Sunday, 14 July

1.   Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide in times of trouble? 2.   The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. 3.   For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD. 4.   The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God ; God is in none of his thoughts. 5.   His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them. 6.   He has said in his heart, "I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity." 7.   His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity. 8.   He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the secret places he murders the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless. 9.   He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catch the poor; He catches the poor when he draws him into his net. 10.   So he crouches, he lies low, That the helpless may fall by his strength. 11.   He has said in his heart, "God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see." 12.   Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble. 13.   Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, "You will not require an account ." 14.   But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless. 15.   Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man ; Seek out his wickedness until You find none. 16.   The LORD is King forever and ever; The nations have perished out of His land. 17.   LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, 18.   To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.

1.   < A Psalm of David.>> In the LORD I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain"? 2.   For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. 3.   If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do? 4.   The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD’S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. 5.   The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. 6.   Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup. 7.   For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.

1.   <> Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. 2.   They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3.   May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaks proud things, 4.   Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; Who is lord over us?" 5.   "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns." 6.   The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times. 7.   You shall keep them, O LORD, You shall preserve them from this generation forever. 8.   The wicked prowl on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

1.   Therefore, my beloved and longed–for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. 2.   I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3.   And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. 4.   Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5.   Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6.   Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7.   and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8.   Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy––meditate on these things. 9.   The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 10.   But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11.   Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12.   I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13.   I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 14.   Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15.   Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16.   For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17.   Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18.   Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet–smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19.   And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20.   Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 21.   Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22.   All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household. 23.   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.