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  1. Wed: 1 Samuel 1-6
  2. Thu: 1 Corinthians 15-16
  3. Fri: Ezekiel 24-25
Saturday · Week 12
The Books of Poetry & Wisdom

Psalms 1-8

Week 12 · about 10 min
  1. Sun: Exodus 6-9
  2. Mon: Mark 1-3
  3. Tue: Isaiah 33-35

The Psalms begin. These first eight include David’s prayers while running from his son Absalom.

Two Paths and a Tree by the River

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 1:3 (KJV)

Psalm 1 opens with a choice. Notice the slow slide in the first verse, from walking with the wicked to standing with sinners to sitting with scorners. The other path belongs to the person who delights in God’s word and thinks about it day and night. That person is like a tree planted by water, and the wicked are like chaff blown away. Psalm 3 was written while David was running for his life, and he says, “I laid me down and slept.” Psalm 8 looks up at the stars and asks, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” The psalms are meant to be prayed as well as read.

Reflect: Which psalm this week could you pray word for word right now?

Psalm 1

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, and standeth not in the way of sinners, and sitteth not in the seat of scorners;

2But his delight is in Jehovah's law, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3And he is as a tree planted by brooks of water, which giveth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf fadeth not; and all that he doeth prospereth.

4The wicked are not so; but are as the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.

Psalm 2

1Why are the nations in tumultuous agitation, and why do the peoples meditate a vain thing?

2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the princes plot together, against Jehovah and against his anointed:

3Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us!

4He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision.

5Then will he speak to them in his anger, and in his fierce displeasure will he terrify them:

6And *I* have anointed my king upon Zion, the hill of my holiness.

7I will declare the decree: Jehovah hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; *I* this day have begotten thee.

8Ask of me, and I will give thee nations for an inheritance, and for thy possession the ends of the earth:

9Thou shalt break them with a sceptre of iron, as a potter's vessel thou shalt dash them in pieces.

10And now, O kings, be ye wise, be admonished, ye judges of the earth.

11Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, though his anger burn but a little. Blessed are all who have their trust in him.

Psalm 3

1A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. Jehovah, how many are they that trouble me, many they that rise up against me!

2Many say of my soul, There is no salvation for him in God. Selah.

3But thou, Jehovah, art a shield about me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head.

4With my voice will I call to Jehovah, and he will answer me from the hill of his holiness. Selah.

5I laid me down and slept; I awaked, for Jehovah sustaineth me.

6I will not fear for myriads of the people that have set themselves against me round about.

7Arise, Jehovah; save me, my God! For thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheekbone, thou hast broken the teeth of the wicked.

8Salvation is of Jehovah; thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Psalm 4

1To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness: in pressure thou hast enlarged me; be gracious unto me, and hear my prayer.

2Ye sons of men, till when is my glory to be put to shame? How long will ye love vanity, will ye seek after a lie? Selah.

3But know that Jehovah hath set apart the pious man for himself: Jehovah will hear when I call unto him.

4Be moved with anger, and sin not; meditate in your own hearts upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5Offer sacrifices of righteousness, and confide in Jehovah.

6Many say, Who shall cause us to see good? Lift up upon us the light of thy countenance, O Jehovah.

7Thou hast put joy in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their new wine was in abundance.

8In peace will I both lay me down and sleep; for thou, Jehovah, alone makest me to dwell in safety.

Psalm 5

1To the chief Musician. Upon Nehiloth. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O Jehovah; consider my meditation.

2Hearken unto the voice of my crying, my king and my God; for to thee will I pray.

3Jehovah, in the morning shalt thou hear my voice; in the morning will I address myself to thee, and will look up.

4For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; evil shall not sojourn with thee.

5Insolent fools shall not stand before thine eyes; thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

6Thou wilt destroy them that speak lies: Jehovah abhorreth a man of blood and deceit.

7But as for me, in the greatness of thy loving-kindness will I enter thy house; I will bow down toward the temple of thy holiness in thy fear.

8Lead me, Jehovah, in thy righteousness, because of my foes; make thy way plain before me.

9For there is no certainty in their mouth; their inward part is perversion, their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

10Bring guilt upon them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels: drive them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against thee.

11And all that trust in thee shall rejoice: for ever shall they shout joyously, and thou wilt protect them; and they that love thy name shall exult in thee.

12For thou, Jehovah, wilt bless the righteous man; with favour wilt thou surround him as with a shield.

Psalm 6

1To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments, upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger, and chasten me not in thy hot displeasure.

2Be gracious unto me, Jehovah, for I am withered; Jehovah, heal me, for my bones tremble.

3And my soul trembleth exceedingly: and thou, Jehovah, till how long?

4Return, Jehovah, free my soul; save me for thy loving-kindness' sake.

5For in death there is no remembrance of thee; in Sheol who shall give thanks unto thee?

6I am wearied with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I dissolve my couch with my tears.

7Mine eye wasteth away through grief; it hath grown old because of all mine oppressors.

8Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for Jehovah hath heard the voice of my weeping.

9Jehovah hath heard my supplication; Jehovah receiveth my prayer.

10All mine enemies shall be ashamed and tremble exceedingly; they will turn, they will be ashamed suddenly.

Psalm 7

1Shiggaion of David, which he sang to Jehovah, concerning the words of Cush the Benjaminite. Jehovah my God, in thee have I trusted: save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me;

2Lest he tear my soul like a lion, crushing it while there is no deliverer.

3Jehovah my God, if I have done this, if there be iniquity in my hands;

4If I have rewarded evil to him that was at peace with me; (indeed I have freed him that without cause oppressed me;)

5Let the enemy pursue after my soul, and take it, and let him tread down my life to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah.

6Arise, Jehovah, in thine anger; lift thyself up against the raging of mine oppressors, and awake for me: thou hast commanded judgment.

7And the assembly of the peoples shall encompass thee; and for their sakes return thou on high.

8Jehovah shall minister judgment to the peoples. Judge me, Jehovah, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity which is in me.

9Oh let the wrong of the wicked come to an end, and establish thou the righteous man; even thou that triest the hearts and reins, the righteous God.

10My shield is with God, who saveth the upright in heart.

11God is a righteous judge, and a God who is indignant all the day.

12If one turn not, he will sharpen his sword; he hath bent his bow and made it ready,

13And he hath prepared for him instruments of death; his arrows hath he made burning.

14Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood:

15He digged a pit, and hollowed it out, and is fallen into the hole that he made.

16His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violence shall come down upon his own pate.

17I will praise Jehovah according to his righteousness, and will sing forth the name of Jehovah the Most High.

Psalm 8

1To the chief Musician. Upon the Gittith. A Psalm of David. Jehovah our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy majesty above the heavens.

2Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou established praise because of thine adversaries, to still the enemy and the avenger.

3When I see thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and stars, which thou hast established;

4What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and splendour.

6Thou hast made him to rule over the works of thy hands; thou hast put everything under his feet:

7Sheep and oxen, all of them, and also the beasts of the field;

8The fowl of the heavens, and the fishes of the sea, whatever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9Jehovah our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Darby Translation (Darby). Public domain.