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 3:13-18

New International Version

Israel Speaks Arrogantly Against God

¹³“You have spoken arrogantly^(A) against me,” says the Lord.

“Yet you ask,^(B) ‘What have we said against you?’

¹⁴“You have said, ‘It is futile^(C) to serve^(D) God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements^(E) and going about like mourners^(F) before the Lord Almighty? ¹⁵But now we call the arrogant^(G) blessed. Certainly evildoers^(H) prosper,^(I) and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”

The Faithful Remnant

¹⁶Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard.^(J) A scroll^(K) of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared^(L) the Lord and honored his name.

¹⁷“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my^(M) treasured possession.^(N) I will spare^(O) them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son^(P) who serves him. ¹⁸And you will again see the distinction between the righteous^(Q) and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.^(R)

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Philippians 1:18-26

New International Version

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, ¹⁹for I know that through your prayers^(A) and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ^(B) what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.^[a]^(C) ²⁰I eagerly expect^(D) and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage^(E) so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,^(F) whether by life or by death.^(G) ²¹For to me, to live is Christ^(H) and to die is gain. ²²If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³I am torn between the two: I desire to depart^(I) and be with Christ,^(J) which is better by far; ²⁴but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.