WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:08.839 in a year. Continuing with our Psalms of Lament, 00:00:09.060 --> 00:00:14.859 today's readings are Psalms 53, 55, 58, 61, 64, 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:20.820 69 through 71. Psalm 53, inscription to the chief 00:00:20.820 --> 00:00:24.239 musician, said to Mahalat, a contemplation of 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:27.239 David. The fool has said in his heart, there 00:00:27.239 --> 00:00:30.199 is no God. They are corrupt and have done abominable 00:00:30.199 --> 00:00:33.399 iniquity. There is none who does good. God looks 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:35.640 down from heaven upon the children of men to 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:38.119 see if there are any who understand, who seek 00:00:38.119 --> 00:00:40.979 God. Every one of them has turned aside. They 00:00:40.979 --> 00:00:43.340 have together become corrupt. There is none who 00:00:43.340 --> 00:00:46.539 does good, no, not one. Have the workers of iniquity 00:00:46.539 --> 00:00:49.520 no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:52.520 bread and do not call upon God? There they are 00:00:52.520 --> 00:00:55.140 in great fear, where no fear was, for God has 00:00:55.140 --> 00:00:57.079 scattered the bones of him who encamps against 00:00:57.079 --> 00:01:00.090 you. you have put them to shame because God has 00:01:00.090 --> 00:01:02.670 despised them. Oh, that the salvation of Israel 00:01:02.670 --> 00:01:05.230 would come out of Zion. When God brings back 00:01:05.230 --> 00:01:07.849 the captivity of his people, let Jacob rejoice 00:01:07.849 --> 00:01:13.209 and Israel be glad. Psalm 55, Inscription To 00:01:13.209 --> 00:01:15.349 the chief musician, with stringed instruments, 00:01:15.629 --> 00:01:18.890 a contemplation of David. Give ear to my prayer, 00:01:18.969 --> 00:01:21.450 O God, and do not hide yourself from my supplication. 00:01:21.569 --> 00:01:24.030 Attend to me and hear me. I am restless in my 00:01:24.030 --> 00:01:26.680 complaint and moan noisily. Because of the voice 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:28.620 of the enemy, because of the oppression of the 00:01:28.620 --> 00:01:30.879 wicked, for they bring down trouble upon me, 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:33.579 and in wrath they hate me. My heart is severely 00:01:33.579 --> 00:01:36.379 pained within me, and the terrors of death have 00:01:36.379 --> 00:01:39.219 fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling have 00:01:39.219 --> 00:01:41.640 come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. 00:01:41.939 --> 00:01:45.019 So I said, O that I had wings like a dove, I 00:01:45.019 --> 00:01:47.739 would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would 00:01:47.739 --> 00:01:49.840 wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:53.280 Salah. I would hasten my escape from the windy 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:55.829 storm and tempest. Destroy, O Lord, and divide 00:01:55.829 --> 00:01:58.590 their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife 00:01:58.590 --> 00:02:01.030 in the city. Day and night they go around it 00:02:01.030 --> 00:02:04.189 on its walls. Iniquity and trouble are also in 00:02:04.189 --> 00:02:06.670 the midst of it. Destruction is in its midst. 00:02:07.030 --> 00:02:09.490 Oppression and deceit do not depart from its 00:02:09.490 --> 00:02:12.430 streets. For it is not an enemy who reproaches 00:02:12.430 --> 00:02:15.250 me, then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates 00:02:15.250 --> 00:02:17.490 me, who has exalted himself against me, then 00:02:17.490 --> 00:02:20.229 I could hide from him. But it was you. A man 00:02:20.229 --> 00:02:23.430 my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We 00:02:23.430 --> 00:02:25.469 took sweet counsel together and walked to the 00:02:25.469 --> 00:02:28.469 house of God in the throng. Let death seize them. 00:02:28.569 --> 00:02:31.629 Let them go down alive into hell. For wickedness 00:02:31.629 --> 00:02:34.030 is in their dwellings and among them. As for 00:02:34.030 --> 00:02:36.370 me, I will call upon God and the Lord shall save 00:02:36.370 --> 00:02:39.590 me. Evening and morning and at noon, I will pray 00:02:39.590 --> 00:02:42.449 and cry aloud. And he shall hear my voice. He 00:02:42.449 --> 00:02:44.710 has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle 00:02:44.710 --> 00:02:47.550 that