Bible Reading Plan

⁴ How can we sing the songs of the Lord ⁽ⁱ⁾
     while in a foreign land?
⁵ If I forget you,^(j) Jerusalem,
     may my right hand forget its skill.
⁶ May my tongue cling to the roof^(k) of my mouth
     if I do not remember^(l) you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem^(m)
     my highest joy.

⁷ Remember, Lord , what the Edomites⁽ⁿ⁾ did
     on the day Jerusalem fell.^(o)
"Tear it down," they cried,
     "tear it down to its foundations!"^(p)
8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,^(q)
     happy is the one who repays you
     according to what you have done to us.
⁹ Happy is the one who seizes your infants
     and dashes them^(r) against the rocks.

⁴ May all the kings of the earth^(j) praise you, Lord ,
     when they hear what you have decreed.
⁵ May they sing^(k) of the ways of the Lord ,
     for the glory of the Lord ^(l) is great.

⁶ Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;^(m)
     though lofty, he sees them⁽ⁿ⁾ from afar.
⁷ Though I walk^(o) in the midst of trouble,
     you preserve my life.^(p)
You stretch out your hand^(q) against the anger of my foes;^(r)
     with your right hand^(s) you save me.^(t)
8 The Lord will vindicate^(u) me;
     your love, Lord , endures forever^(v)—
     do not abandon^(w) the works of your hands.^(x)

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
     Where can I flee^(k) from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens,^(l) you are there;
     if I make my bed^(m) in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
     if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,⁽ⁿ⁾
     your right hand^(o) will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
     and the light become night around me,"
¹² even the darkness will not be dark^(p) to you;
     the night will shine like the day,
     for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;^(q)
     you knit me together^(r) in my mother's womb.^(s)
14 I praise you^(t) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
     your works are wonderful,^(u)
     I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
     when I was made^(v) in the secret place,
     when I was woven together^(w) in the depths of the earth.^(x)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
     all the days ordained^(y) for me were written in your book
     before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a](z) God!^(aa)
     How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,^(ab)
     they would outnumber the grains of sand^(ac)—
     when I awake,^(ad) I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!^(ae)
     Away from me,^(af) you who are bloodthirsty!^(ag)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
     your adversaries^(ah) misuse your name.^(ai)
21 Do I not hate those^(aj) who hate you, Lord ,
     and abhor^(ak) those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
     I count them my enemies.^(al)
23 Search me,^(am) God, and know my heart;^(an)
     test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way^(ao) in me,
     and lead me^(ap) in the way everlasting.

⁴ Keep me safe,^(g) Lord , from the hands of the wicked;^(h)
     protect me from the violent,
     who devise ways to trip my feet.
⁵ The arrogant have hidden a snare⁽ⁱ⁾ for me;
     they have spread out the cords of their net^(j)
     and have set traps^(k) for me along my path.

⁶ I say to the Lord , "You are my God."^(l)
     Hear, Lord , my cry for mercy.^(m)
7 Sovereign Lord ,⁽ⁿ⁾ my strong deliverer,
     you shield my head in the day of battle.
⁸ Do not grant the wicked^(o) their desires, Lord ;
     do not let their plans succeed.

⁹ Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;
     may the mischief of their lips engulf them.^(p)
10 May burning coals fall on them;
     may they be thrown into the fire,^(q)
     into miry pits, never to rise.
¹¹ May slanderers not be established in the land;
     may disaster hunt down the violent.^(r)

¹² I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor^(s)
     and upholds the cause^(t) of the needy.^(u)
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name,^(v)
     and the upright will live^(w) in your presence.^(x)

³ Set a guard over my mouth,^(f) Lord ;
     keep watch over the door of my lips.^(g)
4 Do not let my heart^(h) be drawn to what is evil
     so that I take part in wicked deeds⁽ⁱ⁾
along with those who are evildoers;
     do not let me eat their delicacies.^(j)

⁵ Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
     let him rebuke me^(k)—that is oil on my head.^(l)
My head will not refuse it,
     for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

⁶ Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,^(m)
     and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
⁷ They will say, "As one plows⁽ⁿ⁾ and breaks up the earth,^(o)
     so our bones have been scattered at the mouth^(p) of the grave."

⁸ But my eyes are fixed^(q) on you, Sovereign Lord ;
     in you I take refuge^(r)—do not give me over to death.
⁹ Keep me safe^(s) from the traps set by evildoers,^(t)
     from the snares^(u) they have laid for me.
¹⁰ Let the wicked fall^(v) into their own nets,
     while I pass by in safety.^(w)

³ When my spirit grows faint^(f) within me,
     it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
     people have hidden a snare for me.
⁴ Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
     no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;^(g)
     no one cares^(h) for my life.

