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, Jan 20
Psalm 26
Psalm 26
Of David.
1 Vindicate me,(A) Lord,
for I have led a blameless life;(B)
I have trusted(C) in the Lord
and have not faltered.(D)
2 Test me,(E) Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;(F)
3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love(G)
and have lived(H) in reliance on your faithfulness.(I)
4 I do not sit(J) with the deceitful,
nor do I associate with hypocrites.(K)
5 I abhor(L) the assembly of evildoers
and refuse to sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence,(M)
and go about your altar, Lord,
7 proclaiming aloud your praise(N)
and telling of all your wonderful deeds.(O)
8 Lord, I love(P) the house where you live,
the place where your glory dwells.(Q)
9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,
my life with those who are bloodthirsty,(R)
10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,(S)
whose right hands are full of bribes.(T)
11 I lead a blameless life;
deliver me(U) and be merciful to me.
Cross references:
- Psalm 26:1 : S 1Sa 24:15
- Psalm 26:1 : Ps 15:2; Pr 20:7
- Psalm 26:1 : Ps 22:4; 40:4; Isa 12:2; 25:9; Jer 17:7; Da 3:28
- Psalm 26:1 : 2Ki 20:3; Heb 10:23
- Psalm 26:2 : Ps 66:10
- Psalm 26:2 : S Dt 6:6; S Ps 7:9; Jer 11:20; 20:12; Eze 11:5
- Psalm 26:3 : Ps 6:4
- Psalm 26:3 : S 1Ki 2:4
- Psalm 26:3 : Ps 40:11; 43:3; 86:11; 119:30
- Psalm 26:4 : Ps 1:1
- Psalm 26:4 : Ps 28:3; Mt 6:2
- Psalm 26:5 : Ps 139:21
- Psalm 26:6 : Ps 73:13; Mt 27:24
- Psalm 26:7 : Isa 42:12; 60:6
- Psalm 26:7 : S Jos 3:5; Ps 9:1
- Psalm 26:8 : Ps 122:6; Isa 66:10
- Psalm 26:8 : S Ex 29:43; 2Ch 7:1; Ps 96:6
- Psalm 26:9 : Ps 5:6; 28:3; 55:23; 139:19; Pr 29:10
- Psalm 26:10 : S Ps 21:11
- Psalm 26:10 : S Job 36:18; S Isa 1:23; S Eze 22:12
- Psalm 26:11 : Ps 31:5; 69:18; 119:134; Tit 2:14
- Psalm 26:12 : Ps 27:11; 40:2; 143:10; Isa 26:7; 40:3-4; 45:13; Zec 4:7; Lk 6:17
- Psalm 26:12 : S Ps 22:25
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Psalm 28
Psalm 28
Of David.
1 To you, Lord, I call;
you are my Rock,
do not turn a deaf ear(A) to me.
For if you remain silent,(B)
I will be like those who go down to the pit.(C)
2 Hear my cry for mercy(D)
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands(E)
toward your Most Holy Place.(F)
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.(G)
4 Repay them for their deeds
and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done(H)
and bring back on them what they deserve.(I)
5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
and what his hands have done,(J)
he will tear them down
and never build them up again.
6 Praise be to the Lord,(K)
for he has heard my cry for mercy.(L)
7 The Lord is my strength(M) and my shield;
my heart trusts(N) in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,(O)
and with my song I praise him.(P)
8 The Lord is the strength(Q) of his people,
a fortress of salvation(R) for his anointed one.(S)
9 Save your people(T) and bless your inheritance;(U)
be their shepherd(V) and carry them(W) forever.
