Searching the Psalms

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 31 (NIV) 1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. 6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. 8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place. 9 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. 10 My life is consumed by anguis...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 30 (MSG) 1 I give you all the credit, God— you got me out of that mess, you didn’t let my foes gloat. 2-3 God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. God, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out. 4-5 All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face! He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter. 6-7 When things were going great I crowed, “I’ve got it made. I’m God’s favorite. He made me king of the mountain.” Then you looked the other way and I fell to pieces. 8-10 I called out to you, God; I laid my case before you: “Can you sell me for a profit when I’m dead? auction me off at a cemetery yard sale? When I’m ‘dust to dust’ my songs and stories of you won’t sell. So listen! and be...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 29 (RSV) 1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy array. 3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, upon many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sir′ion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness, the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord makes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forests bare; and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” 10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king for ever. 11 May the Lo...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 28 (NIV) 1 To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. 2 Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. 3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts. 4 Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve. 5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again. 6 Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I pr...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 27 (TPT) 1 The Lord is my revelation-light to guide me along the way; he’s the source of my salvation to defend me every day. I fear no one! I’ll never turn back and run from you, Lord; surround and protect me. 2 When evil ones come to destroy me, they will be the ones who turn back. 3 My heart will not be afraid even if an army rises to attack. I know that you are there for me, so I will not be shaken. 4 Here’s the one thing I crave from God, the one thing I seek above all else: I want the privilege of living with him every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to live my life so close to him that he takes pleasure in my every prayer. 5–6 In his shelter in the day of trouble, that’s where you’ll find me, for he hides me there in his holiness. He has smuggled me ...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 26 (TPT) 1 You be my judge and declare me innocent! Clear my name, for I have tried my best to keep your laws and to trust you without wavering. 2 Lord, you can scrutinize me. Refine my heart and probe my every thought. Put me to the test and you’ll find it’s true. 3 I will never lose sight of your love for me. Your faithfulness has steadied my steps. 4 I won’t keep company with tricky, two-faced men, nor will I go the way of those who defraud with hidden motives. 5 I despise the sinner’s hangouts, refusing to even enter them. You won’t find me walking among the wicked. 6–7 When I come before you, I’ll come clean,[ a ] approaching your altar with songs of thanksgiving, singing the songs of your mighty miracles. 8 Lord, I love your home, this place of dazzling glory, bathed in the splendor and light of your presence! 9 Don’t treat me as one of th...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 25 (KJV) 1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. 3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. 6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord! 8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, ...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 24 (KJV) 1 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 23 (MSG) 1-3 God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. 4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. 5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. 6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 22 (TPT) 1 God, my God! Why would you abandon me now? 2 Why do you remain distant, refusing to answer my tearful cries in the day and my desperate cries for your help in the night? I can’t stop sobbing. Where are you, my God? 3 Yet I know that you are most holy; it’s indisputable. You are God-Enthroned, surrounded with songs, living among the shouts of praise of your princely people. 4 Our fathers’ faith was in you— through the generations they trusted and believed in you and you came through. 5 Every time they cried out to you in their despair, you were faithful to deliver them; you didn’t disappoint them. 6 But look at me now; I am like a woeful worm, crushed, and I’m bleeding crimson. I don’t even look like a man anymore. I’ve been abused, despised, and scorned by everyone! 7 Mocked by their jeers, despised with their sneers, as all the p...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 21 (NIV) 1 In thy strength the king rejoices, O Lord; and in thy help how greatly he exults! 2 Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withheld the request of his lips.Selah 3 For thou dost meet him with goodly blessings; thou dost set a crown of fine gold upon his head. 4 He asked life of thee; thou gavest it to him, length of days for ever and ever. 5 His glory is great through thy help; splendor and majesty thou dost bestow upon him. 6 Yea, thou dost make him most blessed for ever; thou dost make him glad with the joy of thy presence. 7 For the king trusts in the Lord; and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved. 8 Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. 9 You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath; ...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 20 (NIV) 1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. 3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. 4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. 5 May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.  May the Lord grant all your requests.  6 Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. 9 Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call! 

  Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 19 (MSG) 1-2  God’s glory is on tour in the skies,      God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning,      Professor Night lectures each evening. 3-4  Their words aren’t heard,      their voices aren’t recorded, But their silence fills the earth:      unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. 4-5  God makes a huge dome      for the sun—a superdome! The morning sun’s a new husband      leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete      racing to the tape. 6  That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies      from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts,      warming hea...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 18 (NLT) For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang: 1 I love you, Lord; you are my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. 3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. 4 The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. 5 The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. 6 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. 7 Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 17 (ESV) 1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! 2 From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! 3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. 5 My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. 6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. 7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, 9 from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 16 (MSG) 1-2 Keep me safe, O God, I’ve run for dear life to you. I say to God, “Be my Lord!” Without you, nothing makes sense. 3 And these God-chosen lives all around— what splendid friends they make! 4 Don’t just go shopping for a god. Gods are not for sale. I swear I’ll never treat god-names like brand-names. 5-6 My choice is you, God, first and only. And now I find I’m your choice! You set me up with a house and yard. And then you made me your heir! 7-8 The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. 9-10 I’m happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed. You canceled my ticket to hell— that’s not my destination! 11 Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever s...

  Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 15 (TPT) 1  Lord, who dares to dwell with you? Who presumes the privilege of being close to you, living next to you in your shining place of glory? Who are those who daily dwell in the life of the Holy Spirit? 2  They are passionate and wholehearted, always sincere and always speaking the truth— for their hearts are trustworthy. 3  They refuse to slander or insult others; they’ll never listen to gossip or rumors, nor would they ever harm another with their words. 4  They will speak out passionately against evil and evil workers while commending the faithful ones who follow after the truth. They make firm commitments and follow through, even at great cost. 5  They never crush others with exploitation or abuse and they would never be bought with a bribe against the innocent. They will never be ...

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 14 (ESV) 1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. 4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord? 5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. 6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge. 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 13 (MSG) 1-2 Long enough, God— you’ve ignored me long enough. I’ve looked at the back of your head long enough. Long enough I’ve carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me. 3-4 Take a good look at me, God, my God; I want to look life in the eye, So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face. 5-6 I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms— I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 12 (TLB) 1 Lord! Help! Godly men are fast disappearing. Where in all the world can dependable men be found? 2 Everyone deceives and flatters and lies. There is no sincerity left. 3-4 But the Lord will not deal gently with people who act like that; he will destroy those proud liars who say, “We will lie to our heart’s content. Our lips are our own; who can stop us?” 5 The Lord replies, “I will arise and defend the oppressed, the poor, the needy. I will rescue them as they have longed for me to do.” 6 The Lord’s promise is sure. He speaks no careless word; all he says is purest truth, like silver seven times refined. 7 O Lord, we know that you will forever preserve your own from the reach of evil men, 8 although they prowl on every side and vileness is praised throughout the land.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 11 (ESV) 1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, 2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; 3 if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”  4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. 5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. 6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face. 

  Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 10  (TPT) 1 Lord, you seem so far away when evil is near! Why do you stand so far off as though you don’t care? Why have you hidden yourself when I need you the most? 2 The arrogant in their elitist pride persecute the poor and helpless. May you pour out upon them the very evil they’ve planned against others! 3 How they brag and boast of their cravings, exalting the greedy. They congratulate themselves as they despise you. 4 These arrogant ones, so smug and secure! In their delusion the wicked boast, saying, “God doesn’t care about what we do. There’s nothing to worry about! Our wealth will last a lifetime.” 5 So seemingly successful are they in their schemes, prosperous in all their plans and scoffing at any restraint. 6 They boast that neither God nor men will bring them down. They sneer at all their enemies, saying in their hearts...

  Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 9  (ESV) 1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.  3 When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. 4 For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.  5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.  7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.  9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in t...

  Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 8  (MSG) 1 God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name.  2 Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs That drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble.  3-4 I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way?  5-8 Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden’s dawn light. You put us in charge of your handcrafted world, repeated to us your Genesis-charge, Made us lords of sheep and cattle, even animals out in the wild, Birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps.  9 God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world. 

  Please share your thoughts in the comments below each day so that we can learn and grow together as we seek to know God and live justly. Psalm 7  (ESV) 1 O Lord my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me, 2 lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.  3 O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, 4 if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, 5 let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah  6 Arise, O Lord, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment. 7 Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high.  8 The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. 9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to ...