Bible Society of South Africa

Bible Reading Plan – Day 104

Bible text(s)

Psalms 22

A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise

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.”

Psalms 23

The LORD our Shepherd

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.

Psalms 24

The Great King

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!

Psalms 25

A Prayer for Guidance and Protection

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!

Psalms 26

The Prayer of a Good Person

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.

Psalms 27

A Prayer of Praise

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.

Psalms 28

A Prayer for Help

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.

Psalms 22:1-28:9GNBOpen in Bible reader
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