was against me. For there were many against 00:02:47.550 --> 00:02:50.710 me. God will hear and afflict them. Even he who 00:02:50.710 --> 00:02:53.949 abides from of old, Salah. Because they do not 00:02:53.949 --> 00:02:56.650 change, therefore they do not fear God. He has 00:02:56.650 --> 00:02:59.210 put forth his hands against those who were at 00:02:59.210 --> 00:03:01.870 peace with him. He has broken his covenant. The 00:03:01.870 --> 00:03:03.689 words of his mouth were smoother than butter, 00:03:03.789 --> 00:03:06.789 but war was in his heart. His words were softer 00:03:06.789 --> 00:03:09.870 than oil, yet they were drawn swords. Cast your 00:03:09.870 --> 00:03:11.930 burden on the Lord, and he shall sustain you. 00:03:12.129 --> 00:03:14.229 He shall never permit the righteous to be moved, 00:03:14.370 --> 00:03:16.830 but you, O God, shall bring them down to the 00:03:16.830 --> 00:03:19.389 pit of destruction. Not thirsty and deceitful 00:03:19.389 --> 00:03:22.129 men shall not live out half their days, but I 00:03:22.129 --> 00:03:32.710 will trust in you. Do you indeed speak righteousness, 00:03:33.090 --> 00:03:35.830 you silent ones? Do you judge uprightly, you 00:03:35.830 --> 00:03:39.129 sons of men? No, in heart you work wickedness. 00:03:39.169 --> 00:03:41.289 You weigh out the violence of your hands in the 00:03:41.289 --> 00:03:43.789 earth. The wicked are estranged from the womb. 00:03:43.889 --> 00:03:46.409 They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking 00:03:46.409 --> 00:03:49.219 lies. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent. 00:03:49.419 --> 00:03:52.340 They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear, 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:55.439 which will not heed the voice of charmers, charming 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:58.400 ever so skillfully. Break their teeth in their 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:01.159 mouth, O God. Break out the fangs of the young 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:04.400 lions, O Lord. Let them flow away as waters which 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:07.199 run continually. When he bends his bow, let his 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:10.080 arrows be as if cut in pieces. Let them be like 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:13.120 a snail which melts away as it goes, like a stillborn 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:15.460 child of a woman that they may not see the sun. 00:04:15.819 --> 00:04:17.680 Before your pots can feel the burning thorns, 00:04:17.899 --> 00:04:20.399 he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:23.480 as in his living and burning wrath. The righteous 00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:26.100 shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:27.800 shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:30.639 so that men will say, Surely there is a reward 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:33.540 for the righteous. Surely he is God who judges 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:38.100 in the earth. Psalm 61, Inscription To the chief 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:40.759 musician on a stringed instrument, a psalm of 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:44.079 David. Hear my cry, O God, attend to my prayer. 00:04:44.459 --> 00:04:46.259 From the end of the earth I will cry to you. 00:04:46.339 --> 00:04:48.800 When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:51.139 rock that is higher than I. For you have been 00:04:51.139 --> 00:04:53.519 a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:56.360 I will abide in your tabernacle forever. I will 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:59.120 trust in the shelter of your wings. Salah. For 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:01.779 you, O God, have heard my vows. You have given 00:05:01.779 --> 00:05:03.759 me the heritage of those who fear your name. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:06.920 You will prolong the king's life, his years as 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:09.920 many generations. He shall abide before God forever. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:13.060 O prepare mercy and truth which may preserve 00:05:13.060 --> 00:05:15.459 him. So I will sing praise to your name forever, 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:21.259 that I may daily perform my vows. Psalm 64 Inscription 00:05:21.259 --> 00:05:25.060 To the Chief Musician A Psalm of David Hear my 00:05:25.060 --> 00:05:27.959 voice, O God, in my meditation. Preserve my life 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:30.500 from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:32.699 plots of the wicked, from the rebellion of the 00:05:32.699 --> 00:05:34.939 workers of iniquity, who sharpen their tongue 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:37.680 like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:40.310 arrows. bitter words, that they may shoot in 00:05:40.310 --> 00:05:42.670 secret at the blameless. Suddenly they shoot 00:05:42.670 --> 00:05:45.269 at him and do not fear. They encourage themselves 00:05:45.269 --> 00:05:48.089 in an evil matter. They talk of laying snares 00:05:48.089 --> 00:05:51.589 secretly. They say, who will see them? They devise 00:05:51.589 --> 00:05:54.089 iniquities. We have perfected a shrewd scheme. 00:05:54.370 --> 00:05:56.509 Both the inward thought and the heart of man 00:05:56.509 --> 00:05:59.170 are deep. But God will shoot at them with an 00:05:59.170 --> 00:06:01.889 arrow. Suddenly they shall be wounded. So he 00:06:01.889 --> 00:06:03.930 will make them stumble over their own tongue. 00:06:04.329 --> 00:06:07.529 All who see them shall flee away. All men shall 00:06:07.529 --> 00:06:10.160 fear. and shall declare the work of God, for 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:12.720 they shall wisely consider his doing. The righteous 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:15.420 shall be glad in the Lord and trust in him, and 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:19.240 all the upright in heart shall glory. Psalm 69, 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:22.779 Inscription To the chief musician said to the 00:06:22.779 --> 00:06:26.579 lilies, a psalm of David. Save me, O God, for 00:06:26.579 --> 00:06:29.220 the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in 00:06:29.220 --> 00:06:31.759 deep mire, where there is no standing. I have 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:34.120 come into deep waters, where the floods overflow 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:37.560 me. I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. 00:06:37.949 --> 00:06:40.930 My eyes fail while I wait for my God. Those who 00:06:40.930 --> 00:06:43.250 hate me without a cause are more than the hairs 00:06:43.250 --> 00:06:45.769 of my head. They are mighty who would destroy 00:06:45.769 --> 00:06:49.110 me, being my enemies wrongfully. Though I have 00:06:49.110 --> 00:06:52.189 stolen nothing, I still must restore it. O God, 00:06:52.250 --> 00:06:54.110 you know my foolishness, and my sins are not 00:06:54.110 --> 00:06:56.490 hidden from you. Let not those who wait for you, 00:06:56.610 --> 00:06:59.209 O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed because of me. 00:06:59.290 --> 00:07:02.269 Let not those who seek you be confounded because 00:07:02.269 --> 00:07:05.009 of me, O God of Israel, because for your sake 00:07:05.009 --> 00:07:07.939 I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face. 00:07:08.139 --> 00:07:10.620 I have become a stranger to my brothers, and 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:13.139 an alien to my mother's children, because zeal 00:07:13.139 --> 00:07:15.779 for your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches 00:07:15.779 --> 00:07:18.120 of those who reproach you have fallen on me. 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:20.699 When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, 00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:24.079 that became my reproach. I also made sackcloth 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:26.779 my garment. I became a byword to them. Those 00:07:26.779 --> 00:07:29.139 who sit in the gate speak against me, and I am 00:07:29.139 --> 00:07:31.680 the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:34.519 prayer is to you. O Lord, in the acceptable time, 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:37.319 O God, in the multitude of your mercy, hear me 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:39.779 in the truth of your salvation. Deliver me out 00:07:39.779 --> 00:07:42.800 of the mire, and let me not sink. Let me be delivered 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:45.060 from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:48.040 Let not the flood water overflow me, nor let 00:07:48.040 --> 00:07:50.720 the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:54.000 its mouth on me. Hear me, O Lord, for your lovingkindness 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:56.379 is good. Turn to me according to the multitude 00:07:56.379 --> 00:07:58.639 of your tender mercies, and do not hide your 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:00.800 face from your servant, for I am in trouble. 