Cross references:
- Psalm 28:1 : S Dt 1:45
- Psalm 28:1 : S Est 4:14
- Psalm 28:1 : S Job 33:18
- Psalm 28:2 : Ps 17:1; 61:1; 116:1; 130:2; 142:1; 143:1
- Psalm 28:2 : S Ezr 9:5; Ps 63:4; 141:2; La 2:19; 1Ti 2:8
- Psalm 28:2 : Ps 5:7; 11:4
- Psalm 28:3 : Ps 12:2; S 26:4; 55:21; Jer 9:8
- Psalm 28:4 : Ps 62:12; 2Ti 4:14; Rev 22:12
- Psalm 28:4 : La 3:64; Rev 18:6
- Psalm 28:5 : Isa 5:12
- Psalm 28:6 : S Ge 24:27; 2Co 1:3; Eph 1:3; 1Pe 1:3
- Psalm 28:6 : ver 2
- Psalm 28:7 : S Ps 18:1
- Psalm 28:7 : Ps 13:5; 112:7; Isa 26:3
- Psalm 28:7 : S Dt 16:15; S Ps 16:9
- Psalm 28:7 : Ps 33:3; 40:3; 69:30; 144:9; 149:1
- Psalm 28:8 : Ps 18:1
- Psalm 28:8 : S Ex 15:2; Ps 27:1; Hab 3:13
- Psalm 28:8 : S Ps 20:6
- Psalm 28:9 : 1Ch 16:35; Ps 106:47; 118:25
- Psalm 28:9 : S Ex 34:9
- Psalm 28:9 : 1Ch 11:2; S Ps 23:1; 78:52, 71; 80:1; Isa 40:11; Jer 31:10; Eze 34:12-16, 23, 31; Mic 7:14
- Psalm 28:9 : S Dt 1:31; 32:11; Isa 46:3; 63:9
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Psalm 36
Psalm 36[a]
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[b](A)
There is no fear(B) of God
before their eyes.(C)
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.(D)
3 The words of their mouths(E) are wicked and deceitful;(F)
they fail to act wisely(G) or do good.(H)
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;(I)
they commit themselves to a sinful course(J)
and do not reject what is wrong.(K)
5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness(L) to the skies.(M)
6 Your righteousness(N) is like the highest mountains,(O)
your justice like the great deep.(P)
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.(Q)
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!(R)
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.(S)
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;(T)
you give them drink from your river(U) of delights.(V)
9 For with you is the fountain of life;(W)
in your light(X) we see light.
10 Continue your love(Y) to those who know you,(Z)
your righteousness to the upright in heart.(AA)
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked(AB) drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!(AC)
Footnotes:
- Psalm 36:1 In Hebrew texts 36:1-12 is numbered 36:2-13.
- Psalm 36:1 Or A message from God: The transgression of the wicked / resides in their hearts.
Cross references:
- Psalm 36:1 : S Job 21:16
- Psalm 36:1 : Jer 2:19; 36:16, 24
- Psalm 36:1 : S Job 23:15; Ro 3:18*
- Psalm 36:2 : Dt 29:19
- Psalm 36:3 : Ps 10:7
- Psalm 36:3 : S Job 5:13; Ps 5:6, 9; 43:1; 144:8, 11; Isa 44:20
- Psalm 36:3 : Ps 94:8
- Psalm 36:3 : Jer 4:22; 13:23; Am 3:10
- Psalm 36:4 : Pr 4:16
- Psalm 36:4 : Isa 65:2
- Psalm 36:4 : Ps 52:3; Ro 12:9
- Psalm 36:5 : Ps 89:1; 119:90
- Psalm 36:5 : Ps 57:10; 71:19; 89:2; 103:11; 108:4
- Psalm 36:6 : Ps 5:8
- Psalm 36:6 : Ps 68:15
- Psalm 36:6 : S Ge 1:2; S 7:11
- Psalm 36:6 : Ne 9:6; Ps 104:14; 145:16
- Psalm 36:7 : Ps 6:4
- Psalm 36:7 : S Ru 2:12; S Ps 17:8; 57:1; 91:4
- Psalm 36:8 : Ps 65:4; Isa 25:6; Jer 31:12, 14
- Psalm 36:8 : Job 20:17; Rev 22:1
- Psalm 36:8 : S Ps 23:2; 63:5
- Psalm 36:9 : Ps 87:7; Pr 10:11; 16:22; Jer 2:13
- Psalm 36:9 : Ps 4:6; 27:1; 76:4; 104:2; Isa 2:5; 9:2; 60:1, 19; Jn 1:4; 1Pe 2:9
- Psalm 36:10 : Jer 31:3
- Psalm 36:10 : Jer 9:24; 22:16
- Psalm 36:10 : Ps 7:10; 11:2; 94:15; 125:4
- Psalm 36:11 : Ps 71:4; 140:4
- Psalm 36:12 : S Ps 18:38
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Psalm 39
Psalm 39[a]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will watch my ways(A)
and keep my tongue from sin;(B)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(C)
while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,(D)
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(E) increased;
3 my heart grew hot(F) within me.
