Thirteen verses for the turn of the year, from Psalm 65's crowned year to Psalm 90's count of days.
No psalm names New Year's Day. But the psalms talk about time constantly. Psalm 90 asks God to teach us to count our days. Psalm 65:11 says God crowns the year with his bounty, and it is the only verse in the World English Bible psalms that speaks of the year in the singular. Other psalms look back over what God has done, or ask for a clean heart and a new song. Those are the verses gathered here.
The verses are grouped for the turn of the year, for looking back, and for starting again. Below them is a note on Psalm 67, which the Catholic readings for 1 January 2026 gave as the responsorial psalm. Tick any you want and print them.
Verses about time itself: years, days, and the God whose years do not end.
You crown the year with your bounty.Your carts overflow with abundance.
Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. A whole year is pictured as crowned with good things.
So teach us to count our days,that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
So teach us to count our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. The count of days is asked for as a lesson, and wisdom is the point of it.
My times are in your hand.Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
My times are in your hand. The same verse asks for rescue from enemies, so the trust is spoken in trouble, not at ease.
But you are the same.Your years will have no end.
But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
But you are the same. Your years will have no end. The psalmist has just said his own days were shortened, and sets them beside God's years.
For the last night of the year or the first morning of the new one, when you are taking stock.
Praise the LORD, my soul,and don’t forget all his benefits,
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Praise the LORD, my soul, and don't forget all his benefits. The psalm then lists them, which is a way of looking back.
I will remember the LORD’s deeds;for I will remember your wonders of old.
I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
I will remember the LORD's deeds. The psalm turns here from complaint to memory, and remembering changes its tone.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places.Yes, I have a good inheritance.
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. The psalmist looks at what has been given and calls it a good inheritance.
Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. A line for a year that was hard, looking ahead to a harvest.
Requests for a clean heart, a new song and a blessing at the start of the year.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.Renew a right spirit within me.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. The request is for something made new, not only repaired.
Sing to the LORD a new song!Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD a new song. The first thing asked for is a new song, and all the earth is invited to sing it.
Commit your way to the LORD.Trust also in him, and he will do this:
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Commit your way to the LORD. Trust also in him. The reader is asked to hand the way over and to trust, and the verse says he will act.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in,from this time forward, and forever more.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward, and forever more. A blessing that looks ahead from today with no end date.
May God be merciful to us, bless us,and cause his face to shine on us. Selah.
God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. A blessing asked for a whole people at once.
On 1 January 2026, the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, the USCCB daily readings gave Psalm 67 as the responsorial psalm, with the refrain May God bless us in his mercy. The USCCB numbers these verses one higher than the World English Bible, so its verse 2 is verse 1 here. The first reading that day was the blessing in Numbers 6:22 to 27.
No psalm names New Year's Day. Psalm 65:11, you crown the year with your bounty, and Psalm 90:12, teach us to count our days, are the closest fit.
In the Catholic readings for 1 January 2026, the USCCB gave Psalm 67 as the responsorial psalm, with the refrain May God bless us in his mercy.
Psalm 90:12. The King James Version reads so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalm 51:10 asks God to create a clean heart and renew a right spirit. Psalm 96:1 and Psalm 40:3 speak of a new song.
Psalms of Thanksgiving and ThankfulnessPsalms of HopePsalms for Blessing and FavorPsalms of RemembrancePsalms About God's FaithfulnessPsalms for Advent