Bible Reading Plan – Day 104

₁My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

I have cried desperately for help,

but still it does not come.

₂During the day I call to you, my God,

but you do not answer;

I call at night,

but get no rest.

₃But you are enthroned as the Holy One,

the one whom Israel praises.

₄Our ancestors put their trust in you;

they trusted you, and you saved them.

₅They called to you and escaped from danger;

they trusted you and were not disappointed.

₆But I am no longer a human being; I am a worm,

despised and scorned by everyone!

₇All who see me jeer at me;

they stick out their tongues and shake their heads.

₈“You relied on the LORD,” they say.

“Why doesn't he save you?

If the LORD likes you,

why doesn't he help you?”

₉It was you who brought me safely through birth,

and when I was a baby, you kept me safe.

₁₀I have relied on you since the day I was born,

and you have always been my God.

₁₁Do not stay away from me!

Trouble is near,

and there is no one to help.

₁₂Many enemies surround me like bulls;

they are all round me,

like fierce bulls from the land of Bashan.

₁₃They open their mouths like lions,

roaring and tearing at me.

₁₄My strength is gone,

gone like water spilt on the ground.

All my bones are out of joint;

my heart is like melted wax.

₁₅My throat is as dry as dust,

and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

You have left me for dead in the dust.

₁₆An evil gang is round me;

like a pack of dogs they close in on me;

they tear at my hands and feet.

₁₇All my bones can be seen.

My enemies look at me and stare.

₁₈They gamble for my clothes

and divide them among themselves.

₁₉O LORD, don't stay away from me!

Come quickly to my rescue!

₂₀Save me from the sword;

save my life from these dogs.

₂₁Rescue me from these lions;

I am helpless before these wild bulls.

₂₂I will tell my people what you have done;

I will praise you in their assembly:

₂₃“Praise him, you servants of the LORD!

Honour him, you descendants of Jacob!

Worship him, you people of Israel!

₂₄He does not neglect the poor or ignore their suffering;

he does not turn away from them,

but answers when they call for help.”

₂₅In the full assembly I will praise you for what you have done;

in the presence of those who worship you

I will offer the sacrifices I promised.

₂₆The poor will eat as much as they want;

those who come to the LORD will praise him.

May they prosper for ever!

₂₇All nations will remember the LORD.

From every part of the world they will turn to him;

all races will worship him.

₂₈The LORD is king,

and he rules the nations.

₂₉All proud people will bow down to him;

all mortals will bow down before him.

₃₀Future generations will serve him;

they will speak of the Lord to the coming generation.

₃₁People not yet born will be told:

“The Lord saved his people.”

₁The LORD is my shepherd;

I have everything I need.

₂He lets me rest in fields of green grass

and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.

₃He gives me new strength.

He guides me in the right paths,

as he has promised.

₄Even if I go through the deepest darkness,

I will not be afraid, LORD,

for you are with me.

Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me.

₅You prepare a banquet for me,

where all my enemies can see me;

you welcome me as an honoured guest

and fill my cup to the brim.

₆I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life;

and your house will be my home as long as I live.

₁The world and all that is in it belong to the LORD;

the earth and all who live on it are his.

₂He built it on the deep waters beneath the earth

and laid its foundations in the ocean depths.

₃Who has the right to go up the LORD's hill?

Who may enter his holy Temple?

₄Those who are pure in act and in thought,

who do not worship idols

or make false promises.

₅The LORD will bless them and save them;

God will declare them innocent.

₆Such are the people who come to God,

who come into the presence of the God of Jacob.

₇Fling wide the gates,

open the ancient doors,

and the great king will come in.

₈Who is this great king?

He is the LORD, strong and mighty,

the LORD, victorious in battle.

₉Fling wide the gates,

open the ancient doors,

and the great king will come in.

₁₀Who is this great king?

The triumphant LORD — he is the great king!

₁To you, O LORD, I offer my prayer;

₂in you, my God, I trust.

Save me from the shame of defeat;

don't let my enemies gloat over me!

₃Defeat does not come to those who trust in you,

but to those who are quick to rebel against you.

₄Teach me your ways, O LORD;

make them known to me.

₅Teach me to live according to your truth,

for you are my God, who saves me.

I always trust in you.

₆Remember, O LORD, your kindness and constant love

which you have shown from long ago.

