the Fourth Week after Easter
Click to donate today!
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
July 23 - Straight Thru the Bible
niv
Psalms 141:1-145:7
Chapter 141
Psalm 141
A psalm of David.
1 I call to you,
Lord
, come quickly(a) to me;
hear me(b) when I call to you.
2 May my prayer be set before you like incense;(c)
may the lifting up of my hands(d) be like the evening sacrifice.(e)
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)
Chapter 142
Psalm 142[a]
A maskil[b] of David. When he was in the cave.(a) A prayer.
1 I cry aloud(b) to the
Lord
;
I lift up my voice to the
Lord
for mercy.(c)
2 I pour out before him my complaint;(d)
before him I tell my trouble.(e)
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)
Chapter 143
Psalm 143
A psalm of David.
1
Lord
, hear my prayer,(a)
listen to my cry for mercy;(b)
in your faithfulness(c) and righteousness(d)
come to my relief.
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous(e) before you.
3 The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness(f)
like those long dead.(g)
4 So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.(h)
5 I remember(i) the days of long ago;
I meditate(j) on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands(k) to you;
I thirst for you like a parched land.[a]
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)
Chapter 144
Psalm 144
Of David.
1 Praise be to the
Lord
my Rock,(a)
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
2 He is my loving God and my fortress,(b)
my stronghold(c) and my deliverer,
my shield,(d) in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples[a](e) under me.
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
.
Chapter 145
Psalm 145[a]
A psalm of praise. Of David.
1 I will exalt you,(a) my God the King;(b)
I will praise your name(c) for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise(d) you
and extol your name(e) for ever and ever.
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)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
