Today's Scripture & Prayer

Daily Bible Reading & Praying with the Church

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Today's Scripture & Prayer

Daily Bible Reading & Praying with the Church


The congregation of Countryside is encouraged to not only read ahead in the texts we will be sharing and studying together during our services, but also to personally read the Scriptures together as a congregation. Here you will find Scripture for the day (a Psalm for each morning (always at least the first Psalm) and night, and selections from the Old Testament, New Testament and Gospels), as well as weekly and daily prayers. Together we read through the New Testament once a year, and the Old Testament every two years. The Scripture selections, and the prayers, are from common sources used by most Christians throughout the world.

The historic church found expression in the same rhythms of worship and devotion that were evident in the early church, and among the Hebrews, God's people, before that.  Our hope is that the regular reminder will be of encouragement to us all to join the people of God in reading the Scriptures and praying. Both are meant to go together with our daily prayer and communion service.

Reading for Tue, Apr 28

Psalm 45

Psalm 45[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[b] A wedding song.(A)

1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,(B)
since God has blessed you forever.(C)

3 Gird your sword(D) on your side, you mighty one;(E)
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.(F)
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously(G)
in the cause of truth, humility and justice;(H)
let your right hand(I) achieve awesome deeds.(J)
5 Let your sharp arrows(K) pierce the hearts(L) of the king’s enemies;(M)
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God,[c] will last for ever and ever;(N)
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness(O) and hate wickedness;(P)
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing(Q) you with the oil of joy.(R)
8 All your robes are fragrant(S) with myrrh(T) and aloes(U) and cassia;(V)
from palaces adorned with ivory(W)
the music of the strings(X) makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings(Y) are among your honored women;
at your right hand(Z) is the royal bride(AA) in gold of Ophir.(AB)

10 Listen, daughter,(AC) and pay careful attention:(AD)
Forget your people(AE) and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;(AF)
honor(AG) him, for he is your lord.(AH)
12 The city of Tyre(AI) will come with a gift,[d](AJ)
people of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious(AK) is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.(AL)
14 In embroidered garments(AM) she is led to the king;(AN)
her virgin companions(AO) follow her—
those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,(AP)
they enter the palace of the king.

16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes(AQ) throughout the land.

17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;(AR)
therefore the nations will praise you(AS) for ever and ever.(AT)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 45:1 In Hebrew texts 45:1-17 is numbered 45:2-18.
  2. Psalm 45:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 45:6 Here the king is addressed as God’s representative.
  4. Psalm 45:12 Or A Tyrian robe is among the gifts

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 45:1 : SS 1:1
  2. Psalm 45:2 : Lk 4:22
  3. Psalm 45:2 : Ps 21:6
  4. Psalm 45:3 : S Dt 32:41; Ps 149:6; Rev 1:16
  5. Psalm 45:3 : S 2Sa 1:19
  6. Psalm 45:3 : S Job 40:10; S Ps 21:5
  7. Psalm 45:4 : Rev 6:2
  8. Psalm 45:4 : Zep 2:3
  9. Psalm 45:4 : Ps 21:8
  10. Psalm 45:4 : S Dt 4:34; Ps 65:5; 66:3
  11. Psalm 45:5 : S Dt 32:23
  12. Psalm 45:5 : S Nu 24:8
  13. Psalm 45:5 : Ps 9:13; 92:9
  14. Psalm 45:6 : S Ge 21:33; La 5:19
  15. Psalm 45:7 : Ps 33:5
  16. Psalm 45:7 : S Ps 11:5
  17. Psalm 45:7 : Ps 2:2; Isa 45:1; 61:1; Zec 4:14
  18. Psalm 45:7 : S Ps 23:5; Heb 1:8-9*
  19. Psalm 45:8 : Pr 27:9; SS 1:3; 4:10
  20. Psalm 45:8 : S Ge 37:25
  21. Psalm 45:8 : S Nu 24:6; Jn 19:39
  22. Psalm 45:8 : S Ex 30:24
  23. Psalm 45:8 : S 1Ki 22:39
  24. Psalm 45:8 : Ps 144:9; 150:4; Isa 38:20
  25. Psalm 45:9 : SS 6:8
  26. Psalm 45:9 : 1Ki 2:19
  27. Psalm 45:9 : Isa 62:5
  28. Psalm 45:9 : S Ge 10:29
  29. Psalm 45:10 : Ru 1:11
  30. Psalm 45:10 : Jer 5:1
  31. Psalm 45:10 : Ru 1:16
  32. Psalm 45:11 : S Est 1:11; S La 2:15
  33. Psalm 45:11 : Eph 5:33
  34. Psalm 45:11 : 1Pe 3:6
  35. Psalm 45:12 : S Jos 19:29
  36. Psalm 45:12 : S 1Ki 9:16; S 2Ch 9:24
  37. Psalm 45:13 : Isa 61:10
  38. Psalm 45:13 : Ex 39:3
  39. Psalm 45:14 : S Jdg 5:30
  40. Psalm 45:14 : Est 2:15
  41. Psalm 45:14 : SS 1:3
  42. Psalm 45:15 : S Est 8:17
  43. Psalm 45:16 : 1Sa 2:8; Ps 68:27; 113:8
  44. Psalm 45:17 : S Ex 3:15; Ps 33:11; 119:90; 135:13
  45. Psalm 45:17 : Ps 138:4
  46. Psalm 45:17 : S Ps 21:4; Rev 22:5
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 47-48

