What follows is a selection of Psalms from the Old Testament Book of Psalms read from the New King James Translation.
Use this recording as you will,
But our suggestion is to simply sit with it,
Head bowed,
In quiet contemplation.
Psalm 1,
The Way of the Righteous and The End of the Ungodly.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands on the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful,
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in his law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree,
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither,
And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
And now,
A moment of reflection.
Psalm 2,
The Messiah's Triumph and Kingdom.
Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against his anointed,
Saying,
Let us break their bonds in pieces,
And cast away their cords from us.
But he who sits in the heavens shall laugh.
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Then he shall speak to them in his wrath,
And distress them in his deep displeasure.
Yet I have set my king,
Says the Lord,
On my holy hill of Zion.
You are my son,
And today I have begotten you.
Ask of me,
And I will give to you the nations for your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall break them with an iron rod,
And you shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.
Now therefore be wise,
O kings.
Be instructed,
You judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
Lest he be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When his wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in him.
And now,
A moment of reflection.
Psalm 3.
The Lord helps his troubled people.
Lord,
How they have increased to trouble me.
Many are they who rise up against me.
Many are they who say of me,
There is no help for him in God.
But you,
O Lord,
Are a my glory in the one who lifts up my head.
I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And he heard me from his holy hill.
I lay down and slept,
Then awoke,
For the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousand people who have set themselves against me all around.
Arise,
O Lord.
Save me,
O my God,
For you have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone.
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon your people.
And now,
A moment of reflection.
Psalm 4.
The safety of the faithful.
Hear me when I call,
O God of my righteousness.
You have relieved me in my distress.
Have mercy on me,
And hear my prayer.
How long,
O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?
But know that the Lord has set apart for himself those who are godly.
The Lord will hear when I call to him.
Stand in awe and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord.
There are many who say,
Who will show us the good life?
Lord,
Lift up the light of your countenance upon us.
You have put gladness in my heart.
More than in the season when their grain and wine increased.
I will both lie down in peace and sleep.
For you alone,
O Lord,
Make me dwell in safety.
And now,
A moment of reflection.
Thank you for listening today.
I hope this recording has helped edify you and illuminate your path.
These words have been passed down through the ages by our living God for the sake of your sanctification.
How blessed we are to have him,
Kind and merciful in his ways.
And so we give thanks.
Amen.
