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 Wed, Oct 15
Psalm 18
Psalm 18[a](A)
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
1 I love you, Lord, my strength.(B)
2 The Lord is my rock,(C) my fortress(D) and my deliverer;(E)
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,(F)
my shield[b](G) and the horn[c] of my salvation,(H) my stronghold.
3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,(I)
and I have been saved from my enemies.(J)
4 The cords of death(K) entangled me;
the torrents(L) of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death(M) confronted me.
6 In my distress(N) I called to the Lord;(O)
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;(P)
my cry came(Q) before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled(R) and quaked,(S)
and the foundations of the mountains shook;(T)
they trembled because he was angry.(U)
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;(V)
consuming fire(W) came from his mouth,
burning coals(X) blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;(Y)
dark clouds(Z) were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim(AA) and flew;
he soared(AB) on the wings of the wind.(AC)
11 He made darkness his covering,(AD) his canopy(AE) around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence(AF) clouds advanced,
with hailstones(AG) and bolts of lightning.(AH)
13 The Lord thundered(AI) from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.[d]
14 He shot his arrows(AJ) and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning(AK) he routed them.(AL)
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations(AM) of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke,(AN) Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.(AO)
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.(AP)
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,(AQ)
from my foes, who were too strong for me.(AR)
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,(AS)
but the Lord was my support.(AT)
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;(AU)
he rescued me because he delighted in me.(AV)
20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;(AW)
according to the cleanness of my hands(AX) he has rewarded me.(AY)
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;(AZ)
I am not guilty of turning(BA) from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;(BB)
I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless(BC) before him
and have kept myself from sin.
24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,(BD)
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 To the faithful(BE) you show yourself faithful,(BF)
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure(BG) you show yourself pure,
but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.(BH)
27 You save the humble(BI)
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.(BJ)
28 You, Lord, keep my lamp(BK) burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.(BL)
29 With your help(BM) I can advance against a troop[e];
with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect:(BN)
The Lord’s word is flawless;(BO)
he shields(BP) all who take refuge(BQ) in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?(BR)
And who is the Rock(BS) except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength(BT)
and keeps my way secure.(BU)
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;(BV)
he causes me to stand on the heights.(BW)
34 He trains my hands for battle;(BX)
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains(BY) me;
your help has made me great.
36 You provide a broad path(BZ) for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way.(CA)
37 I pursued my enemies(CB) and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them(CC) so that they could not rise;(CD)
they fell beneath my feet.(CE)
39 You armed me with strength(CF) for battle;
you humbled my adversaries(CG) before me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs(CH) in flight,
and I destroyed(CI) my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them(CJ)—
to the Lord, but he did not answer.(CK)
42 I beat them as fine as windblown dust;(CL)
I trampled them[f] like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
you have made me the head of nations.(CM)
People I did not know(CN) now serve me,
44 foreigners(CO) cower before me;
as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
45 They all lose heart;(CP)
they come trembling(CQ) from their strongholds.(CR)
46 The Lord lives!(CS) Praise be to my Rock!(CT)
Exalted be God(CU) my Savior!(CV)
47 He is the God who avenges(CW) me,
who subdues nations(CX) under me,
48 who saves(CY) me from my enemies.(CZ)
You exalted me above my foes;
from a violent man(DA) you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;(DB)
I will sing(DC) the praises of your name.(DD)
50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing love to his anointed,(DE)
to David(DF) and to his descendants forever.(DG)
Footnotes:
- Psalm 18:1 In Hebrew texts 18:1-50 is numbered 18:2-51.
- Psalm 18:2 Or sovereign
- Psalm 18:2 Horn here symbolizes strength.
