Luke 1:68-79

New International Version

⁶⁸“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,^(A)
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.^(B)
⁶⁹He has raised up a horn^[a]^(C) of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David^(D)
⁷⁰(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),^(E)
⁷¹salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—
⁷²to show mercy to our ancestors^(F)
    and to remember his holy covenant,^(G)
⁷³    the oath he swore to our father Abraham:^(H)
⁷⁴to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him^(I) without fear^(J)
⁷⁵    in holiness and righteousness^(K) before him all our days.

⁷⁶And you, my child, will be called a prophet^(L) of the Most High;^(M)
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,^(N)
⁷⁷to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,^(O)
⁷⁸because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun^(P) will come to us from heaven
⁷⁹to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,^(Q)
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”^(R)

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Footnotes

Luke 1:69 Horn here symbolizes a strong king.

Malachi 3:5-12

New International Version

⁵“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers,^(A) adulterers^(B) and perjurers,^(C) against those who defraud laborers of their wages,^(D) who oppress the widows^(E) and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners^(F) among you of justice, but do not fear^(G) me,” says the Lord Almighty.

Breaking Covenant by Withholding Tithes

⁶“I the Lord do not change.^(H) So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.^(I) ⁷Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away^(J) from my decrees and have not kept them. Return^(K) to me, and I will return to you,”^(L) says the Lord Almighty.

“But you ask,^(M) ‘How are we to return?’

⁸“Will a mere mortal rob^(N) God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes^(O) and offerings. ⁹You are under a curse^(P)—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. ¹⁰Bring the whole tithe^(Q) into the storehouse,^(R) that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates^(S) of heaven and pour out^(T) so much blessing^(U) that there will not be room enough to store it.^(V) ¹¹I will prevent pests from devouring^(W) your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,^(X)” says the Lord Almighty. ¹²“Then all the nations will call you blessed,^(Y) for yours will be a delightful land,”^(Z) says the Lord Almighty.^(AA)

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Philippians 1:12-18

New International Version

Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel

¹²Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^[a] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^[b] and to everyone else that I am in chains^(A) for Christ. ¹⁴And because of my chains,^(B) most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.^(C)

¹⁵It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.^(D) ¹⁷The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition,^(E) not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.^(F) ¹⁸But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

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Footnotes

Philippians 1:12 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 14; and in 3:1, 13, 17; 4:1, 8, 21.
Philippians 1:13 Or whole palace