One-Year Bible

Psalm 73

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 TRULY GOD is [only] good to Israel, even to those who are upright and pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well-nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious of the foolish and arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For they suffer no violent pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they smitten and plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride is about their necks like a chain; violence covers them like a garment [like a long, luxurious robe].

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart could wish; and the imaginations of their minds overflow [with follies].

8 They scoff, and wickedly utter oppression; they speak loftily [from on high, maliciously and blasphemously].

9 They set their mouths against and speak down from heaven, and their tongues swagger through the earth [invading even heaven with blasphemy and smearing earth with slanders]. [Rev. 13:6.]

10 Therefore His people return here, and waters of a full cup [offered by the wicked] are [blindly] drained by them.

11 And they say, How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who always prosper and are at ease in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Surely then in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been smitten and plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 Had I spoken thus [and given expression to my feelings], I would have been untrue and have dealt treacherously against the generation of Your children.

16 But when I considered how to understand this, it was too great an effort for me and too painful

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood [for I considered] their end.

18 [After all] You do set the [wicked] in slippery places; You cast them down to ruin and destruction.

19 How they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors!

20 As a dream [which seems real] until one awakens, so, O Lord, when You arouse Yourself [to take note of the wicked], You will despise their outward show.

21 For my heart was grieved, embittered, and in a state of ferment, and I was pricked in my heart [as with the sharp fang of an adder].

22 So foolish, stupid, and brutish was I, and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You do hold my right hand.

24 You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to honor and glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever.

27 For behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You will destroy all who are false to You and like [spiritual] harlots depart from You.

28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.

Psalm 74

A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of Asaph.

1 O GOD, why do You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger burn and smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

2 [Earnestly] remember Your congregation which You have acquired of old, which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your heritage; remember Mount Zion, where You have dwelt.

3 Direct Your feet [quickly] to the perpetual ruins and desolations; the foe has devastated and desecrated everything in the sanctuary.

4 In the midst of Your Holy Place Your enemies have roared [with their battle cry]; they set up their own [idol] emblems for signs [of victory].

5 They seemed like men who lifted up axes upon a thicket of trees to make themselves a record.

6 And then all the carved wood of the Holy Place they broke down with hatchets and hammers.

7 They have set Your sanctuary on fire; they have profaned the dwelling place of Your Name by casting it to the ground.

8 They said in their hearts, Let us make havoc [of such places] altogether. They have burned up all God's meetinghouses in the land.

9 We do not see our symbols; there is no longer any prophet, neither does any among us know for how long.

10 O God, how long is the adversary to scoff and reproach? Is the enemy to blaspheme and revile Your name forever?

11 Why do You hold back Your hand, even Your right hand? Draw it out of Your bosom and consume them [make an end of them]!

12 Yet God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 You did divide the [Red] Sea by Your might; You broke the heads of the [Egyptian] dragons in the waters. [Exod. 14:21.]

14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan (Egypt); You did give him as food for the creatures inhabiting the wilderness.

15 You did cleave open [the rock bringing forth] fountains and streams; You dried up mighty, ever-flowing rivers (the Jordan). [Exod. 17:6; Num. 20:11; Josh. 3:13.]

16 The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have established the [starry] light and the sun.

17 You have fixed all the borders of the earth [the divisions of land and sea and of the nations]; You have made summer and winter.

18 [Earnestly] remember how the enemy has scoffed, O Lord, and reproached You, and how a foolish and impious people has blasphemed Your name.

19 Oh, do not deliver the life of your turtledove to the wild beast (to the greedy multitude); forget not the life [of the multitude] of Your poor forever.

20 Have regard for the covenant [You made with Abraham], for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.

21 Oh, let not the downtrodden return in shame; let the oppressed and needy praise Your name.

22 Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; remember [earnestly] how the foolish and impious man scoffs and reproaches You day after day and all day long.

23 Do not forget the [clamoring] voices of Your adversaries, the tumult of those who rise up against You, which ascends continually.

Proverbs 15:16-33

16 Better is little with the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord than great and rich treasure and trouble with it. [Ps. 37:16; Prov. 16:8; I Tim. 6:6.]

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it. [Prov. 17:1.]

18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger appeases contention.

19 The way of the sluggard is overgrown with thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him], but the way of the righteous is plain and raised like a highway.

20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a self-confident and foolish man despises his mother and puts her to shame.

21 Folly is pleasure to him who is without heart and sense, but a man of understanding walks uprightly [making straight his course]. [Eph. 5:15.]

22 Where there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished.

23 A man has joy in making an apt answer, and a word spoken at the right moment–how good it is!

24 The path of the wise leads upward to life, that he may avoid [the gloom] in the depths of Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead). [Phil. 3:20; Col. 3:1, 2.]

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but He makes secure the boundaries of the [consecrated] widow.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are shamefully vile and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, but the words of the pure are pleasing words to Him.

27 He who is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live. [Isa. 5:8; Jer. 17:11.]

28 The mind of the [uncompromisingly] righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. [I Pet. 3:15.]

29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous (the upright, in right standing with Him).

30 The light in the eyes [of him whose heart is joyful] rejoices the hearts of others, and good news nourishes the bones.

31 The ear that listens to the reproof [that leads to or gives] life will remain among the wise.

32 He who refuses and ignores instruction and correction despises himself, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding.

33 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord brings instruction in Wisdom, and humility comes before honor.