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 Sat, Jul 27
Psalm 55
Psalm 55[a]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David.
1 Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;(A)
2 hear me and answer me.(B)
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught(C)
3 because of what my enemy is saying,
because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me(D)
and assail(E) me in their anger.(F)
4 My heart is in anguish(G) within me;
the terrors(H) of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling(I) have beset me;
horror(J) has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7 I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;[c](K)
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,(L)
far from the tempest and storm.(M)”
9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,(N)
for I see violence and strife(O) in the city.(P)
10 Day and night they prowl(Q) about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces(R) are at work in the city;
threats and lies(S) never leave its streets.
12 If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,(T)
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship(U)
at the house of God,(V)
as we walked about
among the worshipers.
15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;(W)
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,(X)
for evil finds lodging among them.
16 As for me, I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening,(Y) morning(Z) and noon(AA)
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,(AB)
who does not change—
he will hear(AC) them and humble them,
because they have no fear of God.(AD)
20 My companion attacks his friends;(AE)
he violates his covenant.(AF)
21 His talk is smooth as butter,(AG)
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,(AH)
yet they are drawn swords.(AI)
22 Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;(AJ)
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.(AK)
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit(AL) of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful(AM)
will not live out half their days.(AN)
But as for me, I trust in you.(AO)
Footnotes:
- Psalm 55:1 In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
- Psalm 55:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.
Cross references:
- Psalm 55:1 : Ps 27:9; La 3:56
- Psalm 55:2 : Ps 4:1
- Psalm 55:2 : 1Sa 1:15-16; Ps 77:3; 86:6-7; 142:2
- Psalm 55:3 : S 2Sa 16:6-8; Ps 17:9; 143:3
- Psalm 55:3 : S Ps 44:16
- Psalm 55:3 : Ps 71:11
- Psalm 55:4 : S Ps 6:3
- Psalm 55:4 : S Job 18:11
- Psalm 55:5 : S Job 4:14; S 2Co 7:15
- Psalm 55:5 : Dt 28:67; Isa 21:4; Jer 46:5; 49:5; Eze 7:18
- Psalm 55:7 : 1Sa 23:14
- Psalm 55:8 : Ps 31:20
- Psalm 55:8 : Ps 77:18; Isa 4:6; 25:4; 28:2; 29:6; 32:2
- Psalm 55:9 : Ge 11:9; Ac 2:4
- Psalm 55:9 : Ps 11:5; Isa 59:6; Jer 6:7; Eze 7:11; Hab 1:3
- Psalm 55:9 : Ge 4:17
- Psalm 55:10 : 1Pe 5:8
- Psalm 55:11 : Ps 5:9
- Psalm 55:11 : Ps 10:7
- Psalm 55:13 : S 2Sa 15:12
- Psalm 55:14 : Ac 1:16-17
- Psalm 55:14 : Ps 42:4
- Psalm 55:15 : Ps 64:7; Pr 6:15; Isa 29:5; 47:9, 11; 1Th 5:3
- Psalm 55:15 : S Ps 49:14
- Psalm 55:17 : Ps 141:2; Ac 3:1; 10:3, 30
- Psalm 55:17 : Ps 5:3; 88:13; 92:2
- Psalm 55:17 : Ac 10:9
- Psalm 55:19 : S Ex 15:18; Dt 33:27; Ps 29:10
- Psalm 55:19 : Ps 78:59
- Psalm 55:19 : Ps 36:1; 64:4
- Psalm 55:20 : Ps 7:4
- Psalm 55:20 : S Ps 41:9
- Psalm 55:21 : Ps 12:2
- Psalm 55:21 : Pr 5:3; 6:24
- Psalm 55:21 : Ps 57:4; 59:7; 64:3; Pr 12:18; Rev 1:16
- Psalm 55:22 : S Ps 18:35; Mt 6:25-34; 1Pe 5:7
- Psalm 55:22 : Ps 15:5; 21:7; 37:24; 112:6
- Psalm 55:23 : Ps 9:15; S 30:3; 73:18; 94:13; Isa 14:15; Eze 28:8; S Lk 8:31
- Psalm 55:23 : Ps 5:6
- Psalm 55:23 : S Job 15:32
- Psalm 55:23 : Ps 11:1; 25:2; 56:3
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Psalm 138:1-139:23
Psalm 138
Of David.
