Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, November 21st, 2024
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Reading Plan

Daily Bible Reading

May 13 - Old & New Testament
csb

 

Psalms 32,51

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Psalm 32

The Joy of Forgiveness

Davidic. A Maskil.

1 How joyful is the one
whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered!(a)
2 How joyful is the man
the Lord does not charge with sin(b)
and in whose spirit is no deceit!(c)

3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle
from my groaning all day long.(d)
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy on me;(e)
my strength was drained[a]
as in the summer's heat.(f) Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You
and did not conceal my iniquity.
I said,
"I will confess my transgressions to the Lord ,"
and You took away the guilt of my sin.(g) Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to You
at a time that You may be found.[b](h)
When great floodwaters come,
they will not reach him.(i)
7 You are my hiding place;(j)
You protect me from trouble.(k)
You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go;(l)
with My eye on you, I will give counsel.(m)
9 Do not be like a horse or mule,
without understanding,
that must be controlled with bit and bridle
or else it will not come near you.(n)

10 Many pains come to the wicked,(o)
but the one who trusts in the Lord
will have faithful love surrounding him.(p)
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
you righteous ones;
shout for joy,
all you upright in heart.(q)

Psalm 33

Praise to the Creator

1 Rejoice in the Lord , you righteous ones;
praise from the upright is beautiful.(a)
2 Praise the Lord with the lyre;
make music to Him with a ten-stringed harp.(b)
3 Sing a new song to Him;(c)
play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.(d)

4 For the word of the Lord is right,
and all His work is trustworthy.(e)
5 He loves righteousness and justice;(f)
the earth is full of the Lord 's unfailing love.(g)

6 The heavens were made by the word of the Lord ,(h)
and all the stars, by the breath of His mouth.(i)
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into a heap;[a]
He puts the depths into storehouses.(j)
8 Let the whole earth tremble before the Lord ;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.(k)
9 For He spoke, and it came into being;
He commanded, and it came into existence.(l)

10 The Lord frustrates the counsel of the nations;
He thwarts the plans of the peoples.(m)
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of His heart from generation to generation.(n)
12 Happy is the nation whose God is Yahweh—
the people He has chosen to be His own possession!(o)

13 The Lord looks down from heaven;
He observes everyone.(p)
14 He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth
from His dwelling place.(q)
15 He alone shapes their hearts;
He considers all their works.(r)
16 A king is not saved by a large army;
a warrior will not be delivered by great strength.(s)
17 The horse is a false hope for safety;
it provides no escape by its great power.(t)

18 Now the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him—
those who depend on His faithful love(u)
19 to deliver them from death
and to keep them alive in famine.(v)

20 We wait for Yahweh;(w)
He is our help and shield.(x)
21 For our hearts rejoice in Him(y)
because we trust in His holy name.(z)
22 May Your faithful love rest on us, Yahweh,
for we put our hope in You.(aa)

Psalm 34

The Lord Delivers the Righteous

Concerning David, when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech,[a](a) who drove him out, and he departed.

1 I[b] will praise the Lord at all times;
His praise will always be on my lips.(b)
2 I will boast in the Lord ;(c)
the humble will hear and be glad.(d)
3 Proclaim Yahweh's greatness with me;(e)
let us exalt His name together.(f)

4 I sought the Lord , and He answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.(g)
5 Those who look to Him are[c] radiant with joy;(h)
their faces will never be ashamed.(i)
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him from all his troubles.(j)
7 The Angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear Him, and rescues them.(k)

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.(l)
How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!(m)
9 You who are His holy ones, fear Yahweh,
for those who fear Him lack nothing.(n)
10 Young lions[d] lack food and go hungry,(o)
but those who seek the Lord
will not lack any good thing.(p)

11 Come, children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord .(q)
12 Who is the man who delights in life,
loving a long life to enjoy what is good?(r)
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceitful speech.(s)
14 Turn away from evil and do what is good;(t)
seek peace and pursue it.(u)

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their cry for help.(v)
16 The face of the Lord is set
against those who do what is evil,(w)
to erase[e] all memory of them from the earth.(x)
17 The righteous[f] cry out, and the Lord hears,
and delivers them from all their troubles.(y)
18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
He saves those crushed in spirit.(z)

19 Many adversities come to the one who is righteous,
but the Lord delivers him from them all.(aa)
20 He protects all his bones;
not one of them is broken.(ab)
21 Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.(ac)
22 The Lord redeems the life of His servants,
and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished.(ad)

Psalm 35

Prayer for Victory

Davidic.

