Psalms and Proverbs in a Month – read today’s “Psalms and Proverbs in a Month” excerpt

This page updates daily, automatically switching between Bible reading plans for Psalms and Proverbs in a Month and Psalms in 30 Days, depending on the number of days in the current month.

reading plan entry for day #17

Psalm 79 ()

A Psalm by Asaph.

[1] God, the nations have come into your inheritance.
They have defiled your holy temple.
They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
[2] They have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky,
the flesh of your saints to the animals of the earth.
[3] They have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem.
There was no one to bury them.
[4] We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.
[5] How long, Yahweh?
Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
[6] Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you,
on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name,
[7] for they have devoured Jacob,
and destroyed his homeland.
[8] Don’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us.
Let your tender mercies speedily meet us,
for we are in desperate need.
[9] Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name.
Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.
[10] Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Let it be known among the nations, before our eyes,
that vengeance for your servants’ blood is being poured out.
[11] Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you.
According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.
[12] Pay back to our neighbors seven times into their bosom
their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.
[13] So we, your people and sheep of your pasture,
will give you thanks forever.
We will praise you forever, to all generations.

Psalm 80 ()

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm by Asaph.

[1] Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock,
you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.
[2] Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up your might!
Come to save us!
[3] Turn us again, God.
Cause your face to shine,
and we will be saved.

[4] Yahweh God of Armies,
how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people?
[5] You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in large measure.
[6] You make us a source of contention to our neighbors.
Our enemies laugh among themselves.
[7] Turn us again, God of Armies.
Cause your face to shine,
and we will be saved.

[8] You brought a vine out of Egypt.
You drove out the nations, and planted it.
[9] You cleared the ground for it.
It took deep root, and filled the land.
[10] The mountains were covered with its shadow.
Its boughs were like God’s cedars.
[11] It sent out its branches to the sea,
its shoots to the River.
[12] Why have you broken down its walls,
so that all those who pass by the way pluck it?
[13] The boar out of the wood ravages it.
The wild animals of the field feed on it.
[14] Turn again, we beg you, God of Armies.
Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine,
[15] the stock which your right hand planted,
the branch that you made strong for yourself.
[16] It’s burned with fire.
It’s cut down.
They perish at your rebuke.
[17] Let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
on the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.
[18] So we will not turn away from you.
Revive us, and we will call on your name.
[19] Turn us again, Yahweh God of Armies.
Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.

Psalm 81 ()

For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph.

[1] Sing aloud to God, our strength!
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob!
[2] Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine,
the pleasant lyre with the harp.
[3] Blow the trumpet at the New Moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.
[4] For it is a statute for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
[5] He appointed it in Joseph for a covenant,
when he went out over the land of Egypt,
I heard a language that I didn’t know.
[6] “I removed his shoulder from the burden.
His hands were freed from the basket.
[7] You called in trouble, and I delivered you.
I answered you in the secret place of thunder.
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.”
Selah.

[8] “Hear, my people, and I will testify to you,
Israel, if you would listen to me!
[9] There shall be no strange god in you,
neither shall you worship any foreign god.
[10] I am Yahweh, your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
[11] But my people didn’t listen to my voice.
Israel desired none of me.
[12] So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts,
that they might walk in their own counsels.
[13] Oh that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
[14] I would soon subdue their enemies,
and turn my hand against their adversaries.
[15] The haters of Yahweh would cringe before him,
and their punishment would last forever.
[16] But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat.
I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”

Psalm 82 ()

A Psalm by Asaph.

[1] God presides in the great assembly.
He judges among the gods.
[2] “How long will you judge unjustly,
and show partiality to the wicked?”
Selah.

[3] “Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless.
Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
[4] Rescue the weak and needy.
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”
[5] They don’t know, neither do they understand.
They walk back and forth in darkness.
All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
[6] I said, “You are gods,
all of you are sons of the Most High.
[7] Nevertheless you shall die like men,
and fall like one of the rulers.”
[8] Arise, God, judge the earth,
for you inherit all of the nations.

Proverbs 17 ()

[1] Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
than a house full of feasting with strife.
[2] A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame,
and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
[3] The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold,
but Yahweh tests the hearts.
[4] An evildoer heeds wicked lips.
A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
[5] Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.
He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
[6] Children’s children are the crown of old men;
the glory of children is their parents.
[7] Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool,
much less do lying lips fit a prince.
[8] A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it;
wherever he turns, he prospers.
[9] He who covers an offense promotes love;
but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
[10] A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding
than a hundred lashes into a fool.
[11] An evil man seeks only rebellion;
therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
[12] Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man,
rather than a fool in his folly.
[13] Whoever rewards evil for good,
evil shall not depart from his house.
[14] The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam,
therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
[15] He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous,
both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
[16] Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
since he has no understanding?
[17] A friend loves at all times;
and a brother is born for adversity.
[18] A man void of understanding strikes hands,
and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
[19] He who loves disobedience loves strife.
One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
[20] One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity,
and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
[21] He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.
The father of a fool has no joy.
[22] A cheerful heart makes good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
[23] A wicked man receives a bribe in secret,
to pervert the ways of justice.
[24] Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding,
but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
[25] A foolish son brings grief to his father,
and bitterness to her who bore him.
[26] Also to punish the righteous is not good,
nor to flog officials for their integrity.
[27] He who spares his words has knowledge.
He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
[28] Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.
When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.