Month: December 2019

Human Wickedness

1 Fools say to themselves,

“There is no God!”

They are all corrupt,

and they have done terrible things;

there is no one who does what is right.

2 TheLordlooks down from heaven at us humans

to see if there are any who are wise,

any who worship him.

3 But they have all gone wrong;

they are all equally bad.

Not one of them does what is right,

not a single one.

4 “Don’t they know?” asks theLord.

“Are all these evildoers ignorant?

They live by robbing my people,

and they never pray to me.”

5 But then they will be terrified,

for God is with those who obey him.

6 Evildoers frustrate the plans of the humble,

but theLordis their protection.

7 How I pray that victory

will come to Israel from Zion.

How happy the people of Israel will be

when theLordmakes them prosperous again!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/14-997b88d74bbe4c4a1cf9ffd7624cc995.mp3?version_id=68—

What God Requires

1 Lord, who may enter your Temple?

Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill?

2 Those who obey God in everything

and always do what is right,

whose words are true and sincere,

3 and who do not slander others.

They do no wrong to their friends

nor spread rumors about their neighbors.

4 They despise those whom God rejects,

but honor those who obey theLord.

They always do what they promise,

no matter how much it may cost.

5 They make loans without charging interest

and cannot be bribed to testify against the innocent.

Whoever does these things will always be secure.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/15-3b55e221ad01a19936b5888c9929451e.mp3?version_id=68—

A Prayer of Confidence

1 Protect me, O God; I trust in you for safety.

2 I say to theLord, “You are my Lord;

all the good things I have come from you.”

3 How excellent are theLord’s faithful people!

My greatest pleasure is to be with them.

4 Those who rush to other gods

bring many troubles on themselves.

I will not take part in their sacrifices;

I will not worship their gods.

5 You,Lord, are all I have,

and you give me all I need;

my future is in your hands.

6 How wonderful are your gifts to me;

how good they are!

7 I praise theLord, because he guides me,

and in the night my conscience warns me.

8 I am always aware of theLord’s presence;

he is near, and nothing can shake me.

9 And so I am thankful and glad,

and I feel completely secure,

10 because you protect me from the power of death.

I have served you faithfully,

and you will not abandon me to the world of the dead.

11 You will show me the path that leads to life;

your presence fills me with joy

and brings me pleasure forever.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/16-d0dce6187cd3dcbf99ac8d7661883ad7.mp3?version_id=68—

The Prayer of an Innocent Person

1 Listen, OLord, to my plea for justice;

pay attention to my cry for help!

Listen to my honest prayer.

2 You will judge in my favor,

because you know what is right.

3 You know my heart.

You have come to me at night;

you have examined me completely

and found no evil desire in me.

I speak no evil,

4 as others do;

I have obeyed your command

and have not followed paths of violence.

5 I have always walked in your way

and have never strayed from it.

6 I pray to you, O God, because you answer me;

so turn to me and listen to my words.

7 Reveal your wonderful love and save me;

at your side I am safe from my enemies.

8 Protect me as you would your very eyes;

hide me in the shadow of your wings

9 from the attacks of the wicked.

Deadly enemies surround me;

10 they have no pity and speak proudly.

11 They are around me now, wherever I turn,

watching for a chance to pull me down.

12 They are like lions, waiting for me,

wanting to tear me to pieces.

13 Come,Lord! Oppose my enemies and defeat them!

Save me from the wicked by your sword;

14 save me from those who in this life have all they want.

Punish them with the sufferings you have stored up for them;

may there be enough for their children

and some left over for their children’s children!

15 But I will see you, because I have done no wrong;

and when I awake, your presence will fill me with joy.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/17-8459b0c97d3fb4e116b79f1997a09993.mp3?version_id=68—

David’s Song of Victory

1 How I love you,Lord!

You are my defender.

2 TheLordis my protector;

he is my strong fortress.

My God is my protection,

and with him I am safe.

He protects me like a shield;

he defends me and keeps me safe.

3 I call to theLord,

and he saves me from my enemies.

Praise theLord!

4 The danger of death was all around me;

the waves of destruction rolled over me.

5 The danger of death was around me,

and the grave set its trap for me.

6 In my trouble I called to theLord;

I called to my God for help.

In his temple he heard my voice;

he listened to my cry for help.

7 Then the earth trembled and shook;

the foundations of the mountains rocked and quivered,

because God was angry.

8 Smoke poured out of his nostrils,

a consuming flame and burning coals from his mouth.

9 He tore the sky open and came down

with a dark cloud under his feet.

10 He flew swiftly on his winged creature;

he traveled on the wings of the wind.

11 He covered himself with darkness;

thick clouds, full of water, surrounded him.

