Bible Reading Plan

An Experience of the Captivity.

¹ By the ^(C1)rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down and ^(C2)wept,
When we remembered Zion.

² Upon the ^(F1)(C1)willows in the midst of it
We ^(C2)hung our ^(F2)harps.

³ For there our captors ^(F1)(C1)demanded of us ^(F2)songs,
And ^(C2)our tormentors, jubilation, saying,
"Sing for us one of the songs of Zion!"

⁴ How can we sing ^(C1)the LORD'S song
In a foreign land?

⁵ If I ^(C1)forget you, Jerusalem,
May my right hand ^(F1)forget its skill.

⁶ May my ^(C1)tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
If I do not remember you,
If I do not ^(F1)(C2)exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.

⁷ Remember, LORD, against the sons of ^(C1)Edom
The day of Jerusalem,
Those who said, "Lay it bare, lay it bare
^(C2)To its foundation!"

⁸ Daughter of Babylon, you ^(F1)(C1)devastated one,
Blessed will be one who ^(C2)repays you
With ^(F2)the retribution with which you have repaid us.

⁹ Blessed will be one who seizes and ^(C1)dashes your children
Against the rock.

Thanksgiving for the LORD'S Favor.

^1 (C1)I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing Your praises before the ^(C2)gods.

² I will bow down ^(C1)toward Your holy temple
And ^(C2)give thanks to Your name for Your mercy and Your ^(F1)truth;
For You have ^(C3)made Your ^(F2)word great ^(F3)according to all Your name.

³ On the day I ^(C1)called, You answered me;
You made me bold with ^(C2)strength in my soul.

^4 (C1)All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, LORD,
When they have heard the words of Your mouth.

⁵ And they will ^(C1)sing of the ways of the LORD,
For ^(C2)great is the glory of the LORD.

⁶ For ^(C1)the LORD is exalted,
Yet He ^(C2)looks after the lowly,
But He knows the ^(C3)haughty from afar.

⁷ Though I ^(C1)walk in the midst of trouble, You will ^(F1)(C2)revive me;
You will ^(C3)reach out with Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will ^(C4)save me.

⁸ The LORD will ^(C1)accomplish what concerns me;
Your ^(C2)faithfulness, LORD, is everlasting;
^(C3)Do not abandon the ^(C4)works of Your hands.

God's Omnipresence and Omniscience.

¹ LORD, You have ^(C1)searched me and known me.

² You ^(C1)know ^(F1)when I sit down and ^(F2)when I get up;
You ^(C2)understand my thought from far away.

³ You ^(F1)(C1)scrutinize my ^(F2)path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.

^4 (F1)Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, LORD, You ^(C1)know it all.

⁵ You have ^(C1)encircled me behind and in front,
And ^(C2)placed Your hand upon me.

⁶ Such ^(C1)knowledge is ^(C2)too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot comprehend it.

^7 (C1)Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?

^8 (C1)If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in ^(F1)Sheol, behold, ^(C2)You are there.

⁹ If I take up the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

¹⁰ Even there Your hand will ^(C1)lead me,
And Your right hand will take hold of me.

¹¹ If I say, "Surely the ^(C1)darkness will ^(F1)overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,"

¹² Even ^(C1)darkness is not dark ^(F1)to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
^(C2)Darkness and light are alike to You.

¹³ For You ^(C1)created my innermost parts;
You ^(C2)wove me in my mother's womb.

¹⁴ I will give thanks to You, because ^(F1)I am awesomely and wonderfully made;
^(C1)Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.

¹⁵ My ^(F1)(C1)frame was not hidden from You
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully formed in the ^(C2)depths of the earth;

¹⁶ Your ^(C1)eyes have seen my formless substance;
And in ^(C2)Your book were written
All the ^(C3)days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

¹⁷ How precious also are Your ^(C1)thoughts for me, God!
How vast is the sum of them!

¹⁸ Were I to count them, they would ^(C1)outnumber the sand.
When ^(C2)I awake, I am still with You.

