“Listen(A) to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant(B) of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,(C)
    and have carried(D) since you were born.(E)
Even to your old age and gray hairs(F)
    I am he,(G) I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain(H) you and I will rescue you.

“With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?(I)
Some pour out gold from their bags
    and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith(J) to make it into a god,
    and they bow down and worship it.(K)
They lift it to their shoulders and carry(L) it;
    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
    From that spot it cannot move.(M)
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;(N)
    it cannot save(O) them from their troubles.

“Remember(P) this, keep it in mind,
    take it to heart, you rebels.(Q)
Remember the former things,(R) those of long ago;(S)
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.(T)
10 I make known the end from the beginning,(U)
    from ancient times,(V) what is still to come.(W)
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,(X)
    and I will do all that I please.’
11 From the east I summon(Y) a bird of prey;(Z)
    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned,(AA) that I will do.(AB)
12 Listen(AC) to me, you stubborn-hearted,(AD)
    you who are now far from my righteousness.(AE)
13 I am bringing my righteousness(AF) near,
    it is not far away;
    and my salvation(AG) will not be delayed.
I will grant salvation to Zion,(AH)
    my splendor(AI) to Israel.

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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel(A) of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.(B) I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior(C) has been born to you; he is the Messiah,(D) the Lord.(E) 12 This will be a sign(F) to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace(G) to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.(H) 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.(I) 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God(J) for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

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