June 1st
"My sheep recognize My voice. I know them and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish...
No one will snatch them away from Me, for My Father has given them to Me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from Me. The Father and I are One."
¤ The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you. ¤ "And this is the way to have eternal life; To know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One whom You sent to earth."
¤ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¤ For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. ¤ Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you...
¤ But, God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. For the truth of God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge within their hearts; From the time the earth was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God has made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. Yet, they do not honor Him as God nor are they thankful, and they begin to think up foolish ideas of what God is like. The result is that their minds become indeed dark and confused. Professing themselves to be wise, they have only become utter fools instead.
¤ The One who existed from the beginning is the One whom we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life. And now we testify and announce to you that He is the One who is eternal life. ¤ Such things were written long ago in the Scriptures to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises. They prepare us in every way for the good things God wants us to do. ¤ "You, My people, are the sheep of My pasture, and I am your God," says the Sovereign Lord.
John 10:27-30 Deuteronomy 33:27 John 17:3 Romans 6:23 John 3:16, 17 1st Timothy 6:12
Romans 1:18-22 1st John 1:1, 2 2nd Timothy 3:16,17 Ezekiel 34:31
June 2nd
The Lord stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.
How long will you judges of the earth judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked? Defend instead the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and helpless; free them from the hand of the wicked. But these oppressors know nothing, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; the whole world is shaken to the core. I have said, "You are gods; judges of the earth, yet all of you are children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes, for all must die." Arise, O God, judge the earth; for all the nations belong to You.
¤ How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home there, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—at a place near Your alter, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will always be praising You.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the valley of weeping, they make it a place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect after the rains. They will continue to grow stronger; each one appears before God in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! O God, look with favor upon the king, our protector, and have mercy on the one You have anointed. For a single day in Your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and a shield. The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who do what is right. O Lord Almighty, happy are those who trust in You.
¤ Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the Lord's counsel—that will stand. What is desired in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar. The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has this respect will abide in satisfaction; he will be protected from harm.
Psalm 82 Psalm 84 Proverbs 19:20-23
June 3rd
Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me, answer me, for I need Your help.
Preserve my life, for I am devoted to You; You are my God; Save Your servant who trusts in You! Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I cry to You all day long. Make glad the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul; my life depends on You. For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive. You are full of abundant mercy to all those who call upon You. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, and attend to the voice of my earnestness. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for I know You will answer me.
Among the pagan gods there is none like You, O Lord, nor are there any works like Your works. All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. Teach me Your ways, O Lord, that I may walk according to Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of the abode of the dead.
O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent people have sought my life, and have not set You before them; You mean nothing to them. But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Oh, turn to me; look down and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, and save the child of Your maidservant. Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
¤ Praise the Lord! He was angry with me, but now He comforts me. See, God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. ¤ Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited His people and redeemed them. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as He promised through His holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all those who hate us... He will enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives.
Psalm 86 Isaiah 12:1, 2 Luke 1:68-71, 74, 75
June 4th
His foundation is in the holy mountains.
¤ O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You. Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave. I am counted with those who go down to the pit; I am like a man who has no strength. I am adrift among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, and who are cut off from Your hand. You have laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the depths. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and You have afflicted me with wave after wave. You have taken away my friends, You have made me an abomination to them. I am shut up, as in a trap, and I cannot get out. My eyes are blinded by my tears.
Lord, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You. Will You work wonders for me in the grave? Shall the dead arise and praise You? Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Shall Your wonders be known in the darkness of death? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But to You I have cried out, O Lord, and in the morning my prayer comes before You. Lord, why do You cast off my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth; I suffer Your terrors; I am distraught. Your fierce wrath has gone over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. They come around me all day long like water; they have engulfed me altogether. Loved one and friend alike You have put far from me, and my acquaintances into darkness.
¤ By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life. ¤ Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge... My son if your heart is wise, then My heart will be glad; My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the respect of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Listen, My son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.
¤ Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this book of the law continually. Meditate on it's teachings day and night so that you will be sure to obey all that is written it. Only then will you succeed. I command you—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Psalm 87:1 Psalm 88 Proverbs 22:4 Proverbs 23:12, 15-19 Joshua 1:7-9
June 5th
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever...
With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, "Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness is as enduring as the very heavens" ...And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints. For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; when its waters rise, You still them. You have broken Egypt in pieces, as one who is slain; You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm. The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them; the north and the south, You have created them. You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favor our strength is exalted. Yes, our protection comes from the Lord, and He, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our King...