⁵ I cry to you, Lord ;
     I say, "You are my refuge,⁽ⁱ⁾
     my portion^(j) in the land of the living."^(k)

⁶ Listen to my cry,^(l)
     for I am in desperate need;^(m)
rescue me⁽ⁿ⁾ from those who pursue me,
     for they are too strong^(o) for me.
⁷ Set me free from my prison,^(p)
     that I may praise your name.^(q)
Then the righteous will gather about me
     because of your goodness to me.^(r)

⁷ Answer me quickly,^(l) Lord ;
     my spirit fails.^(m)
Do not hide your face⁽ⁿ⁾ from me
     or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
⁸ Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,^(o)
     for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way^(p) I should go,
     for to you I entrust my life.^(q)
9 Rescue me^(r) from my enemies,^(s) Lord ,
     for I hide myself in you.
¹⁰ Teach me^(t) to do your will,
     for you are my God;^(u)
may your good Spirit
     lead^(v) me on level ground.^(w)

¹¹ For your name's sake,^(x) Lord , preserve my life;^(y)
     in your righteousness,^(z) bring me out of trouble.
¹² In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;^(aa)
     destroy all my foes,^(ab)
     for I am your servant.^(ac)

³  Lord , what are human beings^(f) that you care for them,
     mere mortals that you think of them?
⁴ They are like a breath;^(g)
     their days are like a fleeting shadow.^(h)

⁵ Part your heavens,⁽ⁱ⁾ Lord , and come down;^(j)
     touch the mountains, so that they smoke.^(k)
6 Send forth lightning^(l) and scatter^(m) the enemy;
     shoot your arrows⁽ⁿ⁾ and rout them.
⁷ Reach down your hand from on high;^(o)
     deliver me and rescue me^(p)
from the mighty waters,^(q)
     from the hands of foreigners^(r)
8 whose mouths are full of lies,^(s)
     whose right hands^(t) are deceitful.^(u)

⁹ I will sing a new song^(v) to you, my God;
     on the ten-stringed lyre^(w) I will make music to you,
¹⁰ to the One who gives victory to kings,^(x)
     who delivers his servant David.^(y)

From the deadly sword^{(z) 11} deliver me;
     rescue me^(aa) from the hands of foreigners^(ab)
whose mouths are full of lies,^(ac)
     whose right hands are deceitful.^(ad)

¹² Then our sons in their youth
     will be like well-nurtured plants,^(ae)
and our daughters will be like pillars^(af)
     carved to adorn a palace.
¹³ Our barns will be filled^(ag)
     with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
     by tens of thousands in our fields;
¹⁴       our oxen^(ah) will draw heavy loads.^[b]
There will be no breaching of walls,^(ai)
     no going into captivity,
     no cry of distress in our streets.^(aj)
15 Blessed is the people^(ak) of whom this is true;
     blessed is the people whose God is the Lord .

³ Great^(f) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;^(g)
     his greatness no one can fathom.^(h)
4 One generation⁽ⁱ⁾ commends your works to another;
     they tell^(j) of your mighty acts.^(k)
5 They speak of the glorious splendor^(l) of your majesty—
     and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[b](m)
6 They tell⁽ⁿ⁾ of the power of your awesome works—^(o)
     and I will proclaim^(p) your great deeds.^(q)
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness^(r)
     and joyfully sing^(s) of your righteousness.^(t)

⁸ The Lord is gracious and compassionate,^(u)
     slow to anger and rich in love.^(v)

⁹ The Lord is good^(w) to all;
     he has compassion^(x) on all he has made.
¹⁰ All your works praise you,^(y) Lord ;
     your faithful people extol^(z) you.^(aa)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom^(ab)
     and speak of your might,^(ac)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts^(ad)
     and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.^(ae)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,^(af)
     and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy^(ag) in all he promises^(ah)
     and faithful in all he does.^[c]
14 The Lord upholds^(ai) all who fall
     and lifts up all^(aj) who are bowed down.^(ak)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
     and you give them their food^(al) at the proper time.
¹⁶ You open your hand
     and satisfy the desires^(am) of every living thing.

¹⁷ The Lord is righteous^(an) in all his ways
     and faithful in all he does.^(ao)
18 The Lord is near^(ap) to all who call on him,^(aq)
     to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desires^(ar) of those who fear him;^(as)
     he hears their cry^(at) and saves them.^(au)
20 The Lord watches over^(av) all who love him,^(aw)
     but all the wicked he will destroy.^(ax)

²¹ My mouth will speak^(ay) in praise of the Lord .
     Let every creature^(az) praise his holy name^(ba)
     for ever and ever.

Praise the Lord ,^(a) my soul.

² I will praise the Lord all my life;^(b)
     I will sing praise^(c) to my God as long as I live.^(d)
3 Do not put your trust in princes,^(e)
     in human beings,^(f) who cannot save.
⁴ When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;^(g)
     on that very day their plans come to nothing.^(h)
5 Blessed are those⁽ⁱ⁾ whose help^(j) is the God of Jacob,
     whose hope is in the Lord their God.

⁶ He is the Maker of heaven^(k) and earth,
     the sea, and everything in them—
     he remains faithful^(l) forever.
⁷ He upholds^(m) the cause of the oppressed⁽ⁿ⁾
     and gives food to the hungry.^(o)
The Lord sets prisoners free,^(p)
8       the Lord gives sight^(q) to the blind,^(r)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,^(s)
     the Lord loves the righteous.^(t)
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner^(u)
     and sustains the fatherless^(v) and the widow,^(w)
     but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

¹⁰ The Lord reigns^(x) forever,
     your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord .