Contemplative Bible Reading

Psalm 84:4 (New Living Translation) 4 What joy for those who can live in your house,always singing your praises. What joy it is to be near God. The first verse of this Psalm tells us, 1 How lovely is your dwelling place,O Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Where God dwells is lovely. It doesn’t matter if […]

[Read more →]

Psalm 130:7 (New Living Translation) 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;for with the Lord there is unfailing love.His redemption overflows. Tired? Lonely? Distraught? Just having a bad day? There is unfailing love with the Lord God. Boy, that sure is simple. There must be something more to this? Well, of course. There is always […]

[Read more →]

Psalm 38:4 (King James Version) 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. Let’s go with an older translation here. Those who study these things attribute these words to King David. David was a righteous person who was held as the standard for all […]

[Read more →]

Psalm 31:4 (King James Version) 4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. In this Psalm, King David declares his trust in God. He asks God for help in many common situations. This verse (the poetic rendition from the King James Version) asks God […]

[Read more →]

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 […]

[Read more →]

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 […]

[Read more →]

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, […]

[Read more →]

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 […]

[Read more →]

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. […]

[Read more →]

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 […]

[Read more →]