Week 38 Bible Reading Plan (September 18th-24th)
-
Psalm 42
Longing for God
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so I long for you, God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
while all day long people say to me,
“Where is your God?”
I remember this as I pour out my heart:
how I walked with many,
leading the festive procession to the house of God,
with joyful and thankful shouts.
Why, my soul, are you so dejected?
Why are you in such turmoil?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him,
my Savior and my God.
I am deeply depressed;
therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan
and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your billows have swept over me.
The Lord will send his faithful love by day;
his song will be with me in the night—
a prayer to the God of my life.
I will say to God, my rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?”
My adversaries taunt me,
as if crushing my bones,
while all day long they say to me,
“Where is your God?”
Why, my soul, are you so dejected?
Why are you in such turmoil?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 43
Vindicate me, God, and champion my cause
against an unfaithful nation;
rescue me from the deceitful and unjust person.
For you are the God of my refuge.
Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?
Send your light and your truth; let them lead me.
Let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling place.
Then I will come to the altar of God,
to God, my greatest joy.
I will praise you with the lyre,
God, my God.
Why, my soul, are you so dejected?
Why are you in such turmoil?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him,
my Savior and my God.
-
Psalm 46
God Our Refuge
For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.
God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.
Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,
though its water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with its turmoil.Selah
There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns.
Nations rage, kingdoms topple;
the earth melts when he lifts his voice.
The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.Selah
Come, see the works of the Lord,
who brings devastation on the earth.
He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
he sets wagons ablaze.
“Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.Selah
Psalm 47
God Our King
For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with a jubilant cry.
For the Lord, the Most High, is awe-inspiring,
a great King over the whole earth.
He subdues peoples under us
and nations under our feet.
He chooses for us our inheritance—
the pride of Jacob, whom he loves.Selah
God ascends among shouts of joy,
the Lord, with the sound of a ram’s horn.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our King, sing praise!
Sing a song of wisdom,
for God is King of the whole earth.
God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
The nobles of the peoples have assembled
with the people of the God of Abraham.
For the leaders of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted.
Psalm 48
Zion Exalted
A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
The Lord is great and highly praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, rising splendidly,
is the joy of the whole earth.
Mount Zion—the summit of Zaphon—
is the city of the great King.
God is known as a stronghold
in its citadels.
Look! The kings assembled;
they advanced together.
They looked and froze with fear;
they fled in terror.
Trembling seized them there,
agony like that of a woman in labor,
as you wrecked the ships of Tarshish
with the east wind.
Just as we heard, so we have seen
in the city of the Lord of Armies,
in the city of our God;
God will establish it forever.Selah
God, within your temple,
we contemplate your faithful love.
Like your name, God, so your praise
reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with justice.
Mount Zion is glad.
Judah’s villages rejoice
because of your judgments.
Go around Zion, encircle it;
count its towers,
note its ramparts; tour its citadels
so that you can tell a future generation:
“This God, our God forever and ever—
he will always lead us.”
-
Psalm 51
A Prayer for Restoration
For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.
Be gracious to me, God,
according to your faithful love;
according to your abundant compassion,
blot out my rebellion.
Completely wash away my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you—you alone—I have sinned
and done this evil in your sight.
So you are right when you pass sentence;
you are blameless when you judge.
Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
Surely you desire integrity in the inner self,
and you teach me wisdom deep within.
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Turn your face away from my sins
and blot out all my guilt.
God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore the joy of your salvation to me,
and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach the rebellious your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God—
God of my salvation—
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;
you are not pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.
You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.
In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;
build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Psalm 52
God Judges the Proud
For the choir director. A Maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite went and reported to Saul, telling him, “David went to Ahimelech’s house.”
Why boast about evil, you hero!
God’s faithful love is constant.
Like a sharpened razor,
your tongue devises destruction,
working treachery.
You love evil instead of good,
lying instead of speaking truthfully.Selah
You love any words that destroy,
you treacherous tongue!
This is why God will bring you down forever.
He will take you, ripping you out of your tent;
he will uproot you from the land of the living.Selah
The righteous will see and fear,
and they will derisively say about that hero,
“Here is the man
who would not make God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches,
taking refuge in his destructive behavior.”
But I am like a flourishing olive tree
in the house of God;
I trust in God’s faithful love forever and ever.
I will praise you forever for what you have done.
In the presence of your faithful people,
I will put my hope in your name, for it is good.
Psalm 53
A Portrait of Sinners
For the choir director: on Mahalath. A Maskil of David.
The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.”
They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds.
There is no one who does good.
