Bible in a Year · Day 181 of 365
Today’s reading: Psalms 65–67 (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 65
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song. Praise waits for you, God, in Zion. To you shall vows be performed. 2You who hear prayer, to you all men will come. 3Sins overwhelmed me, but you atoned for our transgressions. 4Blessed is one whom you choose, and cause to come near, that he may live in your courts. We will be filled with the goodness of your house, your holy temple. 5By awesome deeds of righteousness, you answer us, God of our salvation. You who are the hope of all the ends of the earth, of those who are far away on the sea;
6Who by his power forms the mountains, having armed yourself with strength; 7who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. 8They also who dwell in faraway places are afraid at your wonders. You call the morning’s dawn and the evening with songs of joy. 9You visit the earth, and water it. You greatly enrich it. The river of God is full of water. You provide them grain, for so you have ordained it. 10You drench its furrows. You level its ridges. You soften it with showers. You bless it with a crop.
11You crown the year with your bounty. Your carts overflow with abundance. 12The wilderness grasslands overflow. The hills are clothed with gladness. 13The pastures are covered with flocks. The valleys also are clothed with grain. They shout for joy! They also sing.
Psalms 66
1For the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm. Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! 2Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise! 3Tell God, “How awesome are your deeds! Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you. 4All the earth will worship you, and will sing to you; they will sing to your name.” Selah. 5Come, and see God’s deeds — awesome work on behalf of the children of men.
6He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in him. 7He rules by his might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don’t let the rebellious rise up against him. Selah. 8Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard, 9who preserves our life among the living, and doesn’t allow our feet to be moved. 10For you, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined.
11You brought us into prison. You laid a burden on our backs. 12You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but you brought us to the place of abundance. 13I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will pay my vows to you, 14which my lips promised, and my mouth spoke, when I was in distress. 15I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat animals, with the offering of rams, I will offer bulls with goats. Selah.
16Come, and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul. 17I cried to him with my mouth. He was extolled with my tongue. 18If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord wouldn’t have listened. 19But most certainly, God has listened. He has heard the voice of my prayer. 20Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor his loving kindness from me.
Psalms 67
1For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah. 2That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations, 3let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you. 4Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah. 5Let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.
6The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us. 7God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Next · Day 182: Psalms 68–71 →
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.
