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 Fri, Jan 16
Psalm 20-21
Psalm 20[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;(A)
may the name of the God of Jacob(B) protect you.(C)
2 May he send you help(D) from the sanctuary(E)
and grant you support(F) from Zion.(G)
3 May he remember(H) all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.[b](I)
4 May he give you the desire of your heart(J)
and make all your plans succeed.(K)
5 May we shout for joy(L) over your victory
and lift up our banners(M) in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.(N)
6 Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.(O)
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.(P)
7 Some trust in chariots(Q) and some in horses,(R)
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.(S)
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,(T)
but we rise up(U) and stand firm.(V)
9 Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us(W) when we call!
Psalm 21[c]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
2 You have granted him his heart’s desire(Z)
and have not withheld the request of his lips.[d]
3 You came to greet him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold(AA) on his head.(AB)
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, for ever and ever.(AC)
5 Through the victories(AD) you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(AE)
6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings
and made him glad with the joy(AF) of your presence.(AG)
7 For the king trusts in the Lord;(AH)
through the unfailing love(AI) of the Most High(AJ)
he will not be shaken.(AK)
8 Your hand will lay hold(AL) on all your enemies;
your right hand will seize your foes.
9 When you appear for battle,
you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
and his fire will consume them.(AM)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
their posterity from mankind.(AN)
11 Though they plot evil(AO) against you
and devise wicked schemes,(AP) they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs(AQ)
when you aim at them with drawn bow.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 20:1 In Hebrew texts 20:1-9 is numbered 20:2-10.
- Psalm 20:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
- Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Cross references:
- Psalm 20:1 : Ps 4:1
- Psalm 20:1 : Ex 3:6; Ps 46:7, 11
- Psalm 20:1 : Ps 59:1; 69:29; 91:14
- Psalm 20:2 : Ps 30:10; 33:20; 37:40; 40:17; 54:4; 118:7
- Psalm 20:2 : S Nu 3:28
- Psalm 20:2 : S Ps 18:18
- Psalm 20:2 : Ps 2:6; 128:5; 134:3; 135:21
- Psalm 20:3 : Ac 10:4
- Psalm 20:3 : S Dt 33:11
- Psalm 20:4 : Ps 21:2; 37:4; 145:16, 19; Isa 26:8; Eze 24:25; Ro 10:1
- Psalm 20:4 : Ps 140:8; Pr 16:3; Da 11:17
- Psalm 20:5 : S Job 3:7
- Psalm 20:5 : S Nu 1:52; Ps 60:4; Isa 5:26; 11:10, 12; 13:2; 30:17; 49:22; 62:10; Jer 50:2; 51:12, 27
- Psalm 20:5 : 1Sa 1:17
- Psalm 20:6 : S 2Sa 23:1; Ps 28:8
- Psalm 20:6 : S Job 40:14; Hab 3:13
- Psalm 20:7 : S 2Ki 19:23
- Psalm 20:7 : S Dt 17:16; Ps 33:17; 147:10; Pr 21:31; Isa 31:1; 36:8, 9
- Psalm 20:7 : S 2Ch 32:8
- Psalm 20:8 : Ps 27:2; Isa 40:30; Jer 46:6; 50:32
- Psalm 20:8 : Mic 7:8
- Psalm 20:8 : S Job 11:15; Ps 37:23; Pr 10:25; Isa 7:9
- Psalm 20:9 : Ps 17:6
- Psalm 21:1 : S 1Sa 2:10
- Psalm 21:1 : S 2Sa 22:51
- Psalm 21:2 : S Ps 20:4
- Psalm 21:3 : S 2Sa 12:30; Rev 14:14
- Psalm 21:3 : Zec 6:11
- Psalm 21:4 : Ps 10:16; 45:17; 48:14; 133:3
- Psalm 21:5 : ver 1; Ps 18:50; 44:4
- Psalm 21:5 : S Ps 8:5; 45:3; 93:1; 96:6; 104:1
- Psalm 21:6 : Ps 43:4; 126:3
- Psalm 21:6 : S 1Ch 17:27
- Psalm 21:7 : S 2Ki 18:5
- Psalm 21:7 : Ps 6:4
- Psalm 21:7 : Ge 14:18
- Psalm 21:7 : S Ps 15:5; S 55:22
- Psalm 21:8 : Isa 10:10
- Psalm 21:9 : S Dt 32:22; Ps 50:3; Jer 15:14
- Psalm 21:10 : Dt 28:18
- Psalm 21:11 : Ps 2:1
- Psalm 21:11 : Job 10:3; Ps 10:2; 26:10; 37:7
- Psalm 21:12 : S Ex 23:27
- Psalm 21:13 : S Ps 18:46
- Psalm 21:13 : Ps 18:1
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Psalm 110
Psalm 110
Of David. A psalm.
