Today's prayer: O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord.

Psalm 35

1

Psalm 35 Of David.

1

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.

2

Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.

3

Brandish spear and javelin ^[1] against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."

4

May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.

5

May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away;

6

may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

7

Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,

8

may ruin overtake them by surprise-- may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.

9

Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.

10

My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them."

11

Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about.

12

They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn.

13

Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

14

I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.

15

But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; attackers gathered against me when I was unaware. They slandered me without ceasing.

16

Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked ^[2] ; they gnashed their teeth at me.

17

O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.

18

I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.

19

Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.

20

They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.

21

They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it."

22

O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord.

23

Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.

24

Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me.

25

Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up."

26

May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.

27

May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant."

28

My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.

Today's prayer: Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.

Psalm 10

1

Psalm 10 ^[1]

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: Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD up

Psalm 27

1

Psalm 27 Of David.

1

The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?

2

When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, ^[1] when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.

3

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.

4

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

5

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.

6

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

7

Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.

8

My heart says of you, "Seek his ^[2] face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.

9

Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.

10

Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

11

Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.

12

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.

13

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

14

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Today's bible teaching: The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it

Psalm 24

1

Psalm 24 Of David. A psalm.

1

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

2

for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

3

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?

4

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. ^[1]

5

He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.

6

Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. ^[2] Selah

7

Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

8

Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

9

Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

10

Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty-- he is the King of glory. Selah

Today's praises: Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might

Psalm 21

1

Psalm 21 For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1

O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give!

2

You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

3

You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.

4

He asked you for life, and you gave it to him-- length of days, for ever and ever.

5

Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.

6

Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

7

For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.

8

Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes.

9

At the time of your appearing you will make them like a fiery furnace. In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up, and his fire will consume them.

10

You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind.

11

Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed;

12

for you will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.

13

Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.

Today's prayer: Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies-- make straight your way before me

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: Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

Psalm 94

1

Psalm 94

1

O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth.

2

Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve.

3

How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant?

4

They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting.

5

They crush your people, O LORD; they oppress your inheritance.

6

They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless.

7

They say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed."

8

Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?

9

Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?

10

Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?

11

The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.

12

Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law;

13

you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.

14

For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.

15

Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16

Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?

17

Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

18

When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me.

19

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

20

Can a corrupt throne be allied with you-- one that brings on misery by its decrees?

21

They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

22

But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

23

He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy them.