Psalm 97

New International Version

Psalm 97

¹The Lord reigns,^(A) let the earth be glad;^(B)
    let the distant shores^(C) rejoice.
²Clouds^(D) and thick darkness^(E) surround him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.^(F)
³Fire^(G) goes before^(H) him
    and consumes^(I) his foes on every side.
⁴His lightning^(J) lights up the world;
    the earth^(K) sees and trembles.^(L)
⁵The mountains melt^(M) like wax^(N) before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.^(O)
⁶The heavens proclaim his righteousness,^(P)
    and all peoples see his glory.^(Q)

⁷All who worship images^(R) are put to shame,^(S)
those who boast in idols^(T)—
worship him,^(U) all you gods!^(V)

⁸Zion hears and rejoices
    and the villages of Judah are glad^(W)
    because of your judgments,^(X) Lord.
⁹For you, Lord, are the Most High^(Y) over all the earth;^(Z)
    you are exalted^(AA) far above all gods.
¹⁰Let those who love the Lord hate evil,^(AB)
    for he guards^(AC) the lives of his faithful ones^(AD)
    and delivers^(AE) them from the hand of the wicked.^(AF)
¹¹Light shines^[a]^(AG) on the righteous^(AH)
    and joy on the upright in heart.^(AI)
¹²Rejoice in the Lord,^(AJ) you who are righteous,
    and praise his holy name.^(AK)

Footnotes

Psalm 97:11 One Hebrew manuscript and ancient versions (see also 112:4); most Hebrew manuscripts Light is sown

Isaiah 62:6-12

New International Version

⁶I have posted watchmen^(A) on your walls, Jerusalem;
    they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the Lord,
    give yourselves no rest,^(B)
⁷and give him no rest^(C) till he establishes Jerusalem
    and makes her the praise^(D) of the earth.

⁸The Lord has sworn^(E) by his right hand
    and by his mighty arm:
“Never again will I give your grain^(F)
    as food for your enemies,
and never again will foreigners drink the new wine
    for which you have toiled;
⁹but those who harvest it will eat^(G) it
    and praise the Lord,^(H)
and those who gather the grapes will drink it
    in the courts of my sanctuary.”^(I)

¹⁰Pass through, pass through the gates!^(J)
Prepare the way for the people.
Build up, build up the highway!^(K)
Remove the stones.
Raise a banner^(L) for the nations.

¹¹The Lord has made proclamation
    to the ends of the earth:^(M)
“Say to Daughter Zion,^(N)
    ‘See, your Savior comes!^(O)
See, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.’”^(P)
¹²They will be called^(Q) the Holy People,^(R)
    the Redeemed^(S) of the Lord;
and you will be called Sought After,
    the City No Longer Deserted.^(T)

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Titus 3:4-7

New International Version

⁴But when the kindness^(A) and love of God our Savior^(B) appeared,^(C) ⁵he saved us,^(D) not because of righteous things we had done,^(E) but because of his mercy.^(F) He saved us through the washing^(G) of rebirth and renewal^(H) by the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on us^(I) generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that, having been justified by his grace,^(J) we might become heirs^(K) having the hope^(L) of eternal life.^(M)

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Luke 2:1-7

New International Version

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus^(A) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.^(B) ²(This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)^(C) ³And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem^(D) the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him^(E) and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

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Footnotes

Luke 2:2 Or This census took place before

Luke 2:8-20

New International Version

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel^(A) of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.^(B) I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior^(C) has been born to you; he is the Messiah,^(D) the Lord.^(E) ¹²This will be a sign^(F) to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³Suddenly 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.”

¹⁵When 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.”

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