Bible Society of South Africa

Bible Reading Plan – Day 103

Bible text(s)

Psalms 18

David's Song of Victory

1How I love you, LORD!

You are my defender.

2The LORD is my protector;

he is my strong fortress.

My God is my protection,

and with him I am safe.

He protects me like a shield;

he defends me and keeps me safe.

3I call to the LORD,

and he saves me from my enemies.

Praise the LORD!

4The danger of death was all round me;

the waves of destruction rolled over me.

5The danger of death was round me,

and the grave set its trap for me.

6In my trouble I called to the LORD;

I called to my God for help.

In his temple he heard my voice;

he listened to my cry for help.

7Then the earth trembled and shook;

the foundations of the mountains rocked and quivered,

because God was angry.

8Smoke poured out of his nostrils,

a consuming flame and burning coals from his mouth.

9He tore the sky apart and came down

with a dark cloud under his feet.

10He flew swiftly on a winged creature;

he travelled on the wings of the wind.

11He covered himself with darkness;

thick clouds, full of water, surrounded him.

12Hailstones and flashes of fire

came from the lightning before him

and broke through the dark clouds.

13Then the LORD thundered from the sky;

and the voice of the Most High was heard.

14He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;

with flashes of lightning he sent them running.

15The floor of the ocean was laid bare,

and the foundations of the earth were uncovered,

when you rebuked your enemies, LORD,

and roared at them in anger.

16The LORD reached down from above and took hold of me;

he pulled me out of the deep waters.

17He rescued me from my powerful enemies

and from all those who hate me —

they were too strong for me.

18When I was in trouble, they attacked me,

but the LORD protected me.

19He helped me out of danger;

he saved me because he was pleased with me.

20The LORD rewards me because I do what is right;

he blesses me because I am innocent.

21I have obeyed the law of the LORD;

I have not turned away from my God.

22I have observed all his laws;

I have not disobeyed his commands.

23He knows that I am faultless,

that I have kept myself from doing wrong.

24And so he rewards me because I do what is right,

because he knows that I am innocent.

25O LORD, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you;

completely good to those who are perfect.

26You are pure to those who are pure,

but hostile to those who are wicked.

27You save those who are humble,

but you humble those who are proud.

28O LORD, you give me light;

you dispel my darkness.

29You give me strength to attack my enemies

and power to overcome their defences.

30This God — how perfect are his deeds!

How dependable his words!

He is like a shield

for all who seek his protection.

31The LORD alone is God;

God alone is our defence.

32He is the God who makes me strong,

who makes my pathway safe.

33He makes me sure-footed as a deer;

he keeps me safe on the mountains.

34He trains me for battle,

so that I can use the strongest bow.

35O LORD, you protect me and save me;

your care has made me great,

and your power has kept me safe.

36You have kept me from being captured,

and I have never fallen.

37I pursue my enemies and catch them;

I do not stop until I destroy them.

38I strike them down, and they cannot rise;

they lie defeated before me.

39You give me strength for the battle

and victory over my enemies.

40You make my enemies run from me;

I destroy those who hate me.

41They cry for help, but no one saves them;

they call to the LORD, but he does not answer.

42I crush them, so that they become like dust

which the wind blows away.

I trample on them like mud in the streets.

43You saved me from a rebellious people

and made me ruler over the nations;

people I did not know have now become my subjects.

44Foreigners bow before me;

when they hear me, they obey.

45They lose their courage

and come trembling from their fortresses.

46The LORD lives! Praise my defender!

Proclaim the greatness of the God who saves me.

47He gives me victory over my enemies;

he subdues the nations under me

48and saves me from my foes.

O LORD, you give me victory over my enemies

and protect me from violent people.

49And so I praise you among the nations;

I sing praises to you.

50God gives great victories to his king;

he shows constant love to the one he has chosen,

to David and his descendants for ever.

Psalms 19

God's Glory in Creation

1How clearly the sky reveals God's glory!

How plainly it shows what he has done!

2Each day announces it to the following day;

each night repeats it to the next.

3No speech or words are used,

no sound is heard;

4yet their message goes out to all the world

and is heard to the ends of the earth.

God made a home in the sky for the sun;

5it comes out in the morning like a happy bridegroom,

like an athlete eager to run a race.

6It starts at one end of the sky

and goes across to the other.

Nothing can hide from its heat.

The Law of the LORD

7The law of the LORD is perfect;

it gives new strength.

The commands of the LORD are trustworthy,

giving wisdom to those who lack it.

8The laws of the LORD are right,

and those who obey them are happy.

The commands of the LORD are just

and give understanding to the mind.

9Reverence for the LORD is good;

it will continue for ever.

The judgements of the LORD are just;

they are always fair.

10They are more desirable than the finest gold;

they are sweeter than the purest honey.

11They give knowledge to me, your servant;

I am rewarded for obeying them.

12No one can see his own errors;

deliver me, LORD, from hidden faults!

13Keep me safe, also, from wilful sins;

don't let them rule over me.

Then I shall be perfect

and free from the evil of sin.

14May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you,

O LORD, my refuge and my redeemer!

Psalms 20

A Prayer for Victory

1May the LORD answer you when you are in trouble!

May the God of Jacob protect you!

2May he send you help from his Temple

and give you aid from Mount Zion.

3May he accept all your offerings

and be pleased with all your sacrifices.

4May he give you what you desire

and make all your plans succeed.

5Then we will shout for joy over your victory

and celebrate your triumph by praising our God.

May the LORD answer all your requests.

6Now I know that the LORD gives victory to his chosen king;

he answers him from his holy heaven

and by his power gives him great victories.

7Some trust in their war chariots

and others in their horses,

but we trust in the power of the LORD our God.

8Such people will stumble and fall,

but we will rise and stand firm.

9Give victory to the king, O LORD;

answer us when we call.

Psalms 21

Praise for Victory

1The king is glad, O LORD, because you gave him strength;

he rejoices because you made him victorious.

2You have given him his heart's desire;

you have answered his request.

3You came to him with great blessings

and set a crown of gold on his head.

4He asked for life, and you gave it,

a long and lasting life.

5His glory is great because of your help;

you have given him fame and majesty.

6Your blessings are with him for ever

and your presence fills him with joy.

7The king trusts in the LORD Almighty;

and because of the LORD's constant love

he will always be secure.

8The king will capture all his enemies;

he will capture everyone who hates him.

9He will destroy them like a blazing fire

when he appears.

The LORD will devour them in his anger,

and fire will consume them.

10None of their descendants will survive;

the king will kill them all.

11They make their plans, and plot against him,

but they will not succeed.

12He will shoot his arrows at them

and make them turn and run.

13We praise you, LORD, for your great strength!

We will sing and praise your power.

Psalms 18:1-21:13GNBOpen in Bible reader
Bible Society of South Africav.4.26.9
Find us on