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, Mar 31

Psalm 6

Psalm 6^[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.^[b] A psalm of David.

¹Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger^(A)
or discipline me in your wrath.
²Have mercy on me,^(B) Lord, for I am faint;^(C)
heal me,^(D) Lord, for my bones are in agony.^(E)
³My soul is in deep anguish.^(F)
How long,^(G) Lord, how long?

⁴Turn,^(H) Lord, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.^(I)
⁵Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave?^(J)

⁶I am worn out^(K) from my groaning.^(L)

All night long I flood my bed with weeping^(M)
and drench my couch with tears.^(N)
⁷My eyes grow weak^(O) with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.

⁸Away from me,^(P) all you who do evil,^(Q)
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
⁹The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;^(R)
the Lord accepts my prayer.
¹⁰All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;^(S)
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.^(T)

Footnotes:

Psalm 6:1 In Hebrew texts 6:1-10 is numbered 6:2-11.
Psalm 6:1 Title: Probably a musical term

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 12

Psalm 12^[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.^[b] A psalm of David.

¹Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;^(A)
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
²Everyone lies^(B) to their neighbor;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.^(C)

³May the Lord silence all flattering lips^(D)
and every boastful tongue—^(E)
⁴those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;^(F)
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

⁵“Because the poor are plundered^(G) and the needy groan,^(H)
I will now arise,^(I)” says the Lord.
“I will protect them^(J) from those who malign them.”
⁶And the words of the Lord are flawless,^(K)
like silver purified^(L) in a crucible,^(M)
like gold^[c] refined seven times.

⁷You, Lord, will keep the needy safe^(N)
and will protect us forever from the wicked,^(O)
⁸who freely strut^(P) about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Footnotes:

Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 94

¹The Lord is a God who avenges.^(A)
O God who avenges, shine forth.^(B)
²Rise up,^(C) Judge^(D) of the earth;
pay back^(E) to the proud what they deserve.
³How long, Lord, will the wicked,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?^(F)

⁴They pour out arrogant^(G) words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.^(H)
⁵They crush your people,^(I) Lord;
they oppress your inheritance.^(J)
⁶They slay the widow^(K) and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.^(L)
⁷They say, “The Lord does not see;^(M)
the God of Jacob^(N) takes no notice.”

⁸Take notice, you senseless ones^(O) among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
⁹Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?^(P)
¹⁰Does he who disciplines^(Q) nations not punish?
Does he who teaches^(R) mankind lack knowledge?
¹¹The Lord knows all human plans;^(S)
he knows that they are futile.^(T)

¹²Blessed is the one you discipline,^(U) Lord,
the one you teach^(V) from your law;
¹³you grant them relief from days of trouble,^(W)
till a pit^(X) is dug for the wicked.
¹⁴For the Lord will not reject his people;^(Y)
he will never forsake his inheritance.
¹⁵Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,^(Z)
and all the upright in heart^(AA) will follow it.

¹⁶Who will rise up^(AB) for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?^(AC)
¹⁷Unless the Lord had given me help,^(AD)
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.^(AE)
¹⁸When I said, “My foot is slipping,^(AF)”
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
¹⁹When anxiety^(AG) was great within me,
your consolation^(AH) brought me joy.

²⁰Can a corrupt throne^(AI) be allied with you—
a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?^(AJ)
²¹The wicked band together^(AK) against the righteous
and condemn the innocent^(AL) to death.^(AM)
²²But the Lord has become my fortress,
and my God the rock^(AN) in whom I take refuge.^(AO)
²³He will repay^(AP) them for their sins
and destroy^(AQ) them for their wickedness;
the Lord our God will destroy them.

Cross references:

