Today's prayer: Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.

Psalm 40

1

Psalm 40 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

2

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

3

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

4

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. ^[1]

5

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

6

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced ^[2] [3] ; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.

7

Then I said, "Here I am, I have come-- it is written about me in the scroll. ^[4]

8

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

9

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.

10

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

11

Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.

12

For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.

13

Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.

14

May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

15

May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame.

16

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"

17

Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

Today's bible teaching: And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.

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 praises: O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8

1

Psalm 8 For the director of music. According to gittith. ^[1] A psalm of David.

1

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

2

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise ^[2] because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

3

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4

what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

5

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings ^[3] and crowned him with glory and honor.

6

You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:

7

all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,

8

the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

9

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Today's bible teaching: The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles

Psalm 34

1

Psalm 34 Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left. ^[1]

1

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

2

My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3

Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

4

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

5

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

6

This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

7

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

8

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

9

Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

10

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,

13

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

14

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

15

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16

the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

18

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;

20

he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

21

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22

The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

Today's bible teaching: No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.

Psalm 101

1

Psalm 101 Of David. A psalm.

1

I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

2

I will be careful to lead a blameless life-- when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart.

3

I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.

4

Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil.

5

Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.

6

My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.

7

No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.

8

Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the LORD.

Today's prayer: Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword

Psalm 17

1

Psalm 17 A prayer of David.

1

Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer-- it does not rise from deceitful lips.

2

May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.

3

Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.

4

As for the deeds of men-- by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.

5

My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped.

6

I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.

7

Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.

8

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings

9

from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

10

They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.

11

They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.

12

They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover.

13

Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword1.

14

O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.

15

And I--in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Today's prayer: Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless

Psalm 60

1

Psalm 60 For the director of music. To [the tune of] "The Lily of the Covenant." A miktam ^[1] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim ^[2] and Aram Zobah, ^[3] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1

You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; you have been angry--now restore us!

2

You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking.

3

You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger.

4

But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow. Selah

5

Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.

6

God has spoken from his sanctuary: "In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth.

7

Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter.

8

Moab is my washbasin, upon Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph."

9

Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

10

Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?

11

Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.

12

With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

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

Psalm 64

1

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 prayer: 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."

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 bible teaching: Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Psalm 20

1

Psalm 20 For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

2

May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.

3

May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah

4

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

5

We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.

6

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.

7

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

8

They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

9

O LORD, save the king! Answer ^[1] us when we call!

1. [9] Or save! O King, answer

Today's praises: O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8

1

Psalm 8 For the director of music. According to gittith. ^[1] A psalm of David.

1

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

2

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise ^[2] because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

3

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4

what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

5

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings ^[3] and crowned him with glory and honor.

6

You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:

7

all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,

8

the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

9

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Today's prayer: O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me

Psalm 7

1

Psalm 7 A shiggaion ^[1] of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

1

O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me,

2

or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3

O LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands--

4

if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me or without cause have robbed my foe--

5

then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust. Selah

6

Arise, O LORD, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice.

7

Let the assembled peoples gather around you. Rule over them from on high;

8

let the LORD judge the peoples. Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.

9

O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.

10

My shield ^[2] is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.

11

God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day.

12

If he does not relent, he ^[3] will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.

13

He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows.

14

He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment.

15

He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made.

16

The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head.

17

I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Today's bible: For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield

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: I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.

Psalm 3

1

Psalm 3 A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

1

O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!

2

Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." Selah ^[1]

3

But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift ^[2] up my head.

4

To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah

5

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

6

I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.

7

Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.

8

From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah

Today's bible teaching: Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers

Psalm 1

1

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

2

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

4

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

5

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Today's prayer: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us

Psalm 67

1

Psalm 67 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

1

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah

2

that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

3

May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.

4

May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah

5

May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.

6

Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.

7

God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Today's prayer: Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might.

Psalm 54

1

Psalm 54 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil ^[1] of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, "Is not David hiding among us?"

1

Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might.

2

Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.

3

Strangers are attacking me; ruthless men seek my life-- men without regard for God. Selah

4

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.

5

Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in your faithfulness destroy them.

6

I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, O LORD, for it is good.

7

For he has delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.

Today's praises: Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name.

Psalm 18

1

Psalm 18 For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

1

I love you, O LORD, my strength.

2

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn ^[1] of my salvation, my stronghold.

3

I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

4

The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

5

The cords of the grave ^[2] coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.

6

In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.

7

The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.

8

Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.

9

He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.

10

He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.

11

He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him-- the dark rain clouds of the sky.

12

Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

13

The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. ^[3]

14

He shot his arrows and scattered [the enemies], great bolts of lightning and routed them.

15

The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

16

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.

17

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.

18

They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.

19

He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

20

The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.

21

For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God.

22

All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.

23

I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.

24

The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

25

To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

26

to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

27

You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

28

You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

29

With your help I can advance against a troop ^[4] ; with my God I can scale a wall.

30

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

31

For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?

32

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

33

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.

34

He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35

You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.

36

You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.

37

I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.

38

I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.

39

You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet.

40

You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.

41

They cried for help, but there was no one to save them-- to the LORD, but he did not answer.

42

I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind; I poured them out like mud in the streets.

43

You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations; people I did not know are subject to me.