¹⁹ If only You would ^(C1)put the wicked to death, God;
^(C2)Leave me, ^(C3)you men of bloodshed.

²⁰ For they ^(C1)speak ^(F1)against You wickedly,
And Your enemies ^(F2)(C2)take Your name in vain.

²¹ Do I not ^(C1)hate those who hate You, LORD?
And do I not ^(C2)loathe those who rise up against You?

²² I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.

^23 (C1)Search me, God, and know my heart;
^(C2)Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts;

²⁴ And see if there is any ^(F1)(C1)hurtful way in me,
And ^(C2)lead me in the ^(C3)everlasting way.

Prayer for Protection against the Wicked.

^1 (C1)Rescue me, LORD, from evil people;
Protect me from ^(C2)violent men

² Who ^(C1)devise evil things in their hearts;
They ^(C2)continually stir up wars.

³ They ^(C1)sharpen their tongues like a snake;
^(C2)The venom of a viper is under their lips. Selah

^4 (C1)Keep me, LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
^(C2)Protect me from violent men
Who ^(F1)intend to ^(F2)(C3)trip up my feet.

⁵ The proud have ^(C1)hidden a trap for me, and snares;
They have spread a ^(C2)net at the ^(F1)wayside;
They have set ^(C3)snares for me. Selah

⁶ I ^(C1)said to the LORD, "You are my God;
^(C2)Listen, LORD, to the ^(C3)sound of my pleadings.

⁷ "^(F1)GOD the Lord, ^(C1)the strength of my salvation,
You have ^(C2)covered my head on the day of ^(F2)battle.

⁸ "Do not grant, LORD, the ^(C1)desires of the wicked;
Do not bring about ^(C2)his evil planning, so that they are not exalted. Selah

⁹ "As for the head of those who surround me,
May the ^(C1)harm of their lips cover them.

¹⁰ "May ^(C1)burning coals fall upon them;
May they be ^(C2)cast into the fire,
Into bottomless pits from which they ^(C3)cannot rise.

¹¹ "May a ^(F1)slanderer not endure on the earth;
^(C1)May evil hunt a violent person ^(F2)violently."

¹² I know that the LORD will ^(C1)maintain the cause of the afflicted,
And ^(C2)justice for the poor.

¹³ Certainly the ^(C1)righteous will give thanks to Your name;
The ^(C2)upright will dwell in Your presence.

An Evening Prayer for Sanctification and Protection.

¹ LORD, I call upon You; ^(C1)hurry to me!
^(C2)Listen to my voice when I call to You!

² May my prayer be ^(F1)counted as ^(C1)incense before You;
The ^(C2)raising of my hands as the ^(C3)evening offering.

³ Set a ^(C1)guard, LORD, ^(F1)over my mouth;
Keep watch over the ^(C2)door of my lips.

^4 (C1)Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice deeds ^(F1)of wickedness
With people who ^(C2)do wrong;
And ^(C3)may I not taste their delicacies.

⁵ May the ^(C1)righteous strike me with mercy and discipline me;
It is ^(C2)oil for the head;
My head shall not refuse it,
For my prayer ^(C3)is still against their evil deeds.

⁶ Their judges are ^(C1)thrown down by the sides of the rock,
And they hear my words, for they are pleasant.

⁷ As when one ^(C1)plows and breaks open the earth,
Our ^(C2)bones have been scattered at the ^(C3)mouth of ^(F1)Sheol.

⁸ For my ^(C1)eyes are toward You, ^(F1)GOD, the Lord;
In You I ^(C2)take refuge; ^(C3)do not ^(F2)leave me defenseless.

⁹ Keep me from the ^(F1)(C1)jaws of the trap which they have set for me,
And from the ^(C2)snares of those who do wrong.

¹⁰ May the wicked ^(C1)fall into their own nets,
While I pass by ^(F1)(C2)safely.

Prayer for Help in Trouble.

¹ I ^(C1)cry out with my voice to the LORD;
With my voice I ^(C2)implore the LORD for compassion.

² I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my ^(C2)trouble before Him.

³ When ^(C1)my spirit felt weak within me,
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have ^(C2)hidden a trap for me.

⁴ Look to the right and see;
For there is ^(C1)no one who regards me favorably;
^(F1)There is no ^(C2)escape for me;
^(C3)No one cares for my soul.

⁵ I cried out to You, LORD;
I said, "You are ^(C1)my refuge,
My ^(C2)portion in the ^(C3)land of the living.

⁶ "^(C1)Give Your attention to my cry,
For I have been ^(C2)brought very low;
Rescue me from my persecutors,
For they are too ^(C3)strong for me.

⁷ "^(C1)Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;
The righteous will surround me,
For You will ^(C2)look after me."

Prayer for Help and Guidance.

¹ Hear my prayer, LORD,
^(C1)Listen to my pleadings!
Answer me in Your ^(C2)faithfulness, in Your ^(C3)righteousness!

² And ^(C1)do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For ^(C2)no person living is righteous in Your sight.

³ For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life ^(C1)to the ground;
He ^(C2)has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.

⁴ Therefore ^(C1)my spirit ^(F1)feels weak within me;
My heart is ^(F2)(C2)appalled within me.

⁵ I ^(C1)remember the days of old;
I ^(C2)meditate on all Your accomplishments;
I ^(C3)reflect on the work of Your hands.

⁶ I ^(C1)spread out my hands to You;
My ^(C2)soul longs for You, like a weary land. Selah

^7 (C1)Answer me quickly, LORD, my ^(C2)spirit fails;
^(C3)Do not hide Your face from me,
Or I will be the same as ^(C4)those who go down to the pit.

⁸ Let me hear Your ^(C1)faithfulness ^(C2)in the morning,
For I trust ^(C3)in You;
Teach me the ^(C4)way in which I should walk;
For to You I ^(C5)lift up my soul.

^9 (C1)Save me, LORD, from my enemies;
^(F1)I take refuge in You.

^10 (C1)Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let ^(C2)Your good Spirit ^(C3)lead me on level ^(F1)ground.

^11 (C1)For the sake of Your name, LORD, ^(C2)revive me.
^(C3)In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.

¹² And in Your faithfulness, ^(F1)(C1)destroy my enemies,
And ^(C2)eliminate all those who attack my soul,
For ^(C3)I am Your servant.

Prayer for Rescue and Prosperity.

¹ Blessed be the LORD, ^(C1)my rock,
Who ^(C2)trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;

² My faithfulness and ^(C1)my fortress,
My ^(C2)stronghold and my savior,
My ^(C3)shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who ^(C4)subdues ^(F1)my people under me.

³ LORD, ^(C1)what is man, that You look after him?
Or a son of man, that You think of him?

^4 (C1)Man is like the breath;
His ^(C2)days are like a passing shadow.

^5 (C1)Bend down Your heavens, LORD, and ^(C2)come down;
^(C3)Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.

⁶ Flash forth ^(C1)lightning and scatter them;
Send out Your ^(C2)arrows and confuse them.

⁷ Reach out with Your hand ^(C1)from on high;
Rescue me and ^(C2)save me from great waters,
From the hand of ^(C3)foreigners

⁸ Whose mouth ^(C1)speaks deceit,
And whose ^(C2)right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

⁹ God, I will sing a ^(C1)new song to You;
On a ^(C2)harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,

¹⁰ Who ^(C1)gives salvation to kings,
Who ^(C2)rescues His servant David from the evil sword.

¹¹ Rescue me and save me from the hand of ^(C1)foreigners,
Whose mouth ^(C2)speaks deceit
And whose ^(C3)right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

¹² When our sons in their youth are like ^(C1)growing plants,
And our daughters like ^(C2)corner pillars ^(F1)fashioned for a palace,

¹³ Our ^(C1)granaries are full, providing every kind of produce,
And our flocks deliver thousands and ten thousands in our ^(F1)fields;

¹⁴ May our ^(C1)cattle ^(F1)be bred
Without ^(F2)(C2)mishap and without ^(F3)(C3)loss,
May there be no ^(C4)outcry in our streets!

¹⁵ Blessed are the people who are so situated;
^(C1)Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

The LORD Exalted for His Goodness.

¹ I will ^(C1)exalt You, ^(C2)my God, the King,
And I will ^(C3)bless Your name forever and ever.

² Every day I will bless You,
And I will ^(C1)praise Your name forever and ever.

^3 (C1)Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised;
And His ^(C2)greatness is unsearchable.

⁴ One ^(C1)generation will praise Your works to another,
And will declare Your mighty acts.

⁵ On the ^(C1)glorious ^(F1)splendor of Your majesty
And ^(C2)on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.

⁶ People will speak of the ^(F1)power of Your ^(C1)awesome acts,
And I will ^(C2)tell of Your greatness.

⁷ They will burst forth ^(F1)in speaking of Your ^(C1)abundant goodness,
And will ^(C2)shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is ^(C1)gracious and compassionate;
Slow to anger and great in mercy.

⁹ The LORD is ^(C1)good to all,
And His ^(C2)mercies are over all His works.

^10 (C1)All Your works will give thanks to You, LORD,
And Your ^(C2)godly ones will bless You.

¹¹ They will speak of the ^(C1)glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your might,

¹² To ^(C1)make known to the sons of mankind ^(F1)Your mighty acts,
And the ^(C2)glory of the majesty of ^(F1)Your kingdom.

¹³ Your kingdom is ^(F1)an ^(C1)everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
^(F2)The LORD is faithful in His words,
And holy in all His works.

¹⁴ The LORD ^(C1)supports all who fall,
And ^(C2)raises up all who are bowed down.

¹⁵ The eyes of all ^(F1)look to You,
And You ^(C1)give them their food in due time.

¹⁶ You ^(C1)open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

¹⁷ The LORD is ^(C1)righteous in all His ways,
And kind in all His works.

¹⁸ The LORD is ^(C1)near to all who call on Him,
To all who call on Him ^(C2)in truth.

¹⁹ He will ^(C1)fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also ^(C2)hear their cry for help and save them.

²⁰ The LORD ^(C1)watches over all who love Him,
But He will destroy all the ^(C2)wicked.

²¹ My ^(C1)mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
And ^(C2)all flesh will ^(C3)bless His holy name forever and ever.

The LORD, an Abundant Helper.

^1 (F1)Praise ^(F2)the LORD!
^(C1)Praise the LORD, my soul!

² I will praise the LORD ^(C1)while I live;
I will ^(C2)sing praises to my God while I ^(F1)have my being.

^3 (C1)Do not trust in noblemen,
In ^(F1)mortal ^(C2)man, in whom there is ^(C3)no salvation.

⁴ His ^(C1)spirit departs, he ^(C2)returns to ^(F1)the earth;
On that very day his ^(C3)plans perish.

^5 (C1)Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose ^(C2)hope is in the LORD his God,

⁶ Who ^(C1)made heaven and earth,
The ^(C2)sea and everything that is in them;
Who ^(C3)keeps ^(F1)faith forever;

⁷ Who ^(C1)executes justice for the oppressed;
Who ^(C2)gives food to the hungry.
The LORD ^(C3)frees the prisoners.

⁸ The LORD ^(C1)opens the eyes of those who are blind;
The LORD ^(C2)raises up those who are bowed down;
The LORD ^(C3)loves the righteous.

⁹ The LORD ^(C1)watches over strangers;
He ^(F1)(C2)supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He ^(F2)thwarts ^(C3)the way of the wicked.

¹⁰ The LORD will ^(C1)reign forever,
Your God, Zion, to all generations.
^(F1)Praise ^(F2)the LORD!