Thursday, March 4, 2010

Encouragement for Today


Psalm 42 (New International Version)


    As the deer pants for streams of water, 

    so my soul pants for you, O God.

 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
       When can I go and meet with God?
 3 My tears have been my food
       day and night,
       while men say to me all day long,
       "Where is your God?"
 4 These things I remember
       as I pour out my soul:
       how I used to go with the multitude,
       leading the procession to the house of God,
       with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
       among the festive throng.
 5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
       Why so disturbed within me?
       Put your hope in God,
       for I will yet praise him,
       my Savior and 
6 my God. 
       My [c] soul is downcast within me;
       therefore I will remember you
       from the land of the Jordan,
       the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
 7 Deep calls to deep
       in the roar of your waterfalls;
       all your waves and breakers
       have swept over me.
 8 By day the LORD directs his love,
       at night his song is with me—
       a prayer to the God of my life.
 9 I say to God my Rock,
       "Why have you forgotten me?
       Why must I go about mourning,
       oppressed by the enemy?"
 10 My bones suffer mortal agony
       as my foes taunt me,
       saying to me all day long,
       "Where is your God?"
 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
       Why so disturbed within me?
       Put your hope in God,
       for I will yet praise him,
       my Savior and my God.



Psalm 43 (New International Version)


 1 Vindicate me, O God, 

       and plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
       rescue me from deceitful and wicked men.
 2 You are God my stronghold.
       Why have you rejected me?
       Why must I go about mourning,
       oppressed by the enemy?
 3 Send forth your light and your truth,
       let them guide me;
       let them bring me to your holy mountain,
       to the place where you dwell.
 4 Then will I go to the altar of God,
       to God, my joy and my delight.
       I will praise you with the harp,
       O God, my God.
 5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
       Why so disturbed within me?
       Put your hope in God,
       for I will yet praise him,
       my Savior and my God.