Today's bible teaching: Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise, says the LORD. I will protect them from those who malign them.

Psalm 12

1

Psalm 12 For the director of music. According to sheminith. ^[1] A psalm of David.

1

Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.

2

Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.

3

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue

4

that says, "We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips ^[2] --who is our master?"

5

"Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the LORD. "I will protect them from those who malign them."

6

And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.

7

O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.

8

The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

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

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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 prayer: O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

Psalm 38

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Psalm 38 A psalm of David. A petition.

1

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

2

For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me.

3

Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin.

4

My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.

5

My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.

6

I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.

7

My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.

8

I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.

9

All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.

10

My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.

11

My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.

12

Those who seek my life set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they plot deception.

13

I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear, like a mute, who cannot open his mouth;

14

I have become like a man who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.

15

I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.

16

For I said, "Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."

17

For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

18

I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

19

Many are those who are my vigorous enemies; those who hate me without reason are numerous.

20

Those who repay my good with evil slander me when I pursue what is good.

21

O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.

22

Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

Today's bible teaching: Will the evildoers never learn-- those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on God?

Psalm 53

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Psalm 53 For the director of music. According to mahalath. ^[1] A maskil ^[2] of David.

1

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.

2

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

3

Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

4

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

5

There they were, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them.

6

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

Today's bible teaching: The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

Psalm 28

1

Psalm 28 Of David.

1

To you I call, O LORD my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.

2

Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

3

Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.

4

Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back upon them what they deserve.

5

Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again.

6

Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.

7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

8

The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

9

Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Today's prayer: Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

Psalm 64

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Psalm 64 For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1

Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

2

Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers.

3

They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows.

4

They shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shoot at him suddenly, without fear.

5

They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, "Who will see them ^[1] ?"

6

They plot injustice and say, "We have devised a perfect plan!" Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning.

7

But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down.

8

He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

9

All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done.

10

Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!

Today's bible teaching: Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

Psalm 10

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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.