Bible in Bits: October 2011

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Psalm 103

Bless the LORD, O my soul:

and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits:

who forgives all your iniquities;

who heals all your diseases;

who redeems your life from destruction;

who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies;

who satisfies your mouth with good things;

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD executes righteousness

and judgment for all that are oppressed.

He made known his ways unto Moses,

his acts unto the children of Israel.

The LORD is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide:

neither will he keep his anger for ever.

He has not dealt with us after our sins;

nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth,

so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pities his children,

so the LORD pities them that fear him.

For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are as grass:

as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone;

and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

upon them that fear him,

and his righteousness unto children's children;

to such as keep his covenant,

and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens;

and his kingdom rules over all.

Bless the LORD, ye his angels,

that excel in strength,

that do his commandments,

hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts;

ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

Bless the LORD, all his works

in all places of his dominion:

bless the LORD, O my soul.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Psalm 102

Hear my prayer, O LORD,

and let my cry come unto you.

Hide not your face from me

in the day when I am in trouble;

incline your ear unto me:

in the day when I call answer me speedily.

For my days are consumed like smoke,

and my bones are burned as a hearth.

My heart is smitten, and withered like grass;

so that I forget to eat my bread.

By reason of the voice of my groaning

my bones cleave to my skin.

I am like a pelican of the wilderness:

I am like an owl of the desert.

I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the housetop.

Mine enemies reproach me all the day;

and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

For I have eaten ashes like bread,

and mingled my drink with weeping,

because of your indignation and your wrath:

for you have lifted me up, and cast me down.

My days are like a shadow that declines;

and I am withered like grass.

But you, O LORD, shalt endure for ever;

and your remembrance unto all generations.

You shall arise, and have mercy upon Zion:

for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come.

For your servants take pleasure in her stones,

and favour the dust thereof.

So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD,

and all the kings of the earth your glory.

When the LORD shall build up Zion,

he shall appear in his glory.

He will regard the prayer of the destitute,

and not despise their prayer.

This shall be written for the generation to come:

and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary;

from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

to hear the groaning of the prisoner;

to loose those that are appointed to death;

to declare the name of the LORD in Zion,

and his praise in Jerusalem;

when the people are gathered together,

and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

He weakened my strength in the way;

he shortened my days.

I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days:

your years are throughout all generations.

Of old have you laid the foundation of the earth:

and the heavens are the work of your hands.

They shall perish, but you shall endure:

yes, all of them shall wax old like a garment;

as a vesture shall you change them,

and they shall be changed:

but you are the same,

and your years shall have no end.

The children of your servants shall continue,

and their seed shall be established before you.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Psalm 101

I will sing of mercy and judgment:

unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.

I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way.

O when will you come unto me?

I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:

I hate the work of them that turn aside;

it shall not cleave to me.

A perverse heart shall depart from me:

I will not know a wicked person.

Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him will I cut off:

him that has a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land,

that they may dwell with me:

he that walks in a perfect way,

he shall serve me.

He that works deceit shall not dwell within my house:

he that tells lies shall not tarry in my sight.

I will early destroy all the wicked of the land;

that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness:

come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Psalm 99

The LORD reigns;

let the people tremble:

he sits between the cherubim;

let the earth be moved.

The LORD is great in Zion;

and he is high above all the people.

Let them praise your great and terrible name;

for it is holy.

The king's strength also loves judgment;

you establish equity,

you execute judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

Exalt ye the LORD our God,

and worship at his footstool;

for he is holy.

Moses and Aaron among his priests,

and Samuel among them that call upon his name;

they called upon the LORD,

and he answered them.

He spoke unto them in the cloudy pillar:

they kept his testimonies,

and the ordinance that he gave them.

You answered them, O LORD our God:

you were a God that forgave them,

though you took vengeance of their inventions.

Exalt the LORD our God,

and worship at his holy hill;

for the LORD our God is holy

Monday, October 24, 2011

Psalm 98

O sing unto the LORD a new song;

for he has done marvelous things:

his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

The LORD has made known his salvation:

his righteousness has he openly showed in the sight of the heathen.

