Bible in a Year · Day 186 of 365
Today’s reading: Psalms 82–85 (4 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 82
1A Psalm by Asaph. God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods. 2“How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah. 3“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. 4Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.” 5They don’t know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6I said, “You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High. 7Nevertheless you shall die like men, and fall like one of the rulers.” 8Arise, God, judge the earth, for you inherit all of the nations.
Psalms 83
1A song. A Psalm by Asaph. God, don’t keep silent. Don’t keep silent, and don’t be still, God. 2For, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads. 3They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones. 4“Come,” they say, “let’s destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” 5For they have conspired together with one mind. They form an alliance against you.
6The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites; 7Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8Assyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah. 9Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon; 10who perished at Endor, who became as dung for the earth.
11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb; yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna; 12who said, “Let us take possession of God’s pasture lands.” 13My God, make them like tumbleweed; like chaff before the wind. 14As the fire that burns the forest, as the flame that sets the mountains on fire, 15so pursue them with your tempest, and terrify them with your storm.
16Fill their faces with confusion, that they may seek your name, Yahweh. 17Let them be disappointed and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish; 18that they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, are the Most High over all the earth.
Psalms 84
1For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. How lovely are your dwellings, Yahweh of Armies! 2My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, near your altars, Yahweh of Armies, my King, and my God. 4Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They are always praising you. Selah. 5Blessed are those whose strength is in you; who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.
6Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings. 7They go from strength to strength. Everyone of them appears before God in Zion. 8Yahweh, God of Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob. Selah. 9Behold, God our shield, look at the face of your anointed. 10For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly. 12Yahweh of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Psalms 85
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2You have forgiven the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sin. Selah. 3You have taken away all your wrath. You have turned from the fierceness of your anger. 4Turn us, God of our salvation, and cause your indignation toward us to cease. 5Will you be angry with us forever? Will you draw out your anger to all generations?
6Won’t you revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 7Show us your loving kindness, Yahweh. Grant us your salvation. 8I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints; but let them not turn again to folly. 9Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. 10Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven. 12Yes, Yahweh will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase. 13Righteousness goes before him, And prepares the way for his steps.
Next · Day 187: Psalms 86–88 →
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.
