Bible in a Year · Day 177 of 365
Today’s reading: Psalms 51–53 (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 51
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin. 3For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me. 4Against you, and you only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge. 5Behold, I was born in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.
6Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice. 9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
11Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit. 13Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you. 14Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 15Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.
16For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.
Psalms 52
1For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, “David has come to Ahimelech’s house.” Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s loving kindness endures continually. 2Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking the truth. Selah. 4You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue. 5God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah.
6The righteous also will see it, and fear, and laugh at him, saying, 7“Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.” 8But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house. I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever. 9I will give you thanks forever, because you have done it. I will hope in your name, for it is good, in the presence of your saints.
Psalms 53
1For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Mahalath.” A contemplation by David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity. There is no one who does good. 2God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God. 3Every one of them has gone back. They have become filthy together. There is no one who does good, no, not one. 4Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on God? 5There they were in great fear, where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. You have put them to shame, because God has rejected them.
6Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back his people from captivity, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Next · Day 178: Psalms 54–57 →
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.
