Bible Reading Plan

² Why do the nations say,
     "Where is their God?"^(d)
3 Our God is in heaven;^(e)
     he does whatever pleases him.^(f)
4 But their idols are silver and gold,^(g)
     made by human hands.^(h)
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,⁽ⁱ⁾
     eyes, but cannot see.
⁶ They have ears, but cannot hear,
     noses, but cannot smell.
⁷ They have hands, but cannot feel,
     feet, but cannot walk,
     nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
     and so will all who trust in them.

⁹ All you Israelites, trust^(j) in the Lord —
     he is their help and shield.
¹⁰ House of Aaron,^(k) trust in the Lord —
     he is their help and shield.
¹¹ You who fear him,^(l) trust in the Lord —
     he is their help and shield.

¹² The Lord remembers^(m) us and will bless us:⁽ⁿ⁾
     He will bless his people Israel,
     he will bless the house of Aaron,
¹³ he will bless those who fear^(o) the Lord —
     small and great alike.

¹⁴ May the Lord cause you to flourish,^(p)
     both you and your children.
¹⁵ May you be blessed by the Lord ,
     the Maker of heaven^(q) and earth.

¹⁶ The highest heavens belong to the Lord ,^(r)
     but the earth he has given^(s) to mankind.
¹⁷ It is not the dead^(t) who praise the Lord ,
     those who go down to the place of silence;
¹⁸ it is we who extol the Lord ,^(u)
     both now and forevermore.^(v)

Praise the Lord .^[a](w)

³ The cords of death^(e) entangled me,
     the anguish of the grave came over me;
     I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called on the name^(f) of the Lord :
     " Lord , save me!^(g)"

⁵ The Lord is gracious and righteous;^(h)
     our God is full of compassion.^(i)
6 The Lord protects the unwary;
     when I was brought low,^(j) he saved me.^(k)

⁷ Return to your rest,^(l) my soul,
     for the Lord has been good^(m) to you.

⁸ For you, Lord , have delivered me⁽ⁿ⁾ from death,
     my eyes from tears,
     my feet from stumbling,
⁹ that I may walk before the Lord ^(o)
     in the land of the living.^(p)

¹⁰ I trusted^(q) in the Lord when I said,
     "I am greatly afflicted";^(r)
11 in my alarm I said,
     "Everyone is a liar."^(s)

¹² What shall I return to the Lord
     for all his goodness^(t) to me?

¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
     and call on the name^(u) of the Lord .
¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows^(v) to the Lord
     in the presence of all his people.

¹⁵ Precious in the sight^(w) of the Lord
     is the death of his faithful servants.^(x)
16 Truly I am your servant, Lord ;^(y)
     I serve you just as my mother did;^(z)
     you have freed me from my chains.^(aa)

¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering^(ab) to you
     and call on the name of the Lord .
¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows^(ac) to the Lord
     in the presence of all his people,
¹⁹ in the courts^(ad) of the house of the Lord —
     in your midst, Jerusalem.^(ae)

Praise the Lord .^[a]

Praise the Lord .^[a]

² Let Israel say:^(d)
     "His love endures forever."^(e)
3 Let the house of Aaron say:^(f)
     "His love endures forever."
⁴ Let those who fear the Lord ^(g) say:
     "His love endures forever."

⁵ When hard pressed,^(h) I cried to the Lord ;
     he brought me into a spacious place.^(i)
6 The Lord is with me;^(j) I will not be afraid.
     What can mere mortals do to me?^(k)
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.^(l)
     I look in triumph on my enemies.^(m)

⁸ It is better to take refuge in the Lord ⁽ⁿ⁾
     than to trust in humans.^(o)
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
     than to trust in princes.^(p) <