Bible in a Year · Day 169 of 365
Today’s reading: Psalms 27–29 (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 27
1By David. Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? 2When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. 3Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident. 4One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in Yahweh’s house all the days of my life, to see Yahweh’s beauty, and to inquire in his temple. 5For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the covert of his tabernacle he will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock.
6Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me; I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh. 7Hear, Yahweh, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also on me, and answer me. 8When you said, “Seek my face,” my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, Yahweh.” 9Don’t hide your face from me. Don’t put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Don’t abandon me, neither forsake me, God of my salvation. 10When my father and my mother forsake me, then Yahweh will take me up.
11Teach me your way, Yahweh. Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies. 12Don’t deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me, such as breathe out cruelty. 13I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living. 14Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh.
Psalms 28
1By David. To you, Yahweh, I call. My rock, don’t be deaf to me; lest, if you are silent to me, I would become like those who go down into the pit. 2Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. 3Don’t draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts. 4Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings. Give them according to the operation of their hands. Bring back on them what they deserve. 5Because they don’t respect the works of Yahweh, nor the operation of his hands, he will break them down and not build them up.
6Blessed be Yahweh, because he has heard the voice of my petitions. 7Yahweh is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him. 8Yahweh is their strength. He is a stronghold of salvation to his anointed. 9Save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd also, and bear them up forever.
Psalms 29
1A Psalm by David. Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. 2Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Worship Yahweh in holy array. 3Yahweh’s voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even Yahweh on many waters. 4Yahweh’s voice is powerful. Yahweh’s voice is full of majesty. 5Yahweh’s voice breaks the cedars. Yes, Yahweh breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox. 7Yahweh’s voice strikes with flashes of lightning. 8Yahweh’s voice shakes the wilderness. Yahweh shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9Yahweh’s voice makes the deer calve, and strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, “Glory!” 10Yahweh sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, Yahweh sits as King forever.
11Yahweh will give strength to his people. Yahweh will bless his people with peace.
Next · Day 170: Psalms 30–32 →
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.