Psalm 47[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 Clap your hands,(A) all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.(B)

2 For the Lord Most High(C) is awesome,(D)
the great King(E) over all the earth.
3 He subdued(F) nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance(G) for us,
the pride of Jacob,(H) whom he loved.[b]

5 God has ascended(I) amid shouts of joy,(J)
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.(K)
6 Sing praises(L) to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;(M)
sing to him a psalm(N) of praise.

8 God reigns(O) over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.(P)
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God;(Q)
he is greatly exalted.(R)

Psalm 48[d]

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.

1 Great is the Lord,(S) and most worthy of praise,(T)
in the city of our God,(U) his holy mountain.(V)

2 Beautiful(W) in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon[e](X) is Mount Zion,(Y)
the city of the Great King.(Z)
3 God is in her citadels;(AA)
he has shown himself to be her fortress.(AB)

4 When the kings joined forces,
when they advanced together,(AC)
5 they saw her and were astounded;
they fled in terror.(AD)
6 Trembling seized(AE) them there,
pain like that of a woman in labor.(AF)
7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish(AG)
shattered by an east wind.(AH)

8 As we have heard,
so we have seen
in the city of the Lord Almighty,
in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
forever.[f](AI)

9 Within your temple, O God,
we meditate(AJ) on your unfailing love.(AK)
10 Like your name,(AL) O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;(AM)
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.(AN)

12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,(AO)
13 consider well her ramparts,(AP)
view her citadels,(AQ)
that you may tell of them
to the next generation.(AR)

14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide(AS) even to the end.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
  2. Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 47:9 Or shields
  4. Psalm 48:1 In Hebrew texts 48:1-14 is numbered 48:2-15.
  5. Psalm 48:2 Zaphon was the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites.
  6. Psalm 48:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 47:1 : S 2Ki 11:12
  2. Psalm 47:1 : S Ps 33:3
  3. Psalm 47:2 : Ge 14:18
  4. Psalm 47:2 : S Dt 7:21
  5. Psalm 47:2 : Ps 2:6; 48:2; 95:3; Mt 5:35
  6. Psalm 47:3 : Ps 18:39, 47; Isa 14:6
  7. Psalm 47:4 : Ps 2:8; 16:6; 78:55; 1Pe 1:4
  8. Psalm 47:4 : Am 6:8; 8:7
  9. Psalm 47:5 : Ps 68:18; Eph 4:8
  10. Psalm 47:5 : S Job 8:21; S Ps 106:5
  11. Psalm 47:5 : S Nu 10:2; S 2Sa 6:15
  12. Psalm 47:6 : S 2Sa 22:50
  13. Psalm 47:7 : Zec 14:9
  14. Psalm 47:7 : 1Ch 16:7; Col 3:16
  15. Psalm 47:8 : S 1Ch 16:31
  16. Psalm 47:8 : S 1Ki 22:19; S Ps 9:4; Rev 4:9
  17. Psalm 47:9 : S Job 25:2
  18. Psalm 47:9 : Ps 46:10; 97:9
  19. Psalm 48:1 : Ps 86:10; 96:4; 99:2; 135:5; 147:5; Jer 10:6
  20. Psalm 48:1 : S 2Sa 22:4; S 1Ch 16:25; Ps 18:3
  21. Psalm 48:1 : S Ps 46:4
  22. Psalm 48:1 : S Dt 33:19; Ps 2:6; 87:1; Isa 11:9; 32:16; Jer 31:23; Da 9:16; Mic 4:1; Zec 8:3
  23. Psalm 48:2 : Ps 50:2; La 2:15; Eze 16:14
  24. Psalm 48:2 : S Jos 13:27
  25. Psalm 48:2 : S Ps 2:6
  26. Psalm 48:2 : Mt 5:35
  27. Psalm 48:3 : ver 13; Ps 122:7
  28. Psalm 48:3 : Ps 18:2
  29. Psalm 48:4 : 2Sa 10:1-19
  30. Psalm 48:5 : Ex 15:16; Isa 13:8; Jer 46:5; Da 5:9
  31. Psalm 48:6 : S Job 4:14
  32. Psalm 48:6 : S Ge 3:16
  33. Psalm 48:7 : S Ge 10:4; S 1Ki 10:22; 22:48
  34. Psalm 48:7 : S Ge 41:6
  35. Psalm 48:8 : Jer 23:6; Zec 8:13; 14:11
  36. Psalm 48:9 : S Ps 39:3
  37. Psalm 48:9 : Ps 6:4
  38. Psalm 48:10 : S Ex 6:3; S Jos 7:9
  39. Psalm 48:10 : 1Sa 2:10; Ps 22:27; 65:5; 98:3; 100:1; Isa 11:12; 24:16; 42:10; 49:6
  40. Psalm 48:11 : Ps 97:8
  41. Psalm 48:12 : S Ne 3:1
  42. Psalm 48:13 : 2Sa 20:15; Isa 26:1; La 2:8; Hab 2:1
  43. Psalm 48:13 : S ver 3
  44. Psalm 48:13 : Ps 71:18; 78:6; 109:13
  45. Psalm 48:14 : Ps 25:5; 73:24; Pr 6:22; Isa 49:10; 57:18; 58:11
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Exodus 32:21-34

21 He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?”

22 “Do not be angry,(A) my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil.(B) 23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’(C) 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”(D)

25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock(E) to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

27 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’”(F) 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. 29 Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”

30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin.(G) But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement(H) for your sin.”

31 So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed!(I) They have made themselves gods of gold.(J) 32 But now, please forgive their sin(K)—but if not, then blot me(L) out of the book(M) you have written.”

33 The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out(N) of my book. 34 Now go, lead(O) the people to the place(P) I spoke of, and my angel(Q) will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish,(R) I will punish them for their sin.”

Cross references:

  1. Exodus 32:22 : S Ge 18:30
  2. Exodus 32:22 : Dt 9:24; 28:20; 2Ki 21:15; Ezr 9:13; Ne 9:28; Jer 4:4; 44:3; Eze 6:9
  3. Exodus 32:23 : S ver 1; Ac 7:40
  4. Exodus 32:24 : S ver 4
  5. Exodus 32:25 : S Ge 38:23
  6. Exodus 32:27 : Nu 25:3, 5; Dt 33:9; Eze 9:5
  7. Exodus 32:30 : 1Sa 12:20; Ps 25:11; 85:2
  8. Exodus 32:30 : Lev 1:4; 4:20, 26; 5:6, 10, 13; 6:7
  9. Exodus 32:31 : Ex 34:9; Dt 9:18
  10. Exodus 32:31 : S Ex 20:23
  11. Exodus 32:32 : Nu 14:19
  12. Exodus 32:32 : Ro 9:3
  13. Exodus 32:32 : Ps 69:28; Eze 13:9; Da 7:10; 12:1; Mal 3:16; S Lk 10:20
  14. Exodus 32:33 : S Ex 17:14; S Job 21:20; Rev 3:5
  15. Exodus 32:34 : S Ex 15:17
  16. Exodus 32:34 : Ex 3:17
  17. Exodus 32:34 : S Ex 14:19
  18. Exodus 32:34 : S Ge 50:19; Dt 32:35; Ps 89:32; 94:23; 99:8; 109:20; Isa 27:1; Jer 5:9; 11:22; 23:2; 44:13, 29; Hos 12:2; Ro 2:5-6
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

