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 Thu, Feb 12

Psalm 83

Psalm 83^[a]

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

¹O God, do not remain silent;^(A)
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.
²See how your enemies growl,^(B)
how your foes rear their heads.^(C)
³With cunning they conspire^(D) against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.^(E)
⁴“Come,” they say, “let us destroy^(F) them as a nation,^(G)
so that Israel’s name is remembered^(H) no more.”

⁵With one mind they plot together;^(I)
they form an alliance against you—
⁶the tents of Edom^(J) and the Ishmaelites,
of Moab^(K) and the Hagrites,^(L)
⁷Byblos,^(M) Ammon^(N) and Amalek,^(O)
Philistia,^(P) with the people of Tyre.^(Q)
⁸Even Assyria^(R) has joined them
to reinforce Lot’s descendants.^[b]^(S)

⁹Do to them as you did to Midian,^(T)
as you did to Sisera^(U) and Jabin^(V) at the river Kishon,^(W)
¹⁰who perished at Endor^(X)
and became like dung^(Y) on the ground.
¹¹Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,^(Z)
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,^(AA)
¹²who said, “Let us take possession^(AB)
of the pasturelands of God.”

¹³Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
like chaff^(AC) before the wind.
¹⁴As fire consumes the forest
or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,^(AD)
¹⁵so pursue them with your tempest^(AE)
and terrify them with your storm.^(AF)
¹⁶Cover their faces with shame,^(AG) Lord,
so that they will seek your name.

¹⁷May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;^(AH)
may they perish in disgrace.^(AI)
¹⁸Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord^(AJ)—
that you alone are the Most High^(AK) over all the earth.^(AL)

Footnotes:

Psalm 83:1 In Hebrew texts 83:1-18 is numbered 83:2-19.
Psalm 83:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Cross references:

Psalm 83:1 : Ps 28:1; 35:22; Isa 42:14; 57:11; 62:1; 64:12
Psalm 83:2 : Ps 2:1; Isa 17:12
Psalm 83:2 : Jdg 8:28
Psalm 83:3 : S Ex 1:10; S Ps 31:13
Psalm 83:3 : Ps 17:14
Psalm 83:4 : S Est 3:6
Psalm 83:4 : Jer 33:24
Psalm 83:4 : Jer 11:19
Psalm 83:5 : Ps 2:2
Psalm 83:6 : Ps 137:7; Isa 34:5; Jer 49:7; Am 1:11
Psalm 83:6 : 2Ch 20:1
Psalm 83:6 : S Ge 25:16
Psalm 83:7 : S Jos 13:5
Psalm 83:7 : Ge 19:38
Psalm 83:7 : S Ge 14:7; S Ex 17:14
Psalm 83:7 : Ex 15:14
Psalm 83:7 : Isa 23:3; Eze 27:3
Psalm 83:8 : S Ge 10:11
Psalm 83:8 : S Dt 2:9
Psalm 83:9 : S Ge 25:2; Jdg 7:1-23
Psalm 83:9 : S Jdg 4:2
Psalm 83:9 : S Jos 11:1
Psalm 83:9 : S Jdg 4:23-24
Psalm 83:10 : S 1Sa 28:7
Psalm 83:10 : S 2Ki 9:37; Isa 5:25; Jer 8:2; 9:22; 16:4; 25:33; Zep 1:17
Psalm 83:11 : Jdg 7:25
Psalm 83:11 : S Jdg 8:5
Psalm 83:12 : 2Ch 20:11; Eze 35:10
Psalm 83:13 : S Job 13:25
Psalm 83:14 : Dt 32:22; Isa 9:18
Psalm 83:15 : S Ps 50:3
Psalm 83:15 : S Job 9:17
Psalm 83:16 : S Ps 34:5; 109:29; 132:18
Psalm 83:17 : S 2Ki 19:26
Psalm 83:17 : S Ps 35:4
Psalm 83:18 : S Ps 68:4
Psalm 83:18 : Ps 7:8; 18:13
Psalm 83:18 : S Job 34:29

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 146-147

Psalm 146

¹Praise the Lord.^[a]

Praise the Lord,^(A) my soul.

²I will praise the Lord all my life;^(B)
I will sing praise^(C) to my God as long as I live.^(D)
³Do not put your trust in princes,^(E)
in human beings,^(F) who cannot save.
⁴When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;^(G)
on that very day their plans come to nothing.^(H)
⁵Blessed are those^(I) whose help^(J) is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.

⁶He is the Maker of heaven^(K) and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful^(L) forever.
⁷He upholds^(M) the cause of the oppressed^(N)
and gives food to the hungry.^(O)
The Lord sets prisoners free,^(P)
⁸the Lord gives sight^(Q) to the blind,^(R)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,^(S)
the Lord loves the righteous.^(T)
⁹The Lord watches over the foreigner^(U)
and sustains the fatherless^(V) and the widow,^(W)
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

¹⁰The Lord reigns^(X) forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 147

¹Praise the Lord.^[b]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant^(Y) and fitting to praise him!^(Z)

²The Lord builds up Jerusalem;^(AA)
he gathers the exiles^(AB) of Israel.
³He heals the brokenhearted^(AC)
and binds up their wounds.^(AD)
⁴He determines the number of the stars^(AE)
and calls them each by name.
⁵Great is our Lord^(AF) and mighty in power;^(AG)
his understanding has no limit.^(AH)
⁶The Lord sustains the humble^(AI)
but casts the wicked^(AJ) to the ground.

⁷Sing to the Lord^(AK) with grateful praise;^(AL)
make music^(AM) to our God on the harp.^(AN)

⁸He covers the sky with clouds;^(AO)
he supplies the earth with rain^(AP)
and makes grass grow^(AQ) on the hills.
⁹He provides food^(AR) for the cattle
and for the young ravens^(AS) when they call.

¹⁰His pleasure is not in the strength^(AT) of the horse,^(AU)
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
¹¹the Lord delights^(AV) in those who fear him,^(AW)
who put their hope^(AX) in his unfailing love.^(AY)

¹²Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;^(AZ)
praise your God, Zion.

¹³He strengthens the bars of your gates^(BA)
and blesses your people^(BB) within you.
¹⁴He grants peace^(BC) to your borders
and satisfies you^(BD) with the finest of wheat.^(BE)

¹⁵He sends his command^(BF) to the earth;
his word runs^(BG) swiftly.
¹⁶He spreads the snow^(BH) like wool
and scatters the frost^(BI) like ashes.
¹⁷He hurls down his hail^(BJ) like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
¹⁸He sends his word^(BK) and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes,^(BL) and the waters flow.

¹⁹He has revealed his word^(BM) to Jacob,^(BN)
his laws and decrees^(BO) to Israel.
²⁰He has done this for no other nation;^(BP)
they do not know^(BQ) his laws.^[c]

Praise the Lord.^(BR)

Footnotes:

Psalm 146:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 10
Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 85-86

Psalm 85^[a]

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

¹You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes^(A) of Jacob.
²You forgave^(B) the iniquity^(C) of your people
and covered all their sins.^[b]
³You set aside all your wrath^(D)
and turned from your fierce anger.^(E)

⁴Restore^(F) us again, God our Savior,^(G)
and put away your displeasure toward us.
⁵Will you be angry with us forever?^(H)
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
⁶Will you not revive^(I) us again,
that your people may rejoice^(J) in you?
⁷Show us your unfailing love,^(K) Lord,
and grant us your salvation.^(L)

⁸I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace^(M) to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.^(N)
⁹Surely his salvation^(O) is near those who fear him,
that his glory^(P) may dwell in our land.

¹⁰Love and faithfulness^(Q) meet together;
righteousness^(R) and peace kiss each other.
¹¹Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness^(S) looks down from heaven.
¹²The Lord will indeed give what is good,^(T)
and our land will yield^(U) its harvest.
¹³Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

¹Hear me, Lord, and answer^(V) me,
for I am poor and needy.
²Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.^(W)
You are my God; ³have mercy^(X) on me, Lord,
for I call^(Y) to you all day long.
⁴Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust^(Z) in you.

⁵You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love^(AA) to all who call to you.
⁶Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry^(AB) for mercy.
⁷When I am in distress,^(AC) I call^(AD) to you,
because you answer^(AE) me.

