ESV: Chronological Reading Guide

May 9: 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:01:00 -0400

2 Samuel 8-9 (Listen)

David's Victories

8:1 After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.

David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.

When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze. These also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

David's Officials

So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people. Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was secretary, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David's sons were priests.

David's Kindness to Mephibosheth

9:1 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants. So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king's table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

1 Chronicles 18 (Listen)

David Defeats His Enemies

18:1 After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines.

And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.

David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah-Hamath, as he went to set up his monument at the river Euphrates. And David took from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough for 100 chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze. With it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze.

When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, he sent his son Hadoram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him; for Hadadezer had often been at war with Tou. And he sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze. These also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.

And Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

David's Administration

So David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and equity to all his people. And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; and Shavsha was secretary; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were the chief officials in the service of the king. (ESV)

Footnotes

[1] 8:18 Compare 20:23, 1 Chronicles 18:17, Syriac, Targum, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks was over
[2] 9:11 Septuagint; Hebrew my
[3] 18:3 Hebrew hand
[4] 18:6 Septuagint, Vulgate, 2 Samuel 8:6 (compare Syriac); Hebrew lacks garrisons
[5] 18:6 Hebrew the Lord saved David; also verse 13

This reading plan is copyright Back to the Bible.

May 8: Psalm 25, Psalm 29, Psalm 33, Psalm 36, Psalm 39

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:01:00 -0400

Psalm 25 (Listen)

Teach Me Your Paths

Of David.

25:1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
  let me not be put to shame;
  let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
  they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
  teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
  for you are the God of my salvation;
  for you I wait all the day long.

Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
  for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
  according to your steadfast love remember me,
  for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

Good and upright is the LORD;
  therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
  and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
  for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

For your name's sake, O LORD,
  pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the LORD?
  Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being,
  and his offspring shall inherit the land.
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
  and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
  for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
  for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
  bring me out of my distresses.
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
  and forgive all my sins.

Consider how many are my foes,
  and with what violent hatred they hate me.
Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
  Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
  for I wait for you.

Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.

Psalm 29 (Listen)

Ascribe to the LORD Glory

A Psalm of David.

29:1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
  the God of glory thunders,
  the LORD, over many waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
  the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
May the LORD give strength to his people!
May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Psalm 33 (Listen)

The Steadfast Love of the LORD

33:1 Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!
  Praise befits the upright.
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
  make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to him a new song;
  play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

For the word of the LORD is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts the deeps in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
  he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
  the plans of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
  the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

The LORD looks down from heaven;
  he sees all the children of man;
from where he sits enthroned he looks out
  on all the inhabitants of the earth,
he who fashions the hearts of them all
  and observes all their deeds.
The king is not saved by his great army;
  a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
  and by its great might it cannot rescue.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD;
  he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
  because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
  even as we hope in you.

Psalm 36 (Listen)

How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love

To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD.

36:1 Transgression speaks to the wicked
  deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God
  before his eyes.
For he flatters himself in his own eyes
  that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
  he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
He plots trouble while on his bed;
  he sets himself in a way that is not good;
  he does not reject evil.

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
  your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
  your judgments are like the great deep;
  man and beast you save, O LORD.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
  The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
  and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
  in your light do we see light.

Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
  and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
  nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
There the evildoers lie fallen;
  they are thrust down, unable to rise.

Psalm 39 (Listen)

What Is the Measure of My Days?