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:03.949 Hear me speedily. Draw near to my soul and redeem 00:08:03.949 --> 00:08:06.790 it. Deliver me because of my enemies. You know 00:08:06.790 --> 00:08:10.149 my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries 00:08:10.149 --> 00:08:12.870 are all before you. Reproach has broken my heart, 00:08:13.009 --> 00:08:15.730 and I am full of heaviness. I looked for someone 00:08:15.730 --> 00:08:18.750 to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters 00:08:18.750 --> 00:08:21.370 I have found none. They also gave me gall for 00:08:21.370 --> 00:08:24.110 my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar 00:08:24.110 --> 00:08:26.870 to drink. Let their table become a snare before 00:08:26.870 --> 00:08:29.730 them, and their well -being a trap. Let their 00:08:29.730 --> 00:08:32.399 eyes be darkened, so that they do not see. and 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:35.080 make their loins shake continually. Pour out 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:37.539 your indignation upon them, and let your wrathful 00:08:37.539 --> 00:08:40.159 anger take hold of them. Let their dwelling place 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:42.519 be desolate. Let no one live in their tents. 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:45.340 For they persecute the ones you have struck. 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:47.820 And talk of the grief of those you have wounded. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:51.139 Add iniquity to their iniquity. And let them 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:53.360 not come into your righteousness. Let them be 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:55.519 blotted out of the book of the living, and not 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:57.759 be written with the righteous. But I am poor 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:00.399 and sorrowful. Let your salvation, O God, set 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:02.929 me up on high. I will praise the name of God 00:09:02.929 --> 00:09:05.429 with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. 00:09:05.769 --> 00:09:08.289 This also shall please the Lord better than an 00:09:08.289 --> 00:09:11.470 ox or bull, which has horns and hooves. The humble 00:09:11.470 --> 00:09:14.110 shall see this and be glad, and you who seek 00:09:14.110 --> 00:09:16.830 God, your hearts shall live. For the Lord hears 00:09:16.830 --> 00:09:19.230 the poor, and does not despise his prisoners. 00:09:19.570 --> 00:09:22.129 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and 00:09:22.129 --> 00:09:24.710 everything that moves in them. For God will save 00:09:24.710 --> 00:09:27.330 Zion, and build the cities of Judah, that they 00:09:27.330 --> 00:09:29.940 may dwell there and possess it. Also the descendants 00:09:29.940 --> 00:09:32.840 of his servants shall inherit it, and those who 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:37.779 love his name shall dwell in it. Psalm 70 Inscription 00:09:37.779 --> 00:09:41.460 To the Chief Musician A Psalm of David To bring 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:44.279 to remembrance Make haste, O God, to deliver 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:46.860 me. Make haste to help me, O Lord. Let them be 00:09:46.860 --> 00:09:49.539 ashamed and confounded who seek my life. Let 00:09:49.539 --> 00:09:51.720 them be turned back and confused who desire my 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:54.139 hurt. Let them be turned back because of their 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:57.759 shame who say, Aha! Aha! Let all those who seek 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:00.299 you rejoice and be glad in you, and let those 00:10:00.299 --> 00:10:02.620 who love your salvation say continually, Let 00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:06.059 God be magnified. But I am poor and needy. Make 00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:08.960 haste to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer. 