the Third Week after Easter
Click to donate today!
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
July 23 - Old & New Testament
niv
Psalms 67,71
Psalm 67[a]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—[b](a)
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation(b) among all nations.(c)
3 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.(d)
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,(e)
for you rule the peoples with equity(f)
and guide the nations of the earth.(g)
5 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
6 The land yields its harvest;(h)
God, our God, blesses us.(i)
7 May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth(j) will fear him.(k)
Psalm 68[a]
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.
1 May God arise,(a) may his enemies be scattered;(b)
may his foes flee(c) before him.
2 May you blow them away like smoke—(d)
as wax melts(e) before the fire,
may the wicked perish(f) before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice(g) before God;
may they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,(h)
extol him who rides on the clouds[b](i);
rejoice before him—his name is the
Lord
.(j)
5 A father to the fatherless,(k) a defender of widows,(l)
is God in his holy dwelling.(m)
6 God sets the lonely(n) in families,[c](o)
he leads out the prisoners(p) with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.(q)
7 When you, God, went out(r) before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,[d](s)
8 the earth shook,(t) the heavens poured down rain,(u)
before God, the One of Sinai,(v)
before God, the God of Israel.(w)
9 You gave abundant showers,(x) O God;
you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10 Your people settled in it,
and from your bounty,(y) God, you provided(z) for the poor.
11 The Lord announces the word,
and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:(aa)
12 "Kings and armies flee(ab) in haste;
the women at home divide the plunder.(ac)
13 Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,[e](ad)
the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
its feathers with shining gold."
14 When the Almighty[f] scattered(ae) the kings in the land,
it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.(af)
15 Mount Bashan,(ag) majestic mountain,(ah)
Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
16 why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
at the mountain where God chooses(ai) to reign,
where the
Lord
himself will dwell forever?(aj)
17 The chariots(ak) of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands;(al)
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.[g]
18 When you ascended(am) on high,(an)
you took many captives;(ao)
you received gifts from people,(ap)
even from[h] the rebellious(aq)—
that you,[i]
Lord
God, might dwell there.
19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,(ar)
who daily bears our burdens.(as)
20 Our God is a God who saves;(at)
from the Sovereign
Lord
comes escape from death.(au)
21 Surely God will crush the heads(av) of his enemies,
the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
22 The Lord says, "I will bring them from Bashan;
I will bring them from the depths of the sea,(aw)
23 that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes,(ax)
while the tongues of your dogs(ay) have their share."
24 Your procession, God, has come into view,
the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.(az)
25 In front are the singers,(ba) after them the musicians;(bb)
with them are the young women playing the timbrels.(bc)
26 Praise God in the great congregation;(bd)
praise the
Lord
in the assembly of Israel.(be)
27 There is the little tribe(bf) of Benjamin,(bg) leading them,
there the great throng of Judah's princes,
and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.(bh)
28 Summon your power,(bi) God[j];
show us your strength,(bj) our God, as you have done(bk) before.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings will bring you gifts.(bl)
30 Rebuke the beast(bm) among the reeds,(bn)
the herd of bulls(bo) among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver.
Scatter the nations(bp) who delight in war.(bq)
31 Envoys will come from Egypt;(br)
Cush[k](bs) will submit herself to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,(bt)
sing praise(bu) to the Lord,
33 to him who rides(bv) across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,
who thunders(bw) with mighty voice.(bx)
34 Proclaim the power(by) of God,
whose majesty(bz) is over Israel,
whose power is in the heavens.
35 You, God, are awesome(ca) in your sanctuary;(cb)
the God of Israel gives power and strength(cc) to his people.(cd)
Praise be to God!(ce)
Psalm 69[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of David.
1 Save me, O God,
for the waters(a) have come up to my neck.(b)
2 I sink in the miry depths,(c)
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.
3 I am worn out calling for help;(d)
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,(e)
looking for my God.
4 Those who hate me(f) without reason(g)
outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,(h)
those who seek to destroy me.(i)
I am forced to restore
what I did not steal.
5 You, God, know my folly;(j)
my guilt is not hidden from you.(k)
6 Lord, the
Lord
Almighty,
may those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me;
God of Israel,
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me.
7 For I endure scorn(l) for your sake,(m)
and shame covers my face.(n)
8 I am a foreigner to my own family,
a stranger to my own mother's children;(o)
9 for zeal for your house consumes me,(p)
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.(q)
10 When I weep and fast,(r)
I must endure scorn;
11 when I put on sackcloth,(s)
people make sport of me.
12 Those who sit at the gate(t) mock me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.(u)
13 But I pray to you,
Lord
,
in the time of your favor;(v)
in your great love,(w) O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.
14 Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.(x)
15 Do not let the floodwaters(y) engulf me
or the depths swallow me up(z)
or the pit close its mouth over me.(aa)
16 Answer me,
Lord
, out of the goodness of your love;(ab)
in your great mercy turn to me.
