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Isaiah
61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm
126
I
Thessalonians 5:16-24
John
1:6-8, 19-28
Isaiah
61:1-4, 8-11
61:1 The spirit of the
Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent
me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to
the prisoners;
61:2
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance
of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
61:3
to provide for those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a garland
instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the
mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called
oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his
glory.
61:4
They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the
former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the
devastations of many generations.
61:8
For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will
faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an
everlasting covenant with them.
61:9
Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their
offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge
that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.
61:10
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in
my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he
has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom
decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with
her jewels.
61:11
For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes
what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause
righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
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Psalm
126
126:1 When the LORD
restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
126:2
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with
shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The LORD
has done great things for them."
126:3
The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
126:4
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
126:5
May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
126:6
Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come
home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.
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I
Thessalonians 5:16-24
5:16 Rejoice always,
5:17
pray without ceasing,
5:18
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus for you.
5:19
Do not quench the Spirit.
5:20
Do not despise the words of prophets,
5:21
but test everything; hold fast to what is good;
5:22
abstain from every form of evil.
5:23
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your
spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5:24
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
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John
1:6-8, 19-28
1:6 There was a man
sent from God, whose name was John.
1:7
He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might
believe through him.
1:8
He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
1:19
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and
Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
1:20
He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not
the Messiah."
1:21
And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He
said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He
answered, "No."
1:22
Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer
for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
1:23
He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah
said.
1:24
Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.
1:25
They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are
neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"
1:26
John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands
one whom you do not know,
1:27
the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong
of his sandal."
1:28
This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was
baptizing.
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