1 Oppose my opponents, Lord ;
fight those who fight me.(a)
2 Take Your shields—large and small—
and come to my aid.(b)
3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers,
and assure me: "I am your deliverance."(c)

4 Let those who seek to kill me
be disgraced and humiliated;
let those who plan to harm me
be turned back and ashamed.(d)
5 Let them be like chaff in the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them away.(e)
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.(f)
7 They hid their net for me without cause;
they dug a pit for me without cause.(g)
8 Let ruin come on him unexpectedly,
and let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it—to his ruin.(h)

9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord ;
I will delight in His deliverance.(i)
10 My very bones will say,
" Lord , who is like You,(j)
rescuing the poor from one too strong for him,
the poor or the needy from one who robs him?"(k)

11 Malicious witnesses come forward;
they question me about things I do not know.(l)
12 They repay me evil for good,
making me desolate.(m)
13 Yet when they were sick,
my clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting,
and my prayer was genuine.[a](n)
14 I went about grieving as if for my friend or brother;
I was bowed down with grief,
like one mourning a mother.(o)
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
they gathered against me.
Assailants I did not know
tore at me and did not stop.(p)
16 With godless mockery[b]
they gnashed their teeth at me.(q)

17 Lord, how long will You look on?(r)
Rescue my life from their ravages,
my only one from the young lions.(s)
18 I will praise You in the great congregation;
I will exalt You among many people.(t)
19 Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me;
do not let those who hate me without cause(u)
look at me maliciously.(v)
20 For they do not speak in friendly ways,
but contrive deceitful schemes[c]
against those who live peacefully in the land.(w)
21 They open their mouths wide against me and say,
"Aha, aha! We saw it!"[d](x)

22 You saw it, Lord ; do not be silent.
Lord, do not be far from me.(y)
23 Wake up and rise to my defense,
to my cause, my God and my Lord !(z)
24 Vindicate me, Lord my God,
in keeping with Your righteousness,
and do not let them rejoice over me.(aa)
25 Do not let them say in their hearts,
"Aha! Just what we wanted."
Do not let them say,
"We have swallowed him up!"(ab)
26 Let those who rejoice at my misfortune
be disgraced and humiliated;
let those who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and reproach.(ac)

27 Let those who want my vindication
shout for joy and be glad;
let them continually say,
"The Lord be exalted.
He takes pleasure in His servant's well-being."(ad)
28 And my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness,
Your praise all day long.(ae)

Psalm 36

Human Wickedness and God's Love

For the choir director. A psalm of David, the Lord 's servant.

1 An oracle within my heart
concerning the transgression of the wicked person:
There is no dread of God before his eyes,(a)
2 for in his own eyes he flatters himself too much
to discover and hate his sin.(b)
3 The words of his mouth are malicious and deceptive;(c)
he has stopped acting wisely and doing good.(d)
4 Even on his bed he makes malicious plans.(e)
He sets himself on a path that is not good
and does not reject evil.(f)

5  Lord , Your faithful love reaches to heaven,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.(g)
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains;
Your judgments, like the deepest sea.(h)
Lord , You preserve man and beast.(i)
7 God, Your faithful love is so valuable
that people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.(j)
8 They are filled from the abundance of Your house;
You let them drink from Your refreshing stream,(k)
9 for with You is life's fountain.(l)
In Your light we will see light.(m)

10 Spread Your faithful love over those who know You,
and Your righteousness over the upright in heart.(n)
11 Do not let the foot of the arrogant man come near me
or the hand of the wicked one drive me away.(o)
12 There the evildoers fall;
they have been thrown down and cannot rise.(p)

Psalm 37

Instruction in Wisdom

Davidic.

