Today's bible: 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 teaching: Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

 Psalm 37

1

Psalm 37 Of David. Q

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 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 prayer: May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

 Psalm 33

1

Psalm 33

1

Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

2

Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.

3

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

4

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

5

The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

6

By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

7

He gathers the waters of the sea into jars ^[1] ; he puts the deep into storehouses.

8

Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.

9

For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

10

The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

11

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

12

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.

13

From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;

14

from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth--

15

he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

16

No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.

17

A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.

18

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

19

to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

20

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

21

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

22

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

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

 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 praises: Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.

 Psalm 9

1

Psalm 9 For the director of music. To [the tune of] "The Death of the Son." A psalm of David. ^[1]

1

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.

2

I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3

My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you.

4

For you have upheld my right and my cause; you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.

5

You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

6

Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished.

7

The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.

8

He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.

9

The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

10

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

11

Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.

12

For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

13

O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

14

that I may declare your praises in the gates of the Daughter of Zion and there rejoice in your salvation.

15

The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

16

The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion. ^[2] Selah

17

The wicked return to the grave, ^[3] all the nations that forget God.

18

But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

19

Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence.

20

Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah

Today's bible teaching: For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity

 Psalm 122

1

Psalm 122 A song of ascents. Of David.

1

I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."

2

Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem.

3

Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.

4

That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel.

5

There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David.

6

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure.

7

May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels."

8

For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you."

9

For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.

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: 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.

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

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

 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: How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!q

 Psalm 133

1

Psalm 133 A song of ascents. Of David.

1

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

2

It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.

3

It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

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 sword.

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: Hasten, O God, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.

 

Psalm 70

1

Psalm 70 For the director of music. Of David. A petition.

1

Hasten, O God, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.

2

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

3

May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame.

4

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

5

Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.

Today's praises: Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy

 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.