July 17: Psalm 17; Esther 8-10

I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
Marvelously show Your lovingkindnesses,
O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.
Keep me as the apple of the eye;
Hide me in the shadow of Your wings
From the wicked who devastate me,
My deadly enemies who surround me.
They have closed their unfeeling heart,
With their mouth they speak proudly.
They have now surrounded us in our steps;
They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground.
He is like a lion that is eager to tear,
And as a young lion lurking in hiding places.
•••

As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;
I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.

July 16: Psalm 16; Esther 5-7

Yahweh is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.

I will bless Yahweh who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
I have set Yahweh continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
For You will not forsake my soul to Sheol;
You will not give Your Holy One over to see corruption.
You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

July 15: Psalm 15; Esther 1-3

O Yahweh, who may sojourn in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?
He who walks blamelessly, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear Yahweh;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.

July 14: Psalm 14; Roman’s 15-16

The wicked fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They act corruptly, they commit abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.
Yahweh looks down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who has insight,
Anyone who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside, altogether they have become worthless;
There is no one who does good, not even one.
•••

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When Yahweh restores His captive people,
May Jacob rejoice, may Israel be glad.

July 11: Psalm 11; Roman’s 6-8

In Yahweh I take refuge;
How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain;
For, behold, the wicked bend the bow,
They make ready their arrow upon the string
To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?”

Yahweh is in His holy temple; Yahweh’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
Yahweh tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
May He rain snares upon the wicked;
Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.
For Yahweh is righteous, He loves righteousness;
The upright will behold His face.

July 8: Psalm 8; Nehemiah 11-13

O Yahweh, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who displays Your splendor above the heavens!
From the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have established;
What is man that You remember him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen,
And also the animals of the field,
The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

O Yahweh, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth!