Bible Reading Plan

³ When I kept silent,^(d)
     my bones wasted away^(e)
     through my groaning^(f) all day long.
⁴ For day and night
     your hand was heavy^(g) on me;
my strength was sapped^(h)
     as in the heat of summer.^[b]

⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you
     and did not cover up my iniquity.⁽ⁱ⁾
I said, "I will confess^(j)
     my transgressions^(k) to the Lord ."
And you forgave
     the guilt of my sin.^(l)

⁶ Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
     while you may be found;^(m)
surely the rising⁽ⁿ⁾ of the mighty waters^(o)
     will not reach them.^(p)
7 You are my hiding place;^(q)
     you will protect me from trouble^(r)
     and surround me with songs of deliverance.^(s)

⁸ I will instruct^(t) you and teach you^(u) in the way you should go;
     I will counsel you with my loving eye on^(v) you.
⁹ Do not be like the horse or the mule,
     which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle^(w)
     or they will not come to you.
¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked,^(x)
     but the Lord 's unfailing love
     surrounds the one who trusts^(y) in him.

¹¹ Rejoice in the Lord ^(z) and be glad, you righteous;
     sing, all you who are upright in heart!

³ For I know my transgressions,
     and my sin is always before me.^(i)
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned^(j)
     and done what is evil in your sight;^(k)
so you are right in your verdict
     and justified when you judge.^(l)
5 Surely I was sinful^(m) at birth,⁽ⁿ⁾
     sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
     you taught me wisdom^(o) in that secret place.^(p)

⁷ Cleanse^(q) me with hyssop,^(r) and I will be clean;
     wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.^(s)
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;^(t)
     let the bones^(u) you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins^(v)
     and blot out^(w) all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart,^(x) O God,
     and renew a steadfast spirit within me.^(y)
11 Do not cast me^(z) from your presence^(aa)
     or take your Holy Spirit^(ab) from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation^(ac)
     and grant me a willing spirit,^(ad) to sustain me.^(ae)

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,^(af)
     so that sinners^(ag) will turn back to you.^(ah)
14 Deliver me^(ai) from the guilt of bloodshed,^(aj) O God,
     you who are God my Savior,^(ak)
     and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.^(al)
15 Open my lips, Lord,^(am)
     and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice,^(an) or I would bring it;
     you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice,^(ao) O God, is^[b] a broken spirit;
     a broken and contrite heart^(ap)
     you, God, will not despise.

¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion,^(aq)
     to build up the walls of Jerusalem.^(ar)
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,^(as)
     in burnt offerings^(at) offered whole;
     then bulls^(au) will be offered on your altar.

⁵ You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
     abounding in love^(f) to all who call to you.
⁶ Hear my prayer, Lord ;
     listen to my cry^(g) for mercy.
⁷ When I am in distress,^(h) I call⁽ⁱ⁾ to you,
     because you answer^(j) me.

⁸ Among the gods^(k) there is none like you,^(l) Lord;
     no deeds can compare with yours.
⁹ All the nations you have made
     will come^(m) and worship⁽ⁿ⁾ before you, Lord;
     they will bring glory^(o) to your name.
¹⁰ For you are great^(p) and do marvelous deeds;^(q)
     you alone^(r) are God.

¹¹ Teach me your way,^(s) Lord ,
     that I may rely on your faithfulness;^(t)
give me an undivided^(u) heart,
     that I may fear^(v) your name.
¹² I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;^(w)
     I will glorify your name forever.
¹³ For great is your love toward me;
     you have delivered me^(x) from the depths,
     from the realm of the dead.^(y)

¹⁴ Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
     ruthless people are trying to kill me—
     they have no regard for you.^(z)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious^(aa) God,
     slow to anger,^(ab) abounding^(ac) in love and faithfulness.^(ad)
16 Turn to me^(ae) and have mercy^(af) on me;
     show your strength^(ag) in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
     just as my mother did.^(ah)
17 Give me a sign^(ai) of your goodness,
     that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
     for you, Lord , have helped me and comforted me.

³ Jerusalem is built like a city
     that is closely compacted together.
⁴ That is where the tribes go up—
     the tribes of the Lord —
to praise the name of the Lord
     according to the statute given to Israel.
⁵ There stand the thrones for judgment,
     the thrones of the house of David.

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
     "May those who love^(a) you be secure.
⁷ May there be peace^(b) within your walls
     and security within your citadels.^(c)"
⁸ For the sake of my family and friends,
     I will say, "Peace be within you."
⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
     I will seek your prosperity.^(d)