Bible in a Year · Day 164 of 365
Today’s reading: Psalms 12–14 (3 chapters)
Read the passage below, or open your own Bible and follow along. The text here is the World English Bible, a public-domain translation, printed in full so the day’s reading is all on one page.
About Psalms
The Psalms are the Bible's prayer book, one hundred and fifty songs and poems gathered into five books. They cover more emotional ground than any other part of Scripture: praise, complaint, rage, repentance, trust, and silence. Some were written by David and carry the marks of his life, others come from temple worship or later editors, and many were sung by the congregation rather than read alone. Taken together they teach a person how to speak to God when everything is going well and when it is not. Many of them do not resolve neatly, which is part of their honesty.
What to watch for. Watch how many psalms begin in distress and end in praise, and how many do not. Notice the psalmists addressing God directly rather than talking about him, and let the complaints be as instructive as the thanksgiving.
Psalms 12
1For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David. Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men. 2Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart. 3May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts, 4who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?” 5“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”
6Yahweh’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times. 7You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever. 8The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.
Psalms 13
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart every day? How long shall my enemy triumph over me? 3Behold, and answer me, Yahweh, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death; 4Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall. 5But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation.
6I will sing to Yahweh, because he has been good to me.
Psalms 14
1For the Chief Musician. By David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable deeds. There is no one who does good. 2Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who understood, who sought after God. 3They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one. 4Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on Yahweh? 5There they were in great fear, for God is in the generation of the righteous.
6You frustrate the plan of the poor, because Yahweh is his refuge. 7Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When Yahweh restores the fortunes of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Next · Day 165: Psalms 15–17 →
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public-domain translation. Day numbering follows the calendar year; you can start at Day 1 on any date.