1 Do[a] not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong.(a)
2 For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants.(b)

3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good;(c)
dwell in the land and live securely.[b](d)
4 Take delight in the Lord ,
and He will give you your heart's desires.(e)

5 Commit your way to the Lord ;
trust in Him, and He will act,(f)
6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.(g)

7 Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him;(h)
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the man who carries out evil plans.(i)

8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.(j)
9 For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the Lord
will inherit the land.[c](k)

10 A little while, and the wicked person will be no more;
though you look for him, he will not be there.(l)
11 But the humble will inherit the land[d](m)
and will enjoy abundant prosperity.(n)

12 The wicked person schemes against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him.(o)
13 The Lord laughs at him(p)
because He sees that his day is coming.(q)

14 The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the[e] bow
to bring down the afflicted and needy
and to slaughter those whose way is upright.(r)
15 Their swords will enter their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.(s)

16 The little that the righteous man has is better
than the abundance of many wicked people.(t)
17 For the arms[f] of the wicked will be broken,(u)
but the Lord supports the righteous.(v)

18 The Lord watches over the blameless all their days,
and their inheritance will last forever.(w)
19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;
they will be satisfied in days of hunger.(x)

20 But the wicked will perish;
the Lord 's enemies, like the glory of the pastures,
will fade away—
they will fade away like smoke.(y)

21 The wicked man borrows and does not repay,
but the righteous one is gracious and giving.(z)
22 Those who are blessed by Him will inherit the land,[g]
but those cursed by Him will be destroyed.(aa)

23 A man's steps are established by the Lord ,
and He takes pleasure in his way.(ab)
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
because the Lord holds his hand.[h](ac)

25 I have been young and now I am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned
or his children begging for bread.(ad)
26 He is always generous, always lending,
and his children are a blessing.(ae)

27 Turn away from evil and do what is good,
and dwell there[i] forever.(af)
28 For the Lord loves justice
and will not abandon His faithful ones.(ag)
They are kept safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.(ah)
29 The righteous will inherit the land[j]
and dwell in it permanently.(ai)

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just.(aj)
31 The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.(ak)

32 The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous
and seeks to kill him;(al)
33 the Lord will not leave him
in the power of the wicked one
or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.(am)

34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
and He will exalt you to inherit the land.
You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.(an)

35 I have seen a wicked, violent man
well-rooted[k] like a flourishing native tree.(ao)
36 Then I passed by and[l] noticed he was gone;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.(ap)

37 Watch the blameless and observe the upright,
for the man of peace will have a future.[m](aq)
38 But transgressors will all be eliminated;
the future[n] of the wicked will be destroyed.(ar)

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord ,
their refuge in a time of distress.(as)
40 The Lord helps and delivers them;
He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them
because they take refuge in Him.(at)

Psalm 38

Prayer of a Suffering Sinner

A Davidic psalm for remembrance.(a)

1  Lord , do not punish me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath.(b)
2 For Your arrows have sunk into me,
and Your hand has pressed down on me.(c)

3 There is no health in my body
because of Your indignation;
there is no strength[a] in my bones
because of my sin.(d)
4 For my sins have flooded over my head;
they are a burden too heavy for me to bear.(e)
5 My wounds are foul and festering
because of my foolishness.(f)
6 I am bent over and brought low;
all day long I go around in mourning.(g)
7 For my loins are full of burning pain,
and there is no health in my body.(h)
8 I am faint and severely crushed;
I groan because of the anguish of my heart.(i)

9 Lord, my every desire is known to[b] You;
my sighing is not hidden from You.(j)
10 My heart races, my strength leaves me,
and even the light of my eyes has faded.[c](k)
11 My loved ones and friends stand back from my affliction,
and my relatives stand at a distance.(l)
12 Those who seek my life set traps,
and those who want to harm me threaten to destroy me;
they plot treachery all day long.(m)

13 I am like a deaf person; I do not hear.
I am like a speechless person
who does not open his mouth.(n)
14 I am like a man who does not hear
and has no arguments in his mouth.(o)
15 I put my hope in You, Lord ;
You will answer, Lord my God.(p)
16 For I said, "Don't let them rejoice over me—
those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble."(q)
17 For I am about to fall,
and my pain is constantly with me.(r)
18 So I confess my guilt;
I am anxious because of my sin.(s)
19 But my enemies are vigorous and powerful;[d]
many hate me for no reason.(t)
20 Those who repay evil for good
attack me for pursuing good.(u)

21  Lord , do not abandon me;
my God, do not be far from me.(v)
22 Hurry to help me,
Lord, my Savior.(w)

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) Selah

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) Selah

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)

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)

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)

Psalm 42

Longing for God

For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.

