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Scripture

11-Feb-15

Psalms 30

Joy Comes with the Morning

A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.


30:1   I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
  O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
  O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.1


  Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.2
  For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.3
  Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.


  As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    “I shall never be moved.”
  By your favor, O LORD,
    you made my mountain stand strong;
  you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.


  To you, O LORD, I cry,
    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
  “What profit is there in my death,4
    if I go down to the pit?5
  Will the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10   Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me!
    O LORD, be my helper!”


11   You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
12   that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Footnotes

[1] 30:3 Or to life, that I should not go down to the pit

[2] 30:4 Hebrew to the memorial of his holiness (see Exodus 3:15)

[3] 30:5 Or and in his favor is life

[4] 30:9 Hebrew in my blood

[5] 30:9 Or to corruption

(ESV)

Categories
Scripture

10-Feb-15

Psalms 29

Ascribe to the Lord Glory

A Psalm of David.


29:1   Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,1
    ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
  Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
    worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.2


  The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the LORD, over many waters.
  The voice of the LORD is powerful;
    the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.


  The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
    the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
  He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
    and Sirion like a young wild ox.


  The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
  The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
    the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.


  The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth3
    and strips the forests bare,
    and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”


10   The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
    the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11   May the LORD give strength to his people!
    May the LORD bless4 his people with peace!

Footnotes

[1] 29:1 Hebrew sons of God, or sons of might

[2] 29:2 Or in holy attire

[3] 29:9 Revocalization yields makes the oaks to shake

[4] 29:11 Or The Lord will give . . . The Lord will bless

(ESV)

Categories
Scripture

9-Feb-15

Psalms 28

The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield

Of David.


28:1   To you, O LORD, I call;
    my rock, be not deaf to me,
  lest, if you be silent to me,
    I become like those who go down to the pit.
  Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
    when I cry to you for help,
  when I lift up my hands
    toward your most holy sanctuary.1


  Do not drag me off with the wicked,
    with the workers of evil,
  who speak peace with their neighbors
    while evil is in their hearts.
  Give to them according to their work
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
  give to them according to the work of their hands;
    render them their due reward.
  Because they do not regard the works of the LORD
    or the work of his hands,
  he will tear them down and build them up no more.


  Blessed be the LORD!
    For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
  The LORD is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
  my heart exults,
    and with my song I give thanks to him.


  The LORD is the strength of his people;2
    he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
  Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
    Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Footnotes

[1] 28:2 Hebrew your innermost sanctuary

[2] 28:8 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts is their strength

(ESV)

Categories
Scripture

6-Feb-15

Psalms 27

The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation

Of David.


27:1   The LORD is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
  The LORD is the stronghold1 of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?


  When evildoers assail me
    to eat up my flesh,
  my adversaries and foes,
    it is they who stumble and fall.


  Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
  though war arise against me,
    yet2 I will be confident.


  One thing have I asked of the LORD,
    that will I seek after:
  that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
    all the days of my life,
  to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
    and to inquire3 in his temple.


  For he will hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
  he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will lift me high upon a rock.


  And now my head shall be lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
  and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
  I will sing and make melody to the LORD.


  Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
    be gracious to me and answer me!
  You have said, “Seek4 my face.”
  My heart says to you,
    “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”5
    Hide not your face from me.
  Turn not your servant away in anger,
    O you who have been my help.
  Cast me not off; forsake me not,
    O God of my salvation!
10   For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but the LORD will take me in.


11   Teach me your way, O LORD,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.
12   Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they breathe out violence.


13   I believe that I shall look6 upon the goodness of the LORD
    in the land of the living!
14   Wait for the LORD;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the LORD!

Footnotes

[1] 27:1 Or refuge

[2] 27:3 Or in this

[3] 27:4 Or meditate

[4] 27:8 The command (seek) is addressed to more than one person

[5] 27:8 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain

[6] 27:13 Other Hebrew manuscripts Oh! Had I not believed that I would look

(ESV)

Categories
Scripture

5-Feb-15

Psalms 26

I Will Bless the Lord

Of David.


26:1   Vindicate me, O LORD,
    for I have walked in my integrity,
    and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
  Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
    test my heart and my mind.1
  For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
    and I walk in your faithfulness.


  I do not sit with men of falsehood,
    nor do I consort with hypocrites.
  I hate the assembly of evildoers,
    and I will not sit with the wicked.


  I wash my hands in innocence
    and go around your altar, O LORD,
  proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
    and telling all your wondrous deeds.


  O LORD, I love the habitation of your house
    and the place where your glory dwells.
  Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
    nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10   in whose hands are evil devices,
    and whose right hands are full of bribes.


11   But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
    redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12   My foot stands on level ground;
    in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.

Footnotes

[1] 26:2 Hebrew test my kidneys and my heart

(ESV)