⁸Among the gods^(AF) there is none like you,^(AG) Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
⁹All the nations you have made
will come^(AH) and worship^(AI) before you, Lord;
they will bring glory^(AJ) to your name.
¹⁰For you are great^(AK) and do marvelous deeds;^(AL)
you alone^(AM) are God.

¹¹Teach me your way,^(AN) Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;^(AO)
give me an undivided^(AP) heart,
that I may fear^(AQ) your name.
¹²I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;^(AR)
I will glorify your name forever.
¹³For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me^(AS) from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.^(AT)

¹⁴Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.^(AU)
¹⁵But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious^(AV) God,
slow to anger,^(AW) abounding^(AX) in love and faithfulness.^(AY)
¹⁶Turn to me^(AZ) and have mercy^(BA) on me;
show your strength^(BB) in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.^(BC)
¹⁷Give me a sign^(BD) of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Footnotes:

Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.
Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Genesis 27:30-45

³⁰After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. ³¹He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”^(A)

³²His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”^(B)

“I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.^(C)”

³³Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me?^(D) I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!^(E)”

³⁴When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry^(F) and said to his father, “Bless^(G) me—me too, my father!”

³⁵But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully^(H) and took your blessing.”^(I)

³⁶Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob^[a]?^(J) This is the second time he has taken advantage of^(K) me: He took my birthright,^(L) and now he’s taken my blessing!”^(M) Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”

³⁷Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine.^(N) So what can I possibly do for you, my son?”

³⁸Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.^(O)

³⁹His father Isaac answered him,^(P)

“Your dwelling will be
away from the earth’s richness,
away from the dew^(Q) of heaven above.^(R)
⁴⁰You will live by the sword
and you will serve^(S) your brother.^(T)
But when you grow restless,
you will throw his yoke
from off your neck.^(U)”

⁴¹Esau held a grudge^(V) against Jacob^(W) because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning^(X) for my father are near; then I will kill^(Y) my brother Jacob.”^(Z)

⁴²When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau^(AA) had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you.^(AB) ⁴³Now then, my son, do what I say:^(AC) Flee at once to my brother Laban^(AD) in Harran.^(AE) ⁴⁴Stay with him for a while^(AF) until your brother’s fury subsides. ⁴⁵When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him,^(AG) I’ll send word for you to come back from there.^(AH) Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

Footnotes:

Genesis 27:36 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he takes advantage of or he deceives.

Cross references:

Genesis 27:31 : S ver 4
Genesis 27:32 : ver 18
Genesis 27:32 : ver 19
Genesis 27:33 : ver 35
Genesis 27:33 : S ver 29
Genesis 27:34 : Heb 12:17
Genesis 27:34 : Ex 12:32
Genesis 27:35 : Jer 9:4; 12:6
Genesis 27:35 : ver 19, 45
Genesis 27:36 : S Ge 25:26
Genesis 27:36 : Ge 29:25; 31:20, 26; 34:13; 1Sa 28:12
Genesis 27:36 : S Ge 25:33
Genesis 27:36 : Heb 12:16-17
Genesis 27:37 : S ver 28; Dt 16:13; Ezr 6:9; Isa 16:10; Jer 40:12
Genesis 27:38 : Ge 29:11; Nu 14:1; Jdg 2:4; 21:2; Ru 1:9; 1Sa 11:4; 30:4; Heb 12:17
Genesis 27:39 : Heb 11:20
Genesis 27:39 : ver 28
Genesis 27:39 : Ge 36:6
Genesis 27:40 : 2Sa 8:14
Genesis 27:40 : S Ge 9:25
Genesis 27:40 : 2Ki 8:20-22
Genesis 27:41 : Ge 37:4; 49:23; 50:15; 1Sa 17:28
Genesis 27:41 : Ge 31:17; 32:11; Hos 10:14
Genesis 27:41 : Ge 50:4, 10; Nu 20:29
Genesis 27:41 : ver 42
Genesis 27:41 : Ob 1:10
Genesis 27:42 : Ge 32:3, 11; 33:4
Genesis 27:42 : ver 41
Genesis 27:43 : S ver 8
Genesis 27:43 : S Ge 24:29
Genesis 27:43 : S Ge 11:31
Genesis 27:44 : Ge 31:38, 41
Genesis 27:45 : S ver 35
Genesis 27:45 : S Ge 26:3