1 As a deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for You, God.(a)
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I come and appear before God?(b)
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
while all day long people say to me,
"Where is your God?"(c)
4 I remember this as I pour out my heart:(d)
how I walked with many,
leading the festive procession to the house of God,
with joyful and thankful shouts.(e)

5 Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.(f)
6 I[a] am deeply depressed;
therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan
and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.(g)
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls;
all Your breakers and Your billows have swept over me.(h)
8 The Lord will send His faithful love by day;(i)
His song will be with me in the night—
a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will say to God, my rock,(j)
"Why have You forgotten me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy's oppression?"(k)
10 My adversaries taunt me,
as if crushing my bones,
while all day long they say to me,
"Where is your God?"(l)
11 Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.(m)

Psalm 43[a]

1 Vindicate me, God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly nation;
rescue me from the deceitful and unjust man.(a)
2 For You are the God of my refuge.
Why have You rejected me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy's oppression?(b)

3 Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me.(c)
Let them bring me to Your holy mountain,
to Your dwelling place.(d)
4 Then I will come to the altar of God,
to God, my greatest joy.(e)
I will praise You with the lyre,
God, my God.(f)

5 Why am I so depressed?
Why this turmoil within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him,
my Savior and my God.(g)

Psalm 44

Israel's Complaint

For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.

1 God, we have heard with our ears—
our ancestors have told us—
the work You accomplished in their days,
in days long ago:(a)
2 to plant them,
You drove out the nations with Your hand;
to settle them,
You crushed the peoples.(b)
3 For they did not take the land by their sword—
their arm did not bring them victory—
but by Your right hand, Your arm,
and the light of Your face,
for You were pleased with them.(c)

4 You are my King, my God,
who ordains[a] victories for Jacob.(d)
5 Through You we drive back our foes;
through Your name we trample our enemies.(e)
6 For I do not trust in my bow,
and my sword does not bring me victory.(f)
7 But You give us victory over our foes
and let those who hate us be disgraced.(g)
8 We boast in God all day long;
we will praise Your name forever.(h) Selah

9 But You have rejected and humiliated us;
You do not march out with our armies.(i)
10 You make us retreat from the foe,
and those who hate us
have taken plunder for themselves.(j)
11 You hand us over to be eaten like sheep
and scatter us among the nations.(k)
12 You sell Your people for nothing;
You make no profit from selling them.(l)
13 You make us an object of reproach to our neighbors,
a source of mockery and ridicule to those around us.(m)
14 You make us a joke among the nations,
a laughingstock[b] among the peoples.(n)
15 My disgrace is before me all day long,
and shame has covered my face,(o)
16 because of the voice of the scorner and reviler,
because of the enemy and avenger.(p)

17 All this has happened to us,
but we have not forgotten You
or betrayed Your covenant.(q)
18 Our hearts have not turned back;
our steps have not strayed from Your path.(r)
19 But You have crushed us in a haunt of jackals
and have covered us with deepest darkness.(s)
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
and spread out our hands to a foreign god,(t)
21 wouldn't God have found this out,
since He knows the secrets of the heart?(u)
22 Because of You we are slain all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.(v)

23 Wake up, Lord ! Why are You sleeping?
Get up! Don't reject us forever!(w)
24 Why do You hide Yourself
and forget our affliction and oppression?(x)
25 For we have sunk down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.(y)
26 Rise up! Help us!
Redeem us because of Your faithful love.(z)

Psalm 45

A Royal Wedding Song

For the choir director: according to "The Lilies."[a] A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song.

1 My heart is moved by a noble theme
as I recite my verses to the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.(a)
2 You are the most handsome of men;
grace flows from your lips.(b)
Therefore God has blessed you forever.(c)

3 Mighty warrior, strap your sword at your side.
In your majesty and splendor(d)
4 in your splendor ride triumphantly
in the cause of truth, humility, and justice.
May your right hand show your awe-inspiring acts.(e)
5 Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies;
the peoples fall under you.(f)

6 Your throne,(g) God, is[b] forever and ever;
the scepter of Your[c] kingdom is a scepter of justice.(h)
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;(i)
therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy
more than your companions.
8 Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume all your garments;
from ivory palaces harps bring you joy.(j)
9 Kings' daughters are among your honored women;(k)
the queen, adorned with gold from Ophir,
stands at your right hand.(l)

10 Listen, daughter, pay attention and consider:
forget your people and your father's house,(m)
11 and the king will desire your beauty.
Bow down to him, for he is your lord.(n)
12 The daughter of Tyre, the wealthy people,
will seek your favor with gifts.(o)

13 In her chamber, the royal daughter is all glorious,
her clothing embroidered with gold.(p)
14 In colorful garments she is led to the king;
after her, the virgins, her companions, are brought to you.(q)
15 They are led in with gladness and rejoicing;
they enter the king's palace.(r)