1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
before the “gods”(A) I will sing(B) your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple(C)
and will praise your name(D)
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,(E)
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.(F)
3 When I called,(G) you answered me;(H)
you greatly emboldened(I) me.
4 May all the kings of the earth(J) praise you, Lord,
when they hear what you have decreed.
5 May they sing(K) of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord(L) is great.
6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;(M)
though lofty, he sees them(N) from afar.
7 Though I walk(O) in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.(P)
You stretch out your hand(Q) against the anger of my foes;(R)
with your right hand(S) you save me.(T)
8 The Lord will vindicate(U) me;
your love, Lord, endures forever(V)—
do not abandon(W) the works of your hands.(X)
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 You have searched me,(Y) Lord,
and you know(Z) me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;(AA)
you perceive my thoughts(AB) from afar.
3 You discern my going out(AC) and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.(AD)
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.(AE)
5 You hem me in(AF) behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,(AG)
too lofty(AH) for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee(AI) from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens,(AJ) you are there;
if I make my bed(AK) in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,(AL)
your right hand(AM) will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark(AN) to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;(AO)
you knit me together(AP) in my mother’s womb.(AQ)
14 I praise you(AR) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,(AS)
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made(AT) in the secret place,
when I was woven together(AU) in the depths of the earth.(AV)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained(AW) for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a](AX) God!(AY)
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,(AZ)
they would outnumber the grains of sand(BA)—
when I awake,(BB) I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!(BC)
Away from me,(BD) you who are bloodthirsty!(BE)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries(BF) misuse your name.(BG)
21 Do I not hate those(BH) who hate you, Lord,
and abhor(BI) those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.(BJ)
23 Search me,(BK) God, and know my heart;(BL)
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 139:17 Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me
Cross references:
- Psalm 138:1 : Ps 95:3; 96:4
- Psalm 138:1 : Ps 27:6; 108:1
- Psalm 138:2 : S 1Ki 8:29; S Ps 5:7
- Psalm 138:2 : Ps 74:21; 97:12; 140:13
- Psalm 138:2 : Ps 108:4; 115:1
- Psalm 138:2 : Ps 119:9
- Psalm 138:3 : Ps 18:6; 30:2; 99:6; 116:4
- Psalm 138:3 : S Ps 118:5
- Psalm 138:3 : Pr 28:1; S Ac 4:29
- Psalm 138:4 : Ps 72:11; 102:15
- Psalm 138:5 : S Ps 51:14; 71:16; 145:7
- Psalm 138:5 : Ps 21:5
- Psalm 138:6 : S Ps 113:6
- Psalm 138:6 : S Ps 40:4; S Mt 23:12
- Psalm 138:7 : Ps 23:4
- Psalm 138:7 : S Ps 41:2
- Psalm 138:7 : S Ex 7:5
- Psalm 138:7 : Ps 7:6
- Psalm 138:7 : Ps 20:6; 60:5; 108:6
- Psalm 138:7 : Ps 17:7, 14
- Psalm 138:8 : Php 1:6
- Psalm 138:8 : S Ezr 3:11; Ps 100:5
- Psalm 138:8 : S Ps 51:11
- Psalm 138:8 : S Job 10:3, 8
- Psalm 139:1 : S Ps 17:3; Ro 8:27
- Psalm 139:1 : Ps 44:21
- Psalm 139:2 : 2Ki 19:27
- Psalm 139:2 : Ps 94:11; Pr 24:12; Jer 12:3
- Psalm 139:3 : 2Ki 19:27
- Psalm 139:3 : S Job 31:4
- Psalm 139:4 : S Heb 4:13
