Through the Bible – Day 215

₁Our Lord, in all generations

you have been our home.

₂You have always been God—

long before the birth

of the mountains,

even before you created

the earth and the world.

₃At your command we die

and turn back to dust,

₄but a thousand years

mean nothing to you!

They are merely a day gone by

or a few hours in the night.

₅You bring our lives to an end

just like a dream.

We are merely tender grass

₆that sprouts and grows

in the morning,

but dries up by evening.

₇Your furious anger frightens

and destroys us,

₈and you know-all our sins,

even those we do in secret.

₉Your anger is a burden

each day we live,

then life ends like a sigh.

₁₀We can expect seventy years,

or perhaps eighty,

if we are healthy,

but even our best years

bring trouble and sorrow.

Suddenly our time is up,

and we disappear.

₁₁No one knows the full power

of your furious anger,

but it is as great as the fear

that we owe to you.

₁₂Teach us to use wisely

all the time we have.

₁₃Help us, LORD! Don't wait!

Pity your servants.

₁₄When morning comes,

let your love satisfy

all our needs.

Then we can celebrate

and be glad for what time

we have left.

₁₅Make us happy for as long

as you caused us trouble

and sorrow.

₁₆Do wonderful things for us,

your servants,

and show your mighty power

to our children.

₁₇Our Lord and our God,

treat us with kindness

and let all go well for us.

Please let all go well!

₁Live under the protection

of God Most High

and stay in the shadow

of God All-Powerful.

₂Then you will say to the LORD,

“You are my fortress,

my place of safety;

you are my God,

and I trust you.”

₃The Lord will keep you safe

from secret traps

and deadly diseases.

₄He will spread his wings

over you

and keep you secure.

His faithfulness is like

a shield or a city wall.

₅You won't need to worry

about dangers at night

or arrows during the day.

₆And you won't fear diseases

that strike in the dark

or sudden disaster at midday.

₇You will not be harmed,

though thousands fall

all around you.

₈And with your own eyes

you will see the punishment

of the wicked.

₉The LORD Most High

is your fortress.

Run to him for safety,

₁₀and no terrible disasters

will strike you

or your home.

₁₁God will command his angels

to protect you

wherever you go.

₁₂They will carry you

in their arms,

and you won't hurt your feet

on the stones.

₁₃You will overpower

the strongest lions

and the most deadly snakes.

₁₄The Lord says, “If you love me

and truly know who I am,

I will rescue you

and keep you safe.

₁₅When you are in trouble,

call out to me.

I will answer and be there

to protect and honour you.

₁₆You will live a long life

and see my saving power.”

₁It is wonderful to be grateful

and to sing your praises,

LORD Most High!

₂It is wonderful each morning

to tell about your love

and at night to announce

how faithful you are.

₃I enjoy praising your name

to the music of harps,

₄because everything you do

makes me happy,

and I sing joyful songs.

₅You do great things, LORD.

Your thoughts are too deep

₆for an ignorant fool

to know or understand.

₇Though the wicked sprout

and spread like grass,

they will be pulled up

by their roots.

₈But you will rule

over all of us for ever,

₉and your hateful enemies

will be scattered

and then destroyed.

₁₀You have given me

the strength of a wild ox,

and you have chosen me

to be your very own.

₁₁My eyes have seen,

and my ears have heard

the doom and destruction

of my terrible enemies.

₁₂Good people will prosper

like palm trees,

and they will grow strong

like the cedars of Lebanon.

₁₃They will take root

in your house, LORD God,

and they will do well.

₁₄They will be like trees

that stay healthy and fruitful,

even when they are old.

₁₅And they will say about you,

“The LORD always does right!

God is our mighty rock.”

“No one is acceptable to God!

₁₁Not one of them understands

or even searches for God.

₁₂They have all turned away

and are worthless.

There isn't one person

who does right.

₁₃Their words are like

an open pit,

and their tongues are good

only for telling lies.

Each word is as deadly

as the fangs of a snake,

₁₄and they say nothing

but bitter curses.

₁₅These people quickly

become violent.

₁₆Wherever they go,

they leave ruin

and destruction.

₁₇They don't know how

to live in peace.

₁₈They don't even fear God.”