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

39:1 I said, “I will guard my ways,
  that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,
  so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
I was mute and silent;
  I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
  My heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
  then I spoke with my tongue:

“O LORD, make me know my end
  and what is the measure of my days;
  let me know how fleeting I am!
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
  and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!     Selah
  Surely a man goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;
  man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
  My hope is in you.
Deliver me from all my transgressions.
  Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
  for it is you who have done it.
Remove your stroke from me;
  I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
When you discipline a man
  with rebukes for sin,
you consume like a moth what is dear to him;
  surely all mankind is a mere breath!     Selah

“Hear my prayer, O LORD,
  and give ear to my cry;
  hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am a sojourner with you,
  a guest, like all my fathers.
Look away from me, that I may smile again,
  before I depart and am no more!” (ESV)

Footnotes

[1] 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
[2] 25:14 Or The secret counsel
[3] 29:1 Hebrew sons of God, or sons of might
[4] 29:2 Or in holy attire
[5] 29:9 Revocalization yields makes the oaks to shake
[6] 29:11 Or The Lord will give . . . The Lord will bless
[7] 36:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, Jerome (compare Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts in my heart
[8] 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath

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May 7: 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:01:00 -0400

2 Samuel 7 (Listen)

God's Covenant with David

7:1 Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”

But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

David's Prayer of Gratitude

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O LORD, became their God. And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

1 Chronicles 17 (Listen)

The LORD's Covenant with David

17:1 Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.” And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the LORD will build you a house. When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’” In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

David's Prayer

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, O LORD God! And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant. For your servant's sake, O LORD, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. There is none like you, O LORD, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and awesome things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt? And you made your people Israel to be your people forever, and you, O LORD, became their God. And now, O LORD, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have spoken, and your name will be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel's God,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. And now, O LORD, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you, for it is you, O LORD, who have blessed, and it is blessed forever.” (ESV)

Footnotes

[1] 7:7 Compare 1 Chronicles 17:6; Hebrew tribes
[2] 7:16 Septuagint; Hebrew you
[3] 7:23 With a few Targums, Vulgate, Syriac; Hebrew you
[4] 7:23 Septuagint (compare 1 Chronicles 17:21); Hebrew for your land
[5] 17:17 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
[6] 17:21 Septuagint, Vulgate other

This reading plan is copyright Back to the Bible.

May 6: Psalm 89, Psalm 96, Psalm 100, Psalm 101, Psalm 105, Psalm 132

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:01:00 -0400

Psalm 89 (Listen)

I Will Sing of the Steadfast Love of the LORD

A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

89:1 I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever;
  with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
  in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
  I have sworn to David my servant:
‘I will establish your offspring forever,
  and build your throne for all generations.’”     Selah

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
  your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?
  Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,
a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
  and awesome above all who are around him?
O LORD God of hosts,
  who is mighty as you are, O LORD,
  with your faithfulness all around you?
You rule the raging of the sea;
  when its waves rise, you still them.
You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
  you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;
  the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.
The north and the south, you have created them;
  Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
You have a mighty arm;
  strong is your hand, high your right hand.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
  steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
  who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,
who exult in your name all the day
  and in your righteousness are exalted.
For you are the glory of their strength;
  by your favor our horn is exalted.
For our shield belongs to the LORD,
  our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said:
  “I have granted help to one who is mighty;
  I have exalted one chosen from the people.
I have found David, my servant;
  with my holy oil I have anointed him,
so that my hand shall be established with him;
  my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him;
  the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him
  and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,
  and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea
  and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
  my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
And I will make him the firstborn,
  the highest of the kings of the earth.
My steadfast love I will keep for him forever,
  and my covenant will stand firm for him.
I will establish his offspring forever
  and his throne as the days of the heavens.
If his children forsake my law
  and do not walk according to my rules,
if they violate my statutes
  and do not keep my commandments,
then I will punish their transgression with the rod
  and their iniquity with stripes,
but I will not remove from him my steadfast love
  or be false to my faithfulness.
I will not violate my covenant
  or alter the word that went forth from my lips.
Once for all I have sworn by my holiness;
  I will not lie to David.
His offspring shall endure forever,
  his throne as long as the sun before me.
Like the moon it shall be established forever,
  a faithful witness in the skies.”     Selah

But now you have cast off and rejected;
  you are full of wrath against your anointed.
You have renounced the covenant with your servant;
  you have defiled his crown in the dust.
You have breached all his walls;
  you have laid his strongholds in ruins.
All who pass by plunder him;
  he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
  you have made all his enemies rejoice.
You have also turned back the edge of his sword,
  and you have not made him stand in battle.
You have made his splendor to cease
  and cast his throne to the ground.
You have cut short the days of his youth;
  you have covered him with shame.     Selah

How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever?
  How long will your wrath burn like fire?
Remember how short my time is!
  For what vanity you have created all the children of man!
What man can live and never see death?
  Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?     Selah

Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,
  which by your faithfulness you swore to David?
Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked,
  and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations,
with which your enemies mock, O LORD,
  with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed.