- Psalm 139:5 : S 1Sa 25:16; Ps 32:10; 34:7; 125:2
- Psalm 139:6 : S Ps 131:1
- Psalm 139:6 : Ro 11:33
- Psalm 139:7 : Jer 23:24; Jnh 1:3
- Psalm 139:8 : Dt 30:12-15; Am 9:2-3
- Psalm 139:8 : Job 17:13
- Psalm 139:10 : Ps 23:3
- Psalm 139:10 : Ps 108:6; Isa 41:10
- Psalm 139:12 : Job 34:22; Da 2:22
- Psalm 139:13 : Ps 119:73
- Psalm 139:13 : S Job 10:11
- Psalm 139:13 : Isa 44:2, 24; 46:3; 49:5; Jer 1:5
- Psalm 139:14 : Ps 119:164; 145:10
- Psalm 139:14 : S Job 40:19
- Psalm 139:15 : Ecc 11:5
- Psalm 139:15 : S Job 10:11
- Psalm 139:15 : S Ps 63:9
- Psalm 139:16 : S Job 33:29; S Ps 90:12
- Psalm 139:17 : S Ps 92:5
- Psalm 139:17 : S Job 5:9
- Psalm 139:18 : Ps 40:5
- Psalm 139:18 : S Job 29:18
- Psalm 139:18 : S Ps 3:5
- Psalm 139:19 : Ps 5:6; Isa 11:4
- Psalm 139:19 : S Ps 6:8
- Psalm 139:19 : S Ps 59:2
- Psalm 139:20 : S Ps 65:7
- Psalm 139:20 : S Dt 5:11
- Psalm 139:21 : 2Ch 19:2; Ps 31:6; 119:113
- Psalm 139:21 : S Ps 26:5
- Psalm 139:22 : Mt 5:43
- Psalm 139:23 : Job 31:6
- Psalm 139:23 : S 1Sa 16:7; S 1Ch 29:17; S Ps 7:9; Pr 17:3; Jer 11:20; S Rev 2:23
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Joshua 23
Joshua’s Farewell to the Leaders
23 After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest(A) from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then a very old man,(B) 2 summoned all Israel—their elders,(C) leaders, judges and officials(D)—and said to them: “I am very old.(E) 3 You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you.(F) 4 Remember how I have allotted(G) as an inheritance(H) for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea(I) in the west. 5 The Lord your God himself will push them out(J) for your sake. He will drive them out(K) before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you.(L)
6 “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law(M) of Moses, without turning aside(N) to the right or to the left.(O) 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear(P) by them. You must not serve them or bow down(Q) to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the Lord(R) your God, as you have until now.
9 “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations;(S) to this day no one has been able to withstand you.(T) 10 One of you routs a thousand,(U) because the Lord your God fights for you,(V) just as he promised. 11 So be very careful(W) to love the Lord(X) your God.
12 “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them(Y) and associate with them,(Z) 13 then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out(AA) these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares(AB) and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes,(AC) until you perish from this good land,(AD) which the Lord your God has given you.
14 “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth.(AE) You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise(AF) has been fulfilled; not one has failed.(AG) 15 But just as all the good things(AH) the Lord your God has promised you have come to you, so he will bring on you all the evil things(AI) he has threatened, until the Lord your God has destroyed you(AJ) from this good land he has given you.(AK) 16 If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.(AL)”
Cross references:
- Joshua 23:1 : S Dt 12:9; Jos 21:44
- Joshua 23:1 : S Jos 13:1
- Joshua 23:2 : S Jos 7:6
- Joshua 23:2 : Jos 24:1
- Joshua 23:2 : S Jos 13:1
- Joshua 23:3 : S Ex 14:14; S Dt 20:4
- Joshua 23:4 : Jos 19:51
- Joshua 23:4 : S Nu 34:2; Ps 78:55
- Joshua 23:4 : S Nu 34:6
- Joshua 23:5 : ver 13; Jdg 2:21
- Joshua 23:5 : Ps 44:5; Jer 46:15
- Joshua 23:5 : Ex 23:30
- Joshua 23:6 : S Dt 28:61
- Joshua 23:6 : S Dt 17:20
- Joshua 23:6 : Jos 1:7
- Joshua 23:7 : Ex 23:13; Jer 5:7; 12:16
