Bible in a Year · Day 202 of 365
Today’s reading: Psalms 138–141 (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 138
1By David. I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you. 2I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all. 3In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul. 4All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, for they have heard the words of your mouth. 5Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh; for great is Yahweh’s glory.
6For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar. 7Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me. 8Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me; your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.
Psalms 139
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me. 2You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar. 3You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 4For there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether. 5You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
6This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it. 7Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence? 8If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there! 9If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10Even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.
11If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night”; 12even the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you. 13For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well. 15My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them. 17How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum! 18If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you. 19If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men! 20For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
21Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you? 22I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies. 23Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. 24See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalms 140
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent man; 2those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war. 3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah. 4Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet. 5The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah.
6I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh. 7Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. 8Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah. 9As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.
11An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him. 12I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy. 13Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
Psalms 141
1A Psalm by David. Yahweh, I have called on you. Come to me quickly! Listen to my voice when I call to you. 2Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice. 3Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips. 4Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies. 5Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don’t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.
6Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken. 7“As when one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.” 8For my eyes are on you, Yahweh, the Lord. In you, I take refuge. Don’t leave my soul destitute. 9Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of the workers of iniquity. 10Let the wicked fall together into their own nets, while I pass by.
Next · Day 203: Psalms 142–144 →
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.
