Today's bible teaching: You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry

 Psalm 10

1

Psalm 10 

1

Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2

In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.

3

He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

4

In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

5

His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies.

6

He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble."

7

His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.

8

He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims.

9

He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.

10

His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.

11

He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees."

12

Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.

13

Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?

14

But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.

15

Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out.

16

The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.

17

You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

18

defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

Today's bible teaching: The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple

 Psalm 19

1

Psalm 19 For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

3

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. ^[1]

4

Their voice ^[2] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

5

which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6

It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.

7

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

8

The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

9

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.

10

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

11

By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

12

Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

13

Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Today's praises: Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done

 Psalm 105

1

Psalm 105

1

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

2

Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

3

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

4

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

5

Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

6

O descendants of Abraham his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.

7

He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

8

He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations,

9

the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.

10

He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

11

"To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit."

12

When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it,

13

they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

14

He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings:

15

"Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm."

16

He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food;

17

and he sent a man before them-- Joseph, sold as a slave.

18

They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons,

19

till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true.

20

The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free.

21

He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed,

22

to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.

23

Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham.

24

The LORD made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes,

25

whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants.

26

He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.

27

They performed his miraculous signs among them, his wonders in the land of Ham.

28

He sent darkness and made the land dark-- for had they not rebelled against his words?

29

He turned their waters into blood, causing their fish to die.

30

Their land teemed with frogs, which went up into the bedrooms of their rulers.

31

He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country.

32

He turned their rain into hail, with lightning throughout their land;

33

he struck down their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country.

34

He spoke, and the locusts came, grasshoppers without number;

35

they ate up every green thing in their land, ate up the produce of their soil.

36

Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their manhood.

37

He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered.

38

Egypt was glad when they left, because dread of Israel had fallen on them.

39

He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night.

40

They asked, and he brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

41

He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert.

42

For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham.

43

He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy;

44

he gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled for--

45

that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws. Praise the LORD. 

Today's prayer: Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you.

 Psalm 102

1

Psalm 102 A prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.

1

Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you.

2

Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.

3

For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.

4

My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.

5

Because of my loud groaning I am reduced to skin and bones.

6

I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.

7

I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.

8

All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.

9

For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears

10

because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.

11

My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.

12

But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.

13

You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.

14

For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity.

15

The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.

16

For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.

17

He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.

18

Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:

19

"The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,

20

to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death."

21

So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem

22

when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.

23

In the course of my life ^[1] he broke my strength; he cut short my days.

24

So I said: "Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations.

25

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26

They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.

27

But you remain the same, and your years will never end.

28

The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you."

Today's bible teaching: You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge

 Psalm 14

1

Psalm 14 For the director of music. Of David.

1

The fool ^[1] says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

2

The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

3

All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

4

Will evildoers never learn-- those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on the LORD?

5

There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.

6

You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.

7

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Today's prayer: In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame

 Psalm 71

1

Psalm 71

1

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.

2

Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me.

3

Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

4

Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men.

5

For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.

6

From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.

7

I have become like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.

8

My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.

9

Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.

10

For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together.

11

They say, "God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him."

12

Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me.

13

May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.

14

But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

15

My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.

16

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.

17

Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

18

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

19

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?

20

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

21

You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.

22

I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

23

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you-- I, whom you have redeemed.

24

My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.