12 Hailstones and flashes of fire

came from the lightning before him

and broke through the dark clouds.

13 Then theLordthundered from the sky;

and the voice of the Most High was heard.

14 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;

with flashes of lightning he sent them running.

15 The floor of the ocean was laid bare,

and the foundations of the earth were uncovered,

when you rebuked your enemies,Lord,

and roared at them in anger.

16 TheLordreached down from above and took hold of me;

he pulled me out of the deep waters.

17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies

and from all those who hate me—

they were too strong for me.

18 When I was in trouble, they attacked me,

but theLordprotected me.

19 He helped me out of danger;

he saved me because he was pleased with me.

20 TheLordrewards me because I do what is right;

he blesses me because I am innocent.

21 I have obeyed the law of theLord;

I have not turned away from my God.

22 I have observed all his laws;

I have not disobeyed his commands.

23 He knows that I am faultless,

that I have kept myself from doing wrong.

24 And so he rewards me because I do what is right,

because he knows that I am innocent.

25 OLord, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you;

completely good to those who are perfect.

26 You are pure to those who are pure,

but hostile to those who are wicked.

27 You save those who are humble,

but you humble those who are proud.

28 OLord, you give me light;

you dispel my darkness.

29 You give me strength to attack my enemies

and power to overcome their defenses.

30 This God—how perfect are his deeds!

How dependable his words!

He is like a shield

for all who seek his protection.

31 TheLordalone is God;

God alone is our defense.

32 He is the God who makes me strong,

who makes my pathway safe.

33 He makes me sure-footed as a deer;

he keeps me safe on the mountains.

34 He trains me for battle,

so that I can use the strongest bow.

35 OLord, you protect me and save me;

your care has made me great,

and your power has kept me safe.

36 You have kept me from being captured,

and I have never fallen.

37 I pursue my enemies and catch them;

I do not stop until I destroy them.

38 I strike them down, and they cannot rise;

they lie defeated before me.

39 You give me strength for the battle

and victory over my enemies.

40 You make my enemies run from me;

I destroy those who hate me.

41 They cry for help, but no one saves them;

they call to theLord, but he does not answer.

42 I crush them, so that they become like dust

which the wind blows away.

I trample on them like mud in the streets.

43 You saved me from a rebellious people

and made me ruler over the nations;

people I did not know have now become my subjects.

44 Foreigners bow before me;

when they hear me, they obey.

45 They lose their courage

and come trembling from their fortresses.

46 TheLordlives! Praise my defender!

Proclaim the greatness of the God who saves me.

47 He gives me victory over my enemies;

he subdues the nations under me

48 and saves me from my foes.

OLord, you give me victory over my enemies

and protect me from violent people.

49 And so I praise you among the nations;

I sing praises to you.

50 God gives great victories to his king;

he shows constant love to the one he has chosen,

to David and his descendants forever.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/18-9aeba30fe14425facd2d958501c5211d.mp3?version_id=68—

God’s Glory in Creation

1 How clearly the sky reveals God’s glory!

How plainly it shows what he has done!

2 Each day announces it to the following day;

each night repeats it to the next.

3 No speech or words are used,

no sound is heard;

4 yet their messagegoes out to all the world

and is heard to the ends of the earth.

God made a home in the sky for the sun;

5 it comes out in the morning like a happy bridegroom,

like an athlete eager to run a race.

6 It starts at one end of the sky

and goes across to the other.

Nothing can hide from its heat.

The Law of the Lord

7 The law of theLordis perfect;

it gives new strength.

The commands of theLordare trustworthy,

giving wisdom to those who lack it.

8 The laws of theLordare right,

and those who obey them are happy.

The commands of theLordare just

and give understanding to the mind.

9 Reverence for theLordis good;

it will continue forever.

The judgments of theLordare just;

they are always fair.

10 They are more desirable than the finest gold;

they are sweeter than the purest honey.

11 They give knowledge to me, your servant;

I am rewarded for obeying them.

12 None of us can see our own errors;

deliver me,Lord, from hidden faults!

13 Keep me safe, also, from willful sins;

don’t let them rule over me.

Then I shall be perfect

and free from the evil of sin.

14 May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you,

OLord, my refuge and my redeemer!

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/19-2f343fe21d59e3495acb7e73d41287e5.mp3?version_id=68—

A Prayer for Victory

1 May theLordanswer you when you are in trouble!

May the God of Jacob protect you!

2 May he send you help from his Temple

and give you aid from Mount Zion.

3 May he accept all your offerings

and be pleased with all your sacrifices.

4 May he give you what you desire

and make all your plans succeed.

5 Then we will shout for joy over your victory

and celebrate your triumph by praising our God.

May theLordanswer all your requests.

6 Now I know that theLordgives victory to his chosen king;

he answers him from his holy heaven

and by his power gives him great victories.

7 Some trust in their war chariots

and others in their horses,

but we trust in the power of theLordour God.

8 Such people will stumble and fall,

but we will rise and stand firm.

9 Give victory to the king, OLord;

answerus when we call.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/20-ae6047bc9dd1ac743331ea9de083ad6d.mp3?version_id=68—

Praise for Victory

1 The king is glad, OLord, because you gave him strength;

he rejoices because you made him victorious.

2 You have given him his heart’s desire;

you have answered his request.

3 You came to him with great blessings

and set a crown of gold on his head.

4 He asked for life, and you gave it,

a long and lasting life.

5 His glory is great because of your help;

you have given him fame and majesty.

6 Your blessings are with him forever,

and your presence fills him with joy.

7 The king trusts in theLordAlmighty;

and because of theLord’s constant love

he will always be secure.

8 The king will capture all his enemies;

he will capture everyone who hates him.

9 He will destroy them like a blazing fire

when he appears.

TheLordwill devour them in his anger,

and fire will consume them.

10 None of their descendants will survive;

the king will kill them all.

11 They make their plans, and plot against him,

but they will not succeed.

12 He will shoot his arrows at them

and make them turn and run.

13 We praise you,Lord, for your great strength!

We will sing and praise your power.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/21-f48454c60d88b7970941efbfb6d79534.mp3?version_id=68—

A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise

1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

I have cried desperately for help,

but still it does not come.

2 During the day I call to you, my God,

but you do not answer;

I call at night,

but get no rest.

3 But you are enthroned as the Holy One,

the one whom Israel praises.

4 Our ancestors put their trust in you;

they trusted you, and you saved them.

5 They called to you and escaped from danger;

they trusted you and were not disappointed.

6 But I am no longer a human being; I am a worm,

despised and scorned by everyone!

7 All who see me make fun of me;

they stick out their tongues and shake their heads.

8 “You relied on theLord,” they say.

“Why doesn’t he save you?

If theLordlikes you,

why doesn’t he help you?”

9 It was you who brought me safely through birth,

and when I was a baby, you kept me safe.

10 I have relied on you since the day I was born,

and you have always been my God.

11 Do not stay away from me!

Trouble is near,

and there is no one to help.

12 Many enemies surround me like bulls;

they are all around me,

like fierce bulls from the land of Bashan.

13 They open their mouths like lions,

roaring and tearing at me.

14 My strength is gone,

gone like water spilled on the ground.

All my bones are out of joint;

my heart is like melted wax.

15 My throatis as dry as dust,

and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

You have left me for dead in the dust.

16 An evil gang is around me;

like a pack of dogs they close in on me;

they tear atmy hands and feet.

17 All my bones can be seen.

My enemies look at me and stare.

18 They gamble for my clothes

and divide them among themselves.

19 OLord, don’t stay away from me!

Come quickly to my rescue!

20 Save me from the sword;

save my life from these dogs.

21 Rescue me from these lions;

I am helplessbefore these wild bulls.

22 I will tell my people what you have done;

I will praise you in their assembly:

23 “Praise him, you servants of theLord!

Honor him, you descendants of Jacob!

Worship him, you people of Israel!

24 He does not neglect the poor or ignore their suffering;

he does not turn away from them,

but answers when they call for help.”

25 In the full assembly I will praise you for what you have done;

in the presence of those who worship you

I will offer the sacrifices I promised.

26 The poor will eat as much as they want;

those who come to theLordwill praise him.

May they prosper forever!

27 All nations will remember theLord.

From every part of the world they will turn to him;

all races will worship him.

28 TheLordis king,

and he rules the nations.

29 All proud people will bow down to him;

all mortals will bow down before him.

30 Future generations will serve him;

they will speak of the Lord to the coming generation.

31 People not yet born will be told:

“The Lord saved his people.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/22-8541b858f60c849a7b5ecbebdb0e0482.mp3?version_id=68—

The Lord Our Shepherd

1 TheLordis my shepherd;

I have everything I need.

2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass

and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.

3 He gives me new strength.

He guides me in the right paths,

as he has promised.

4 Even if I go through the deepest darkness,

I will not be afraid,Lord,

for you are with me.

Your shepherd’s rod and staff protect me.

5 You prepare a banquet for me,

where all my enemies can see me;

you welcome me as an honored guest

and fill my cup to the brim.

6 I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life;

and your house will be my home as long as I live.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/PSA/23-6ffb4bf4ae48cc6d6a998b2c3df54deb.mp3?version_id=68—