Psalm 94:1 : S Ge 4:24; Ro 12:19
Psalm 94:1 : S Dt 33:2; Ps 80:1
Psalm 94:2 : S Nu 10:35
Psalm 94:2 : S Ge 18:25; Heb 12:23; S Jas 5:9
Psalm 94:2 : S Ps 31:23
Psalm 94:3 : Ps 13:2
Psalm 94:4 : Jer 43:2
Psalm 94:4 : S Ps 52:1
Psalm 94:5 : Ps 44:2; 74:8; Isa 3:15; Jer 8:21
Psalm 94:5 : Ps 28:9
Psalm 94:6 : S Dt 10:18; S Isa 1:17
Psalm 94:6 : Dt 24:19
Psalm 94:7 : S Job 22:14
Psalm 94:7 : S Ge 24:12
Psalm 94:8 : S Dt 32:6; S Ps 73:22
Psalm 94:9 : Ex 4:11; Pr 20:12
Psalm 94:10 : S Ps 39:11
Psalm 94:10 : S Ex 35:34; Job 35:11; Isa 28:26
Psalm 94:11 : Ps 139:2; Pr 15:26; S Mt 9:4
Psalm 94:11 : 1Co 3:20*
Psalm 94:12 : S Job 5:17; 1Co 11:32; Heb 12:5
Psalm 94:12 : S Dt 8:3; S 1Sa 12:23
Psalm 94:13 : S Ps 86:7
Psalm 94:13 : S Ps 7:15; S 55:23
Psalm 94:14 : S Dt 31:6; Ps 37:28; Ro 11:2
Psalm 94:15 : Ps 97:2
Psalm 94:15 : Ps 7:10; 11:2; S 36:10
Psalm 94:16 : Nu 10:35; Ps 17:13; Isa 14:22
Psalm 94:16 : S Ps 59:2
Psalm 94:17 : Ps 124:2
Psalm 94:17 : S Ps 31:17
Psalm 94:18 : S Dt 32:35; S Job 12:5
Psalm 94:19 : Ecc 11:10
Psalm 94:19 : S Job 6:10
Psalm 94:20 : Jer 22:30; 36:30
Psalm 94:20 : S Ps 58:2
Psalm 94:21 : S Ps 56:6
Psalm 94:21 : Ps 106:38; Pr 17:15, 26; 28:21; Isa 5:20, 23; Mt 27:4
Psalm 94:21 : S Ge 18:23
Psalm 94:22 : S Ps 61:2
Psalm 94:22 : S 2Sa 22:3; S Ps 18:2
Psalm 94:23 : S Ex 32:34; S Ps 54:5
Psalm 94:23 : Ps 9:5; 37:38; 145:20

New International Version (NIV)

Lamentations 1:17-22

¹⁷Zion stretches out her hands,^(A)
but there is no one to comfort her.
The Lord has decreed for Jacob
that his neighbors become his foes;^(B)
Jerusalem has become
an unclean^(C) thing^(D) among them.

¹⁸“The Lord is righteous,^(E)
yet I rebelled^(F) against his command.
Listen, all you peoples;
look on my suffering.^(G)
My young men and young women
have gone into exile.^(H)

¹⁹“I called to my allies^(I)
but they betrayed me.
My priests and my elders
perished^(J) in the city
while they searched for food
to keep themselves alive.

²⁰“See, Lord, how distressed^(K) I am!
I am in torment^(L) within,
and in my heart I am disturbed,^(M)
for I have been most rebellious.^(N)
Outside, the sword bereaves;
inside, there is only death.^(O)

²¹“People have heard my groaning,^(P)
but there is no one to comfort me.^(Q)
All my enemies have heard of my distress;
they rejoice^(R) at what you have done.
May you bring the day^(S) you have announced
so they may become like me.

²²“Let all their wickedness come before you;
deal with them
as you have dealt with me
because of all my sins.^(T)
My groans^(U) are many
and my heart is faint.”

New International Version (NIV)

2 Corinthians 1:8-22

⁸We do not want you to be uninformed,^(A) brothers and sisters,^[a] about the troubles we experienced^(B) in the province of Asia.^(C) We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. ⁹Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,^(D) who raises the dead.^(E) ¹⁰He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,^(F) and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope^(G) that he will continue to deliver us, ¹¹as you help us by your prayers.^(H) Then many will give thanks^(I) on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Paul’s Change of Plans

¹²Now this is our boast: Our conscience^(J) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity^[b]^(K) and godly sincerity.^(L) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom^(M) but on God’s grace. ¹³For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, ¹⁴as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.^(N)

¹⁵Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you^(O) first so that you might benefit twice.^(P) ¹⁶I wanted to visit you on my way^(Q) to Macedonia^(R) and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way^(S) to Judea.^(T) ¹⁷Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner^(U) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

¹⁸But as surely as God is faithful,^(V) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹For the Son of God,^(W) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas^[c]^(X) and Timothy^(Y)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always^(Z) been “Yes.” ²⁰For no matter how many promises^(AA) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”^(AB) is spoken by us to the glory of God.^(AC) ²¹Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm^(AD) in Christ. He anointed^(AE) us, ²²set his seal^(AF) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.^(AG)

Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 1:8 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 8:1; 13:11.
2 Corinthians 1:12 Many manuscripts holiness
2 Corinthians 1:19 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas

Cross references:

2 Corinthians 1:8 : S Ro 11:25
2 Corinthians 1:8 : 1Co 15:32
2 Corinthians 1:8 : S Ac 2:9
2 Corinthians 1:9 : Jer 17:5, 7
2 Corinthians 1:9 : S Jn 5:21
2 Corinthians 1:10 : S Ro 15:31
2 Corinthians 1:10 : 1Ti 4:10
2 Corinthians 1:11 : Ro 15:30; Php 1:19
2 Corinthians 1:11 : 2Co 4:15; 9:11
2 Corinthians 1:12 : S Ac 23:1
2 Corinthians 1:12 : 1Th 2:10
2 Corinthians 1:12 : 2Co 2:17
2 Corinthians 1:12 : 1Co 1:17; 2:1, 4, 13
2 Corinthians 1:14 : S 1Co 1:8
2 Corinthians 1:15 : S 1Co 4:19
2 Corinthians 1:15 : Ro 1:11, 13; 15:29
2 Corinthians 1:16 : 1Co 16:5-7
2 Corinthians 1:16 : S Ac 16:9
2 Corinthians 1:16 : 1Co 16:11; 3Jn 6
2 Corinthians 1:16 : Ac 19:21
2 Corinthians 1:17 : 2Co 10:2, 3; 11:18
2 Corinthians 1:18 : S 1Co 1:9
2 Corinthians 1:19 : S Mt 4:3
2 Corinthians 1:19 : S Ac 15:22
2 Corinthians 1:19 : S Ac 16:1
2 Corinthians 1:19 : Heb 13:8
2 Corinthians 1:20 : Ro 15:8
2 Corinthians 1:20 : S 1Co 14:16
2 Corinthians 1:20 : Ro 15:9
2 Corinthians 1:21 : S 1Co 16:13
2 Corinthians 1:21 : 1Jn 2:20, 27
2 Corinthians 1:22 : Ge 38:18; Eze 9:4; Hag 2:23
2 Corinthians 1:22 : S 2Co 5:5

New International Version (NIV)

Mark 11:27-33

The Authority of Jesus Questioned^(A)

²⁷They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. ²⁸“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

²⁹Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

³¹They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³²But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)^(B)

³³So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Cross references:

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 3/29/2026

DAILY READINGS: March 29 - April 5

SUNDAY: Morning: Psalm 24, 29; Evening: Psalm 103; Zechariah 9:9-12[**] *or* Zechariah 12:9-11,13:1,7-9[***]; 1 Timothy 6:12-16[**]; Matthew 21:12-17[***]

MONDAY: Morning: Psalm 51:1-18(19-20); Evening: Psalm 69:1-23; Jeremiah 12:1-16; Philippians 3:1-14; John 12:9-19

TUESDAY : Morning: Psalm 6, 12; Evening: Psalm 94; Jeremiah 15:10-21; Philippians 3:15-21; John 12:20-26

WEDNESDAY : Morning: Psalm 55; Evening: Psalm 74; Jeremiah 17:5-10, 14-17; Philippians 4:1-13; John 12:27-26

THURSDAY: Morning: Psalm 102; Evening: Psalm 142, 143; Jeremiah 20:7-11; 1 Corinthians 10:14-17, 11:27-32; John 17:1-11(12-26)

FRIDAY: Morning: Psalm 95[*] && 22; Evening: Psalm 40:1-19,54; Genesis 22:1-14; 1 Peter 1:10-20; John 13:36-38[**] *or* John 19:38-42[***]

SATURDAY: Morning: Psalm 95[**] && 88; Evening: Psalm 27; Job 19:21-27a; Hebrews 4:1-16[**]; Romans 8:1-11[***]

SUNDAY: Morning: Psalm 148, 149, 150; Evening: Psalm 113, 114, *or* 118; Exodus 12:1-14[**] *or* Isaiah 51:9-11[***]; ; John 1:1-18

FOR THE WEEK: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 45; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38; 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 Tue, Mar 31

Psalm 6

Psalm 6[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 12

Psalm 12[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 94

Psalm 94

Cross references:

Lamentations 1:17-22

Cross references:

2 Corinthians 1:8-22

Paul’s Change of Plans

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Mark 11:27-33

The Authority of Jesus Questioned(A)

Cross references:

Psalm 6^[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.^[b] A psalm of David.

Psalm 12^[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.^[b] A psalm of David.

The Authority of Jesus Questioned^(A)