PSALM Seventy Three

A psalm of Asaph. 

1 

Surely God is good to Israel,

    to those who are pure in heart.

2 

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;

    I had nearly lost my foothold.

3 

For I envied the arrogant

    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 

They have no struggles;

    their bodies are healthy and strong.

5 

They are free from common human burdens;

    they are not plagued by human ills.

6 

Therefore pride is their necklace;

    they clothe themselves with violence.

7 

From their callous hearts comes iniquity;

    their evil imaginations have no limits.

8 

They scoff, and speak with malice;

    with arrogance they threaten oppression.

9 

Their mouths lay claim to heaven,

    and their tongues take possession of the earth.

10 

Therefore their people turn to them

    and drink up waters in abundance.

11 

They say, ‘How would God know?

    Does the Most High know anything?’

12 

This is what the wicked are like –

    always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

13 

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure

    and have washed my hands in innocence.

14 

All day long I have been afflicted,

    and every morning brings new punishments.

15 

If I had spoken out like that,

    I would have betrayed your children.

16 

When I tried to understand all this,

    it troubled me deeply

17 

till I entered the sanctuary of God;

    then I understood their final destiny.

18 

Surely you place them on slippery ground;

    you cast them down to ruin.

19 

How suddenly are they destroyed,

    completely swept away by terrors!

20 

They are like a dream when one awakes;

    when you arise, Lord,

    you will despise them as fantasies.

21 

When my heart was grieved

    and my spirit embittered,

22 

I was senseless and ignorant;

    I was a brute beast before you.

23 

Yet I am always with you;

    you hold me by my right hand.

24 

You guide me with your counsel,

    and afterwards you will take me into glory.

25 

Whom have I in heaven but you?

    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26 

My flesh and my heart may fail,

    but God is the strength of my heart

    and my portion for ever.

27 

Those who are far from you will perish;

    you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

28 

But as for me, it is good to be near God.

    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;

    I will tell of all your deeds.

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READINGS

PSALM 73

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

Psalms 

 - Overview -

The Bible Project 

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STUDY - LINKS

Psalm 73 

David Pawson

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SONGS

The Second Letter of Paul to the CORINTHIANS - Chapter Thirteen

  1 This will be my third visit to you. ‘Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: on my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.

5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong – not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority – the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All God’s people here send their greetings.

14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

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READINGS

2 CORINTHIANS

Chapter Thirteen

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW 

 

2 CORINTHIANS

- Overview -

The Bible Project  

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STUDY - LINKS

2 CORINTHIANS

David Pawson

Part 1

Part 2

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2 Corinthians 13 - Baruch Korman

2 Corinthians - N T Wright