God looks down from heaven on the human race
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.
All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.
Will evildoers never understand?
They consume my people as they consume bread;
they do not call on God.
Then they will be filled with dread—
dread like no other—
because God will scatter
the bones of those who besiege you.
You will put them to shame,
for God has rejected them.
Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
Psalm 54
Prayer for Deliverance
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. When the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding among us?”
God, save me by your name,
and vindicate me by your might!
God, hear my prayer;
listen to the words from my mouth.
For strangers rise up against me,
and violent men intend to kill me.
They do not let God guide them.Selah
God is my helper;
the Lord is the sustainer of my life.
He will repay my adversaries for their evil.
Because of your faithfulness, annihilate them.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you.
I will praise your name, Lord,
because it is good.
For he has rescued me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked down on my enemies.
-
Psalm 55
Betrayal by a Friend
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.
God, listen to my prayer
and do not hide from my plea for help.
Pay attention to me and answer me.
I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,
because of the enemy’s words,
because of the pressure of the wicked.
For they bring down disaster on me
and harass me in anger.
My heart shudders within me;
terrors of death sweep over me.
Fear and trembling grip me;
horror has overwhelmed me.
I said, “If only I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest.
How far away I would flee;
I would stay in the wilderness.Selah
I would hurry to my shelter
from the raging wind and the storm.”
Lord, confuse and confound their speech,
for I see violence and strife in the city;
day and night they make the rounds on its walls.
Crime and trouble are within it;
destruction is inside it;
oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.
Now it is not an enemy who insults me—
otherwise I could bear it;
it is not a foe who rises up against me—
otherwise I could hide from him.
But it is you, a man who is my peer,
my companion and good friend!
We used to have close fellowship;
we walked with the crowd into the house of God.
Let death take them by surprise;
let them go down to Sheol alive,
because evil is in their homes and within them.
But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me.
I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,
and he hears my voice.
Though many are against me,
he will redeem me from my battle unharmed.
God, the one enthroned from long ago,
will hear and will humiliate themSelah
because they do not change
and do not fear God.
My friend acts violently
against those at peace with him;
he violates his covenant.
His buttery words are smooth,
but war is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,
but they are drawn swords.
Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
God, you will bring them down
to the Pit of destruction;
men of bloodshed and treachery
will not live out half their days.
But I will trust in you.
Psalm 56
A Call for God’s Protection
For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.” A Miktam of David. When the Philistines seized him in Gath.
Be gracious to me, God, for a man is trampling me;
he fights and oppresses me all day long.
My adversaries trample me all day,
for many arrogantly fight against me.
When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
They twist my words all day long;
all their thoughts against me are evil.
They stir up strife, they lurk,
they watch my steps
while they wait to take my life.
Will they escape in spite of such sin?
God, bring down the nations in wrath.
You yourself have recorded my wanderings.
Put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?
Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call.
This I know: God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mere humans do to me?
I am obligated by vows to you, God;
I will make my thanksgiving sacrifices to you.
For you rescued me from death,
even my feet from stumbling,
to walk before God in the light of life.
Psalm 57
Praise for God’s Protection
For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. When he fled before Saul into the cave.
Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
for I take refuge in you.
I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings
until danger passes.
I call to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
He reaches down from heaven and saves me,
challenging the one who tramples me.Selah
God sends his faithful love and truth.
I am surrounded by lions;
I lie down among devouring lions—
people whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.
God, be exalted above the heavens;
let your glory be over the whole earth.
They prepared a net for my steps;
I was despondent.
They dug a pit ahead of me,
but they fell into it!Selah
My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident.
I will sing; I will sing praises.
Wake up, my soul!
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your faithful love is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
God, be exalted above the heavens;
let your glory be over the whole earth.
-
Psalm 61
Security in God
For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Of David.
God, hear my cry;
pay attention to my prayer.
I call to you from the ends of the earth
when my heart is without strength.
Lead me to a rock that is high above me,
for you have been a refuge for me,
a strong tower in the face of the enemy.
I will dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge under the shelter of your wings.Selah
God, you have heard my vows;
you have given a heritage
to those who fear your name.
Add days to the king’s life;
may his years span many generations.
May he sit enthroned before God forever.
Appoint faithful love and truth to guard him.
Then I will continually sing of your name,
fulfilling my vows day by day.
Psalm 62
Trust in God Alone
For the choir director: according to Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
I am at rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will never be shaken.
How long will you threaten a man?
Will all of you attack
as if he were a leaning wall
or a tottering fence?
They only plan to bring him down
from his high position.
