Contemplative Bible Reading

Psalm 23:4 (King James Version) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. This is one of those well-known sentences from the 23rd Psalm or The Lord is My Shepherd. I go back […]

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Psalm 61:2-3 (New Living Translation) 2 From the ends of the earth,I cry to you for helpwhen my heart is overwhelmed.Lead me to the towering rock of safety,3 for you are my safe refuge,a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Many years ago, I would travel to far places. I would tell people, “It […]

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Psalm 119:97-99 97 Oh, how I love your instructions!I think about them all day long.98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,for they are my constant guide.99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers,for I am always thinking of your laws. Way down into Psalm 119 we find this expression of thanks. God, […]

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Psalm 69:5-7 (New Living Translation) 5 O God, you know how foolish I am;my sins cannot be hidden from you.6 Don’t let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me,O Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies.Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated,O God of Israel. The writer bemoans his foolishness. The writer is […]

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Psalm 19: 12-13 (New Living Translation) 12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?Cleanse me from these hidden faults.13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!Don’t let them control me.Then I will be free of guiltand innocent of great sin. The writer is praying. I am only human and not all knowing. […]

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Psalm 5:9-10 (Christian Standard Bible) 9 For there is nothing reliable in what they say;destruction is within them;their throat is an open grave;they flatter with their tongues.10 Punish them, God;let them fall by their own schemes.Drive them out because of their many crimes,for they rebel against you. The writer is asking God to help battle […]

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Psalm 90:12 (New Living Translation) 12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life,so that we may grow in wisdom. This Psalm is attributed to Moses. Moses is praying and has a list of requests to God. In this request, Moses asks God to teach us about our lives on earth. They are short. Once […]

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Psalm 81:5 (New Living Translation) 5 He (God) made it a law for Israelwhen he attacked Egypt to set us free. This sentence is part of a few sentences where the writer urges the people to praise God. The writer concludes with the “why” of praising: because God attacked Egypt to set the people free […]

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Psalm 24:3-6 (New Living Translation) 3 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?Who may stand in his holy place?4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,who do not worship idolsand never tell lies.5 They will receive the Lord’s blessingand have a right relationship with God their savior.6 Such people may seek youand worship […]

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Psalm 61:1-3 (New Living Translation) 1 O God, listen to my cry!    Hear my prayer!2 From the ends of the earth,    I cry to you for help    when my heart is overwhelmed.Lead me to the towering rock of safety,3     for you are my safe refuge,    a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. At the end of verse 2, we have the […]

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