- Psalm 18:13 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 2 Samuel 22:14); most Hebrew manuscripts resounded, / amid hailstones and bolts of lightning
- Psalm 18:29 Or can run through a barricade
- Psalm 18:42 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac and Targum (see also 2 Samuel 22:43); Masoretic Text I poured them out
Cross references:
- Psalm 18:1 : 18:Title–50pp — 2Sa 22:1-51
- Psalm 18:1 : S Ex 15:2; S Dt 33:29; S 1Sa 2:10; Ps 22:19; 28:7; 59:9; 81:1; Isa 12:2; 49:5; Jer 16:19
- Psalm 18:2 : S Ex 33:22
- Psalm 18:2 : Ps 28:8; 31:2, 3; Isa 17:10; Jer 16:19
- Psalm 18:2 : Ps 40:17
- Psalm 18:2 : Ps 2:12; 9:9; 94:22
- Psalm 18:2 : S Ge 15:1; Ps 28:7; 84:9; 119:114; 144:2
- Psalm 18:2 : S 1Sa 2:1; S Lk 1:69
- Psalm 18:3 : S 1Ch 16:25
- Psalm 18:3 : S Ps 9:13
- Psalm 18:4 : Ps 116:3
- Psalm 18:4 : Ps 93:4; 124:4; Isa 5:30; 17:12; Jer 6:23; 51:42, 55; Eze 43:2
- Psalm 18:5 : Pr 13:14
- Psalm 18:6 : S Dt 4:30
- Psalm 18:6 : Ps 30:2; 99:6; 102:2; 120:1
- Psalm 18:6 : Ps 66:19; 116:1
- Psalm 18:6 : S Job 16:18
- Psalm 18:7 : Ps 97:4; Isa 5:25; 64:3
- Psalm 18:7 : S Jdg 5:4
- Psalm 18:7 : S Jdg 5:5
- Psalm 18:7 : S Job 9:5; Jer 10:10
- Psalm 18:8 : S Job 41:20
- Psalm 18:8 : S Ex 15:7; S 19:18; S Job 41:21; Ps 50:3; 97:3; Da 7:10
- Psalm 18:8 : Pr 25:22; Ro 12:20
- Psalm 18:9 : S Ge 11:5; S Ps 57:3
- Psalm 18:9 : S Ex 20:21; S Dt 33:26; S Ps 104:3
- Psalm 18:10 : S Ge 3:24; Eze 10:18
- Psalm 18:10 : S Dt 33:26
- Psalm 18:10 : Ps 104:3
- Psalm 18:11 : S Ex 19:9; S Dt 4:11
- Psalm 18:11 : S Job 22:14; Isa 4:5; Jer 43:10
- Psalm 18:12 : Ps 104:2
- Psalm 18:12 : S Jos 10:11
- Psalm 18:12 : S Job 36:30
- Psalm 18:13 : S Ex 9:23; S 1Sa 2:10
- Psalm 18:14 : S Dt 32:23
- Psalm 18:14 : S Job 36:30; Rev 4:5
- Psalm 18:14 : S Jdg 4:15
- Psalm 18:15 : S Ps 11:3
- Psalm 18:15 : Ps 76:6; 104:7; 106:9; Isa 50:2
- Psalm 18:15 : S Ex 15:8
- Psalm 18:16 : Ex 15:5; Ps 69:2; Pr 18:4; 20:5
- Psalm 18:17 : ver 48; Ps 38:19; 59:1; 143:9
- Psalm 18:17 : S Jdg 18:26
- Psalm 18:18 : Pr 1:27; 16:4; Jer 17:17; 40:2; Ob 1:13
- Psalm 18:18 : Ps 20:2; Isa 3:1
- Psalm 18:19 : Ps 31:8
- Psalm 18:19 : S Nu 14:8
- Psalm 18:20 : S 1Sa 26:23
- Psalm 18:20 : Job 22:30; Ps 24:4
- Psalm 18:20 : S Ru 2:12; S 2Ch 15:7; 1Co 3:8
- Psalm 18:21 : 2Ch 34:33; Ps 37:34; 119:2; Pr 8:32; 23:26
- Psalm 18:21 : Ps 119:102
- Psalm 18:22 : Ps 119:30
- Psalm 18:23 : S Ge 6:9
- Psalm 18:24 : S 1Sa 26:23
- Psalm 18:25 : Ps 31:23; 37:28; 50:5; Pr 2:8
- Psalm 18:25 : Ps 25:10; 40:11; 89:24; 146:6
- Psalm 18:26 : Pr 15:26; Mt 5:8; Php 1:10; 1Ti 5:22; Tit 1:15; 1Jn 3:3
- Psalm 18:26 : Pr 3:34; Mt 10:16; Lk 16:8
- Psalm 18:27 : S 2Ch 33:23; S Mt 23:12