2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter(D) from Zion,(E) saying,
“Rule(F) in the midst of your enemies!”
3 Your troops will be willing
on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendor,(G)
your young men will come to you
like dew from the morning’s womb.[b](H)
4 The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:(I)
“You are a priest forever,(J)
in the order of Melchizedek.(K)”
5 The Lord is at your right hand[c];(L)
he will crush kings(M) on the day of his wrath.(N)
6 He will judge the nations,(O) heaping up the dead(P)
and crushing the rulers(Q) of the whole earth.
7 He will drink from a brook along the way,[d]
and so he will lift his head high.(R)
Footnotes:
- Psalm 110:1 Or Lord
- Psalm 110:3 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.
- Psalm 110:5 Or My lord is at your right hand, Lord
- Psalm 110:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
Cross references:
- Psalm 110:1 : Mt 22:44*; Mk 12:36*; Lk 20:42*; Ac 2:34*
- Psalm 110:1 : S Mk 16:19; Heb 1:13*; 12:2
- Psalm 110:1 : S Jos 10:24; S 1Ki 5:3; 1Co 15:25
- Psalm 110:2 : S Ge 49:10; Ps 45:6; Isa 14:5; Jer 48:17
- Psalm 110:2 : S Ps 2:6
- Psalm 110:2 : Ps 72:8
- Psalm 110:3 : S Ex 15:11
- Psalm 110:3 : Mic 5:7
- Psalm 110:4 : S Nu 23:19
- Psalm 110:4 : Zec 6:13; Heb 5:6*; 7:21*
- Psalm 110:4 : S Ge 14:18; Heb 5:10; 7:15-17*
- Psalm 110:5 : Ps 16:8
- Psalm 110:5 : S Dt 7:24; Ps 2:12; 68:21; 76:12; Isa 60:12; Da 2:44
- Psalm 110:5 : S Ps 2:5; Ro 2:5; Rev 6:17; 11:18
- Psalm 110:6 : S Ps 9:19
- Psalm 110:6 : Isa 5:25; 34:3; 66:24
- Psalm 110:6 : S Ps 18:38
- Psalm 110:7 : Ps 3:3; 27:6
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Psalm 116-117
Psalm 116
1 I love the Lord,(A) for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry(B) for mercy.(C)
2 Because he turned his ear(D) to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death(E) entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name(F) of the Lord:
“Lord, save me!(G)”
5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;(H)
our God is full of compassion.(I)
6 The Lord protects the unwary;
when I was brought low,(J) he saved me.(K)
8 For you, Lord, have delivered me(N) from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the Lord(O)
in the land of the living.(P)
10 I trusted(Q) in the Lord when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted”;(R)
11 in my alarm I said,
“Everyone is a liar.”(S)
12 What shall I return to the Lord
for all his goodness(T) to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name(U) of the Lord.
14 I will fulfill my vows(V) to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight(W) of the Lord
is the death of his faithful servants.(X)
16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;(Y)
I serve you just as my mother did;(Z)
you have freed me from my chains.(AA)
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering(AB) to you
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfill my vows(AC) to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts(AD) of the house of the Lord—
in your midst, Jerusalem.(AE)
Praise the Lord.[a]
Psalm 117
1 Praise the Lord,(AF) all you nations;(AG)
extol him, all you peoples.
