Today's prayer: Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever

Psalm 44

1

Psalm 44 For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. ^[1]

1

We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.

2

With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our fathers; you crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish.

3

It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.

4

You are my King and my God, who decrees ^[2] victories for Jacob.

5

Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.

6

I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;

7

but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.

8

In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. Selah

9

But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies.

10

You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us.

11

You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.

12

You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale.

13

You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us.

14

You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.

15

My disgrace is before me all day long, and my face is covered with shame

16

at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

17

All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant.

18

Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path.

19

But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals and covered us over with deep darkness.

20

If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

21

would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?

22

Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

23

Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

24

Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?

25

We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.

26

Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love.

Today's bible teaching: The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life

Psalm 121

1

Psalm 121 A song of ascents.

1

I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from?

2

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

3

He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;

4

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5

The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

6

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

7

The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;

8

the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Today's prayer: But let all who take refuge in God be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Psalm 5

1

Psalm 5 For the director of music. For flutes. A psalm of David.

1

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.

2

Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.

3

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

4

You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.

5

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.

6

You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors.

7

But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple.

8

Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies-- make straight your way before me.

9

Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.

10

Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.

11

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12

For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Today's bible teaching: Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High

Psalm 50

1

Psalm 50 A psalm of Asaph.

1

The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.

2

From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.

3

Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.

4

He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:

5

"Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

6

And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge. Selah

7

"Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.

8

I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.

9

I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,

10

for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

11

I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.

12

If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

13

Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

14

Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,

15

and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

16

But to the wicked, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?

17

You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.

18

When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.

19

You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.

20

You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother's son.

21

These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether ^[1] like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face.

22

"Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:

23

He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him ^[2] the salvation of God."

Today's bible teaching: Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling

Psalm 2

1

Psalm 2

1

Why do the nations conspire ^[1] and the peoples plot in vain?

2

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. ^[2]

3

"Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."

4

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

5

Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

6

"I have installed my King ^[3] on Zion, my holy hill."

7

I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son ^[4] ; today I have become your Father. ^[5]

8

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

9

You will rule them with an iron scepter ^[6] ; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

10

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.

11

Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.

12

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Today's bible teaching: In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Psalm 56

1

Psalm 56 For the director of music. To [the tune of] "A Dove on Distant Oaks." Of David. A miktam. ^[1] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

1

Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack.

2

My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride.

3

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

4

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

5

All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me.

6

They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life.

7

On no account let them escape; in your anger, O God, bring down the nations.

8

Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll ^[2] -- are they not in your record?

9

Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.

10

In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise--

11

in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

12

I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you.

13

For you have delivered me ^[3] from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life

Today's bible teaching: In peace I will lie down and fall asleep, for you alone, LORD, make me secure.

Psalm 4
For the leader;* with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

I

2Answer me when I call, my saving God.

When troubles hem me in, set me free;

take pity on me, hear my prayer.a

II

3How long, O people, will you be hard of heart?

Why do you love what is worthless, chase after lies?*b

Selah

4Know that the LORD works wonders for his faithful one;

the LORD hears when I call out to him.

5Tremble* and sin no more;

weep bitterly* within your hearts,

wail upon your beds,c

6Offer fitting sacrifices

and trust in the LORD.d

III

7Many say, “May we see better times!

LORD, show us the light of your face!”e

Selah

8But you have given my heart more joy

than they have when grain and wine abound.

9f*In peace I will lie down and fall asleep,

for you alone, LORD, make me secure.