Bible in a Year · Day 175 of 365
Today’s reading: Psalms 45–47 (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 45
1For the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song. My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer. 2You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever. 3Strap your sword on your thigh, mighty one: your splendor and your majesty. 4In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds. 5Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king’s enemies.
6Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom. 7You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows. 8All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad. 9Kings’ daughters are among your honorable women. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir. 10Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.
11So the king will desire your beauty, honor him, for he is your lord. 12The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift. The rich among the people entreat your favor. 13The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold. 14She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you. 15With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led. They shall enter into the king’s palace.
16Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You shall make them princes in all the earth. 17I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.
Psalms 46
1For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; 3though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah. 4There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High. 5God is within her. She shall not be moved. God will help her at dawn.
6The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice, and the earth melted. 7Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8Come, see Yahweh’s works, what desolations he has made in the earth. 9He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots in the fire. 10“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
11Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Psalms 47
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Oh clap your hands, all you nations. Shout to God with the voice of triumph! 2For Yahweh Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth. 3He subdues nations under us, and peoples under our feet. 4He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. 5God has gone up with a shout, Yahweh with the sound of a trumpet.
6Sing praises to God, sing praises. Sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding. 8God reigns over the nations. God sits on his holy throne. 9The princes of the peoples are gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted!
Next · Day 176: Psalms 48–50 →
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.