2 For great is his love(AH) toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord(AI) endures forever.
Praise the Lord.[b]
Footnotes:
- Psalm 116:19 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
- Psalm 117:2 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
Cross references:
- Psalm 116:1 : Ps 18:1
- Psalm 116:1 : S Ps 31:22; S 40:1
- Psalm 116:1 : S Ps 6:9; S 28:2
- Psalm 116:2 : S Ps 5:1
- Psalm 116:3 : S 2Sa 22:6; Ps 18:4-5
- Psalm 116:4 : Ps 80:18; 118:5
- Psalm 116:4 : S Ps 80:2
- Psalm 116:5 : S Ex 9:27; S 2Ch 12:6; S Ezr 9:15
- Psalm 116:5 : S Ex 22:27; S Ps 86:15
- Psalm 116:6 : S Ps 79:8
- Psalm 116:6 : Ps 18:3; 22:5; 107:13
- Psalm 116:7 : Ps 46:10; 62:1; 131:2; Mt 11:29
- Psalm 116:7 : Ps 13:6; 106:1; 142:7
- Psalm 116:8 : S Ps 86:13
- Psalm 116:9 : S Ge 5:22; Ps 56:13; 89:15
- Psalm 116:9 : S Job 28:13; Ps 27:13; Isa 38:11; Jer 11:19
- Psalm 116:10 : 2Co 4:13*
- Psalm 116:10 : Ps 9:18; 72:2; S 107:17; 119:67, 71, 75
- Psalm 116:11 : Jer 9:3-5; Hos 7:13; Mic 6:12; Ro 3:4
- Psalm 116:12 : Ps 103:2; 106:1
- Psalm 116:13 : S Ps 105:1
- Psalm 116:14 : S Nu 30:2; S Ps 66:13
- Psalm 116:15 : Ps 72:14
- Psalm 116:15 : S Nu 23:10
- Psalm 116:16 : Ps 119:125; 143:12
- Psalm 116:16 : S Ps 86:16
- Psalm 116:16 : S Job 12:18
- Psalm 116:17 : S Lev 7:12; S Ezr 1:4
- Psalm 116:18 : ver 14; S Lev 22:18
- Psalm 116:19 : Ps 92:13; 96:8; 100:4; 135:2
- Psalm 116:19 : Ps 102:21
- Psalm 117:1 : S Ps 22:23; S 103:2
- Psalm 117:1 : Ro 15:11*
- Psalm 117:2 : S Ps 17:7; S 103:11
- Psalm 117:2 : Ps 119:90; 146:6
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Genesis 6:9-22
Noah and the Flood
9 This is the account(A) of Noah and his family.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless(B) among the people of his time,(C) and he walked faithfully with God.(D) 10 Noah had three sons: Shem,(E) Ham and Japheth.(F)
11 Now the earth was corrupt(G) in God’s sight and was full of violence.(H) 12 God saw how corrupt(I) the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.(J) 13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy(K) both them and the earth.(L) 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress[a] wood;(M) make rooms in it and coat it with pitch(N) inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.[b] 16 Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit[c] high all around.[d] Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. 17 I am going to bring floodwaters(O) on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.(P) 18 But I will establish my covenant with you,(Q) and you will enter the ark(R)—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. 19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you.(S) 20 Two(T) of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind(U) of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.(V) 21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”
22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.(W)
Footnotes:
- Genesis 6:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Genesis 6:15 That is, about 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high or about 135 meters long, 23 meters wide and 14 meters high
- Genesis 6:16 That is, about 18 inches or about 45 centimeters
- Genesis 6:16 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
Cross references:
- Genesis 6:9 : S Ge 2:4
- Genesis 6:9 : Ge 17:1; Dt 18:13; 2Sa 22:24; Job 1:1; 4:6; 9:21; 12:4; 31:6; Ps 15:2; 18:23; 19:13; 37:37; Pr 2:7
- Genesis 6:9 : Ge 7:1; Ps 37:39; Jer 15:1; Eze 14:14, 20; Da 10:11; S Lk 1:6; Heb 11:7; 2Pe 2:5
- Genesis 6:9 : S Ge 5:22
- Genesis 6:10 : Lk 3:36
- Genesis 6:10 : S Ge 5:32
- Genesis 6:11 : Dt 31:29; Jdg 2:19
- Genesis 6:11 : Ps 7:9; 73:6; Eze 7:23; 8:17; 28:16; Mal 2:16
- Genesis 6:12 : Ex 32:7; Dt 4:16; 9:12, 24
- Genesis 6:12 : Ps 14:1-3
- Genesis 6:13 : Dt 28:63; 2Ki 8:19; Ezr 9:14; Jer 44:11