- Psalm 18:27 : S Job 41:34; S Ps 10:5; Pr 3:33-34
- Psalm 18:28 : 1Ki 11:36; Ps 132:17
- Psalm 18:28 : Job 29:3; Ps 97:11; 112:4; Jn 1:5; S Ac 26:18; 2Co 4:6; 2Pe 1:19
- Psalm 18:29 : ver 32, 39; Isa 45:5; Heb 11:34
- Psalm 18:30 : S Dt 32:4
- Psalm 18:30 : S Ps 12:6; Pr 30:5
- Psalm 18:30 : Ps 3:3
- Psalm 18:30 : Ps 2:12
- Psalm 18:31 : S Dt 4:35; 32:39; Ps 35:10; 86:8; 89:6; Isa 44:6, 8; 45:5, 6, 14, 18, 21; 46:9
- Psalm 18:31 : S Ge 49:24
- Psalm 18:32 : S ver 29; 1Pe 5:10
- Psalm 18:32 : S Ps 15:2; 19:13; Heb 10:14; Jas 3:2
- Psalm 18:33 : Ps 42:1; Pr 5:19; Isa 35:6; Hab 3:19
- Psalm 18:33 : S Dt 32:13
- Psalm 18:34 : Ps 144:1
- Psalm 18:35 : Ps 3:5; 37:5, 17; 41:3; 51:12; 54:4; 55:22; 119:116; Isa 41:4, 10, 13; 43:2; 46:4
- Psalm 18:36 : Ps 31:8
- Psalm 18:36 : S Job 18:7; Ps 66:9
- Psalm 18:37 : S Lev 26:7
- Psalm 18:38 : Ps 68:21; 110:6
- Psalm 18:38 : Ps 36:12; 140:10; Isa 26:14
- Psalm 18:38 : Ps 47:3
- Psalm 18:39 : ver 32; Isa 45:5, 24
- Psalm 18:39 : ver 47; Ps 47:3; 144:2
- Psalm 18:40 : S Jos 7:12
- Psalm 18:40 : ver 37
- Psalm 18:41 : S 2Ki 14:26; Ps 50:22
- Psalm 18:41 : S 1Sa 8:18; S 14:37; Jer 11:11
- Psalm 18:42 : S Dt 9:21; S Isa 2:22
- Psalm 18:43 : 2Sa 8:1-14
- Psalm 18:43 : Isa 55:5
- Psalm 18:44 : Ps 54:3; 144:7, 11; Isa 25:5
- Psalm 18:45 : S 1Sa 17:32; 2Co 4:1; Heb 12:3
- Psalm 18:45 : Isa 66:2; Hos 3:5; 11:10
- Psalm 18:45 : Ps 9:9; Mic 7:17
- Psalm 18:46 : S Jos 3:10; S 1Sa 14:39; 2Co 13:4
- Psalm 18:46 : ver 31; Ex 33:22
- Psalm 18:46 : Ps 21:13; 35:27; 40:16; 108:5
- Psalm 18:46 : S 1Ch 16:35; S Lk 1:47
- Psalm 18:47 : S Ge 4:24
- Psalm 18:47 : S ver 39; S Jdg 4:23
- Psalm 18:48 : Ps 7:10; 37:40; Da 3:17
- Psalm 18:48 : S ver 17
- Psalm 18:48 : Ps 140:1
- Psalm 18:49 : S Ps 9:11
- Psalm 18:49 : Ps 7:17; 9:2; 101:1; 108:1; 146:2
- Psalm 18:49 : Ro 15:9*
- Psalm 18:50 : S 2Sa 23:1
- Psalm 18:50 : Ps 144:10
- Psalm 18:50 : Ps 89:4
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Jeremiah 38:1-13
Jeremiah Thrown Into a Cistern
38 Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur(A), Jehukal[a](B) son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah was telling all the people when he said, 2 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague,(C) but whoever goes over to the Babylonians[b] will live. They will escape with their lives; they will live.’(D) 3 And this is what the Lord says: ‘This city will certainly be given into the hands of the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.’”(E)
4 Then the officials(F) said to the king, “This man should be put to death.(G) He is discouraging(H) the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin.”