My hand will sustain Him; surely My arm will strengthen Him... My faithful love will be with Him, and through My name His horn will be exalted. I will set His hand over the sea, His right hand over the rivers. And He will call out to Me, ' You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.' I will make him My firstborn Son, the mightiest King on the earth. I will love Him and be kind to Him forever, and My covenant with Him will never end. ¤ A house is built by wisdom, and becomes strong by good sense...
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls into trouble, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; For if the Lord sees it, and your attitude displeases Him, He may turn away His wrath from your enemy. Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked. For there will be no prospect for the evil person; the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. My son, fear both the Lord and the king. Do not associate with those given to change; for their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows where the punishment from the Lord and the king will end?
Psalm 89:1, 2, 5-18, 21, 24-28 Proverbs 24:3, & 17-22
June 6th
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations...
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. ¤ He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge. His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in the darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near to you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall lift you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
¤ It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night, on an instrument of ten strings, on the flute, and on the harp, with harmonious sound. For You, O Lord, have made me glad through Your work. I will triumph in the works of Your hands. O Lord, what great miracles You do! How deep are Your thoughts. Only an ignorant person would not know this, and only a fool would not understand it... Those who are transplanted into the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in their old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is nothing but goodness in Him.
¤ Whatever is good and perfect comes to us as a gift from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, He never changes or casts shifting shadows. In His goodness He chose to make us His own children by giving us His true word. And we, out of all creation, became His choice possession. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Psalm 90:1, 2 Psalm 91:1-12 Psalm 92:1-6, 13-15 James 1:17-21
June 7th
The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty...He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be shaken. Your throne is established from of old; You Yourself are from everlasting. The mighty oceans have raised up, O Lord, the mighty oceans have lifted up their voice; the oceans lift up their waves and pound the shore. Yet, the Lord on high is far mightier than the sound of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea. Your testimonies are very sure; Your royal decrees cannot be changed. Holiness adorns the nature of Your reign, O Lord, forever.
¤ O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs—O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth! Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render punishment to the proud. Lord, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph? They utter speech, and speak insolent things; all the workers of iniquity boast in themselves. They break in pieces Your people, O Lord, and afflict Your heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. Yet they say, "The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob pay attention."
Understand, you senseless among the people; and you fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct; He who teaches man knowledge—doesn't He also know what you are doing? The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him relief from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance. But judgement will return to righteousness, and all the upright in heart will have a reward.
¤ Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. ¤ Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have died... The Lord is my fortress; my God is a mighty rock where I can hide. God will make the sins of evil people fall back upon them. He will destroy them for their sins. The Lord our God will destroy them.
Psalm 93 Psalm 94:1-15 Jeremiah 17:5-7 Psalm 94:16, 17, 22, 23
June 8th
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord !
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the peoples of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, as in the day of testing in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me. They tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, 'It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.' So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'
¤ Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be revered above all the gods. The gods of other nations are merely idols, but the Lord made the heavens! Honor and majesty surround Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. O nations of the world, recognize the Lord; recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give the Lord the glory He deserves! Bring your offering and come to worship Him.
Worship the Lord in all His holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before Him. Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns; The world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously." Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness. Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it, then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and all the nations with His truth.
¤ For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them...
Psalm 95 Psalm 96 Exodus 20:11
June 9th
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to You.
Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline Your ear to me; In the day that I call, answer me speedily. For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned like a hearth. My heart is stricken and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread. Because of the sound of my groaning my bones cling to my flesh. I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like the owl of the desert. I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop. My enemies reproach me all day long; Those who deride me swear an oath against me. For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, because of Your indignation and Your wrath. For You have lifted me up and cast me away. My days are like a shadow that lengthens, and I wither away like grass.
But You, O Lord, shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your name to all generations. You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, and show favor to her dust, so the nations shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth Your glory. For the Lord shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not reject their pleas. Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord...
In the course of my life He broke my strength; He cut short my days. So I said, "O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days; Your years are throughout all generations. Of old You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end. The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You."
¤ I will sing of Your love and justice. I will praise You, Lord, with songs. I will be careful to live a blameless life—when will You come to my aid? I will lead a life of honesty. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all crooked dealings; I will have nothing to do with them... My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me. He whose walk is blameless will minister to me.
¤ How wonderful to be wise, to be able to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person's face, softening its hardness.
Psalm 102:1-18, 23-28 Psalm 101:1-4, 6 Ecclesiastes 8:1
June 10th
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's!
The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. He will not constantly accuse us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For just as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our rebellious acts from us.
As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are but dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children's children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember to obey His precepts.
The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His word. Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will. Praise the Lord, all His works everywhere in His dominion. Praise the Lord, O my soul.
¤ To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But You brought my life up from the pit, O Lord, my God. When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord, and my earnest prayer went out to Him in His holy place. Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God's mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to You with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.
Psalm 103 Jonah 2:6-9
June 11th
O Lord my God, You are very great...
You are clothed with honor and majesty, who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in waters, who makes the clouds His chariot, who walks on the wings of the wind, who makes the winds His messengers, and flames of fire His servants. You who laid the foundations of the earth, so that it should not be moved forever. You covered it with floods of waters as with a garment; The waters stood above the mountains. At Your rebuke they fled; at the voice of your thunder they hastened away. They went up over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place which You had established for them. You have set a boundary that they may not pass over, that they may not return to cover the earth.
He sends the springs into the valleys; they flow among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. By them the birds of the heavens have their home; they sing among the branches. He waters the hills from His upper chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man's heart.
The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted. There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the pine trees. The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the badgers. He appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows its going down. You make darkness, and it becomes night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep about. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God. When the sun rises, they gather together and lie down in their dens. Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.
O Lord, what a variety of things You have made! In wisdom You have created them all. The earth is full of Your creatures... Every one of these depends on You to give them their food as they need it... When You send Your Spirit, new life is born to replenish all the living of the earth... May the glory of the Lord endure forever; May the Lord rejoice in His works. He looks on the earth and it trembles; He touches the hills and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord. May sinners be consumed from the earth, and the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul ! Hallelujah, the Lord!
Psalm 104:1-24, 27, 30, 31-35
June 12th
He is the Lord our God; His judgements are in all the earth.
He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded for a thousand generations; the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac, and confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance," when they were few in number, indeed very few, and strangers in it. When they wandered from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, He permitted no one to do them wrong. Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, "Do not touch my anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm."
Moreover He called for a famine in the land; He destroyed all the provision of bread. He sent a man before them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave... Israel also came into Egypt, and Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham. He increased His people greatly, and made them stronger than their enemies... He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen. They performed great signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they did not rebel against His word. He turned their waters into blood, and killed their fish. Their land abounded with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings. He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and lice in all their territory. He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in the land. He struck their vines also, and their fig trees, and splintered the trees of their territory. He spoke, and locusts came, young locusts without number, and ate up all the vegetation in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground. He also struck down the firstborn in their land, the first of all their strength.
He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered. Egypt was glad when they left, because dread of Israel had fallen on them. He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night. They asked, and He brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert.
For He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham His servant. He brought out His people from Egypt with joy, His chosen ones with gladness. He gave them the lands of the Gentiles, and they harvested crops that others had planted. All this happened so that they might observe His statutes and keep His laws. Praise the Lord! ¤ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise Him half enough? Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when You save them, that I may enjoy the prosperity of Your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of Your nation and join Your inheritance in giving praise.
Psalm 105:7-17, 23, 24, 26-45 Psalm 106:1-5
June 13th
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For his mercy endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way. They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Some sat in darkness and in the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. So He subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men...
Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, they see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; Then the sailors cringe in terror. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
...He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the springs of water into dry ground; a fruitful land into barrenness, because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it... When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow, He pours out contempt on their princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way, yet, He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock. The righteous see it and rejoice, and all iniquity stops its mouth. Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. ¤ Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May Your glory shine over all the earth. ¤ Lord, You will grant us peace, for all we have accomplished is really from You... Others have ruled us, but we worship You alone.
Psalm 107:1-15, 23-31, 33, 34, 39-43 Psalm 108:5 Isaiah 26:12, 13
June 14th
Do not keep silent, O God of my praise !
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful have opened against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause. In return for my love they are my accusers, but I give myself to prayer. Thus they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love...
But You, O God the Lord, deal well with me for Your name's sake. Because Your mercy is good, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. I am fading like a shadow when in lengthens; I am falling like a grasshopper that is brushed aside. My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness. I also have become a reproach to people everywhere; when they look at me, they shake their heads.
Help me, O Lord my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy, that they may know that this is Your hand—that You have done it! Let them curse me if they like, but You will bless me. When they arise to attack me, let them be ashamed, but let Your servant rejoice. Let my accusers be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own disgrace as with a mantle. I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude. For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who condemn him.
¤ I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with His godly people. The works of the Lord are great, pondered by all who have pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. He has given food to those who trust Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant. He has shown great power to His people by giving them the lands of other nations. The works of His hands are truth and justice; All his precepts are sure. They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with honesty. He has paid a full ransom for His people. He has guaranteed His covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name He has! Reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom, and the rewards of wisdom bring understanding to all who obey Him. To Him belongs eternal praise.
Psalm 109:1-5, 21-31 Psalm 111
June 15th
Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who delight greatly in His commandments.
Their descendants will be mighty on the earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in their house, and their righteousness endures forever. Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; they are gracious, and full of compassion, and do what is right. They deal graciously and lend; they will guide their affairs with discretion. Surely they will never be shaken. The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. They will not be afraid of evil tidings; their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their heart is established, they will not be afraid. They give generously to those in need, and their good deeds will never be forgotten. They will have influence and honor. The wicked will be infuriated when they see this. They will grind their teeth in anger; they will sink away, their hopes thwarted.
¤ Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever more! From the rising of the sun to its going down, the Lord's name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and on the earth? He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes—with the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!
¤ Why do the nations say, "Where is there God?" Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him. but their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them...
The Lord remembers us, and He will surely bless us... He will bless those who fear the Lord, both great and small... May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's, but the earth He has given to the children of men. The dead do not praise the Lord, not any who have gone down into silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord! ¤ Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Praise Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 112 Psalm 113 Psalm 115:2-8, 12-18 Psalm 117
June 16th
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord!
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart! They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways. You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgements. I will keep Your statutes; do not forsake me utterly!
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared all the judgements of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul is crushed with longing for Your judgements at all times. You rebuke the proud—the cursed, who stray from Your commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies. Princes also sit and speak against me, but Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.
My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word. I have declared my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgements I have laid before me. I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart.
Psalm 119:1-32
June 17th
Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You. Turn away my reproach which I dread, for Your judgements are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness.
Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord—Your salvation according to Your word. So shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in Your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances. So shall I keep Your law continually, forever and ever, and I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts. I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love. My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.
Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life. The proud have me in great derision, yet I do not turn aside from Your law. I remembered Your judgements of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself. Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, and I keep Your law. This has become my happiness in life, because I kept Your precepts.
You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I will keep Your words. I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word. I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies. I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments. The cords of the wicked have bound me, but I have not forgotten Your law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgements. I am a companion of all who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes.
Psalm 119:33-64
June 18th
You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word.
Teach me good judgement and knowledge, for I believe Your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. You are good, and do good; Teach me your statutes. The proud have forged a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. Their heart is insensible, as fat as grease, but I delight in Your law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, because I have hoped in Your word. I know, O Lord, that Your judgements are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant. Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live, for Your law is my delight. Let the proud be ashamed, for they treated me wrongfully with falsehood; But I will meditate on Your precepts. Let those who fear You turn to me, those who know Your testimonies. Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, that I may not be ashamed.
My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word. My eyes fail from searching Your word, saying, "When will You comfort me?" For I am shriveled like a wineskin in smoke; exhausted with waiting, yet I cling to your principles and obey them. How many are the days of Your servant? When will you execute judgement on those who persecute me? The proud have dug pits for me, which is not according to Your law. All Your commandments are faithful and they persecute me wrongfully; Help me! They almost made and end of me on earth, but I did not forsake Your precepts. Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
Forever, O Lord, Your word stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth and it abides. It continues this day according to Your ordinances, for all are Your servants. Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have preserved my life. I am Yours, save me, for I have sought out Your precepts. The wicked wait to destroy me, but I will ponder on Your testimonies. To all perfection I see a limit; but Your commands are boundless.
Psalm 119:61-96
June 19th
Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgements, for You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgements. I am afflicted very much; revive me, O Lord, according to Your word. Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Your judgements. My life is continually in danger, yet I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end.
I hate those divided in heart and mind, but I love Your law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the commandments of my God! Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live, and do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually.
You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood. You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross, therefore I love Your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgements. I have done justice and righteousness; do not leave me to my oppressors. Be surety for Your servant for good, and do not let the proud oppress me.
Psalm 119:97-122
June 20th
My eyes are strained from seeking Your salvation and Your righteous word.
Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, and teach me Your statutes. I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies. It is time for You to act, O Lord, for they have regarded Your law as void. Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold! Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right. I hate every false way.
Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them. The entrance of Your words give light; It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments. Look upon me and be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name. Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law.
Righteous are You, O Lord, and upright are Your judgements. Your testimonies, which You have commanded, are righteous and faithful. My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words. Your word is very refined, tested and pure, therefore Your servant loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth. Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, yet Your commandments are my delights. The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live.
I cry out with my whole heart, Hear me, O Lord! I will keep Your statutes. I cry out to You, save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word. Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness, O Lord, revive me according to Your justice. They draw near who follow after wickedness; they are far from Your law. You are near, O Lord, and all Your commandments are truth. Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.
Psalm 119:123-152
June 21st
Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law.
Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes. Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord; revive me according to Your judgements. Many are my persecutors and enemies, yet I do not turn from Your testimonies. I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word. Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness. The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgements endures forever.
Princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your word. I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure. I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgements.
Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble. Lord, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You.
Let my cry come before You, O Lord; Give me understanding according to Your word. Let my earnest prayers come before You and deliver me according to Your word. My lips shall utter praise, for You teach me Your statutes. My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness. Let Your hand become my help, for I have chosen Your precepts. I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise You. And let your judgements help me, for I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.
Psalm 119:153-176 (end)
June 22nd
In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He heard me.
Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given to you, or what shall be done to you, you false tongue? You shall be pierced with sharp arrows and burned with glowing coals. Woe is me that I dwell in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! My soul has dwelt too long among people who hate peace. As for me, I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.
¤ I will lift up my eyes to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who watches over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your protector. The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not hurt you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve you as you come and go, from this time forth, and even evermore.
¤ Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. We look to the Lord our God for His mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, and as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we have had our fill of contempt. We have had our fill of the scoffing of the proud and the contempt of the arrogant.
¤ If the Lord had not been on our side—let Israel now say—If the Lord had not been on our side when people rose up against us, they would have swallowed us alive because of their burning anger against us. The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us. Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have swept over our very souls. Blessed be the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter's trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! Our help is from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth.
Psalm 120 Psalm 121 Psalm 123 Psalm 124
June 23rd
Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.
Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat, for God gives rest to His loved ones. Children are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
¤ Blessed is everyone who respects the Lord, who walks in His ways. You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life! Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine, flourishing within your home. Your children, like olive plants, all around your table. That is the Lord's reward for those who respect Him. May the Lord continually bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live. May you live to enjoy your grandchildren, and may Israel have quietness and peace.
¤ Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my earnest prayers. If You, Lord, should keep a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But You offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear You. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn—yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
¤ Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes arrogant. Neither do I concern myself with matters to great or awesome for me. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—now and always. ¤ My son, do not forget My law, but let your heart keep My commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.
Psalm 127 Psalm 128 Psalm 130 Psalm 131 Proverbs 3:1-4
June 24th
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding...
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. ¤ Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.
¤ I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praise to You. I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth, because Your promises are backed by all the honor of Your name. When I pray, You answer me; You encourage me by giving me the strength I need. Every king in all the earth will give you thanks, O Lord, when they hear the words of Your mouth. Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord.
Though the Lord is on high, Yet he cares for the humble, but He keeps His distance from the proud. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch our Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The Lord will work out His plans for my life—Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever. Do not abandon me, for You made me.
¤ Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer, and He will allow me to walk on the high hills.
¤ Thus says the Lord of hosts; "If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command, then you shall also judge My house, and likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk among those who stand here... I will remove the sin of this land in a single day. In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree."
Proverbs 3:5-8 Psalm 136:1, 2 Psalm 138 Habakkuk 3:17-19 Zechariah 3:7, 9, 10
June 25th
O, Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me...
You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment You know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You both proceed and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!
I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence! If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, You are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from You. To You the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to You.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I awaken in the morning, You are still with me!
O God, if only You would destroy the wicked! They blaspheme You; Your enemies take Your name in vain. O Lord, shouldn't I hate those who hate You? Yes, I hate them with a complete hatred, for Your enemies are my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Psalm 139
June 26th
Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my earnest prayers!
In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness. Do not enter into judgement with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous. The enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead. Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me, and my heart is in utter distress.
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I ponder on the works of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You in a thirsty land. Answer me speedily, O Lord; my spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit of death.