They take pleasure in lying;
they bless with their mouths,
but they curse inwardly.Selah
Rest in God alone, my soul,
for my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will not be shaken.
My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock.
My refuge is in God.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts before him.
God is our refuge.Selah
Common people are only a vapor;
important people, an illusion.
Together on a scale,
they weigh less than a vapor.
Place no trust in oppression
or false hope in robbery.
If wealth increases,
don’t set your heart on it.
God has spoken once;
I have heard this twice:
strength belongs to God,
and faithful love belongs to you, Lord.
For you repay each according to his works.
Psalm 63
Praise God Who Satisfies
A psalm of David. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.
God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you.
I thirst for you;
my body faints for you
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
My lips will glorify you
because your faithful love is better than life.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
at your name, I will lift up my hands.
You satisfy me as with rich food;
my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.
When I think of you as I lie on my bed,
I meditate on you during the night watches
because you are my helper;
I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.
I follow close to you;
your right-hand holds on to me.
But those who intend to destroy my life
will go into the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the power of the sword;
they will become a meal for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by him will boast,
for the mouths of liars will be shut.
-
Psalm 70
A Call for Deliverance
For the choir director. Of David. To bring remembrance.
God, hurry to rescue me.
Lord, hurry to help me!
Let those who seek to kill me
be disgraced and confounded;
let those who wish me harm
be turned back and humiliated.
Let those who say, “Aha, aha!”
retreat because of their shame.
Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
let those who love your salvation
continually say, “God is great!”
I am oppressed and needy;
hurry to me, God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay.
Psalm 71
God’s Help in Old Age
Lord, I seek refuge in you;
let me never be disgraced.
In your justice, rescue and deliver me;
listen closely to me and save me.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
where I can always go.
Give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and fortress.
Deliver me, my God, from the power of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and oppressive.
For you are my hope, Lord God,
my confidence from my youth.
I have leaned on you from birth;
you took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is always about you.
I am like a miraculous sign to many,
and you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is full of praise
and honor to you all day long.
Don’t discard me in my old age.
As my strength fails, do not abandon me.
For my enemies talk about me,
and those who spy on me plot together,
saying, “God has abandoned him;
chase him and catch him,
for there is no one to rescue him.”
God, do not be far from me;
my God, hurry to help me.
May my adversaries be disgraced and destroyed;
may those who intend to harm me
be covered with disgrace and humiliation.
But I will hope continually
and will praise you more and more.
My mouth will tell about your righteousness
and your salvation all day long,
though I cannot sum them up.
I come because of the mighty acts of the Lord God;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
God, you have taught me from my youth,
and I still proclaim your wondrous works.
Even while I am old and gray,
God, do not abandon me,
while I proclaim your power
to another generation,
your strength to all who are to come.
Your righteousness reaches the heights, God,
you who have done great things;
God, who is like you?
You caused me to experience
many troubles and misfortunes,
but you will revive me again.
You will bring me up again,
even from the depths of the earth.
You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.
Therefore, I will praise you with a harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing to you with a lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you
because you have redeemed me.
Therefore, my tongue will proclaim
your righteousness all day long,
for those who intend to harm me
will be disgraced and confounded.
Psalm 72
A Prayer for the King
Of Solomon.
God, give your justice to the king
and your righteousness to the king’s son.
He will judge your people with righteousness
and your afflicted ones with justice.
May the mountains bring well-being to the people
and the hills, righteousness.
May he vindicate the afflicted among the people,
help the poor,
and crush the oppressor.
May they fear you while the sun endures
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
May the king be like rain that falls on the cut grass,
like spring showers that water the earth.
May the righteous flourish in his days
and well-being abound
until the moon is no more.
May he rule from sea to sea
and from the Euphrates
to the ends of the earth.
May desert tribes kneel before him
and his enemies lick the dust.
May the kings of Tarshish
and the coasts and islands bring tribute,
the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
Let all kings bow in homage to him,
all nations serve him.
For he will rescue the poor who cry out
and the afflicted who have no helper.
He will have pity on the poor and helpless
and save the lives of the poor.
He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
for their lives are precious in his sight.
May he live long!
May gold from Sheba be given to him.
May prayer be offered for him continually,
and may he be blessed all day long.
May there be plenty of grain in the land;
may it wave on the tops of the mountains.
May its crops be like Lebanon.
May people flourish in the cities
like the grass of the field.
May his name endure forever;
as long as the sun shines,
may his fame increase.
May all nations be blessed by him
and call him blessed.
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wonders.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
the whole earth is filled with his glory.
Amen and amen.
The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded.