16 Your sons will succeed your ancestors;
you will make them princes throughout the land.(s)
17 I will cause your name to be remembered for all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.(t)

Psalm 46

God Our Refuge

For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.[a](a)

1 God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.(b)
2 Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,(c)
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with its turmoil.(d) Selah

4 There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.(e)
5 God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns.(f)
6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple;
the earth melts when He lifts His voice.(g)
7 The Lord of Hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.(h) Selah

8 Come, see the works of the Lord ,
who brings devastation on the earth.(i)
9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
He burns up the chariots.[b](j)
10 "Stop your fighting—and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth."(k)
11 Yahweh of Hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.(l) Selah

Psalm 47

God Our King

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 Clap your hands, all you peoples;(a)
shout to God with a jubilant cry.(b)
2 For Yahweh, the Most High, is awe-inspiring,
a great King over all the earth.(c)
3 He subdues peoples under us
and nations under our feet.(d)
4 He chooses for us our inheritance—
the pride of Jacob, whom He loves.(e) Selah

5 God ascends among shouts of joy,
the Lord , among the sound of trumpets.(f)
6 Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our King, sing praise!(g)
7 Sing a song of wisdom,[a]
for God is King of all the earth.(h)

8 God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on His holy throne.(i)
9 The nobles of the peoples have assembled
with the people of the God of Abraham.(j)
For the leaders[b] of the earth belong to God;
He is greatly exalted.(k)

Psalm 48

Zion Exalted

A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 The Lord is great and highly praised
in the city of our God.(a)
His holy mountain, rising splendidly,
is the joy of the whole earth.
Mount Zion on the slopes of the north
is the city of the great King.(b)
3 God is known as a stronghold
in its citadels.(c)

4 Look! The kings assembled;
they advanced together.(d)
5 They looked and froze with fear;
they fled in terror.(e)
6 Trembling seized them there,
agony like that of a woman in labor,(f)
7 as You wrecked the ships of Tarshish
with the east wind.(g)

8 Just as we heard, so we have seen
in the city of Yahweh of Hosts,
in the city of our God;
God will establish it forever.(h) Selah

9 God, within Your temple,
we contemplate Your faithful love.(i)
10 Your name, God, like Your praise,
reaches to the ends of the earth;(j)
Your right hand is filled with justice.(k)
11 Mount Zion is glad.
The towns[a] of Judah rejoice
because of Your judgments.(l)

12 Go around Zion, encircle it;
count its towers,
13 note its ramparts; tour its citadels
so that you can tell a future generation:(m)
14 "This God, our God forever and ever—
He will always lead us."[b](n)

Psalm 49

Misplaced Trust in Wealth

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who inhabit the world,(a)
2 both low and high,[a]
rich and poor together.(b)
3 My mouth speaks wisdom;
my heart's meditation brings understanding.(c)
4 I turn my ear to a proverb;
I explain my riddle with a lyre.(d)

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble?
The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.(e)
6 They trust in their wealth
and boast of their abundant riches.(f)
7 Yet these cannot redeem a person[b]
or pay his ransom to God(g)
8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly,
one should forever stop trying[c](h)
9 so that he may live forever
and not see the Pit.(i)

10 For one can see that wise men die;
foolish and stupid men also pass away.(j)
Then they leave their wealth to others.(k)
11 Their graves are their eternal homes,[d]
their homes from generation to generation,
though they have named estates after themselves.(l)
12 But despite his assets,[e] man will not last;
he is like the animals that perish.(m)

13 This is the way of those who are arrogant,
and of their followers,
who approve of their words.[f](n) Selah
14 Like sheep they are headed for Sheol;
Death will shepherd them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning,(o)
and their form will waste away in Sheol,[g]
far from their lofty abode.(p)
15 But God will redeem my life
from the power of Sheol,
for He will take me.(q) Selah

16 Do not be afraid when a man gets rich,
when the wealth[h] of his house increases.(r)
17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all;
his wealth[i] will not follow him down.(s)
18 Though he praises himself during his lifetime—
and people praise you when you do well for yourself(t)
19 he will go to the generation of his fathers;
they will never see the light.(u)
20 A man with valuable possessions[j]
but without understanding
is like the animals that perish.(v)

Psalm 50

God as Judge

A psalm of Asaph.(a)

