Bible in a Year · Day 195 of 365
Today’s reading: Psalms 114–116 (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 114
1When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign language; 2Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3The sea saw it, and fled. The Jordan was driven back. 4The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs. 5What was it, you sea, that you fled? You Jordan, that you turned back?
6You mountains, that you skipped like rams; you little hills, like lambs? 7Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, 8who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of waters.
Psalms 115
1Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your loving kindness, and for your truth’s sake. 2Why should the nations say, “Where is their God, now?” 3But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases. 4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5They have mouths, but they don’t speak. They have eyes, but they don’t see.
6They have ears, but they don’t hear. They have noses, but they don’t smell. 7They have hands, but they don’t feel. They have feet, but they don’t walk, neither do they speak through their throat. 8Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them. 9Israel, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield. 10House of Aaron, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
11You who fear Yahweh, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield. 12Yahweh remembers us. He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel. He will bless the house of Aaron. 13He will bless those who fear Yahweh, both small and great. 14May Yahweh increase you more and more, you and your children. 15Blessed are you by Yahweh, who made heaven and earth.
16The heavens are the heavens of Yahweh; but the earth has he given to the children of men. 17The dead don’t praise Yah, neither any who go down into silence; 18But we will bless Yah, from this time forward and forever more. Praise Yah!
Psalms 116
1I love Yahweh, because he listens to my voice, and my cries for mercy. 2Because he has turned his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3The cords of death surrounded me, the pains of Sheol got a hold of me. I found trouble and sorrow. 4Then I called on Yahweh’s name: “Yahweh, I beg you, deliver my soul.” 5Yahweh is Gracious and righteous. Yes, our God is merciful.
6Yahweh preserves the simple. I was brought low, and he saved me. 7Return to your rest, my soul, for Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you. 8For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9I will walk before Yahweh in the land of the living. 10I believed, therefore I said, “I was greatly afflicted.”
11I said in my haste, “All men are liars.” 12What will I give to Yahweh for all his benefits toward me? 13I will take the cup of salvation, and call on Yahweh’s name. 14I will pay my vows to Yahweh, yes, in the presence of all his people. 15Precious in Yahweh’s sight is the death of his saints.
16Yahweh, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your servant. You have freed me from my chains. 17I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call on Yahweh’s name. 18I will pay my vows to Yahweh, yes, in the presence of all his people, 19in the courts of Yahweh’s house, in the middle of you, Jerusalem. Praise Yah!
Next · Day 196: Psalms 117–120 →
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.
