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 #9

Psalm 42 ()

For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah.

[1] As the deer pants for the water brooks,
so my soul pants after you, God.
[2] My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
[3] My tears have been my food day and night,
while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
[4] These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me,
how I used to go with the crowd, and led them to God’s house,
with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a holy day.
[5] Why are you in despair, my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God!
For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence.
[6] My God, my soul is in despair within me.
Therefore I remember you from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon, from the hill Mizar.
[7] Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls.
All your waves and your billows have swept over me.

[8] Yahweh will command his loving kindness in the daytime.
In the night his song shall be with me:
a prayer to the God of my life.
[9] I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
[10] As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me,
while they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
[11] Why are you in despair, my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God! For I shall still praise him,
the saving help of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 42:1 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
Psalm 42:8 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.

Psalm 43 ()

[1] Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation.
Oh, deliver me from deceitful and wicked men.
[2] For you are the God of my strength. Why have you rejected me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
[3] Oh, send out your light and your truth.
Let them lead me.
Let them bring me to your holy hill,
to your tents.
[4] Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God, my exceeding joy.
I will praise you on the harp, God, my God.
[5] Why are you in despair, my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God!
For I shall still praise him:
my Savior, my helper, and my God.

Psalm 44 ()

For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm.

[1] We have heard with our ears, God;
our fathers have told us what work you did in their days,
in the days of old.
[2] You drove out the nations with your hand,
but you planted them.
You afflicted the peoples,
but you spread them abroad.
[3] For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword,
neither did their own arm save them;
but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face,
because you were favorable to them.
[4] God, you are my King.
Command victories for Jacob!
[5] Through you, we will push down our adversaries.
Through your name, we will tread down those who rise up against us.
[6] For I will not trust in my bow,
neither will my sword save me.
[7] But you have saved us from our adversaries,
and have shamed those who hate us.
[8] In God we have made our boast all day long.
We will give thanks to your name forever.
Selah.

[9] But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor,
and don’t go out with our armies.
[10] You make us turn back from the adversary.
Those who hate us take plunder for themselves.
[11] You have made us like sheep for food,
and have scattered us among the nations.
[12] You sell your people for nothing,
and have gained nothing from their sale.
[13] You make us a reproach to our neighbors,
a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.
[14] You make us a byword among the nations,
a shaking of the head among the peoples.
[15] All day long my dishonor is before me,
and shame covers my face,
[16] at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses,
because of the enemy and the avenger.
[17] All this has come on us,
yet we haven’t forgotten you.
We haven’t been false to your covenant.
[18] Our heart has not turned back,
neither have our steps strayed from your path,
[19] though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals,
and covered us with the shadow of death.
[20] If we have forgotten the name of our God,
or spread out our hands to a strange god,
[21] won’t God search this out?
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
[22] Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long.
We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.
[23] Wake up!
Why do you sleep, Lord?
Arise!
Don’t reject us forever.
[24] Why do you hide your face,
and forget our affliction and our oppression?
[25] For our soul is bowed down to the dust.
Our body clings to the earth.
[26] Rise up to help us.
Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.

Psalm 44:23 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”

Psalm 45 ()

For the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song.

[1] My heart overflows with a noble theme.
I recite my verses for the king.
My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
[2] You are the most excellent of the sons of men.
Grace has anointed your lips,
therefore God has blessed you forever.
[3] Strap your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your splendor and your majesty.
[4] In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness.
Let your right hand display awesome deeds.
[5] Your arrows are sharp.
The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king’s enemies.
[6] Your throne, God, is forever and ever.
A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
[7] You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
[8] All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia.
Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
[9] Kings’ daughters are among your honorable women.
At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.
[10] Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear.
Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.
[11] So the king will desire your beauty,
honor him, for he is your lord.
[12] The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift.
The rich among the people entreat your favor.
[13] The princess inside is all glorious.
Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
[14] She shall be led to the king in embroidered work.
The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.
[15] With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led.
They shall enter into the king’s palace.
[16] Your sons will take the place of your fathers.
You shall make them princes in all the earth.
[17] I will make your name to be remembered in all generations.
Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.

Psalm 46 ()

For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.

[1] God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
[2] Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes,
though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;
[3] though its waters roar and are troubled,
though the mountains tremble with their swelling.
Selah.

[4] There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad,
the holy place of the tents of the Most High.
[5] God is within her. She shall not be moved.
God will help her at dawn.
[6] The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved.
He lifted his voice and the earth melted.
[7] Yahweh of Armies is with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah.

[8] Come, see Yahweh’s works,
what desolations he has made in the earth.
[9] He makes wars cease to the end of the earth.
He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear.
He burns the chariots in the fire.
[10] “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted in the earth.”
[11] Yahweh of Armies is with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah.

Psalm 46 (Subtitle) Alamoth is a musical term.

Proverbs 9 ()

[1] Wisdom has built her house.
She has carved out her seven pillars.
[2] She has prepared her meat.
She has mixed her wine.
She has also set her table.
[3] She has sent out her maidens.
She cries from the highest places of the city:
[4] “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
[5] “Come, eat some of my bread,
Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
[6] Leave your simple ways, and live.
Walk in the way of understanding.”

[7] One who corrects a mocker invites insult.
One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
[8] Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
[9] Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser.
Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
[10] The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
[11] For by me your days will be multiplied.
The years of your life will be increased.
[12] If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.
If you mock, you alone will bear it.

[13] The foolish woman is loud,
undisciplined, and knows nothing.
[14] She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
[15] to call to those who pass by,
who go straight on their ways,
[16] “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
[17] “Stolen water is sweet.
Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
[18] But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Proverbs 9:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.