Blessed be the LORD forever!
Amen and Amen.

Psalm 96 (Listen)

Worship in the Splendor of Holiness

96:1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
  sing to the LORD, all the earth!
Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
  tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
  his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
  he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
  but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
  strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
  ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
  bring an offering, and come into his courts!
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
  tremble before him, all the earth!

Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
  let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
  let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
  before the LORD, for he comes,
  for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
  and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Psalm 100 (Listen)

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

A Psalm for giving thanks.

100:1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 101 (Listen)

I Will Walk with Integrity

A Psalm of David.

101:1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice;
  to you, O LORD, I will make music.
I will ponder the way that is blameless.
  Oh when will you come to me?
I will walk with integrity of heart
  within my house;
I will not set before my eyes
  anything that is worthless.
I hate the work of those who fall away;
  it shall not cling to me.
A perverse heart shall be far from me;
  I will know nothing of evil.

Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly
I will destroy.
Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart
I will not endure.

I will look with favor on the faithful in the land,
that they may dwell with me;
he who walks in the way that is blameless
shall minister to me.

No one who practices deceit
shall dwell in my house;
no one who utters lies
shall continue before my eyes.

Morning by morning I will destroy
all the wicked in the land,
cutting off all the evildoers
from the city of the LORD.

Psalm 105 (Listen)

Tell of All His Wonderful Works

105:1 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
  make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
  tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name;
  let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
Seek the LORD and his strength;
  seek his presence continually!
Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
  his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
  children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

He is the LORD our God;
  his judgments are in all the earth.
He remembers his covenant forever,
  the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
the covenant that he made with Abraham,
  his sworn promise to Isaac,
which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
  to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
  as your portion for an inheritance.”

When they were few in number,
  of little account, and sojourners in it,
wandering from nation to nation,
  from one kingdom to another people,
he allowed no one to oppress them;
  he rebuked kings on their account,
saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
  do my prophets no harm!”

When he summoned a famine on the land
  and broke all supply of bread,
he had sent a man ahead of them,
  Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
His feet were hurt with fetters;
  his neck was put in a collar of iron;
until what he had said came to pass,
  the word of the LORD tested him.
The king sent and released him;
  the ruler of the peoples set him free;
he made him lord of his house
  and ruler of all his possessions,
to bind his princes at his pleasure
  and to teach his elders wisdom.

Then Israel came to Egypt;
  Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
And the LORD made his people very fruitful
  and made them stronger than their foes.
He turned their hearts to hate his people,
  to deal craftily with his servants.

He sent Moses, his servant,
  and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
They performed his signs among them
  and miracles in the land of Ham.
He sent darkness, and made the land dark;
  they did not rebel against his words.
He turned their waters into blood
  and caused their fish to die.
Their land swarmed with frogs,
  even in the chambers of their kings.
He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
  and gnats throughout their country.
He gave them hail for rain,
  and fiery lightning bolts through their land.
He struck down their vines and fig trees,
  and shattered the trees of their country.
He spoke, and the locusts came,
  young locusts without number,
which devoured all the vegetation in their land
  and ate up the fruit of their ground.
He struck down all the firstborn in their land,
  the firstfruits of all their strength.

Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,
and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
Egypt was glad when they departed,
for dread of them had fallen upon it.