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:14.320 O Lord, do not delay. Psalm 71 In you, O Lord, 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:16.899 I put my trust. Let me never be put to shame. 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:19.519 Deliver me in your righteousness and cause me 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:22.159 to escape. Incline your ear to me and save me. 00:10:22.340 --> 00:10:25.360 Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually. 00:10:25.929 --> 00:10:27.950 You have given the commandment to save me, for 00:10:27.950 --> 00:10:30.590 you are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, 00:10:30.629 --> 00:10:32.830 O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out 00:10:32.830 --> 00:10:35.070 of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. 00:10:35.470 --> 00:10:38.429 For you are my hope, O Lord God. You are my trust 00:10:38.429 --> 00:10:41.389 from my youth. By you I have been upheld from 00:10:41.389 --> 00:10:44.029 birth. You are he who took me out of my mother's 00:10:44.029 --> 00:10:46.710 womb. My praise shall be continually of you. 00:10:46.970 --> 00:10:50.230 I have become as a wonder to many, but you are 00:10:50.230 --> 00:10:52.710 my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with 00:10:52.710 --> 00:10:55.210 your praise and with your glory all the day. 00:10:55.710 --> 00:10:58.429 Do not cast me off in a time of old age. Do not 00:10:58.429 --> 00:11:01.210 forsake me when my strength fails, for my enemies 00:11:01.210 --> 00:11:04.009 speak against me, and those who lie in wait for 00:11:04.009 --> 00:11:07.029 my life take counsel together, saying, God has 00:11:07.029 --> 00:11:09.470 forsaken him, pursue and take him, for there 00:11:09.470 --> 00:11:12.129 is none to deliver him. O God, do not be far 00:11:12.129 --> 00:11:15.090 from me. O my God, make haste to help me. Let 00:11:15.090 --> 00:11:18.330 them be confounded and consumed, who are adversaries 00:11:18.330 --> 00:11:21.049 of my life. Let them be covered with reproach 00:11:21.049 --> 00:11:23.850 and dishonor, who seek my hurt. But I will hope 00:11:23.850 --> 00:11:26.610 continually. and will praise you yet more and 00:11:26.610 --> 00:11:28.870 more. My mouth shall tell of your righteousness 00:11:28.870 --> 00:11:31.990 and your salvation all the day. For I do not 00:11:31.990 --> 00:11:34.210 know their limits. I will go in the strength 00:11:34.210 --> 00:11:36.649 of the Lord God. I will make mention of your 00:11:36.649 --> 00:11:39.629 righteousness, of yours only. O God, you have 00:11:39.629 --> 00:11:42.629 taught me from my youth, and to this day I declare 00:11:42.629 --> 00:11:45.490 your wondrous works. Now also, when I am old 00:11:45.490 --> 00:11:48.289 and gray -headed, O God, do not forsake me, until 00:11:48.289 --> 00:11:50.809 I declare your strength to this generation, your 00:11:50.809 --> 00:11:53.690 power to everyone who is to come. Also your righteousness, 00:11:54.009 --> 00:11:56.490 O God, is very high. You who have done great 00:11:56.490 --> 00:11:59.470 things, O God, who is like you? You who have 00:11:59.470 --> 00:12:01.789 shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive 00:12:01.789 --> 00:12:04.549 me again, and bring me up again from the depth 00:12:04.549 --> 00:12:06.570 of the earth. You shall increase my greatness 00:12:06.570 --> 00:12:09.629 and comfort me on every side. Also with the lute 00:12:09.629 --> 00:12:11.970 I will praise you, and your faithfulness, O my 00:12:11.970 --> 00:12:15.129 God, to you I will sing with the harp, O Holy 00:12:15.129 --> 00:12:17.590 One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice 00:12:17.590 --> 00:12:20.029 when I sing to you, and my soul, which you have 00:12:20.029 --> 00:12:22.820 redeemed. My tongue shall also talk of your righteousness 00:12:22.820 --> 00:12:26.080 all the day long, for they are confounded, for 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:33.879 they are brought to shame who seek my hurt. I 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:35.740 hope you enjoyed today's reading as much as I 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:38.019 did, and I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:40.519 to continue on our journey. God bless you and 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:41.220 have a great day.