To The Word – Day 223

₁God is our shelter and strength,

always ready to help in times of trouble.

₂So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken

and mountains fall into the ocean depths;

₃even if the seas roar and rage,

and the hills are shaken by the violence.

₄There is a river that brings joy to the city of God,

to the sacred house of the Most High.

₅God is in that city, and it will never be destroyed;

at early dawn he will come to its aid.

₆Nations are terrified, kingdoms are shaken;

God thunders, and the earth dissolves.

₇The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

₈Come and see what the LORD has done.

See what amazing things he has done on earth.

₉He stops wars all over the world;

he breaks bows, destroys spears,

and sets shields on fire.

₁₀“Stop fighting,” he says, “and know that I am God,

supreme among the nations,

supreme over the world.”

₁₁The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

₁Give thanks to the LORD, because he is good,

and his love is eternal.

₂Let the people of Israel say,

“His love is eternal.”

₃Let the priests of God say,

“His love is eternal.”

₄Let all who worship him say,

“His love is eternal.”

₅In my distress I called to the LORD;

he answered me and set me free.

₆The LORD is with me, I will not be afraid;

what can anyone do to me?

₇It is the LORD who helps me,

and I will see my enemies defeated.

₈It is better to trust in the LORD

than to depend on human beings.

₉It is better to trust in the LORD

than to depend on human leaders.

₁₀Many enemies were round me;

but I destroyed them by the power of the LORD!

₁₁They were round me on every side;

but I destroyed them by the power of the LORD!

₁₂They swarmed round me like bees,

but they burnt out as quickly as a fire among thorns;

by the power of the LORD I destroyed them.

₁₃I was fiercely attacked and was being defeated,

but the LORD helped me.

₁₄The LORD makes me powerful and strong;

he has saved me.

₁₅Listen to the glad shouts of victory in the tents of God's people:

“The LORD's mighty power has done it!

₁₆His power has brought us victory —

his mighty power in battle!”

₁₇I will not die; instead, I will live

and proclaim what the LORD has done.

₁₈He has punished me severely,

but he has not let me die.

₁₉Open to me the gates of the Temple;

I will go in and give thanks to the LORD!

₂₀This is the gate of the LORD;

only the righteous can come in.

₂₁I praise you, LORD, because you heard me,

because you have given me victory.

₂₂The stone which the builders rejected as worthless

turned out to be the most important of all.

₂₃This was done by the LORD;

what a wonderful sight it is!

₂₄This is the day of the LORD's victory;

let us be happy, let us celebrate!

₂₅Save us, LORD, save us!

Give us success, O LORD!

₂₆May God bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD!

From the Temple of the LORD we bless you.

₂₇The LORD is God; he has been good to us.

With branches in your hands, start the festival

and march round the altar.

₂₈You are my God, and I give you thanks;

I will proclaim your greatness.

₂₉Give thanks to the LORD, because he is good,

and his love is eternal.

₁When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD,

and he answered me.

₂Save me, LORD,

from liars and deceivers.

₃You liars, what will God do to you?

How will he punish you?

₄With a soldier's sharp arrows,

with red-hot charcoal!

₅Living among you is as bad as living in Meshech

or among the people of Kedar.

₆I have lived too long

with people who hate peace!

₇When I speak of peace,

they are for war.