While I meditated,(G) the fire(H) burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;(I)
let me know how fleeting(J) my life is.(K)
5 You have made my days(L) a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(M)
even those who seem secure.[b]
6 “Surely everyone goes around(N) like a mere phantom;(O)
in vain they rush about,(P) heaping up wealth(Q)
without knowing whose it will finally be.(R)
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.(S)
8 Save me(T) from all my transgressions;(U)
do not make me the scorn(V) of fools.
9 I was silent;(W) I would not open my mouth,(X)
for you are the one who has done this.(Y)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow(Z) of your hand.(AA)
11 When you rebuke(AB) and discipline(AC) anyone for their sin,
you consume(AD) their wealth like a moth(AE)—
surely everyone is but a breath.(AF)
12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;(AG)
do not be deaf(AH) to my weeping.(AI)
I dwell with you as a foreigner,(AJ)
a stranger,(AK) as all my ancestors were.(AL)
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”(AM)
Footnotes:
- Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
- Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.
Cross references:
- Psalm 39:1 : 1Ki 2:4; Ps 119:9, 59; Pr 20:11
- Psalm 39:1 : S Job 1:22; Ps 34:13; Jas 3:2
- Psalm 39:1 : S Job 6:24; Jas 1:26
- Psalm 39:2 : ver 9; S Job 31:34; Ps 77:4
- Psalm 39:2 : Ps 6:3; S 25:17; 31:10
- Psalm 39:3 : Lk 24:32
- Psalm 39:3 : Ps 1:2; 48:9; 77:12; 119:15
- Psalm 39:3 : Jer 5:14; 20:9; 23:29
- Psalm 39:4 : S Job 14:5
- Psalm 39:4 : S Job 14:2
- Psalm 39:4 : S Ge 47:9; S Job 7:7
- Psalm 39:5 : S Job 10:20; Ps 89:45; 102:23
- Psalm 39:5 : S Job 7:7; Ps 62:9
- Psalm 39:6 : Jas 1:11
- Psalm 39:6 : Job 8:9; Ps 102:11; Ecc 6:12; S Jas 4:14
- Psalm 39:6 : Ps 127:2
- Psalm 39:6 : S Job 27:17
- Psalm 39:6 : Lk 12:20
- Psalm 39:7 : S Ps 9:18; S 25:5
- Psalm 39:8 : Ps 6:4; 51:14
- Psalm 39:8 : Ps 32:1; 51:1; Isa 53:5, 8, 10
- Psalm 39:8 : S Dt 28:37; Ps 69:7; 79:4; Isa 43:28; Da 9:16
- Psalm 39:9 : S ver 2
- Psalm 39:9 : Ps 38:13
- Psalm 39:9 : Isa 38:15
- Psalm 39:10 : 2Ch 21:14; Eze 7:9; 24:16
- Psalm 39:10 : S Ex 9:3
- Psalm 39:11 : S Dt 28:20; Isa 66:15; Eze 5:15; 2Pe 2:16
- Psalm 39:11 : Ps 94:10; Isa 26:16
- Psalm 39:11 : Ps 90:7
- Psalm 39:11 : S Job 13:28; S Isa 51:8; Lk 12:33; S Jas 5:2
- Psalm 39:11 : S Job 7:7
- Psalm 39:12 : S Ps 17:1
- Psalm 39:12 : S Dt 1:45
- Psalm 39:12 : S 2Ki 20:5
- Psalm 39:12 : Lev 25:23
- Psalm 39:12 : S Ge 23:4; S Heb 11:13
- Psalm 39:12 : S Ge 47:9; S 1Ch 29:15
- Psalm 39:13 : S Job 10:21
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Genesis 9:1-17
God’s Covenant With Noah
9 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.(A) 2 The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.(B) 3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.(C) Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.(D)
4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.(E) 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting.(F) I will demand an accounting from every animal.(G) And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.(H)
6 “Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;(I)
for in the image of God(J)
has God made mankind.
7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”(K)
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you(L) and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant(M) with you:(N) Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.(O)”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant(P) I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:(Q) 13 I have set my rainbow(R) in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow(S) appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant(T) between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.(U) 16 Whenever the rainbow(V) appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant(W) between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant(X) I have established between me and all life on the earth.”
