Today's bible teaching: You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge

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

Psalm 60

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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 bible teaching: Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.

Psalm 2

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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 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 prayer: Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help

Psalm 22

1

Psalm 22 For the director of music. To [the tune of] "The Doe of the Morning." A psalm of David.

1

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?

2

O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.

3

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. ^[1]

4

In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.

5

They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

6

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.

7

All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

8

"He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."

9

Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast.

10

From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.

11

Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.

12

Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

13

Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me.

14

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.

15

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me ^[2] in the dust of death.

16

Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced ^[3] my hands and my feet.

17

I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.

18

They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

19

But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

20

Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.

21

Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save ^[4] me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22

I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you.

23

You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

24

For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

25

From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you ^[5] will I fulfill my vows.

26

The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him-- may your hearts live forever!

27

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,

28

for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.

29

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him-- those who cannot keep themselves alive.

30

Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.

31

They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn-- for he has done it.

Today's bible teaching: How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?

Psalm 137

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Psalm 137

1

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.

2

There on the poplars we hung our harps,

3

for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

4

How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?

5

If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget [its skill].

6

May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.

7

Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. "Tear it down," they cried, "tear it down to its foundations!"

8

O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us.

Today's prayer: Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city

Psalm 55

1

Psalm 55 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil ^[1] of David.

1

Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;

2

hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught

3

at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger.

4

My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me.

5

Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.

6

I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest--

7

I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah

8

I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm."

9

Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.

10

Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it.

11

Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.

12

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him.

13

But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,

14

with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.

15

Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave, ^[2] for evil finds lodging among them.

16

But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.

17

Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.

18

He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

19

God, who is enthroned forever, will hear them and afflict them-- Selah men who never change their ways and have no fear of God.

20

My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

21

His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

22

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

23

But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.