He has remembered his mercy and his truth

toward the house of Israel:

all the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth:

make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Sing unto the LORD with the harp;

with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

With trumpets and sound of cornet

make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;

the world, and they that dwell therein.

Let the floods clap their hands:

let the hills be joyful together

before the LORD;

for he comes to judge the earth:

with righteousness shall he judge the world,

and the people with equity.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Psalm 95

The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice;

let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

Clouds and darkness are round about him:

righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

A fire goes before him,

and burns up his enemies round about.

His lightnings enlightened the world:

the earth saw, and trembled.

The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD,

at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

The heavens declare his righteousness,

and all the people see his glory.

Confounded be all they that serve graven images,

that boast themselves of idols:

worship him, all ye gods.

Zion heard, and was glad;

and the daughters of Judah rejoiced

because of your judgments, O LORD.

For you, LORD, are high above all the earth:

you are exalted far above all gods.

You that love the LORD, hate evil:

he preserves the souls of his saints;

he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

Light is sown for the righteous,

and gladness for the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous;

and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Psalm 94

O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs;

O God, to whom vengeance belongs, show yourself.

Lift up yourself, you judge of the earth:

render a reward to the proud.

LORD, how long shall the wicked,

how long shall the wicked triumph?

How long shall they utter and speak hard things?

and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?

They break in pieces your people, O LORD,

and afflict thine heritage.

They slay the widow and the stranger,

and murder the fatherless.

Yet they say, The LORD shall not see,

neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

Understand, ye brutish among the people:

and ye fools, when will ye be wise?

He that planted the ear, shall he not hear?

He that formed the eye, shall he not see?

He that chastises the heathen, shall not he correct?

He that teaches man knowledge, shall not he know?

The LORD knows the thoughts of man,

that they are vanity.

Blessed is the man whom you chasten, O LORD,

and teach him out of your law;

that you may give him rest from the days of adversity,

until the pit be digged for the wicked.

For the LORD will not cast off his people,

neither will he forsake his inheritance.

But judgment shall return unto righteousness:

and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?

Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

Unless the LORD had been my help,

my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

When I said, My foot slips;

your mercy, O LORD, held me up.

In the multitude of my thoughts within me

your comforts delight my soul.

Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with you,

which frames mischief by a law?

They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous,

and condemn the innocent blood.

But the LORD is my defense;

and my God is the rock of my refuge.

And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity,

and shall cut them off in their own wickedness;

yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Psalm 93

The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty;

the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself:

the world also is stablished,

that it cannot be moved.

Thy throne is established of old:

thou art from everlasting.

The floods have lifted up, O LORD,

the floods have lifted up their voice;

the floods lift up their waves.

The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters,

yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

Thy testimonies are very sure:

holiness becometh thine house,

O LORD, for ever.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Psalm 92

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD,

and to sing praises unto your name, O Most High:

to show forth your loving-kindness in the morning,

and your faithfulness every night,

upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery;

upon the harp with a solemn sound.

For you, LORD, have made me glad through your work:

I will triumph in the works of your hands.

O LORD, how great are your works!

And your thoughts are very deep.

A brutish man knows not;

neither does a fool understand this.

When the wicked spring as the grass,

and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish;

it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:

but you, LORD, are most high for evermore.

For, lo, your enemies, O LORD,

for, lo, your enemies shall perish;

all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

But my horn shall you exalt like the horn of a unicorn:

I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

Mine eye also shall see my desire on my enemies,

and my ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree:

he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Those that be planted in the house of the LORD

shall flourish in the courts of our God.

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;

they shall be fat and flourishing;

to show that the LORD is upright:

he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Psalm 91

He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD,

He is my refuge and my fortress:

my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler,

and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings shall you trust:

his truth shall be your shield and buckler.

You shall not be afraid for the terror by night;

nor for the arrow that flies by day;

nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness;

nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at your side,

and ten thousand at your right hand;

but it shall not come near you.

Only with thine eyes shall you behold

and see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD, which is my refuge,

even the Most High, your habitation;

there shall no evil befall you,

neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over you,

to keep you in all your ways.

They shall bear you up in their hands,

lest you dash your foot against a stone.

You shall tread upon the lion and adder:

the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet.

Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:

I will set him on high, because he has known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him,

and show him my salvation.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Psalm 90

LORD, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth,

or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

You turn man to destruction;

and say, Return, ye children of men.

For a thousand years in thy sight

are but as yesterday when it is past,

and as a watch in the night.

You carry them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep:

in the morning they are like grass which grows up.

In the morning it flourishes, and grows up;

in the evening it is cut down, and withers.

For we are consumed by your anger,

and by your wrath are we troubled.

You have set our iniquities before you,

our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

For all our days are passed away in your wrath:

we spend our years as a tale that is told.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten;

and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years,

yet is their strength labour and sorrow;

for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Who knows the power of your anger?

Even according to your fear, so is your wrath.

So teach us to number our days,

that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Return, O LORD, how long?

And let it repent you concerning your servants.

O satisfy us early with your mercy;

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Make us glad according to the days wherein you have afflicted us,

and the years wherein we have seen evil.

Let your work appear unto your servants,

and your glory unto their children.

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us:

and establish you the work of our hands upon us;

yea, the work of our hands establish you it.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Psalm 89

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever:

with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever:

your faithfulness shall you establish in the very heavens.

I have made a covenant with my chosen,

I have sworn unto David my servant,

Your seed will I establish for ever,

and build up your throne to all generations.

And the heavens shall praise your wonders, O LORD:

your faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD?

Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,

and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

O LORD God of hosts,

who is a strong LORD like unto yo?

or to your faithfulness round about you?

You rule the raging of the sea:

when the waves thereof arise, you still them.

You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain;

you have scattered your enemies with your strong arm.

The heavens are yours,

the earth also is yours:

as for the world and the fulness thereof,

you have founded them.

The north and the south you have created them:

Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in your name.

You have a mighty arm:

strong is your hand,

and high is your right hand.

Justice and judgment are the habitation of your throne:

mercy and truth shall go before your face.

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound:

they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance.

In your name shall they rejoice all the day:

and in your righteousness shall they be exalted.

For you are the glory of their strength:

and in your favor our horn shall be exalted.

For the LORD is our defense;

and the Holy One of Israel is our King.

Then you spoke in vision to your holy one, and said,

I have laid help upon one that is mighty;

I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

I have found David my servant;

with my holy oil have I anointed him:

with whom my hand shall be established:

my arm also shall strengthen him.

The enemy shall not exact upon him;

nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

And I will beat down his foes before his face,

and plague them that hate him.

But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him:

and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

I will set his hand also in the sea,

and his right hand in the rivers.

He shall cry unto me, You are my father,

my God, and the rock of my salvation.

Also I will make him my firstborn,

higher than the kings of the earth.

My mercy will I keep for him for evermore,

and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

His seed also will I make to endure for ever,

and his throne as the days of heaven.

If his children forsake my law,

and walk not in my judgments;

if they break my statutes,

and keep not my commandments;

then will I visit their transgression with the rod,

and their iniquity with stripes.

Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him,

nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

My covenant will I not break,

nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

Once have I sworn by my holiness

that I will not lie unto David.

His seed shall endure for ever,

and his throne as the sun before me.

It shall be established for ever as the moon,

and as a faithful witness in heaven.

But you have cast off and abhorred,

you have been angry with your anointed.

You have made void the covenant of your servant:

you have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

You have broken down all his hedges;

you have brought his strongholds to ruin.

All that pass by the way spoil him:

he is a reproach to his neighbors.

You have set up the right hand of his adversaries;

you have made all his enemies to rejoice.

You have also turned the edge of his sword,

and have not made him to stand in the battle.

You have made his glory to cease,

and cast his throne down to the ground.

The days of his youth have you shortened:

you have covered him with shame.

How long, LORD?

Will you hide yourself for ever?

Shall your wrath burn like fire?

Remember how short my time is:

wherefore have you made all men in vain?

What man is he that lives, and shall not see death?

Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?

Lord, where are your former loving-kindnesses,

which you swore unto David in your truth?

Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants;

how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;

wherewith your enemies have reproached, O LORD;

wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of your anointed.

Blessed be the LORD for evermore.

Amen, and Amen.