Jul 6 - Psalms 120-131
Psalms
1I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.2Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.3What will he do to you, and what more besides, O deceitful tongue?4He will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom tree.5Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!6Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.7I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
1I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?2My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.3He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber;4indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.5The LORD watches over you- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;6the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.7The LORD will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life;8the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
1I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."2Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem.3Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.4That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel.5There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David.6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure.7May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels."8For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you."9For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.
1I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.2As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy.3Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.4We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant.
1If the LORD had not been on our side- let Israel say-2if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us,3when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive;4the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,5the raging waters would have swept us away.6Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.7We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.8Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
1Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.2As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.3The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.4Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.5But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.
1When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.2Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."3The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.4Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.5Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.6He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
1Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.2In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat- for he grants sleep to those he loves.3Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.4Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.5Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
1Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.2You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.3Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.4Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.5May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,6and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel.
1They have greatly oppressed me from my youth- let Israel say-2they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.3Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.4But the LORD is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.5May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.6May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow;7with it the reaper cannot fill his hands, nor the one who gathers fill his arms.8May those who pass by not say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you; we bless you in the name of the LORD."
1Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;2O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.3If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?4But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.5I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.6My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.7O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.8He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
1My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.2But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.3O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.