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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
April 4 - Different Topics
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Psalms 39-41
Chapter 39
Psalm 39
The Fleeting Nature of Life
For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Davidic psalm.
1 I said, "I will guard my ways
so that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle
as long as the wicked are in my presence."(a)
2 I was speechless and quiet;
I kept silent, even from speaking good,
and my pain intensified.(b)
3 My heart grew hot within me;
as I mused, a fire burned.(c)
I spoke with my tongue:
4 "
Lord
, reveal to me the end of my life
and the number of my days.
Let me know how short-lived I am.(d)
5 You, indeed, have made my days short in length,
and my life span as nothing in Your sight.
Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor.(e)
6 "Certainly, man walks about like a mere shadow.
Indeed, they frantically rush around in vain,
gathering possessions
without knowing who will get them.(f)
7 Now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You.(g)
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the taunt of fools.(h)
9 I am speechless; I do not open my mouth
because of what You have done.(i)
10 Remove Your torment from me;
I fade away because of the force of Your hand.(j)
11 You discipline a man with punishment for sin,
consuming like a moth what is precious to him;(k)
every man is only a vapor.(l)
12 "Hear my prayer,
Lord
,
and listen to my cry for help;
do not be silent at my tears.(m)
For I am a foreigner residing with You,
a temporary resident like all my fathers.(n)
13 Turn Your angry gaze from me
so that I may be cheered up
before I die and am gone."(o)
Chapter 40
Psalm 40
Thanksgiving and a Cry for Help
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.
1 I waited patiently for the
Lord
,
and He turned to me and heard my cry for help.(a)
2 He brought me up from a desolate[a] pit,
out of the muddy clay,(b)
and set my feet on a rock,
making my steps secure.(c)
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.(d)
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the
Lord
.(e)
4 How happy is the man
who has put his trust in the
Lord
and has not turned to the proud
or to those who run after lies!(f)
5
Lord
my God, You have done many things—
Your wonderful works and Your plans for us;
none can compare with You.
If I were to report and speak of them,
they are more than can be told.(g)
6 You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;
You open my ears to listen.[b]
You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.(h)
7 Then I said, "See, I have come;
it is written about me in the volume of the scroll.(i)
8 I delight to do Your will, my God;(j)
Your instruction lives within me."[c](k)
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
see, I do not keep my mouth closed[d]—
as You know,
Lord
.(l)
10 I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart;
I spoke about Your faithfulness and salvation;
I did not conceal Your constant love and truth
from the great assembly.(m)
11
Lord
, do not withhold Your compassion from me;
Your constant love and truth will always guard me.(n)
12 For troubles without number have surrounded me;
my sins have overtaken me; I am unable to see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my courage leaves me.(o)
13
Lord
, be pleased to deliver me;
hurry to help me,
Lord
.(p)
14 Let those who seek to take my life
be disgraced and confounded.
Let those who wish me harm
be driven back and humiliated.(q)
15 Let those who say to me, "Aha, aha!"
be horrified because of their shame.(r)
16 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
let those who love Your salvation continually say,
"The
Lord
is great!"(s)
17 I am afflicted and needy;
the Lord thinks of me.
You are my helper and my deliverer;
my God, do not delay.(t)
Chapter 41
Psalm 41
Victory in Spite of Betrayal
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.
1 Happy is one who cares for the poor;
the
Lord
will save him in a day of adversity.(a)
2 The
Lord
will keep him and preserve him;
he will be blessed in the land.(b)
You will not give him over to the desire of his enemies.(c)
3 The
Lord
will sustain him on his sickbed;
You will heal him on the bed where he lies.(d)
4 I said, "
Lord
, be gracious to me;
heal me, for I have sinned against You."(e)
5 My enemies speak maliciously about me:
"When will he die and be forgotten?"(f)
6 When one of them comes to visit, he speaks deceitfully;
he stores up evil in his heart;
he goes out and talks.(g)
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
they plan to harm me.(h)
8 "Lethal poison has been poured into him,
and he won't rise again from where he lies!"(i)
9 Even my friend[a] in whom I trusted,
one who ate my bread,
has raised his heel against me.(j)
10 But You,
Lord
, be gracious to me and raise me up;
then I will repay them.(k)
11 By this I know that You delight in me:(l)
my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.(m)
12 You supported me because of my integrity(n)
and set me in Your presence forever.(o)
13 May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen.(p)
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