Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from the Book of
Psalms, Psalm 104, 107, 111 -113. Psalm 104 Bless
the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very
great. You are clothed with honor and majesty,
who cover yourself with light as with a garment,
who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. He
lays the beams of his upper chambers in the waters,
who makes the clouds his chariot, who walks on
the wings of the wind, who makes his angels spirits,
his ministers a flame of fire. You who laid the
foundations of the earth so that it should not
be moved forever, you covered it with the deep
as with a garment. The waters stood above the
mountains. At your rebuke they fled. At the voice
of your thunder they hastened away. They went
up over the mountains. They went down into the
valleys, to the place which you founded for them.
You have set a boundary that they may not pass
over, that they may not return to cover the earth.
He sends the springs into the valleys. They flow
among the hills. They give drink to every beast
of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
By them the birds of the heavens have their home.
They sing among the branches. He waters the hills
from his upper chambers. the earth is satisfied
with the fruit of your works he causes the grass
to grow for the cattle and vegetation for the
service of man that he may bring forth food from
the earth and wine that makes glad the heart
of man oil to make his face shine and bread which
strengthens man's heart the trees of the lord
are full of sap the cedars of lebanon which he
planted where the birds make their nests the
stork has her home in the fir trees The high
hills are for the wild goats. The cliffs are
a refuge for the rock badgers. He appointed the
moon for seasons. The sun knows it's going down.
You make darkness, and it is night, in which
all the beasts of the forest creep about. The
young lions roar after their prey and seek their
food from God. When the sun rises, they gather
together and lie down in their dens. Man goes
out to his work and to his labor until the evening.
o lord how manifold are your works in wisdom
you have made them all the earth is full of your
possessions this great and wide sea in which
are innumerable teeming things living things
both small and great there the ships sail about
there is that leviathan which you have made to
play there these all wait for you that you may
give them their food in due season what you give
them they gather in You open your hand, they
are filled with good. You hide your face, they
are troubled. You take away their breath, they
die and return to their dust. You send forth
your spirit, they are created. And you renew
the face of the earth. May the glory of the Lord
endure forever. May the Lord rejoice in his works.
He looks on the earth and he trembles. He touches
the hills and they smoke. I will sing to the
Lord as long as I live. I will sing praise to
my God while I have my being. May my meditation
be sweet to him, I will be glad in the Lord.
May sinners be consumed from the earth, and the
wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul,
praise the Lord. Psalm 107 O give thanks to the
Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he
has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and
gathered out of the lands, from the east and
from the west. from the north and from the south.
They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate
way. They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and
thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they
cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He
delivered them out of their distresses. And He
led them forth by the right way, that they might
go to a city for a dwelling place. Oh, that men
would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
and for His wonderful works to the children of
men. For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills
the hungry soul with goodness. Those who sat
in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound
in affliction and irons, because they rebelled
against the words of God, and despised the counsel
of the Most High. Therefore he brought down their
heart with labor. They fell down, and there was
none to help. Then they cried out to the Lord
in their trouble, and he saved them out of their
distresses. He brought them out of darkness and
the shadow of death, and broke their chains in
pieces. O that men would give thanks to the Lord
for his goodness and for his wonderful works
to the children of men! For he has broken the
gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron in two.
Fools, because of their transgression and because
of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul
abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near
to the gates of death. Then they cried out to
the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them
out of their distresses. He sent his word and
healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
O that men would give thanks to the Lord for
his goodness, and for his wonderful works to
the children of men. Let them sacrifice the sacrifices
of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do
business on great waters, they see the works
of the Lord and his wonders in the deep. For
he commands and raises the stormy wind, which
lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up
to the heavens, they go down again to the depth.
Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel
to and fro and stagger like a drunken man, and
are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to
the Lord in their trouble, and he brings them
out of their distresses. He calms the storm so
that its waves are still. Then they are glad
because they are quiet. So he guides them to
their desired haven. Oh, that men would give
thanks to the Lord for his goodness and for his
wonderful works to the children of men. Let them
exalt him also in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the company of the elders.
He turns rivers into a wilderness and the water
springs into dry ground, a fruitful land into
barrenness for the wickedness of those who dwell
in it. He turns a wilderness into pools of water.
and dry land into water springs. There he makes
the hungry dwell, that they may establish a city
for a dwelling place, and sow fields and plant
vineyards, that they may yield a fruitful harvest.
He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their cattle decrease. When
they are diminished and brought low, through
oppression, affliction, and sorrow, he pours
contempt on princes, and causes them to wander
in the wilderness where there is no way. Yet
he sets the poor on high, far from affliction,
and makes their families like a flock. The righteous
see it and rejoice, and all their iniquity stops
its mouth. Whoever is wise will observe these
things, and they will understand the lovingkindness
of the Lord. Psalm 111 Praise the Lord. I will
praise the Lord with my whole heart in the assembly
of the upright and in the congregation. The works
of the Lord are great, studied by all who have
pleasure in them. His work is honorable and glorious,
and His righteousness endures forever. He has
made His wonderful works to be remembered. The
Lord is gracious and full of compassion. He has
given food to those who fear Him. He will ever
be mindful of His covenant. He has declared to
His people the power of His works, in giving
them the heritage of the nations. The works of
His hands are verity and justice. All His precepts
are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and
are done in truth and uprightness. He has sent
redemption to his people. He has commanded his
covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
A good understanding have all those who do his
commandments. His praise endures forever. Psalm
112 Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears
the Lord. who delights greatly in his commandments.
His descendants will be mighty on earth. The
generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth
and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness
endures forever. Unto the upright there arises
light in the darkness. He is gracious and full
of compassion and righteous. A good man deals
graciously and lends. He will guide his affairs
with discretion. Surely he will never be shaken.
the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance
he will not be afraid of evil things his heart
is steadfast trusting in the lord his heart is
established he will not be afraid until he sees
his desire upon his enemies he has dispersed
abroad he has given to the poor his righteousness
endures forever his horn will be exalted with
honor the wicked will see it and be grieved he
will gnash his teeth and melt away The desire
of the wicked shall perish. Psalm 113 who humbles
himself to behold the things that are in the
heavens and in the earth. He raises the poor
out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the
ash heap, that he may seat him with princes,
with the princes of his people. He grants the
barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of
children. Praise the Lord. I hope you enjoyed
today's reading as much as I did. And I look
forward to seeing you again tomorrow to continue
on our journey. God bless you and have a great
day.