Daily Wisdom Plan

¹Declare me innocent, O God! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars.

²For you are God, my only safe haven. Why have you tossed me aside? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?

³Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.

⁴There I will go to the altar of God, to God — the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!

⁵Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!

¹O God, we have heard it with our own ears — our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago:

²You drove out the pagan nations by your power and gave all the land to our ancestors. You crushed their enemies and set our ancestors free.

³They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them.

⁴You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel.

⁵Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes.

⁶I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me.

⁷You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us.

⁸O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name. Interlude

⁹But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead our armies to battle.

¹⁰You make us retreat from our enemies and allow those who hate us to plunder our land.

¹¹You have butchered us like sheep and scattered us among the nations.

¹²You sold your precious people for a pittance, making nothing on the sale.

¹³You let our neighbors mock us. We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us.

¹⁴You have made us the butt of their jokes; they shake their heads at us in scorn.

¹⁵We can’t escape the constant humiliation; shame is written across our faces.

¹⁶All we hear are the taunts of our mockers. All we see are our vengeful enemies.

¹⁷All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant.

¹⁸Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path.

¹⁹Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home. You have covered us with darkness and death.

²⁰If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,

²¹God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.

²²But for your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.

²³Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever.

²⁴Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?

²⁵We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt.

²⁶Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of your unfailing love.

¹Beautiful words stir my heart. I will recite a lovely poem about the king, for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

²You are the most handsome of all. Gracious words stream from your lips. God himself has blessed you forever.

³Put on your sword, O mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic!

⁴In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!

⁵Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts. The nations fall beneath your feet.

⁶Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.

⁷You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

⁸Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes. In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you.

⁹Kings’ daughters are among your noble women. At your right side stands the queen, wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!

¹⁰Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say. Forget your people and your family far away.

¹¹For your royal husband delights in your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.

¹²The princess of Tyre will shower you with gifts. The wealthy will beg your favor.

¹³The bride, a princess, looks glorious in her golden gown.

¹⁴In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king, accompanied by her bridesmaids.

¹⁵What a joyful and enthusiastic procession as they enter the king’s palace!

¹⁶Your sons will become kings like their father. You will make them rulers over many lands.

¹⁷I will bring honor to your name in every generation. Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.