Saturday, May 30, 2026

Prayers, Songs, Praises: Psalm 22:1-18

From Suffering to Praise
For the choir director: according to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A psalm of David.

22:1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far from my deliverance
and from my words of groaning?
My God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
by night, yet I have no rest.
But you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Our ancestors trusted in you;
they trusted, and you rescued them.
They cried to you and were set free;
they trusted in you and were not disgraced.

But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by mankind and despised by people.
Everyone who sees me mocks me;
they sneer [Lit separate with the lip] and shake their heads:
“He relies on [Or Rely on] the Lord;
let him save him;
let the Lord rescue him,
since he takes pleasure in him.”

It was you who brought me out of the womb,
making me secure at my mother’s breast.
10 I was given over to you at birth;[Lit was cast on you from the womb]
you have been my God from my mother’s womb.
11 Don’t be far from me, because distress is near
and there’s no one to help.

12 Many bulls surround me;
strong ones of Bashan encircle me.
13 They open their mouths against me—
lions, mauling and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are disjointed;
my heart is like wax,
melting within me.
15 My strength is dried up like baked clay;
my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You put me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me;
a gang of evildoers has closed in on me;
they pierced [Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read me; like a lion] my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones;
people look and stare at me.
18 They divided my garments among themselves,
and they cast lots for my clothing.

CSB

Friday, May 29, 2026

Prayers, Songs, Praises: Psalm 21

The King’s Victory
For the choir director. A psalm of David.

21:1 Lord, the king finds joy in your strength.
How greatly he rejoices in your victory!
You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not denied the request of his lips.Selah
For you meet him with rich blessings;
you place a crown of pure gold on his head.
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days forever and ever.
His glory is great through your victory;
you confer majesty and splendor on him.
You give him blessings forever;
you cheer him with joy in your presence.
For the king relies on the Lord;
through the faithful love of the Most High
he is not shaken.

Your hand will capture all your enemies;
your right hand will seize those who hate you.
You will make them burn
like a fiery furnace when you appear;
the Lord will engulf them in his wrath,
and fire will devour them.
10 You will wipe their progeny from the earth
and their offspring from the human race.[Or the descendants of Adam]
11 Though they intend to harm[Lit they stretch out harm againstyou
and devise a wicked plan, they will not prevail.
12 Instead, you will put them to flight
when you ready your bowstrings to shoot at them.

13 Be exalted, Lord, in your strength;
we will sing and praise your might.

CSB