44

As soon as they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cringe before me.

45

They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.

46

The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!

47

He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me,

48

who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me.

49

Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name.

50

He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.

Today's bible teaching: Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong

Psalm 37

1

Psalm 37 Of David. ^[1]

1

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;

2

for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

3

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

6

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.

9

For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10

A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

11

But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.

12

The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;

13

but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.

14

The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

15

But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;

17

for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18

The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever.

19

In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20

But the wicked will perish: The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish--vanish like smoke.

21

The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;

22

those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.

23

If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;

24

though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

25

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

26

They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.

27

Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.

28

For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

29

the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

30

The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.

31

The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.

32

The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;

33

but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34

Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35

I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

36

but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37

Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future ^[2] for the man of peace.

38

But all sinners will be destroyed; the future ^[3] of the wicked will be cut off.

39

The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40

The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Today's prayer: Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing

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

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 bible teaching: Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

John 4

1

The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John,

2

although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.

3

When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

4

Now he had to go through Samaria.

5

So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

6

Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?"

8

(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9

The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.^[1] )

10

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

11

"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?

12

Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"

13

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,

14

but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

15

The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."

16

He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."

17

"I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband.

18

The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."

19

"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet.

20

Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

21

Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

22

You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

23

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

24

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

25

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

26

Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."

27

Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"

28

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,

29

"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ^[2] ?"

30

They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

31

Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."

32

But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."

33

Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"

34

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

35

Do you not say, `Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

36

Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.

37

Thus the saying `One sows and another reaps' is true.

38

I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."

39

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did."

40

So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.

41

And because of his words many more became believers.

42

They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

43

After the two days he left for Galilee.

44

(Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)

45

When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.

46

Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.

47

When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

48

"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."

49

The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

50

Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

51

While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.

52

When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."

53

Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.

54

This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

Today's bible teaching: The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.

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.

Today's bible teaching: Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth."

Psalm 58

1

Psalm 58 For the director of music. [To the tune of] "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam. ^[1]

1

Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge uprightly among men?

2

No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth.

3

Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies.

4

Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,

5

that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be.

6

Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions!

7

Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted.

8

Like a slug melting away as it moves along, like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun.

9

Before your pots can feel [the heat of] the thorns-- whether they be green or dry--the wicked will be swept away. ^[2]

10

The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.

11

Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth."

Today's bible teaching: Do not be so confident of forgiveness that you add sin upon sin

Sirach 5

Against Presumption*

1Do not rely on your wealth,

or say, “I have the power.”a

2Do not rely on your strength

in following the desires of your heart.

3Do not say, “Who can prevail against me?”

for the LORD will exact punishment.

4Do not say, “I have sinned, yet what has happened to me?”

for the LORD is slow to anger!

5Do not be so confident of forgiveness

that you add sin upon sin.

6Do not say, “His mercy is great;

my many sins he will forgive.”

For mercy and anger alike are with him;

his wrath comes to rest on the wicked.

7Do not delay turning back to the LORD,

do not put it off day after day.

For suddenly his wrath will come forth;

at the time of vengeance, you will perish.

8Do not rely on deceitful wealth,

for it will be no help on the day of wrath.b

Use and Abuse of the Tongue*

9Do not winnow in every wind,

nor walk in every path.*

10Be steadfast regarding your knowledge,

and let your speech be consistent.

11Be swift to hear,

but slow to answer.c

12If you can, answer your neighbor;

if not, place your hand over your mouth!

13Honor and dishonor through speaking!

The tongue can be your downfall.

14Do not be called double-tongued;

and with your tongue do not slander a neighbor.

For shame has been created for the thief,

and sore disgrace for the double-tongued.

15In little or in much, do not act corruptly

Today's: He who does these things will never be shaken.

Psalm 15

1

Psalm 15 A psalm of David.

1

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?

2

He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart

3

and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,

4

who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,

5

who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Today's bible teaching: Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Psalm 32

1

Psalm 32 Of David. A maskil. ^[1]

1

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

2

Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

4

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah

5

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

6

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.

7

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

9

Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

10

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.

11

Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Today's bible teaching: With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

Psalm 60

1

Psalm 60 For the director of music. To [the tune of] "The Lily of the Covenant." A miktam ^[1] of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim ^[2] and Aram Zobah, ^[3] and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1

You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; you have been angry--now restore us!

2

You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking.

3

You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger.

4

But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow. Selah

5

Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.

6

God has spoken from his sanctuary: "In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth.

7

Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter.

8

Moab is my washbasin, upon Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph."

9

Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

10

Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?

11

Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.

12

With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

Today's prayer: Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.

Psalm 40

1

Psalm 40 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

2

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

3

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

4

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. ^[1]

5

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

6

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced ^[2] [3] ; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.

7

Then I said, "Here I am, I have come-- it is written about me in the scroll. ^[4]

8

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

9

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.

10

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

11

Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.

12

For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.

13

Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.

14

May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

15

May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame.

16

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"

17

Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.

Today's bible teaching : Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever

Psalm 125

1

Psalm 125 A song of ascents.

1

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

2

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

3

The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.

4

Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.

5

But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.

Today's prayer: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us

Psalm 67

1

Psalm 67 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

1

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah

2

that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

3

May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.

4

May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah

5

May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.

6

Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.

7

God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.