- Joshua 23:7 : S Ex 20:5
- Joshua 23:8 : S Dt 10:20
- Joshua 23:9 : Dt 11:23
- Joshua 23:9 : Dt 7:24
- Joshua 23:10 : Lev 26:8; Jdg 3:31
- Joshua 23:10 : S Ex 14:14
- Joshua 23:11 : S Dt 4:15
- Joshua 23:11 : Jos 22:5
- Joshua 23:12 : S Ge 34:9
- Joshua 23:12 : S Ex 34:16; Ps 106:34-35
- Joshua 23:13 : S ver 5
- Joshua 23:13 : S Ex 10:7
- Joshua 23:13 : S Nu 33:55
- Joshua 23:13 : Dt 1:8; 1Ki 9:7; 2Ki 25:21
- Joshua 23:14 : 1Ki 2:2
- Joshua 23:14 : Ps 119:140; 145:13
- Joshua 23:14 : S Jos 21:45
- Joshua 23:15 : 1Ki 8:56; Jer 33:14
- Joshua 23:15 : 1Ki 14:10; 2Ki 22:16; Isa 24:6; 34:5; 43:28; Jer 6:19; 11:8; 35:17; 39:16; Mal 4:6
- Joshua 23:15 : Jos 24:20
- Joshua 23:15 : Lev 26:17; Dt 28:15; Jer 40:2
- Joshua 23:16 : Dt 4:25-26
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Romans 15:25-33
25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem(A) in the service(B) of the Lord’s people(C) there. 26 For Macedonia(D) and Achaia(E) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.(F) 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.(G) 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain(H) and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you,(I) I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.
30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit,(J) to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.(K) 31 Pray that I may be kept safe(L) from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution(M) I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people(N) there, 32 so that I may come to you(O) with joy, by God’s will,(P) and in your company be refreshed.(Q) 33 The God of peace(R) be with you all. Amen.
Cross references:
- Romans 15:25 : S Ac 19:21
- Romans 15:25 : S Ac 24:17
- Romans 15:25 : S Ac 9:13
- Romans 15:26 : S Ac 16:9
- Romans 15:26 : S Ac 18:12
- Romans 15:26 : S Ac 24:17
- Romans 15:27 : 1Co 9:11
- Romans 15:28 : ver 24
- Romans 15:29 : Ro 1:10, 11
- Romans 15:30 : Gal 5:22; Col 1:8
- Romans 15:30 : 2Co 1:11; Col 4:12
- Romans 15:31 : 2Co 1:10; 2Th 3:2; 2Ti 3:11; 2Pe 2:9
- Romans 15:31 : ver 25; S Ac 24:17
- Romans 15:31 : S Ac 9:13
- Romans 15:32 : Ro 1:10, 13
- Romans 15:32 : S Ac 18:21
- Romans 15:32 : 1Co 16:18; Phm 7
- Romans 15:33 : Ro 16:20; 2Co 13:11; Php 4:9; 1Th 5:23; 2Th 3:16; Heb 13:20
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Matthew 27:11-23
Jesus Before Pilate(A)
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”(B)
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.(C) 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”(D) 14 But Jesus made no reply,(E) not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner(F) chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus[a] Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”(G) 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat,(H) his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent(I) man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream(J) because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.(K)
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”(L) Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
Footnotes:
- Matthew 27:16 Many manuscripts do not have Jesus; also in verse 17.
Cross references:
- Matthew 27:11 : 27:11-26pp — Mk 15:2-15; Lk 23:2, 3, 18-25; Jn 18:29-19:16
- Matthew 27:11 : S Mt 2:2
- Matthew 27:12 : S Mk 14:61
- Matthew 27:13 : Mt 26:62
- Matthew 27:14 : S Mk 14:61
- Matthew 27:15 : Jn 18:39
- Matthew 27:17 : ver 22; Mt 1:16
- Matthew 27:19 : Jn 19:13
- Matthew 27:19 : ver 24
- Matthew 27:19 : Ge 20:6; Nu 12:6; 1Ki 3:5; Job 33:14-16; Mt 1:20; 2:12, 13, 19, 22
- Matthew 27:20 : Ac 3:14
- Matthew 27:22 : Mt 1:16
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.