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 #15

Psalm 73 ()

A Psalm by Asaph.

[1] Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
[2] But as for me, my feet were almost gone.
My steps had nearly slipped.
[3] For I was envious of the arrogant,
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
[4] For there are no struggles in their death,
but their strength is firm.
[5] They are free from burdens of men,
neither are they plagued like other men.
[6] Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck.
Violence covers them like a garment.
[7] Their eyes bulge with fat.
Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
[8] They scoff and speak with malice.
In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
[9] They have set their mouth in the heavens.
Their tongue walks through the earth.
[10] Therefore their people return to them,
and they drink up waters of abundance.
[11] They say, “How does God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
[12] Behold, these are the wicked.
Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
[13] Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
and washed my hands in innocence,
[14] For all day long I have been plagued,
and punished every morning.
[15] If I had said, “I will speak thus”,
behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
[16] When I tried to understand this,
it was too painful for me—
[17] until I entered God’s sanctuary,
and considered their latter end.
[18] Surely you set them in slippery places.
You throw them down to destruction.
[19] How they are suddenly destroyed!
They are completely swept away with terrors.
[20] As a dream when one wakes up,
so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
[21] For my soul was grieved.
I was embittered in my heart.
[22] I was so senseless and ignorant.
I was a brute beast before you.
[23] Nevertheless, I am continually with you.
You have held my right hand.
[24] You will guide me with your counsel,
and afterward receive me to glory.
[25] Whom do I have in heaven?
There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
[26] My flesh and my heart fails,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
[27] For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish.
You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
[28] But it is good for me to come close to God.
I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.

Psalm 73:1 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
Psalm 73:20 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
Psalm 73:28 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.

Psalm 74 ()

A contemplation by Asaph.

[1] God, why have you rejected us forever?
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
[2] Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old,
which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance:
Mount Zion, in which you have lived.
[3] Lift up your feet to the perpetual ruins,
all the evil that the enemy has done in the sanctuary.
[4] Your adversaries have roared in the middle of your assembly.
They have set up their standards as signs.
[5] They behaved like men wielding axes,
cutting through a thicket of trees.
[6] Now they break all its carved work down with hatchet and hammers.
[7] They have burned your sanctuary to the ground.
They have profaned the dwelling place of your Name.
[8] They said in their heart, “We will crush them completely.”
They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.
[9] We see no miraculous signs.
There is no longer any prophet,
neither is there among us anyone who knows how long.
[10] How long, God, shall the adversary reproach?
Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
[11] Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand?
Take it from your chest and consume them!

[12] Yet God is my King of old,
working salvation throughout the earth.
[13] You divided the sea by your strength.
You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
[14] You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces.
You gave him as food to people and desert creatures.
[15] You opened up spring and stream.
You dried up mighty rivers.
[16] The day is yours, the night is also yours.
You have prepared the light and the sun.
[17] You have set all the boundaries of the earth.
You have made summer and winter.

[18] Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, Yahweh.
Foolish people have blasphemed your name.
[19] Don’t deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts.
Don’t forget the life of your poor forever.
[20] Honor your covenant,
for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth.
[21] Don’t let the oppressed return ashamed.
Let the poor and needy praise your name.
[22] Arise, God! Plead your own cause.
Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.
[23] Don’t forget the voice of your adversaries.
The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually.

Psalm 75 ()

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Psalm by Asaph. A song.

[1] We give thanks to you, God.
We give thanks, for your Name is near.
Men tell about your wondrous works.

[2] When I choose the appointed time,
I will judge blamelessly.
[3] The earth and all its inhabitants quake.
I firmly hold its pillars.
Selah.

[4] I said to the arrogant, “Don’t boast!”
I said to the wicked, “Don’t lift up the horn.
[5] Don’t lift up your horn on high.
Don’t speak with a stiff neck.”
[6] For neither from the east, nor from the west,
nor yet from the south, comes exaltation.
[7] But God is the judge.
He puts down one, and lifts up another.
[8] For in Yahweh’s hand there is a cup,
full of foaming wine mixed with spices.
He pours it out.
Indeed the wicked of the earth drink and drink it to its very dregs.

[9] But I will declare this forever:
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
[10] I will cut off all the horns of the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.

Psalm 76 ()

For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm by Asaph. A song.

[1] In Judah, God is known.
His name is great in Israel.
[2] His tabernacle is also in Salem.
His dwelling place in Zion.
[3] There he broke the flaming arrows of the bow,
the shield, and the sword, and the weapons of war.
Selah.

[4] Glorious are you, and excellent,
more than mountains of game.
[5] Valiant men lie plundered,
they have slept their last sleep.
None of the men of war can lift their hands.
[6] At your rebuke, God of Jacob,
both chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
[7] You, even you, are to be feared.
Who can stand in your sight when you are angry?
[8] You pronounced judgment from heaven.
The earth feared, and was silent,
[9] when God arose to judgment,
to save all the afflicted ones of the earth.
Selah.

[10] Surely the wrath of man praises you.
The survivors of your wrath are restrained.
[11] Make vows to Yahweh your God, and fulfill them!
Let all of his neighbors bring presents to him who is to be feared.
[12] He will cut off the spirit of princes.
He is feared by the kings of the earth.

Proverbs 15 ()

[1] A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
[2] The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools gush out folly.
[3] Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
[4] A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
[5] A fool despises his father’s correction,
but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
[6] In the house of the righteous is much treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
[7] The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so with the heart of fools.
[8] The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
[9] The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,
but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
[10] There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way.
Whoever hates reproof shall die.
[11] Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh—
how much more then the hearts of the children of men!
[12] A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
[13] A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
[14] The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
[15] All the days of the afflicted are wretched,
but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
[16] Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh,
than great treasure with trouble.
[17] Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is,
than a fattened calf with hatred.
[18] A wrathful man stirs up contention,
but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
[19] The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
[20] A wise son makes a father glad,
but a foolish man despises his mother.
[21] Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom,
but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
[22] Where there is no counsel, plans fail;
but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
[23] Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth.
How good is a word at the right time!
[24] The path of life leads upward for the wise,
to keep him from going downward to Sheol.
[25] Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud,
but he will keep the widow’s borders intact.
[26] Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
[27] He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
but he who hates bribes will live.
[28] The heart of the righteous weighs answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
[29] Yahweh is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
[30] The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.
Good news gives health to the bones.
[31] The ear that listens to reproof lives,
and will be at home among the wise.
[32] He who refuses correction despises his own soul,
but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
[33] The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom.
Before honor is humility.

Proverbs 15:11 Sheol is the place of the dead.
Proverbs 15:24 Sheol is the place of the dead.