New International Version (NIV)

Romans 12:9-21

Love in Action

⁹Love must be sincere.^(A) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.^(B) ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in love.^(C) Honor one another above yourselves.^(D) ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,^(E) serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope,^(F) patient in affliction,^(G) faithful in prayer.^(H) ¹³Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.^(I) Practice hospitality.^(J)

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you;^(K) bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.^(L) ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another.^(M) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[a] Do not be conceited.^(N)

¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil.^(O) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.^(P) ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.^(Q) ¹⁹Do not take revenge,^(R) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[b]^(S) says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^[c]^(T)

²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Footnotes:

Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work
Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22

New International Version (NIV)

John 8:21-32

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

²¹Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die^(A) in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”^(B)

²²This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

²³But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.^(C) ²⁴I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he,^(D) you will indeed die in your sins.”

²⁵“Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. ²⁶“I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy,^(E) and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”^(F)

²⁷They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. ²⁸So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up^[a] the Son of Man,^(G) then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.^(H) ²⁹The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,^(I) for I always do what pleases him.”^(J) ³⁰Even as he spoke, many believed in him.^(K)

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

³¹To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,^(L) you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”^(M)

Footnotes:

John 8:28 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.

Cross references:

John 8:21 : Eze 3:18
John 8:21 : Jn 7:34; 13:33
John 8:23 : Jn 3:31; 17:14
John 8:24 : Jn 4:26; 13:19
John 8:26 : Jn 7:28
John 8:26 : Jn 3:32; 15:15
John 8:28 : S Jn 12:32
John 8:28 : S Jn 14:24
John 8:29 : ver 16; Jn 16:32
John 8:29 : Isa 50:5; Jn 4:34; 5:30; 6:38
John 8:30 : S Jn 7:31
John 8:31 : Jn 15:7; 2Jn 9
John 8:32 : ver 36; Ro 8:2; 2Co 3:17; Gal 5:1, 13

New International Version (NIV)

For Today's Prayers click here

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Greatest Commandment

"‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” [Mark 12:29-31]

Daily Scripture 2/8/2025

DAILY READINGS: February 8 - 15

SUNDAY: Morning: Psalm 93, 96; Evening: Psalm 34; Isaiah 57:14-21; Hebrews 12:1-6; John 7:37-46

MONDAY: Morning: Psalm 80; Evening: Psalm 77, [79]; Isaiah 58:1-12; Galatians 6:11-18; Mark 9:30-41

TUESDAY : Morning: Psalm 78:1-39; Evening: Psalm 78:40-72; Isaiah 59:1-15a; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Mark 9:42-50

WEDNESDAY : Morning: Psalm 119:97-120; Evening: Psalm 81, 82; Isaiah 59:15b-21; 2 Timothy 1:15-2:13; Mark 10:1-16

THURSDAY: Morning: Psalm [83] *or* 146, 147; Evening: Psalm 85, 86; Isaiah 60:1-17; 2 Timothy 2:14-26; Mark 10:17-31

FRIDAY: Morning: Psalm 88; Evening: Psalm 91, 92; Isaiah 61:1-9; 2 Timothy 3:1-17; Mark 10:32-45

SATURDAY: Morning: Psalm 87, 90; Evening: Psalm 136; Isaiah 61:10-62:5; 2 Timothy 4:1-8; Mark 10:46-52

SUNDAY: Morning: Psalm 66, 67; Evening: Psalm 19, 46; Isaiah 62:6-12; 1 John 2:3-11; John 8:12-19

FOR THE WEEK: Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 112:1-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Matthew 5:13-20; Luke 19

Today's Scripture & Prayer

Daily Bible Reading & Praying with the Church

Today's Scripture & Prayer

Daily Bible Reading & Praying with the Church

Reading for Thu, Feb 12

Psalm 83

Psalm 83[a]

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 146-147

Psalm 146

Psalm 147

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 85-86

Psalm 85[a]

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

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Genesis 27:30-45

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Romans 12:9-21

Love in Action

Footnotes:

Cross references:

John 8:21-32

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 83^[a]

Psalm 85^[a]