₇Forgive the sins and errors of my youth.

In your constant love and goodness,

remember me, LORD!

₈Because the LORD is righteous and good,

he teaches sinners the path they should follow.

₉He leads the humble in the right way

and teaches them his will.

₁₀With faithfulness and love he leads

all who keep his covenant and obey his commands.

₁₁Keep your promise, LORD, and forgive my sins,

for they are many.

₁₂Those who have reverence for the LORD

will learn from him the path they should follow.

₁₃They will always be prosperous,

and their children will possess the land.

₁₄The LORD is the friend of those who obey him

and he affirms his covenant with them.

₁₅I look to the LORD for help at all times,

and he rescues me from danger.

₁₆Turn to me, LORD, and be merciful to me,

because I am lonely and weak.

₁₇Relieve me of my worries

and save me from all my troubles.

₁₈Consider my distress and suffering

and forgive all my sins.

₁₉See how many enemies I have;

see how much they hate me.

₂₀Protect me and save me;

keep me from defeat.

I come to you for safety.

₂₁May my goodness and honesty preserve me,

because I trust in you.

₂₂From all their troubles, O God,

save your people Israel!

₁Declare me innocent, O LORD,

because I do what is right

and trust you completely.

₂Examine me and test me, LORD;

judge my desires and thoughts.

₃Your constant love is my guide;

your faithfulness always leads me.

₄I do not keep company with worthless people;

I have nothing to do with hypocrites.

₅I hate the company of the evil

and avoid the wicked.

₆LORD, I wash my hands to show that I am innocent

and march in worship round your altar.

₇I sing a hymn of thanksgiving

and tell of all your wonderful deeds.

₈I love the house where you live, O LORD,

the place where your glory dwells.

₉Do not destroy me with the sinners;

spare me from the fate of murderers —

₁₀those who do evil all the time

and are always ready to take bribes.

₁₁As for me, I do what is right;

be merciful to me and save me!

₁₂I am safe from all dangers;

in the assembly of his people I praise the LORD.

₁The LORD is my light and my salvation;

I will fear no one.

The LORD protects me from all danger;

I will never be afraid.

₂When evil people attack me and try to kill me,

they stumble and fall.

₃Even if a whole army surrounds me,

I will not be afraid;

even if enemies attack me,

I will still trust God.

₄I have asked the LORD for one thing;

one thing only do I want:

to live in the LORD's house all my life,

to marvel there at his goodness,

and to ask for his guidance.

₅In times of trouble he will shelter me;

he will keep me safe in his Temple

and make me secure on a high rock.

₆So I will triumph over my enemies around me.

With shouts of joy I will offer sacrifices in his Temple;

I will sing, I will praise the LORD.

₇Hear me, LORD, when I call to you!

Be merciful and answer me!

₈When you said, “Come and worship me,”

I answered, “I will come, LORD;

₉don't hide yourself from me!”

Don't be angry with me;

don't turn your servant away.

You have been my help;

don't leave me, don't abandon me,

O God, my saviour.

₁₀My father and mother may abandon me,

but the LORD will take care of me.

₁₁Teach me, LORD, what you want me to do,

and lead me along a safe path,

because I have many enemies.

₁₂Don't abandon me to my enemies,

who attack me with lies and threats.

₁₃I know that I will live to see

the LORD's goodness in this present life.

₁₄Trust in the LORD.

Have faith, do not despair.

Trust in the LORD.

₁O LORD, my defender, I call to you.

Listen to my cry!

If you do not answer me,

I will be among those who go down to the world of the dead.

₂Hear me when I cry to you for help,

when I lift my hands towards your holy Temple.

₃Do not condemn me with the wicked,

with those who do evil —

those whose words are friendly,

but who have hatred in their hearts.

₄Punish them for what they have done,

for the evil they have committed.

Punish them for all their deeds;

give them what they deserve!

₅They take no notice of what the LORD has done

or of what he has made;

so he will punish them

and destroy them for ever.

₆Give praise to the LORD;

he has heard my cry for help.

₇The LORD protects and defends me;

I trust in him.

He gives me help and makes me glad;

I praise him with joyful songs.

₈The LORD protects his people;

he defends and saves his chosen king.

₉Save your people, LORD,

and bless those who are yours.

Be their shepherd,

and take care of them for ever.