The Skeptics Annotated Bible

by Wells, Steve

  4 For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.

  5 O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.

  6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

  7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:

  8 But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore.

  9 For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

  10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

  (92.10) “My horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn.” The psalmist has a horn that he’d like God to erect—“like the horn of a unicorn.”

  11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.

  12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

  13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

  14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

  (92.12-14) “The righteous shall flourish … They shall be fat and flourishing.” Being fat is is sure sign of righteousness. (Wicked people are skinny and hungry.)

  305 Will the righteous flourish?

  15 To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

  PSALM 93

  1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

  (93.1) “The world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.” According to the Bible, Galileo was wrong; the earth does not move.

  2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

  3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

  4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

  5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.

  PSALM 94

  1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.

  2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

  3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

  4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?

  5 They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.

  6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.

  7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

  8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?

  9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

  10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?

  11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

  12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

  13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.

  14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.

  15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

  16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

  17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

  18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.

  19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

  20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

  21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

  22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

  23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.

  PSALM 95

  1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

  2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

  3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

  4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

  5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

  6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

  7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

  8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

  9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

  10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

  11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

  PSALM 96

  1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.

  2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.

  3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.

  4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

  (96.4) “The LORD … is to be feared above all gods.”

  9 How many gods are there?

  132 Should we fear God?

  5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

  6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

  7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

  8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.

  9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

  10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

  (96.10a) “Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth.”

  161 Who is the Lord of the earth?

  (96.10b) “The world also shall be established that it shall not be moved.”

  The earth does not move. It doesn’t revolve on its axis or orbit the sun.

  11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

  12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice

  13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

  PSALM 97

  1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

  (97.1) “The Lord reigneth.”

  161 Who is the Lord of the earth?

  2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

  (97.2) “Clouds and darkness are round about him.”

  227 Does God dwell in darkness or in light?

  3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.

  (97.3) “A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.”

  4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.<
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  5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

  (97.4-5a) “The earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD.” The earth shakes and the hills melt whenever they get a good look at God.

  (97.5b) “The Lord of the whole earth.”

  161 Who is the Lord of the earth?

  6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.

  7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

  (97.7) “Worship him, all ye gods.”

  9 How many gods are there?

  8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.

  9 For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

  10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

  11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

  12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

  PSALM 98

  1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

  2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

  3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

  4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

  5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

  6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

  7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

  8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together

  9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

  PSALM 99

  1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

  (99.1) “The LORD reigneth.”

  161 Who is the Lord of the earth?

  2 The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.

  3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.

  4 The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

  5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

  6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

  7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.

  8 Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

  9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.

  PSALM 100

  1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

  2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

  3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

  4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

  5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

  (100.5) “The LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting.”

  120 Is God merciful?

  PSALM 101

  1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.

  2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

  3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

  4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.

  5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

  6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

  7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

  8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.

  (101.8) “I will … destroy all the wicked of the land.”

  PSALM 102

  1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.

  2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

  3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

  4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

  5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

  6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.

  7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.

  8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

  9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

  10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

  11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

  12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

  13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

  14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

  15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

  16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

  17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

  18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

  19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

  20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

  21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

  22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

  23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

  24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.

  25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

  26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

  (102.25-26) “The earth and the heavens … shall perish.”

  147 Will the earth last forever?

  27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

  28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

  PSALM 103

  1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

  2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

  3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

  (103.2-3) “The Lord … who healeth all thy diseases.”

  God heals all diseases. Medic
al science is unnecessary.

  4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

  5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

  6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

  7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

  8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

  (103.8) “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” Is this the same guy who demanded that peoples’ heads be hung up before him to appease his fierce anger (Num.25.4), and who ordered the slaughter of thousands of innocent men, women, children (1 Sam 15.2-3)?

  120 Is God merciful?

  9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

  10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

  (103.11-17) God has mercy on those that fear him.

  132 Should we fear God?

  11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

  (103.11) “Great is his mercy toward them that fear him.”

  12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

  13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

  (103.13) “The LORD pitieth them that fear him.”

  14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

  15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

  16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

  17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

  (103.17) “The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him.”

  18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.