The Skeptics Annotated Bible (473 page)

(121.5-6)
“The LORD is thy keeper…. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.”
So believers don’t have to bother with sunscreen. God will protect them from sunburn, and moonburn too.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

1
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.

5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

6
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

(122.6) “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Jews, Christians, and Muslims all love Jerusalem, and fight each other for the holy city, exclusively given to them by God. Few of them prosper.

7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.

8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

1
Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens
.

(123.1) “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.”
296 Where does God dwell?

2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

1
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;

2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:

3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

1
They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

4 Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.

5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

1
When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

1
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

(127.1)
“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
God doesn’t build houses or watch over cities; people do.

2
It is vain for you to rise up early,
to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows:
for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

(127.2)
“It is vain for you to rise up early … for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”
Don’t bother getting up early and working hard. If God loves you, you can sleep in and let God take care you.

(127.3-5) A man should have as many children as he can. To hell with birth control.

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and
the fruit of the womb is his reward.

(127.3)
“The fruit of the womb is his reward.”

4
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

5
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them
: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

(127.4-5)
“As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man whose quiver is full of them.”

1
Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD
; that walketh in his ways.

(128.1)
“Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD.”
132 Should we fear God?

2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.

1
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:

2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.