Isaiah 35

New International Version

Joy of the Redeemed

35 The desert^(A) and the parched land will be glad;
    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.^(B)
Like the crocus,^(C) ²it will burst into bloom;
    it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.^(D)
The glory of Lebanon^(E) will be given to it,
    the splendor of Carmel^(F) and Sharon;^(G)
they will see the glory^(H) of the Lord,
    the splendor of our God.^(I)

³Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees^(J) that give way;
⁴say^(K) to those with fearful hearts,^(L)
    “Be strong, do not fear;^(M)
your God will come,^(N)
    he will come with vengeance;^(O)
with divine retribution
    he will come to save^(P) you.”

⁵Then will the eyes of the blind be opened^(Q)
    and the ears of the deaf^(R) unstopped.
⁶Then will the lame^(S) leap like a deer,^(T)
    and the mute tongue^(U) shout for joy.^(V)
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams^(W) in the desert.
⁷The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground^(X) bubbling springs.^(Y)
In the haunts where jackals^(Z) once lay,
    grass and reeds^(AA) and papyrus will grow.

⁸And a highway^(AB) will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;^(AC)
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean^(AD) will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.
⁹No lion^(AE) will be there,
    nor any ravenous beast;^(AF)
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed^(AG) will walk there,
¹⁰    and those the Lord has rescued^(AH) will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;^(AI)
    everlasting joy^(AJ) will crown their heads.
Gladness^(AK) and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.^(AL)

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Psalm 146:5-10

New International Version

⁵Blessed are those^(A) whose help^(B) is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.

⁶He is the Maker of heaven^(C) and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful^(D) forever.
⁷He upholds^(E) the cause of the oppressed^(F)
    and gives food to the hungry.^(G)
The Lord sets prisoners free,^(H)
⁸    the Lord gives sight^(I) to the blind,^(J)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,^(K)
    the Lord loves the righteous.^(L)
⁹The Lord watches over the foreigner^(M)
    and sustains the fatherless^(N) and the widow,^(O)
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

¹⁰The Lord reigns^(P) forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

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Luke 1:46-55

New International Version

Mary’s Song^(A)

⁴⁶And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord^(B)
⁴⁷    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,^(C)
⁴⁸for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.^(D)
From now on all generations will call me blessed,^(E)
⁴⁹    for the Mighty One has done great things^(F) for me—
    holy is his name.^(G)
⁵⁰His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.^(H)
⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;^(I)
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.^(J)
⁵²He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.^(K)
⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things^(L)
    but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful^(M)
⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants^(N) forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

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James 5:7-10

New International Version

Patience in Suffering

⁷Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.^(A) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting^(B) for the autumn and spring rains.^(C) ⁸You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming^(D) is near.^(E) ⁹Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,^(F) or you will be judged. The Judge^(G) is standing at the door!^(H)

¹⁰Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets^(I) who spoke in the name of the Lord.

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Matthew 11:2-11

New International Version

²When John,^(A) who was in prison,^(B) heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples ³to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,^(C) or should we expect someone else?”

⁴Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.^(D) ⁶Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”^(E)

⁷As John’s^(F) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness^(G) to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹Then what did you go out to see? A prophet?^(H) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,^(I)
who will prepare your way before you.’^[b]^(J)

¹¹Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

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