Day 6: Psalms 16-18

You may have noticed that sometimes I write the word psalms with an uppercase P and sometimes with a lowercase P.  What's the difference?  When referring to the Book of Psalms or the collection of Psalms, an uppercase P is warranted.  An uppercase P is also used when noting a specific psalm as in Psalm 23.  But when referring to psalms in general, as in "these psalms are beautiful," or "I will read a psalm every day," a lowercase P is used.  In addition, when citing verses from a psalm, for example Psalms 16:1-7, Psalms is plural because it is a citation from the Book of Psalms.

Psalm 16

1	Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; *     I have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, my good above all other."

2	All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, *     upon those who are noble among the people.
3	But those who run after other gods *     shall have their troubles multiplied.
4	Their libations of blood I will not offer, *     nor take the names of their gods upon my lips.
5	O LORD, you are my portion and my cup; *     it is you who uphold my lot.
6	My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; *     indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
7	I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel; *     my heart teaches me, night after night.
8	I have set the LORD always before me; *     because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.
9	My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; *     my body also shall rest in hope.
10	For you will not abandon me to the grave, *     nor let your holy one see the Pit.
11	You will show me the path of life; *     in your presence there is fullness of joy,     and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. Another song of praise, written at a time when there were many gods to choose from to worship.  The writer declares that his God is his one and only God. Psalm 17 1 Hear my plea of innocence, O LORD; give heed to my cry; *     listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips. 2 Let my vindication come forth from your presence; *     let your eyes be fixed on justice.     3 Weigh my heart, summon me by night, *     melt me down; you will find no impurity in me.     4 I give no offense with my mouth as others do; *     I have heeded the words of your lips.     5 My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; *     in your paths my feet shall not stumble.     6 I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; *     incline your ear to me and hear my words.     7 Show me your marvelous loving-kindness, *     O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand     from those who rise up against them.     8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; *     hide me under the shadow of your wings,     9 From the wicked who assault me, *     from my deadly enemies who surround me.     10 They have closed their heart to pity, *     and their mouth speaks proud things.     11 They press me hard, now they surround me, *     watching how they may cast me to the ground,     12 Like a lion, greedy for its prey, *     and like a young lion lurking in secret places.     13 Arise, O LORD; confront them and bring them down; *     deliver me from the wicked by your sword.     14 Deliver me, O LORD, by your hand *     from those whose portion in life is this world; 15 Whose bellies you fill with your treasure, *     who are well supplied with children     and leave their wealth to their little ones.     16 But at my vindication I shall see your face; *     when I awake, I shall be satisfied, beholding                              your likeness.     More of the same. Psalm 18 1 I love you, O LORD my strength, *     O LORD my stronghold, my crag, and my haven.     2 My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, *     my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge;     you are worthy of praise.     3 I will call upon the LORD, *     and so shall I be saved from my enemies.     4 The breakers of death rolled over me, *     and the torrents of oblivion made me afraid.     5 The cords of hell entangled me, *     and the snares of death were set for me.     6 I called upon the LORD in my distress *     and cried out to my God for help.     7 He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling; *     my cry of anguish came to his ears. 8 The earth reeled and rocked; *     the roots of the mountains shook;     they reeled because of his anger.     9 Smoke rose from his nostrils and a consuming fire out of his mouth; *     hot burning coals blazed forth from him.     10 He parted the heavens and came down *     with a storm cloud under his feet.     11 He mounted on cherubim and flew; *     he swooped on the wings of the wind.     12 He wrapped darkness about him; *     he made dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.     13 From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds, *     burst hailstones and coals of fire.     14 The LORD thundered out of heaven; *     the Most High uttered his voice.     15 He loosed his arrows and scattered them; *     he hurled thunderbolts and routed them.     16 The beds of the seas were uncovered, and the foundations of the world laid bare, *     at your battle cry, O LORD,     at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.     17 He reached down from on high and grasped me; *     he drew me out of great waters.     18 He delivered me from my strong enemies and from those who hated me; *     for they were too mighty for me.     19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster; *     but the LORD was my support. 20 He brought me out into an open place; *     he rescued me because he delighted in me. Okay, so this psalm goes on for another 30 more verses.  While I like the imagery,  the As I wrote this last night, a car ran off the road and into my front yard, landing in my juniper bushes.  No one was hurt and I assume the insurance will take care of it. Ken always hated those bushes.