Cross references:
- Genesis 9:1 : S Ge 1:22
- Genesis 9:2 : S Ge 1:26
- Genesis 9:3 : S Ge 1:29
- Genesis 9:3 : S Ac 10:15; Col 2:16
- Genesis 9:4 : Lev 3:17; 7:26; 17:10-14; 19:26; Dt 12:16, 23-25; 15:23; 1Sa 14:33; Eze 33:25; Ac 15:20, 29
- Genesis 9:5 : Ge 42:22; 50:15; 1Ki 2:32; 2Ch 24:22; Ps 9:12
- Genesis 9:5 : Ex 21:28-32
- Genesis 9:5 : Ge 4:10
- Genesis 9:6 : S Ge 4:14; S Jdg 9:24; S Mt 26:52
- Genesis 9:6 : S Ge 1:26
- Genesis 9:7 : S Ge 1:22
- Genesis 9:9 : ver 11; S Ge 6:18
- Genesis 9:11 : ver 16; Isa 24:5; 33:8; Hos 6:7
- Genesis 9:11 : S ver 9
- Genesis 9:11 : S Ge 8:21
- Genesis 9:12 : ver 17; Ge 17:11
- Genesis 9:12 : Ge 17:12; Ex 12:14; Lev 3:17; 6:18; 17:7; Nu 10:8
- Genesis 9:13 : ver 14; Eze 1:28; Rev 4:3; 10:1
- Genesis 9:14 : S ver 13
- Genesis 9:15 : S Ge 8:1; Ex 2:24; 6:5; 34:10; Lev 26:42, 45; Dt 7:9; Ps 89:34; 103:18; 105:8; 106:45; Eze 16:60
- Genesis 9:15 : S Ge 8:21
- Genesis 9:16 : ver 13
- Genesis 9:16 : S ver 11; Ge 17:7, 13, 19; 2Sa 7:13; 23:5; Ps 105:9-10; Isa 9:7; 54:10; 55:3; 59:21; 61:8; Jer 31:31-34; 32:40; 33:21; Eze 16:60; 37:26; S Heb 13:20
- Genesis 9:17 : S ver 12
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Hebrews 5:7-14
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions(A) with fervent cries and tears(B) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard(C) because of his reverent submission.(D) 8 Son(E) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered(F) 9 and, once made perfect,(G) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest(H) in the order of Melchizedek.(I)
Warning Against Falling Away(J)
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths(K) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!(L) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,(M) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature,(N) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.(O)
Cross references:
- Hebrews 5:7 : Lk 22:41-44
- Hebrews 5:7 : Mt 27:46, 50; Lk 23:46
- Hebrews 5:7 : Ps 22:24
- Hebrews 5:7 : Mk 14:36
- Hebrews 5:8 : S Heb 1:2
- Hebrews 5:8 : S Php 2:8
- Hebrews 5:9 : S Heb 2:10
- Hebrews 5:10 : ver 5; S Heb 2:17
- Hebrews 5:10 : S ver 6
- Hebrews 5:11 : 6:4-6Ref — Heb 10:26-31
- Hebrews 5:12 : Heb 6:1
- Hebrews 5:12 : 1Co 3:2; 1Pe 2:2
- Hebrews 5:13 : S 1Co 14:20
- Hebrews 5:14 : S 1Co 2:6
- Hebrews 5:14 : Isa 7:15
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
John 3:16-21
16 For God so loved(A) the world that he gave(B) his one and only Son,(C) that whoever believes(D) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(E) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world(F) to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(G) 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,(H) but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.(I) 19 This is the verdict: Light(J) has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.(K) 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.(L) 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Cross references:
- John 3:16 : Ro 5:8; Eph 2:4; 1Jn 4:9, 10
- John 3:16 : Isa 9:6; Ro 8:32
- John 3:16 : Ge 22:12; Jn 1:18
- John 3:16 : S ver 15
- John 3:16 : ver 36; Jn 6:29, 40; 11:25, 26
- John 3:17 : Jn 6:29, 57; 10:36; 11:42; 17:8, 21; 20:21
- John 3:17 : Isa 53:11; S Mt 1:21; S Lk 2:11; 19:10; Jn 1:29; 12:47; S Ro 11:14; 1Ti 1:15; 2:5, 6; 1Jn 2:2; 3:5
- John 3:18 : Jn 5:24
- John 3:18 : Jn 1:18; 1Jn 4:9
- John 3:19 : S Jn 1:4
- John 3:19 : Ps 52:3; Jn 7:7
- John 3:20 : Eph 5:11, 13
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