5 “He is in your hands,”(I) King Zedekiah answered. “The king can do nothing(J) to oppose you.”
6 So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard.(K) They lowered Jeremiah by ropes(L) into the cistern; it had no water in it,(M) only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.(N)
7 But Ebed-Melek,(O) a Cushite,[c] an official[d](P) in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate,(Q) 8 Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and said to him, 9 “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern,(R) where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread(S) in the city.”
10 Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”
11 So Ebed-Melek took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes(T) to Jeremiah in the cistern. 12 Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, 13 and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.(U)
Footnotes:
- Jeremiah 38:1 Hebrew Jukal, a variant of Jehukal
- Jeremiah 38:2 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 18, 19 and 23
- Jeremiah 38:7 Probably from the upper Nile region
- Jeremiah 38:7 Or a eunuch
Cross references:
- Jeremiah 38:1 : S 1Ch 9:12
- Jeremiah 38:1 : Jer 37:3
- Jeremiah 38:2 : Jer 34:17
- Jeremiah 38:2 : ver 17; S Jer 21:9; 39:18; 45:5
- Jeremiah 38:3 : S Jer 21:4, 10
- Jeremiah 38:4 : S Jer 36:12
- Jeremiah 38:4 : S Jer 11:21
- Jeremiah 38:4 : S 1Sa 17:32
- Jeremiah 38:5 : S Jer 26:14
- Jeremiah 38:5 : 1Sa 15:24
- Jeremiah 38:6 : S Jer 37:21
- Jeremiah 38:6 : S Jos 2:15
- Jeremiah 38:6 : S Ge 37:24
- Jeremiah 38:6 : S Job 30:19; La 3:53
- Jeremiah 38:7 : Jer 39:16
- Jeremiah 38:7 : fn Isa 56:3-5; Ac 8:27
- Jeremiah 38:7 : S Job 29:7
- Jeremiah 38:9 : S Ge 37:20
- Jeremiah 38:9 : S Jer 37:21
- Jeremiah 38:11 : S Jos 2:15
- Jeremiah 38:13 : S Jer 37:21
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1 Corinthians 14:26-33
Good Order in Worship
26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?(A) When you come together, each of you(B) has a hymn,(C) or a word of instruction,(D) a revelation, a tongue(E) or an interpretation.(F) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.(G) 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets(H) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.(I) 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.(J) 33 For God is not a God of disorder(K) but of peace(L)—as in all the congregations(M) of the Lord’s people.(N)
Cross references:
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 : S Ro 7:1
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 : 1Co 12:7-10
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 : S Eph 5:19
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 : ver 6
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 : ver 2
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 : 1Co 12:10
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 : S Ro 14:19
- 1 Corinthians 14:29 : ver 32, 37; S 1Co 13:2
- 1 Corinthians 14:29 : 1Co 12:10
- 1 Corinthians 14:32 : 1Jn 4:1
- 1 Corinthians 14:33 : ver 40
- 1 Corinthians 14:33 : S Ro 15:33
- 1 Corinthians 14:33 : S 1Co 7:17; S 10:32
- 1 Corinthians 14:33 : S Ac 9:13
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1 Corinthians 14:37-40
37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet(A) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,(B) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.(C) 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.[a]
39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager(D) to prophesy,(E) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly(F) way.
Footnotes:
- 1 Corinthians 14:38 Some manuscripts But anyone who is ignorant of this will be ignorant
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Matthew 10:34-42
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law(A)—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[a](B)
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.(C) 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.(D) 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.(E)
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me,(F) and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.(G) 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”(H)
Footnotes:
- Matthew 10:36 Micah 7:6
Cross references:
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.