take notice.(g)
5
Lord
God of Hosts, You are the God of Israel,
rise up to punish all the nations;
do not show grace to any wicked traitors.(h)
6 They return at evening, snarling like dogs
and prowling around the city.(i)
7 Look, they spew from their mouths—
sharp words from[b] their lips.(j)
"For who," they say, "will hear?"(k)
8 But You laugh at them,
Lord
;
You ridicule all the nations.(l)
9 I will keep watch for You, my[c] strength,
because God is my stronghold.(m)
10 My faithful God[d] will come to meet me;
God will let me look down on my adversaries.(n)
11 Do not kill them; otherwise, my people will forget.
By Your power, make them homeless wanderers(o)
and bring them down,
Lord, our shield.(p)
12 For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips,
let them be caught in their pride.
They utter curses and lies.(q)
13 Consume them in rage;
consume them until they are gone.(r)
Then people will know throughout[e] the earth
that God rules over Jacob.(s)
14 And they return at evening, snarling like dogs
and prowling around the city.(t)
15 They scavenge for food;
they growl if they are not satisfied.(u)
16 But I will sing of Your strength
and will joyfully proclaim
Your faithful love in the morning.(v)
For You have been a stronghold for me,
a refuge in my day of trouble.(w)
17 To You, my strength, I sing praises,
because God is my stronghold—
my faithful God.(x)
Psalm 60
Prayer in Difficult Times
For the choir director: according to "The Lily of Testimony."[a] A Davidic Miktam for teaching. When he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in the Valley of Salt, killing 12,000.(a)
1 God, You have rejected us;
You have broken out[b] against us;
You have been angry. Restore us![c](b)
2 You have shaken the land and split it open.
Heal its fissures, for it shudders.(c)
3 You have made Your people suffer hardship;
You have given us wine to drink
that made us stagger.(d)
4 You have given a signal flag to those who fear You,
so that they can flee before the archers.[d](e)
5 Save with Your right hand, and answer me,
so that those You love may be rescued.(f)
6 God has spoken in His sanctuary:[e]
"I will triumph! I will divide up Shechem.(g)
I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.(h)
7 Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine,
and Ephraim is My helmet;(i)
Judah is My scepter.(j)
8 Moab is My washbasin.(k)
I throw My sandal on Edom;(l)
I shout in triumph over Philistia."(m)
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?(n)
10 God, haven't You rejected us?
God, You do not march out with our armies.(o)
11 Give us aid against the foe,
for human help is worthless.(p)
12 With God we will perform valiantly;(q)
He will trample our foes.(r)
Psalm 61
Security in God
For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Davidic.
1 God, hear my cry;
pay attention to my prayer.(a)
2 I call to You from the ends of the earth
when my heart is without strength.(b)
Lead me to a rock that is high above me,(c)
3 for You have been a refuge for me,
a strong tower(d) in the face of the enemy.
4 I will live in Your tent forever
and take refuge under the shelter of Your wings.(e)
5 God, You have heard my vows;(f)
You have given a heritage
to those who fear Your name.(g)
6 Add days to the king's life;
may his years span many generations.(h)
7 May he sit enthroned before God forever;(i)
appoint faithful love and truth to guard him.(j)
8 Then I will continually sing of Your name,(k)
fulfilling my vows day by day.(l)
Psalm 62
Trust in God Alone
For the choir director: according to Jeduthun.(a) A Davidic psalm.
1 I am at rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from Him.(b)
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,(c)
my stronghold; I will never be shaken.(d)
3 How long will you threaten a man?
Will all of you attack[a]
as if he were a leaning wall
or a tottering stone fence?(e)
4 They only plan to bring him down
from his high position.
They take pleasure in lying;
they bless with their mouths,
but they curse inwardly.(f)
5 Rest in God alone, my soul,
for my hope comes from Him.(g)
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,(h)
my stronghold; I will not be shaken.(i)
7 My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock.
My refuge is in God.(j)
8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts before Him.
God is our refuge.(k)
9 Men are only a vapor;
exalted men, an illusion.
Weighed in the scales, they go up;
together they are less than a vapor.(l)
10 Place no trust in oppression,
or false hope in robbery.
If wealth increases,
pay no attention to it.[b](m)
11 God has spoken once;
I have heard this twice:
strength belongs to God,(n)
12 and faithful love belongs to You,
Lord
.
For You repay each according to his works.(o)
Psalm 63
Praise God Who Satisfies
A Davidic psalm. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.(a)
1 God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.
I thirst for You;
my body faints for You
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.(b)
2 So I gaze on You in the sanctuary
to see Your strength and Your glory.(c)
3 My lips will glorify You
because Your faithful love is better than life.(d)
4 So I will praise You as long as I live;
at Your name, I will lift up my hands.(e)
5 You satisfy me as with rich food;[a](f)
my mouth will praise You with joyful lips.(g)
6 When I think of You as I lie on my bed,
I meditate on You during the night watches(h)
7 because You are my helper;(i)
I will rejoice in the shadow of Your wings.(j)
8 I follow close to You;
Your right hand holds on to me.(k)
9 But those who seek to destroy my life
will go into the depths of the earth.(l)
10 They will be given over to the power of the sword;(m)
they will become the jackals' prey.
11 But the king will rejoice in God;(n)
all who swear by Him[b] will boast,
for the mouths of liars will be shut.(o)
Psalm 64
Protection from Evildoers
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.
1 God, hear my voice when I complain.(a)
Protect my life from the terror of the enemy.(b)
2 Hide me from the scheming of wicked people,(c)
from the mob of evildoers,(d)
3 who sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim bitter words like arrows,(e)
4 shooting from concealed places at the innocent.
They shoot at him suddenly and are not afraid.(f)
5 They encourage each other in an evil plan;[a][b]
they talk about hiding traps and say,
"Who will see them?"[c](g)
6 They devise crimes and say,
"We have perfected a secret plan."(h)
The inner man and the heart are mysterious.
7 But God will shoot them with arrows;
suddenly, they will be wounded.(i)
8 They will be made to stumble;
their own tongues work against them.
All who see them will shake their heads.(j)
9 Then everyone will fear
and will tell about God's work,
for they will understand what He has done.(k)
10 The righteous one rejoices in the
Lord
and takes refuge in Him;
all those who are upright in heart
will offer praise.(l)
Psalm 65
God's Care for the Earth
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm. A song.
1 Praise is rightfully Yours,[a]
God, in Zion;
vows to You will be fulfilled.(a)
2 All humanity will come to You,
the One who hears prayer.(b)
3 Iniquities overwhelm me;
only You can atone for[b] our rebellions.(c)
4 How happy is the one You choose
and bring near to live in Your courts!
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
the holiness of Your temple.[c](d)
5 You answer us in righteousness,
with awe-inspiring works,
God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the distant seas.(e)
6 You establish the mountains by Your[d] power,
robed with strength.(f)
7 You silence the roar of the seas,
the roar of their waves,
and the tumult of the nations.(g)
8 Those who live far away are awed by Your signs;
You make east and west shout for joy.(h)
9 You visit the earth and water it abundantly,
enriching it greatly.
God's stream is filled with water,
for You prepare the earth[e] in this way,
providing people with grain.(i)
10 You soften it with showers and bless its growth,
soaking its furrows and leveling its ridges.(j)
11 You crown the year with Your goodness;
Your ways overflow with plenty.[f](k)
12 The wilderness pastures overflow,
and the hills are robed with joy.(l)
13 The pastures are clothed with flocks
and the valleys covered with grain.(m)
They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.(n)
Psalm 66
Praise for God's Mighty Acts
For the choir director. A song. A psalm.
1 Shout joyfully to God, all the earth!(a)
2 Sing about the glory of His name;
make His praise glorious.(b)
3 Say to God, "How awe-inspiring are Your works!
Your enemies will cringe before You
because of Your great strength.(c)
4 All the earth will worship You
and sing praise to You.
They will sing praise to Your name."(d)
5 Come and see the wonders of God;(e)
His acts for humanity are awe-inspiring.
6 He turned the sea into dry land,
and they crossed the river on foot.(f)
There we rejoiced in Him.(g)
7 He rules forever by His might;
He keeps His eye on the nations.(h)
The rebellious should not exalt themselves.(i)
8 Praise our God, you peoples;
let the sound of His praise be heard.(j)
9 He keeps us alive[a]
and does not allow our feet to slip.(k)
10 For You, God, tested us;
You refined us as silver is refined.(l)
11 You lured us into a trap;
You placed burdens on our backs.(m)
12 You let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but You brought us out to abundance.[b](n)
13 I will enter Your house with burnt offerings;
I will pay You my vows(o)
14 that my lips promised
and my mouth spoke during my distress.(p)
15 I will offer You fattened sheep as burnt offerings,
with the fragrant smoke of rams;
I will sacrifice oxen with goats.(q)
16 Come and listen, all who fear God,
and I will tell what He has done for me.(r)
17 I cried out to Him with my mouth,
and praise was on my tongue.(s)
18 If I had been aware of malice in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.(t)
19 However, God has listened;
He has paid attention to the sound of my prayer.(u)
20 May God be praised!
He has not turned away my prayer
or turned His faithful love from me.(v)
Philippians 1
Chapter 1
Greeting
1 Paul(a) and Timothy,(b) slaves of Christ Jesus:
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,(c) including the overseers(d) and deacons.(e)
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,[a] 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day(f) until now.(g) 6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work(h) in you[b] will carry it on to completion(i) until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right(j) for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,[c] and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment(k) and in the defense(l) and establishment of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness,(m) how deeply I miss all of you(n) with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love(o) will keep on growing(p) in knowledge and every kind of discernment,(q) 10 so that you can approve the things that are superior(r) and can be pure(s) and blameless(t) in[d] the day of Christ,(u) 11 filled with the fruit(v) of righteousness(w) that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory(x) and praise of God.
Advance of the Gospel
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel,(y) 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard,[e] and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ. 14 Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message[f](z) fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife,(aa) but others out of good will.[g] 16 These do so out of love,(ab) knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry,(ac) not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in my imprisonment.[h] 18 What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives(ad) or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my deliverance[i](ae) through your prayers and help from the Spirit(af) of Jesus Christ.(ag) 20 My eager expectation and hope(ah) is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life(ai) or by death.(aj)
Living Is Christ
21 For me, living is Christ(ak) and dying is gain.(al) 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful(am) work(an) for me; and I don't know which one I should choose. 23 I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ(ao)—which is far better(ap)— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,(aq) 26 so that, because of me, your confidence may grow(ar) in Christ Jesus(as) when I come to you again.
27 Just one thing: Live your life(at) in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm(au) in one(av) spirit, with one mind,[j] working side by side for the faith(aw) that comes from the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents.(ax) This is a sign of destruction for them,(ay) but of your deliverance(az)—and this is from God. 29 For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe(ba) in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30 having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.
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