Today's prayer: Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack

Psalm 56

1

Psalm 56 For the director of music. To [the tune of] "A Dove on Distant Oaks." Of David. A miktam. ^[1] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

1

Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack.

2

My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride.

3

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

4

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

5

All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me.

6

They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life.

7

On no account let them escape; in your anger, O God, bring down the nations.

8

Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll ^[2] -- are they not in your record?

9

Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.

10

In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise--

11

in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

12

I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you.

13

For you have delivered me ^[3] from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. 

Today's bible teaching: Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

Psalm 107

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Psalm 107

1

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

2

Let the redeemed of the LORD say this-- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

3

those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. ^[1]

4

Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.

5

They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.

6

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

7

He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.

8

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men,

9

for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

10

Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains,

11

for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.

12

So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

13

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

14

He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.

15

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men,

16

for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

17

Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.

18

They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death.

19

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

20

He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

21

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.

22

Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

23

Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters.

24

They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep.

25

For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves.

26

They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away.

27

They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end.

28

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.

29

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.

30

They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

31

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.

32

Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.

33

He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground,

34

and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there.

35

He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs;

36

there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle.

37

They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest;

38

he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish.

39

Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow;

40

he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste.

41

But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks.

42

The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths.

43

Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.

Today's praises: Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Psalm 100

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Psalm 100 A psalm. For giving thanks.

1

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

2

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

3

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ^[1] ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

5

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Today's bible teaching: Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man

Psalm 112

1

Psalm 112 ^[1]

1

Praise the LORD. ^[2] Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.

2

His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3

Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

4

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. 

5

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.

6

Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.

7

He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

8

His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

9

He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn ^[4] will be lifted high in honor.

10

The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Today's bible teaching: In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent

Psalm 4

1

Psalm 4 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

1

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

2

How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame ^[1] ? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods ^[2] ? Selah

3

Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.

4

In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah

5

Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.

6

Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

7

You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.

8

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Today's bible teaching: But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

Psalm 3

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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: He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 113

1

Psalm 113

1

Praise the LORD. ^[1] Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.

2

Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore.

3

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.

4

The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.

5

Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,

6

who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

7

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

8

he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people.

9

He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.