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for I trust in You. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; in You I take shelter. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Your spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. Revive me, O Lord, for Your name's sake! For Your righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. In Your mercy put an end to my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am Your servant.
¤ Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not put your trust in princes, nor in any human being in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth, and in that very day his plans perish. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises those who are bowed down. The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers. He relieves the fatherless and widow. But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The Lord shall reign forever—your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 143 Psalm 146
June 27th
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction...
Listen, my child, to what your father teaches you, and do not neglect the teachings from your mother. What you learn from them can crown you with grace and clothe you with honor. If sinners entice you, turn your back on them! They may say, "Come and join us. Let's hide and kill someone! Let's ambush the innocent! Let's swallow them alive as the grave swallows its victims. Though they are in the prime of life, they will go down into the pit of death. And the loot we'll get! We'll fill our houses with all kinds of things! Come on, throw in your lot with us; we'll split our loot with you."
My child, don't go along with them. Stay far away from their paths. They rush to commit crimes. They hurry to commit murder. When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away. But not these people! They set an ambush for themselves; they lurk secretly for their own lives! Such is the fate of all who are greedy for gain. It ends up robbing them of life.
Wisdom calls aloud outside. She raises her voice in the public square. She calls out to the crowds along the main street, and to those entering the cities; "How long, you simple ones, will you love being simple minded? For you mockers relish in your mocking, and you fools hate knowledge. Turn at my rebuke, and I will pour out the Spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise. I have called and you have refused. I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded. So, because you have disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when calamity overcomes you like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge and did not choose the respect of the Lord."
¤ My child, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves, He corrects, just as a father the child in whom he delights. Happy is the child who finds wisdom, and the one who gains understanding... they will bring life to your soul, and honor and respect to your name.
Proverbs 1:7-29 Proverbs 3:11-13, 22
June 28th
Hear, my children, the instruction of a Father...
Give attention to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine; do not forsake My law. When I was my father's son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, he also taught me and said to me: "Let your heart retain My words; keep My commands and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of My mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you."
...Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil, and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence... The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
¤ Here is a description of worthless and wicked people: They are constant liars, signaling their true intentions to their friends by making signs with their eyes and feet and fingers. Their perverted hearts plot evil. They stir up trouble constantly. But they will be destroyed suddenly, broken beyond all hope of healing. There are six things the Lord hates—yes, seven things are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who sows discord among brothers.
¤ You however are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Proverbs 4:1-9, 14-17, 19 Proverbs 6:12-19 Matthew 5:13-16
June 29th
My commands and My teachings are a lamp to light the way ahead of you.
The correction of discipline is the way to life. These commands and this teaching will keep you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of an adulterous woman. Don't lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids. For a prostitute will bring you to poverty, and sleeping with another man's wife may cost you your very life. Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be seared? So it is with the man who sleeps with another man's wife. He who embraces her will not go unpunished.
My child, keep My words, and treasure My commands within you. Keep My commands and live, and My law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your nearest kin, that they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words... With her enticing speech she can cause you to yield, with her flattering lips she will seduce you. You will go after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of shackles, until an arrow strikes your liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, you do not know that it will cost you your life.
Now therefore, listen to me, my children; pay attention to the words of my mouth. Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths. For she has cut down and wounded many, and all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death.
¤ Woe to those who devise iniquity, and work out evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and take them by violence, also houses, and seize them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance ¤ Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; he who does so destroys his own soul. ¤ In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night; ¤ Wounds and dishonor will he receive, and his shame will never be wiped away
Proverbs 6:23-29 Proverbs 7:1-5, 21-27 Micah 2:1, 2 Proverbs 6:32 Proverbs 7:9 Proverbs 6:33
June 30th
Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice?
She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet. She cries out by the gates at the entrance to the city, at the very doors: "To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to all people. O you naive ones, understand common sense, and you fools, be of an understanding heart. Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things, for my mouth will speak truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. Receive my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
I wisdom, dwell with prudence, and possess knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. By me kings and presidents reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princess rule, and nobles, all judges of the earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.
The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning before there ever was an earth. When there were no oceans I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was brought forth; while as yet He had not made the earth or the outer places, or the primal dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens I was there, when He marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above, when He strengthened the fountains of the deep, when He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside Him as His master craftsman, and I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always before Him; rejoicing in His inhabited world. And my delight was with the human race!
Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.
Proverbs 8
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