Comfort from the Word – Day 37

₂The LORD is restoring Jerusalem;

he is bringing back the exiles.

₃He heals the broken-hearted

and bandages their wounds.

₄He has decided the number of the stars

and calls each one by name.

₅Great and mighty is our Lord;

his wisdom cannot be measured.

₆He raises the humble,

but crushes the wicked to the ground.

₄₉Remember your promise to me, your servant;

it has given me hope.

₅₀Even in my suffering I was comforted

because your promise gave me life.

₁LORD, I have given up my pride

and turned away from my arrogance.

I am not concerned with great matters

or with subjects too difficult for me.

₂Instead, I am content and at peace.

As a child lies quietly in its mother's arms,

so my heart is quiet within me.

₃Israel, trust in the LORD

now and for ever!

₁When the LORD brought us back to Jerusalem,

it was like a dream!

₂How we laughed, how we sang for joy!

Then the other nations said about us,

“The LORD did great things for them.”

₃Indeed he did great things for us;

how happy we were!

₄LORD, make us prosperous again,

just as the rain brings water back to dry riverbeds.

₅Let those who wept as they sowed their seed,

gather the harvest with joy!

₆Those who wept as they went out carrying the seed

will come back singing for joy,

as they bring in the harvest.

₁Praise the LORD!

Praise his name, you servants of the LORD,

₂who stand in the LORD's house,

in the Temple of our God.

₃Praise the LORD, because he is good;

sing praises to his name, because he is kind.

₄He chose Jacob for himself,

the people of Israel for his own.

₅I know that our LORD is great,

greater than all the gods.

₆He does whatever he wishes

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and in the depths below.

₇He brings storm clouds from the ends of the earth;

he makes lightning for the storms,

and he brings out the wind from his storeroom.

₈In Egypt he killed all the firstborn

of people and animals alike.

₉There he performed miracles and wonders

to punish the king and all his officials.

₁₀He destroyed many nations

and killed powerful kings:

₁₁Sihon, king of the Amorites,

Og, king of Bashan,

and all the kings in Canaan.

₁₂He gave their lands to his people;

he gave them to Israel.

₁₃LORD, you will always be proclaimed as God;

all generations will remember you.

₁₄The LORD will defend his people;

he will take pity on his servants.

₁₅The gods of the nations are made of silver and gold;

they are formed by human hands.

₁₆They have mouths, but cannot speak,

and eyes, but cannot see.

₁₇They have ears, but cannot hear;

they are not even able to breathe.

₁₈May all who made them and who trust in them

become like the idols they have made!

₁₉Praise the LORD, people of Israel;

praise him, you priests of God!

₂₀Praise the LORD, you Levites;

praise him, all you that worship him!

₂₁Praise the LORD in Zion,

in Jerusalem, his home.

Praise the LORD!

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.