Through the Bible – Day 209

Bible text(s)

Psalms 74

(A special psalm by Asaph.)

A prayer for the nation in times of trouble

1Our God, why have you

completely rejected us?

Why are you so angry

with the ones you care for?

2Remember the people

you rescued long ago,

the tribe you chose

to be your very own.

Think of Mount Zion,

your home;

3walk over to the temple

left in ruins for ever

by those who hate us.

4Your enemies roared like lions

in your holy temple,

and they have placed

their banners there.

5It looks like a forest

chopped to pieces.

6They used axes and hatchets

to smash the carvings.

7They burnt down your temple

and badly disgraced it.

8They said to themselves,

“We'll crush them!”

Then they burnt every one

of your meeting places

all over the country.

9There are no more miracles

and no more prophets.

Who knows how long

it will be like this?

10Our God, how much longer

will our enemies sneer?

Won't they ever stop

insulting you?

11Why don't you punish them?

Why are you holding back?

12Our God and King,

you have ruled

since ancient times;

you have won victories

everywhere on this earth.

13By your power you made a path

through the sea,

and you smashed the heads

of sea monsters.

14You crushed the heads

of the monster Leviathan,

then fed him to wild creatures

in the desert.

15You opened the ground

for streams and springs

and dried up mighty rivers.

16You rule the day and the night,

and you put the moon

and the sun in place.

17You made summer and winter

and gave them to the earth.

18Remember your enemies, LORD!

They foolishly sneer

and won't respect you.

19You treat us like pet doves,

but they ill-treat us.

Don't keep forgetting us

and letting us be fed

to those wild animals.

20Remember the agreement

you made with us.

Violent enemies are hiding

in every dark corner

of the earth.

21Don't disappoint those in need

or make them turn from you,

but help the poor and homeless

to shout your praises.

22Do something, God!

Defend yourself.

Remember how those fools

sneer at you all day long.

23Don't forget the loud shouts

of your enemies.

Psalms 75

(A psalm and a song by Asaph for the music leader. To the tune “Don't Destroy”.)

Praise God for all he has done

1Our God, we thank you

for being so near to us!

Everyone celebrates

your wonderful deeds.

2You have set a time

to judge with fairness.

3The earth trembles,

and its people shake;

you alone keep

its foundations firm.

4You tell every boaster,

“Stop boasting!”

And to the wicked you say,

“Don't boast of your power!

5Stop boasting! Stop telling me

how great you are.”

6Our LORD and our God,

victory doesn't come

from the east or the west

or from the desert.

7You are the one who judges.

You can take away power

and give it to others.

8You hold in your hand

a cup filled with wine,

strong and foaming.

You will pour out some

for every sinful person

on this earth,

and they will have to drink

until it is gone.

9But I will always tell about

you, the God of Jacob,

and I will sing your praise.

10Our Lord, you will destroy

the power of evil people,

but you will give strength

to those who are good.

Psalms 76

(A song and a psalm for the music leader. Use stringed instruments.)

God always wins

1You, our God,

are famous in Judah

and honoured in Israel.

2Your home is on Mount Zion

in the city of peace.

3There you destroyed

fiery arrows, shields, swords,

and all the other weapons.

4You are more glorious than

the eternal mountains.

5Brave warriors were robbed

of what they had taken,

and now they lie dead,

unable to lift an arm.

6God of Jacob, when you roar,

enemy chariots and horses

drop dead in their tracks.

7Our God, you are fearsome,

and no one can oppose you

when you are angry.

8From heaven you announced

your decisions as judge!

And all who live on this earth

were terrified and silent

9when you took over as judge,

ready to rescue

everyone in need.

10Even the most angry people

will praise you

when you are furious.

11Everyone, make your promises

to the LORD your God

and do what you promise.

The LORD is fearsome,

and all his servants

should bring him gifts.

12God destroys the courage

of rulers and kings

and makes cowards of them.

Psalms 77

(A psalm by Asaph for Jeduthun, the music leader.)

In times of trouble God is with his people

1I pray to you, Lord God,

and I beg you to listen.