1 Thessalonians 1

1 Paul, Silas[a](A) and Timothy,(B)

To the church of the Thessalonians(C) in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.(D)

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

2 We always thank God for all of you(E) and continually mention you in our prayers.(F) 3 We remember before our God and Father(G) your work produced by faith,(H) your labor prompted by love,(I) and your endurance inspired by hope(J) in our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 For we know, brothers and sisters[b] loved by God,(K) that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel(L) came to you not simply with words but also with power,(M) with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know(N) how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us(O) and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering(P) with the joy(Q) given by the Holy Spirit.(R) 7 And so you became a model(S) to all the believers in Macedonia(T) and Achaia.(U) 8 The Lord’s message(V) rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.(W) Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned(X) to God from idols(Y) to serve the living and true God,(Z) 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven,(AA) whom he raised from the dead(AB)—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.(AC)

Footnotes:

  1. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
  2. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 2:1, 9, 14, 17; 3:7; 4:1, 10, 13; 5:1, 4, 12, 14, 25, 27.

Cross references:

  1. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 : S Ac 15:22
  2. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 : S Ac 16:1; 2Th 1:1
  3. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 : S Ac 17:1
  4. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 : S Ro 1:7
  5. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 : S Ro 1:8; Eph 5:20
  6. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 : S Ro 1:10
  7. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 : S Php 4:20
  8. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 : Gal 5:6; 2Th 1:11; Jas 2:14-26
  9. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 : 1Th 3:6; 2Th 1:3; S 1Co 13:13
  10. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 : Ro 8:25
  11. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 : Col 3:12; 2Th 2:13
  12. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 : S 2Co 2:12; 2Th 2:14
  13. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 : Ro 1:16; S Ro 15:13
  14. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 : 1Th 2:10
  15. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 : S 1Co 4:16
  16. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 : Ac 17:5-10
  17. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 : S 2Co 6:10
  18. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 : Ac 13:52
  19. 1 Thessalonians 1:7 : S 1Ti 4:12
  20. 1 Thessalonians 1:7 : S Ac 16:9
  21. 1 Thessalonians 1:7 : S Ac 18:12
  22. 1 Thessalonians 1:8 : 2Th 3:1
  23. 1 Thessalonians 1:8 : Ro 1:8
  24. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 : Ac 14:15
  25. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 : 1Co 12:2; Gal 4:8
  26. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 : S Mt 16:16
  27. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 : S 1Co 1:7
  28. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 : S Ac 2:24
  29. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 : S Ro 1:18
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Matthew 5:11-16

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,(A) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.(B) 12 Rejoice and be glad,(C) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.(D)

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.(E)

14 “You are the light of the world.(F) A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.(G) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others,(H) that they may see your good deeds(I) and glorify(J) your Father in heaven.

Cross references:

  1. Matthew 5:11 : Isa 51:7
  2. Matthew 5:11 : S Jn 15:21
  3. Matthew 5:12 : Ps 9:2; Ac 5:41; S 2Co 6:10; 12:10; Col 1:24; Jas 1:2; 1Pe 1:6; 4:13, 16
  4. Matthew 5:12 : 2Ch 36:16; Mt 23:31, 37; Ac 7:52; 1Th 2:15; Heb 11:32-38
  5. Matthew 5:13 : Mk 9:50; Lk 14:34, 35
  6. Matthew 5:14 : Jn 8:12
  7. Matthew 5:15 : Mk 4:21; Lk 8:16; 11:33
  8. Matthew 5:16 : 1Co 10:31; Php 1:11
  9. Matthew 5:16 : S Tit 2:14
  10. Matthew 5:16 : S Mt 9:8
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.