17 Do not hide your face(ac) from your servant;
answer me quickly,(ad) for I am in trouble.(ae)
18 Come near and rescue me;
deliver(af) me because of my foes.
19 You know how I am scorned,(ag) disgraced and shamed;
all my enemies are before you.
20 Scorn has broken my heart
and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
for comforters,(ah) but I found none.(ai)
21 They put gall in my food
and gave me vinegar(aj) for my thirst.(ak)
22 May the table set before them become a snare;
may it become retribution and[b] a trap.(al)
23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.(am)
24 Pour out your wrath(an) on them;
let your fierce anger overtake them.
25 May their place be deserted;(ao)
let there be no one to dwell in their tents.(ap)
26 For they persecute those you wound
and talk about the pain of those you hurt.(aq)
27 Charge them with crime upon crime;(ar)
do not let them share in your salvation.(as)
28 May they be blotted out of the book of life(at)
and not be listed with the righteous.(au)
29 But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me.(av)
30 I will praise God's name in song(aw)
and glorify him(ax) with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the
Lord
more than an ox,
more than a bull with its horns and hooves.(ay)
32 The poor will see and be glad(az)—
you who seek God, may your hearts live!(ba)
33 The
Lord
hears the needy(bb)
and does not despise his captive people.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and all that move in them,(bc)
35 for God will save Zion(bd)
and rebuild the cities of Judah.(be)
Then people will settle there and possess it;
36
the children of his servants will inherit it,(bf)
and those who love his name will dwell there.(bg)
Psalm 70[a](a)
For the director of music. Of David. A petition.
1 Hasten, O God, to save me;
come quickly,
Lord
, to help me.(b)
2 May those who want to take my life(c)
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.(d)
3 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"(e)
turn back because of their shame.
4 But may all who seek you(f)
rejoice and be glad(g) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
"The
Lord
is great!"(h)
5 But as for me, I am poor and needy;(i)
come quickly to me,(j) O God.
You are my help(k) and my deliverer;(l)
Lord
, do not delay.(m)
Psalm 71(a)
1 In you,
Lord
, I have taken refuge;(b)
let me never be put to shame.(c)
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear(d) to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.(e)
4 Deliver(f) me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,(g)
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.(h)
5 For you have been my hope,(i) Sovereign
Lord
,
my confidence(j) since my youth.
6 From birth(k) I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother's womb.(l)
I will ever praise(m) you.
7 I have become a sign(n) to many;
you are my strong refuge.(o)
8 My mouth(p) is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor(q) all day long.
9 Do not cast(r) me away when I am old;(s)
do not forsake(t) me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies(u) speak against me;
those who wait to kill(v) me conspire(w) together.
11 They say, "God has forsaken(x) him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue(y) him."
12 Do not be far(z) from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help(aa) me.
13 May my accusers(ab) perish in shame;(ac)
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.(ad)
14 As for me, I will always have hope;(ae)
I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell(af) of your righteous deeds,(ag)
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts,(ah) Sovereign
Lord
;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught(ai) me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.(aj)
18 Even when I am old and gray,(ak)
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power(al) to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.(am)
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,(an)
you who have done great things.(ao)
Who is like you, God?(ap)
20 Though you have made me see troubles,(aq)
many and bitter,
you will restore(ar) my life again;
from the depths of the earth(as)
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor(at)
and comfort(au) me once more.
22 I will praise you with the harp(av)
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,(aw)
Holy One of Israel.(ax)
23 My lips will shout for joy(ay)
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.(az)
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,(ba)
for those who wanted to harm me(bb)
have been put to shame and confusion.(bc)
Philippians 2
Chapter 2
Imitating Christ's Humility
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,(a) if any tenderness and compassion,(b) 2 then make my joy complete(c) by being like-minded,(d) having the same love, being one(e) in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.(f) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,(g) 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.(h)
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(i)
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,(j)
did not consider equality with God(k) something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing(l)
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(m)
being made in human likeness.(n)
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death(o)—
even death on a cross!(p)
9 Therefore God exalted him(q) to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,(r)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(s)
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(t)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(u)
to the glory of God the Father.
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,(v) 13 for it is God who works in you(w) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.(x)
14 Do everything without grumbling(y) or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless(z) and pure, "children of God(aa) without fault in a warped and crooked generation."[c](ab) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ(ac) that I did not run(ad) or labor in vain.(ae) 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering(af) on the sacrifice(ag) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.(ah) 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy(ai) to you soon,(aj) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him,(ak) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests,(al) not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father(am) he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.(an) 24 And I am confident(ao) in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker(ap) and fellow soldier,(aq) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.(ar) 26 For he longs for all of you(as) and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,(at) so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,(au) 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.(av)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
