Isaiah 51:1-6

New International Version

Everlasting Salvation for Zion

51 “Listen^(A) to me, you who pursue righteousness^(B)
    and who seek^(C) the Lord:
Look to the rock^(D) from which you were cut
    and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
²look to Abraham,^(E) your father,
    and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man,
    and I blessed him and made him many.^(F)
³The Lord will surely comfort^(G) Zion^(H)
    and will look with compassion on all her ruins;^(I)
he will make her deserts like Eden,^(J)
    her wastelands^(K) like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness^(L) will be found in her,
    thanksgiving^(M) and the sound of singing.

⁴“Listen to me, my people;^(N)
    hear me,^(O) my nation:
Instruction^(P) will go out from me;
    my justice^(Q) will become a light to the nations.^(R)
⁵My righteousness draws near speedily,
    my salvation^(S) is on the way,^(T)
    and my arm^(U) will bring justice to the nations.
The islands^(V) will look to me
    and wait in hope^(W) for my arm.
⁶Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
    look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke,^(X)
    the earth will wear out like a garment^(Y)
    and its inhabitants die like flies.
But my salvation^(Z) will last forever,^(AA)
    my righteousness will never fail.^(AB)

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Psalm 138

New International Version

Psalm 138

Of David.

¹I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    before the “gods”^(A) I will sing^(B) your praise.
²I will bow down toward your holy temple^(C)
    and will praise your name^(D)
    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,^(E)
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
    that it surpasses your fame.^(F)
³When I called,^(G) you answered me;^(H)
    you greatly emboldened^(I) me.

⁴May all the kings of the earth^(J) praise you, Lord,
when they hear what you have decreed.
⁵May they sing^(K) of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord^(L) is great.

⁶Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;^(M)
    though lofty, he sees them^(N) from afar.
⁷Though I walk^(O) in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.^(P)
You stretch out your hand^(Q) against the anger of my foes;^(R)
    with your right hand^(S) you save me.^(T)
⁸The Lord will vindicate^(U) me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever^(V)—
    do not abandon^(W) the works of your hands.^(X)

Romans 11:33-12:8

New International Version

Doxology

³³Oh, the depth of the riches^(A) of the wisdom and^[a] knowledge of God!^(B)
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!^(C)
³⁴“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”^[b]^(D)
³⁵“Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”^[c]^(E)
³⁶For from him and through him and for him are all things.^(F)
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.^(G)

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you,^(H) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(I) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform^(J) to the pattern of this world,^(K) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(L) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(M)—his good, pleasing^(N) and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³For by the grace given me^(O) I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,^(P) ⁵so in Christ we, though many, form one body,^(Q) and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts,^(R) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,^(S) then prophesy in accordance with your^[d] faith;^(T) ⁷if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;^(U) ⁸if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;^(V) if it is giving, then give generously;^(W) if it is to lead,^[e] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Footnotes

Romans 11:33 Or riches and the wisdom and the
Romans 11:34 Isaiah 40:13
Romans 11:35 Job 41:11
Romans 12:6 Or the
Romans 12:8 Or to provide for others

Matthew 16:13-20

New International Version

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah^(A)

¹³When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;^(B) others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”^(C)

¹⁵“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”^(D)

¹⁷Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood,^(E) but by my Father in heaven.^(F) ¹⁸And I tell you that you are Peter,^[a]^(G) and on this rock I will build my church,^(H) and the gates of Hades^[b] will not overcome it. ¹⁹I will give you the keys^(I) of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be^[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[d] loosed in heaven.”^(J) ²⁰Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone^(K) that he was the Messiah.