He spread a cloud for a covering,
  and fire to give light by night.
They asked, and he brought quail,
  and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
  it flowed through the desert like a river.
For he remembered his holy promise,
  and Abraham, his servant.

So he brought his people out with joy,
  his chosen ones with singing.
And he gave them the lands of the nations,
  and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil,
that they might keep his statutes
  and observe his laws.
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 132 (Listen)

The LORD Has Chosen Zion

A Song of Ascents.

132:1 Remember, O LORD, in David's favor,
  all the hardships he endured,
how he swore to the LORD
  and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
“I will not enter my house
  or get into my bed,
I will not give sleep to my eyes
  or slumber to my eyelids,
until I find a place for the LORD,
  a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
“Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool!”

Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place,
  you and the ark of your might.
Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
  and let your saints shout for joy.
For the sake of your servant David,
  do not turn away the face of your anointed one.

The LORD swore to David a sure oath
  from which he will not turn back:
“One of the sons of your body
  I will set on your throne.
If your sons keep my covenant
  and my testimonies that I shall teach them,
their sons also forever
  shall sit on your throne.”

For the LORD has chosen Zion;
  he has desired it for his dwelling place:
“This is my resting place forever;
  here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
I will abundantly bless her provisions;
  I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Her priests I will clothe with salvation,
  and her saints will shout for joy.
There I will make a horn to sprout for David;
  I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
  but on him his crown will shine.” (ESV)

Footnotes

[1] 89:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
[2] 89:6 Hebrew the sons of God, or the sons of might
[3] 89:19 Some Hebrew manuscripts godly ones
[4] 89:28 Or will remain faithful
[5] 89:30 Or my just decrees
[6] 89:50 Hebrew lacks the insults
[7] 96:9 Or in holy attire
[8] 100:3 Or and not we ourselves
[9] 105:16 Hebrew staff
[10] 105:22 Septuagint, Syriac, Jerome instruct
[11] 105:28 Septuagint, Syriac omit not
[12] 132:11 Hebrew of your fruit of the womb

This reading plan is copyright Back to the Bible.

May 5: Psalms 1-2, Psalm 15, Psalms 22-24, Psalm 47, Psalm 68

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:01:00 -0400

Psalms 1-2 (Listen)

Book One

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1:1 Blessed is the man
  who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
  nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
  and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
  planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
  and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
  but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

The Reign of the LORD's Anointed

2:1 Why do the nations rage
  and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
  and the rulers take counsel together,
  against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
  and cast away their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
  the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
  and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King
  on Zion, my holy hill.”

I will tell of the decree:
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
  today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
  and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
  and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
  be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
  and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
  lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
  for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 15 (Listen)

Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?

A Psalm of David.

15:1 O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
  and speaks truth in his heart;
who does not slander with his tongue
  and does no evil to his neighbor,
  nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
  but who honors those who fear the LORD;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
who does not put out his money at interest
  and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.

Psalms 22-24 (Listen)

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.

22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest.

Yet you are holy,
  enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our fathers trusted;
  they trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they cried and were rescued;
  in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

But I am a worm and not a man,
  scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
  they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
“He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him;
  let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

Yet you are he who took me from the womb;
  you made me trust you at my mother's breasts.
On you was I cast from my birth,
  and from my mother's womb you have been my God.
Be not far from me,
  for trouble is near,
  and there is none to help.

Many bulls encompass me;
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.

I am poured out like water,
  and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
  it is melted within my breast;
my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
  and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
  you lay me in the dust of death.

For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.

But you, O LORD, do not be far off!
  O you my help, come quickly to my aid!
Deliver my soul from the sword,
  my precious life from the power of the dog!
  Save me from the mouth of the lion!
You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

I will tell of your name to my brothers;
  in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
You who fear the LORD, praise him!
  All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,
  and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
For he has not despised or abhorred
  the affliction of the afflicted,
and he has not hidden his face from him,
  but has heard, when he cried to him.

From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
  my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;
  those who seek him shall praise the LORD!
  May your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth shall remember
  and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
  shall worship before you.
For kingship belongs to the LORD,
  and he rules over the nations.

