Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 12

God, a Helper against the Treacherous.

¹ Help, LORD, for ^(C1)the godly person has come to an end,
For the faithful have disappeared from the sons of mankind.

² They ^(C1)speak ^(F1)lies to one another;
They speak with ^(F2)(C2)flattering lips and a double heart.

³ May the LORD cut off all ^(F1)flattering lips,
The tongue that ^(C1)speaks great things;

⁴ Who ^(C1)have said, "With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are ^(F1)our own; who is lord over us?"

⁵ "Because of the ^(C1)devastation of the poor, because of the groaning of the needy,
Now ^(C2)I will arise," says the LORD; "I will ^(C3)put him in the safety for which he longs."

⁶ The ^(C1)words of the LORD are pure words;
Like silver ^(C2)refined in a furnace on the ground, filtered seven times.

⁷ You, LORD, will keep them;
You will ^(C1)protect him from this generation forever.

⁸ The ^(C1)wicked strut about on every side
When ^(F1)(C2)vileness is exalted among the sons of mankind.

Chapter 13

Prayer for Help in Trouble.

¹ How long, LORD? Will You ^(C1)forget me forever?
How long ^(C2)will You hide Your face from me?

² How long am I to ^(C1)feel anxious in my soul,
With ^(C2)grief in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

^3 (C1)Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
^(C2)Enlighten my eyes, or I will ^(C3)sleep the sleep of death,

⁴ And my enemy will ^(C1)say, "I have overcome him,"
And ^(C2)my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.

⁵ But I have ^(C1)trusted in Your faithfulness;
My heart shall ^(C2)rejoice in Your salvation.

⁶ I will ^(C1)sing to the LORD,
Because He has ^(C2)looked after me.

Chapter 14

Foolishness and Wickedness of People.

¹ The fool has ^(C1)said in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts;
There is ^(C2)no one who does good.

² The LORD has ^(C1)looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind
To see if there are any who ^(F1)(C2)understand,
Who ^(C3)seek God.

³ They have all ^(C1)turned aside, together they are corrupt;
There is ^(C2)no one who does good, not even one.

⁴ Do all the workers of injustice ^(C1)not know,
Who ^(C2)devour my people as they eat bread,
And ^(C3)do not call upon the LORD?

⁵ There they are in great dread,
For God is with a ^(C1)righteous generation.

⁶ You would put to shame the plan of the poor,
But the LORD is his ^(C1)refuge.

⁷ Oh, that ^(C1)the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD ^(C2)restores the fortunes of His people,
Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.

Chapter 15

Description of a Citizen of Zion.

¹ LORD, who may reside ^(C1)in Your tent?
Who may settle on Your ^(C2)holy hill?

² One who ^(C1)walks with integrity, practices righteousness,
And ^(C2)speaks truth in his heart.

³ He ^(C1)does not slander ^(F1)with his tongue,
Nor ^(C2)do evil to his neighbor,
Nor ^(C3)bring shame on his friend;

⁴ A despicable person is despised in his eyes,
But he ^(C1)honors those who fear the LORD;
He ^(C2)takes an oath to his own detriment, and does not change;

⁵ He ^(C1)does not ^(F1)lend his money ^(F2)at interest,
Nor ^(C2)does he take a bribe against the innocent.
^(C3)One who does these things will never be shaken.

Chapter 16

The LORD, the Psalmist's Portion in Life and Salvation in Death.

^1 (C1)Protect me, God, for ^(C2)I take refuge in You.

^2 (F1)I said to the LORD, "You are ^(F2)my Lord;
I ^(C1)have nothing good besides You."

³ As for the ^(F1)(C1)saints who are on the earth,
^(F2)They are the majestic ones; ^(C2)all my delight is in them.

^4 (F1)The ^(C1)pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of ^(C2)blood,
Nor will I ^(C3)take their names upon my lips.

⁵ The LORD is the ^(C1)portion of my inheritance and my ^(C2)cup;
You support my ^(C3)lot.

⁶ The measuring ^(C1)lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my inheritance is ^(C2)beautiful to me.

⁷ I will bless the LORD who has ^(C1)advised me;
Indeed, my ^(F1)(C2)mind instructs me in the night.

^8 (C1)I have ^(C2)set the LORD continually before me;
Because He is ^(C3)at my right hand, ^(C4)I will not be shaken.

⁹ Therefore ^(C1)my heart is glad and ^(C2)my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will ^(C3)dwell securely.

¹⁰ For You ^(C1)will not abandon my soul to ^(F1)Sheol;
You will not ^(F2)(C2)allow Your ^(F3)Holy One to ^(F4)undergo decay.

¹¹ You will make known to me ^(C1)the way of life;
In ^(C2)Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are ^(C3)pleasures forever.

Chapter 17

Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.

¹ Hear a ^(C1)just cause, LORD, ^(C2)give Your attention to my cry;
^(C3)Listen to my prayer, which is not from ^(C4)deceitful lips.

² Let ^(C1)my ^(F1)judgment come forth from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look with ^(C2)integrity.

³ You have ^(C1)put my heart to the test;
You have visited me by night;
You have ^(C2)sifted me and ^(C3)You find ^(F1)nothing;
My ^(C4)intent is that my mouth will not offend.

⁴ As for the works of mankind, ^(C1)by the word of Your lips
I have kept from the ^(C2)ways of the violent.

⁵ My ^(C1)steps have held to Your ^(F1)paths.
My ^(C2)feet have not slipped.<