- Genesis 6:13 : ver 17; Ge 7:4, 21-23; Job 34:15; Isa 5:6; 24:1-3; Jer 44:27; Eze 7:2-3
- Genesis 6:14 : Heb 11:7; 1Pe 3:20
- Genesis 6:14 : Ex 2:3
- Genesis 6:17 : Ps 29:10
- Genesis 6:17 : S ver 7,S 13; 2Pe 2:5
- Genesis 6:18 : Ge 9:9-16; 17:7; 19:12; Ex 6:4; 34:10, 27; Dt 29:13, 14-15; Ps 25:10; 74:20; 106:45; Isa 55:3; Jer 32:40; Eze 16:60; Hag 2:5; 1Pe 3:20
- Genesis 6:18 : Ge 7:1, 7, 13
- Genesis 6:19 : Ge 7:15
- Genesis 6:20 : Ge 7:15
- Genesis 6:20 : S Ge 1:11
- Genesis 6:20 : Ge 7:3
- Genesis 6:22 : Ge 7:5, 9, 16; Ex 7:6; 39:43; 40:16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Hebrews 4:1-13
A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God
4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.(A) 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[a](B) 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”[c](D) 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”(E)
6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,(F) 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:
8 For if Joshua had given them rest,(H) God would not have spoken(I) later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e](J) just as God did from his.(K) 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.(L)
12 For the word of God(M) is alive(N) and active.(O) Sharper than any double-edged sword,(P) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(Q) 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.(R) Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Footnotes:
- Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts because those who heard did not combine it with faith
- Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5
- Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2
- Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7,8
- Hebrews 4:10 Or labor
Cross references:
- Hebrews 4:1 : Heb 12:15
- Hebrews 4:2 : 1Th 2:13
- Hebrews 4:3 : Ps 95:11; Dt 1:34, 35; Heb 3:11
- Hebrews 4:4 : Ge 2:2, 3; Ex 20:11
- Hebrews 4:5 : Ps 95:11; S ver 3
- Hebrews 4:6 : ver 11; Heb 3:18
- Hebrews 4:7 : Ps 95:7, 8; Heb 3:7, 8, 15
- Hebrews 4:8 : Jos 22:4
- Hebrews 4:8 : S Heb 1:1
- Hebrews 4:10 : Lev 23:3; Rev 14:13
- Hebrews 4:10 : ver 4
- Hebrews 4:11 : ver 6; Heb 3:18
- Hebrews 4:12 : S Mk 4:14; Lk 5:1; 11:28; Jn 10:35; Ac 12:24; 1Th 2:13; 2Ti 2:9; 1Pe 1:23; 1Jn 2:14; Rev 1:2, 9
- Hebrews 4:12 : Ac 7:38; 1Pe 1:23
- Hebrews 4:12 : Isa 55:11; Jer 23:29; 1Th 2:13
- Hebrews 4:12 : Eph 6:17; S Rev 1:16
- Hebrews 4:12 : 1Co 14:24, 25
- Hebrews 4:13 : Ps 33:13-15; Pr 5:21; Jer 16:17; 23:24; Da 2:22
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
John 2:13-22
Jesus Clears the Temple Courts(A)
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover,(B) Jesus went up to Jerusalem.(C) 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves,(D) and others sitting at tables exchanging money.(E) 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house(F) into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[a](G)
18 The Jews(H) then responded to him, “What sign(I) can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”(J)
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”(K)
20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.(L) 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said.(M) Then they believed the scripture(N) and the words that Jesus had spoken.
Footnotes:
- John 2:17 Psalm 69:9
Cross references:
- John 2:13 : 2:14-16pp — Mt 21:12, 13; Mk 11:15-17; Lk 19:45, 46
- John 2:13 : S Jn 11:55
- John 2:13 : Dt 16:1-6; Lk 2:41
- John 2:14 : Lev 1:14; Dt 14:26
- John 2:14 : Dt 14:25
- John 2:16 : Lk 2:49
- John 2:17 : Ps 69:9
- John 2:18 : S Jn 1:19
- John 2:18 : S ver 11
- John 2:18 : S Mt 12:38
- John 2:19 : S Mt 16:21; 26:61; 27:40; Mk 14:58; 15:29; Ac 6:14
- John 2:21 : 1Co 6:19
- John 2:22 : Lk 24:5-8; Jn 12:16; 14:26
- John 2:22 : Ps 16:10; S Lk 24:27
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