All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;
  before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
  even the one who could not keep himself alive.
Posterity shall serve him;
  it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,
  that he has done it.

The LORD Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
  He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
  He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
  for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
  I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
  your rod and your staff,
  they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
  in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
  my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
  all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
  forever.

The King of Glory

A Psalm of David.

24:1 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
  And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
  who does not lift up his soul to what is false
  and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the LORD
  and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
  who seek the face of the God of Jacob.     Selah

Lift up your heads, O gates!
  And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
  that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
  The LORD, strong and mighty,
  the LORD, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
  And lift them up, O ancient doors,
  that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
  The LORD of hosts,
  he is the King of glory!     Selah

Psalm 47 (Listen)

God Is King over All the Earth

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

47:1 Clap your hands, all peoples!
  Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
  a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
  and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
  the pride of Jacob whom he loves.     Selah

God has gone up with a shout,
  the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
  Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth;
  sing praises with a psalm!

God reigns over the nations;
  God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
  as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
  he is highly exalted!

Psalm 68 (Listen)

God Shall Scatter His Enemies

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.

68:1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
  and those who hate him shall flee before him!
As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
  as wax melts before fire,
  so the wicked shall perish before God!
But the righteous shall be glad;
  they shall exult before God;
  they shall be jubilant with joy!

Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
  lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the LORD;
  exult before him!
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
  is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the solitary in a home;
  he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
  but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

O God, when you went out before your people,
  when you marched through the wilderness,     Selah
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
  before God, the One of Sinai,
  before God, the God of Israel.
Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
  you restored your inheritance as it languished;
your flock found a dwelling in it;
  in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

The Lord gives the word;
  the women who announce the news are a great host:
  “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home divide the spoil—
  though you men lie among the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
  its pinions with shimmering gold.
When the Almighty scatters kings there,
  let snow fall on Zalmon.

O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
  O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
  at the mount that God desired for his abode,
  yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
  thousands upon thousands;
  the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
You ascended on high,
  leading a host of captives in your train
  and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.

Blessed be the Lord,
  who daily bears us up;
  God is our salvation.     Selah
Our God is a God of salvation,
  and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
  the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
The Lord said,
  “I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
that you may strike your feet in their blood,
  that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”

Your procession is seen, O God,
  the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
the singers in front, the musicians last,
  between them virgins playing tambourines:
“Bless God in the great congregation,
  the LORD, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”
There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
  the princes of Judah in their throng,
  the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

Summon your power, O God,
  the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
Because of your temple at Jerusalem
  kings shall bear gifts to you.
Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
  the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
  scatter the peoples who delight in war.
Nobles shall come from Egypt;
  Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
  sing praises to the Lord,     Selah
to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
  behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God,
  whose majesty is over Israel,
  and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
  the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God! (ESV)

Footnotes

[1] 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see preface
[2] 1:2 Or instruction
[3] 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble
[4] 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule
[5] 22:3 Or dwelling in the praises
[6] 22:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts like a lion [they are at] my hands and feet
[7] 22:21 Hebrew answered
[8] 22:26 Or The meek
[9] 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest
[10] 23:3 Or in right paths
[11] 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness
[12] 23:6 Or Only
[13] 23:6 Or steadfast love
[14] 23:6 Or shall return to dwell
[15] 23:6 Hebrew for length of days
[16] 24:1 Or and all that fills it
[17] 24:6 Septuagint, Syriac, and two Hebrew manuscripts; Masoretic Text Jacob, who seek your face
[18] 47:7 Hebrew maskil
[19] 68:10 Or your congregation
[20] 68:15 Or hunch-backed; also verse 16
[21] 68:24 Or has been
[22] 68:26 The Hebrew for you is plural here
[23] 68:28 Probable reading; Hebrew Your God has summoned your power
[24] 68:30 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
[25] 68:35 Septuagint; Hebrew your