Today's bible teaching: The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

 Psalm 14

1

Psalm 14 For the director of music. Of David.

1

The fool ^[1] says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

2

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

3

All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

4

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

5

There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.

6

You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.

7

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

Today's prayer: Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.

 Psalm 120

1

Psalm 120 A song of ascents.

1

I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.

2

Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.

3

What will he do to you, and what more besides, O deceitful tongue?

4

He will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom tree.

5

Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!

6

Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.

7

I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.

Today's bible teaching: Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD

 Psalm 31

1

Psalm 31 For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.

2

Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

3

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

4

Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.

5

Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.

6

I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD.

7

I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.

8

You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.

9

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.

10

My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, ^[1] and my bones grow weak.

11

Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends-- those who see me on the street flee from me.

12

I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.

13

For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life.

14

But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."

15

My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

16

Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

17

Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and lie silent in the grave. ^[2]

18

Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

19

How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.

20

In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.

21

Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.

22

In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.

23

Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.

24

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

Today's prayer: Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray

 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 prayer:Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you.

 Psalm 102

1

Psalm 102 A prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.

1

Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you.

2

Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.

3

For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers.

4

My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.

5

Because of my loud groaning I am reduced to skin and bones.

6

I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.

7

I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.

8

All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse.

9

For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears

10

because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.

11

My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.

12

But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.

13

You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.

14

For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity.

15

The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.

16

For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.

17

He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.

18

Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:

19

"The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth,

20

to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death."

21

So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem

22

when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.

23

In the course of my life ^[1] he broke my strength; he cut short my days.

24

So I said: "Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations.

25

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26

They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.

27

But you remain the same, and your years will never end.

28

The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you."

Today's bible teaching: Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways

 Psalm 128

1

Psalm 128 A song of ascents.

1

Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.

2

You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

3

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.

4

Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.

5

May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,

6

and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel.

Today's bible teaching: Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

 Psalm 42

1

Psalm 42 For the director of music. A maskil ^[1] of the Sons of Korah. ^[2]

1

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

2

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

3

My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

4

These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.

5

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and

6

my God. My ^[3] soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon--from Mount Mizar.

7

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

8

By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life.

9

I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?"

10

My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

11

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.