2In days filled with trouble,

I search for you.

And at night I tirelessly

lift my hands in prayer,

refusing comfort.

3When I think of you,

I feel restless and weak.

4Because of you, Lord God,

I can't sleep.

I am restless

and can't even talk.

5I think of times gone by,

of those years long ago.

6Each night my mind

is flooded with questions:

7“Have you rejected me for ever?

Won't you be kind again?

8Is this the end of your love

and your promises?

9Have you forgotten

how to have pity?

Do you refuse to show mercy

because of your anger?”

10Then I said, “God Most High,

what hurts me most

is that you no longer help us

with your mighty arm.”

11Our LORD, I will remember

the things you have done,

your miracles of long ago.

12I will think about each one

of your mighty deeds.

13Everything you do is right,

and no other god

compares with you.

14You alone work miracles,

and you have let nations

see your mighty power.

15With your own arm you rescued

your people, the descendants

of Jacob and Joseph.

16The ocean looked at you, God,

and it trembled deep down

with fear.

17Water flowed from the clouds.

Thunder was heard above

as your arrows of lightning

flashed about.

18Your thunder roared

like chariot wheels.

The world was made bright

by lightning,

and all the earth trembled.

19You walked through the water

of the mighty sea,

but your footprints

were never seen.

20You guided your people

like a flock of sheep,

and you chose Moses and Aaron

to be their leaders.

Psalms 74:1-77:20CEVOpen in Bible reader

Acts 27

The storm at sea

13When a gentle wind from the south started blowing, the men thought it was a good time to do what they had planned. So they pulled up the anchor, and we sailed along the coast of Crete. 14But soon a strong wind called “The North-easter” blew against us from the island. 15The wind struck the ship, and we could not sail against it. So we let the wind carry the ship.

16We went along the island of Cauda on the side that was protected from the wind. We had a hard time holding the lifeboat in place, 17but finally we got it where it belonged. Then the sailors tied ropes around the ship to hold it together. They lowered the sail and let the ship drift along, because they were afraid it might hit the sandbanks in the gulf of Syrtis.

18The storm was so fierce that the next day they threw some of the ship's cargo overboard. 19Then on the third day, with their bare hands they threw overboard some of the ship's gear. 20For several days we could not see either the sun or the stars. A strong wind kept blowing, and we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

21Since none of us had eaten anything for a long time, Paul stood up and told the men:

You should have listened to me! If you had stayed on in Crete, you would not have had this damage and loss. 22But now I beg you to cheer up, because you will be safe. Only the ship will be lost.

23I belong to God, and I worship him. Last night he sent an angel 24to tell me, “Paul, don't be afraid! You will stand trial before the Emperor. And because of you, God will save the lives of everyone on the ship.” 25Cheer up! I am sure that God will do exactly what he promised. 26But we will first be shipwrecked on some island.

27For fourteen days and nights we had been blown around over the Mediterranean Sea. But about midnight the sailors realized that we were getting near land. 28They measured and found that the water was about forty metres deep. A little later they measured again and found it was only about thirty metres. 29The sailors were afraid that we might hit some rocks, and they let down four anchors from the back of the ship. Then they prayed for daylight.

30The sailors wanted to escape from the ship. So they lowered the lifeboat into the water, pretending that they were letting down an anchor from the front of the ship. 31But Paul said to Captain Julius and the soldiers, “If the sailors don't stay on the ship, you won't have any chance to save your lives.” 32The soldiers then cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall into the sea.

33Just before daylight Paul begged the people to eat something. He told them, “For fourteen days you have been so worried that you haven't eaten a thing. 34I beg you to eat something. Your lives depend on it. Do this and not one of you will be hurt.”

35After Paul had said this, he took a piece of bread and gave thanks to God. Then in front of everyone, he broke the bread and ate some. 36They all felt encouraged, and each of them ate something. 37There were 276 people on the ship, 38and after everyone had eaten, they threw the cargo of wheat into the sea to make the ship lighter.

Acts 27:13-38CEVOpen in Bible reader
Canadian Bible Societyv.4.23.1
Follow us on: