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Psalm 68
God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;
as wax melts before the fire,
as the wicked perish before God.
But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sin to God, chant praise to his name
extol him who rides upon the clouds,
Whose name is the Lord;
exult before him.
The father of orphans and the defender of
widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity;
only rebels remain in the parched land.
Psalm 73
How good God is to the upright;
the Lord, to those who are clean of heart !
Bus , as for me, I almost lost my balance;
my feet all but slipped,
Because I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw them prosper though they were
wicked.
For they are in no pain;
their bodies are sound and sleek;
They are free from the burdens of mortals,
and are not afflicted like the rest of men.
So pride adorns them as a necklace;
as a robe violence enwraps them.
Out of their crassness comes iniquity;
their fancies overflow their hearts.
They scoff and speak evil;
outrage from on high they threaten.
They set their mouthings in place of heaven,
and their pronouncements roam the earth;
"So he brings his people to such a pass
that they have not even water!"
And they say, "How does God know?"
And, "Is there any knowledge in the Most
High?"
Such, then are the wicked;
always carefree, while they increase in
wealth.
Is it but in vain I have kept my heart clean
and washed my hands as an innocent man?
for I suffer affliction day after day
and chastisement with each new dawn.
Had I thought, "I will speak as they do,"
I had been false to the fellowship of your
children.
Though I tried to understand this
it seemed to me too difficult.
Till I entered the sanctuary of God
and considered their final destiny.
You set them, indeed on a slippery road;
you hurl them down to ruin.
How suddenly they are made desolate!
They are completely wasted away amid
horrors.
As though they were the dream of one who
had awakened, O Lord.
so will you, when you arise, set at nought
these phantoms.
Because my heart was embittered and
my soul was pierced,
I was stupid and understood not;
I was like a brute beast in your presence.
Yet with you I shall always be;
you have hold of my right hand;
With your counsel you guide me.
and in the end you will receive me in glory.
Whom else have I in heaven?
and when I am with you, the earth delights
me not.
Though my flesh and my heart and my portion
forever.
For indeed, they who withdraw from you perish;
you destroy everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me, to be near God is my good;
to make the Lord God my refuge.
I shall declare all your works
in the gates of the daughter of Zion.
May God Bless You and Your loved ones,
Lori Foster
What Are You Painting Today ?/ 4-20-2021