1 Yahweh, the God of gods[a] speaks;
He summons the earth from east to west.[b](b)
2 From Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God appears in radiance.[c](c)
3 Our God is coming; He will not be silent!
Devouring fire precedes Him,
and a storm rages around Him.(d)
4 On high, He summons heaven and earth
in order to judge His people.(e)
5 "Gather My faithful ones to Me,
those who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."(f)
6 The heavens proclaim His righteousness,(g)
for God is the Judge.(h) Selah

7 "Listen, My people, and I will speak;
I will testify against you, Israel.
I am God, your God.(i)
8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices
or for your burnt offerings,
which are continually before Me.(j)
9 I will not accept a bull from your household
or male goats from your pens,(k)
10 for every animal of the forest is Mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird of the mountains,[d]
and the creatures of the field are Mine.(l)
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and everything in it is Mine.(m)
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?(n)
14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God,(o)
and pay your vows to the Most High.(p)
15 Call on Me in a day of trouble;
I will rescue you, and you will honor Me."(q)

16 But God says to the wicked:
"What right do you have to recite My statutes
and to take My covenant on your lips?(r)
17 You hate instruction
and turn your back on My words.[e](s)
18 When you see a thief,
you make friends with him,
and you associate with adulterers.(t)
19 You unleash your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue for deceit.(u)
20 You sit, maligning your brother,
slandering your mother's son.(v)
21 You have done these things, and I kept silent;
you thought I was just like you.(w)
But I will rebuke you
and lay out the case before you.[f](x)

22 "Understand this, you who forget God,
or I will tear you apart,
and there will be no one to rescue you.(y)
23 Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me,
and whoever orders his conduct,
I will show him the salvation of God."(z)

Psalm 51

A Prayer for Restoration

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.(a)

1 Be gracious to me, God,
according to Your faithful love;
according to Your abundant compassion,
blot out my rebellion.(b)
2 Wash away my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.(c)
3 For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.(d)
4 Against You—You alone—I have sinned
and done this evil in Your sight.(e)
So You are right when You pass sentence;
You are blameless when You judge.(f)
5 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.(g)

6 Surely You desire integrity in the inner self,
and You teach me wisdom deep within.(h)
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.(i)
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones You have crushed rejoice.(j)
9 Turn Your face away[a] from my sins
and blot out all my guilt.(k)

10 God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast[b] spirit within me.(l)
11 Do not banish me from Your presence
or take Your Holy Spirit from me.(m)
12 Restore the joy of Your salvation to me,
and give me a willing spirit.[c](n)
13 Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways,
and sinners will return to You.(o)

14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God,(p)
the God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.(q)
15 Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare Your praise.(r)
16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;
You are not pleased with a burnt offering.(s)
17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is[d] a broken spirit.
God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.(t)

18 In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;
build[e] the walls of Jerusalem.(u)
19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on Your altar.(v)

John 3:16-36

Resource Toolbox

Chapter 3

16 "For God loved(y) the world in this way:[j] He gave His One and Only(z) Son,(aa) so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (ab) 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn(ac) the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned,(ad) because he has not believed in the name(ae) of the One and Only Son(af) of God.

19 "This, then, is the judgment: The light(ag) has come into the world,(ah) and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who practices wicked things hates(ai) the light and avoids it,[k] so that his deeds(aj) may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by[l] the truth comes to the light, so that his works(ak) may be shown to be accomplished by God." [m]

Jesus and John the Baptist

22 After this, Jesus and His disciples went to the Judean countryside, where He spent time with them and baptized. 23 John(al) also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized, 24 since John had not yet been thrown into prison.(am)

25 Then a dispute arose between John's disciples(an) and a Jew[n] about purification.(ao) 26 So they came to John and told him, "Rabbi,(ap) the One you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan,(aq) is baptizing—and everyone is flocking to Him."(ar)

27 John responded, "No one can receive a single thing unless it's given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,(as) but I've been sent ahead of Him.'(at) 29 He who has the bride(au) is the groom. But the groom's friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly[o] at the groom's voice. So this joy(av) of mine is complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease."

The One from Heaven

31 The One who comes from above(aw) is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms.[p] The One who comes from heaven is above all.(ax) 32 He testifies(ay) to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. 33 The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true.(az) 34 For God sent Him, and He speaks God's words, since He[q] gives the Spirit(ba) without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son(bb) and has given all things into His hands.(bc) 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.(bd)

 
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