Morning
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. § No eye pitied you … but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born. And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you … ,“Live!”
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God.
When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. § God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.
Isa. 51:1; Ps. 51:5; Ezek. 16:5–6; Ps. 40:2–3; Rom. 5:6–8; Eph. 2:4–5
Evening
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my soul shall be joyful in my God.
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. § The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You! § Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. § Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things. § Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. § Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Isa. 61:10; Ps. 34:1–3; 84:11–12; 103:1; James 5:13;
Eph. 5:18–20; Col. 3:16; Acts 16:25; Phil. 4:4
