Genesis 1:1-8

New International Version

The Beginning

1 In the beginning^(A) God created^(B) the heavens^(C) and the earth.^(D) ²Now the earth was formless^(E) and empty,^(F) darkness was over the surface of the deep,^(G) and the Spirit of God^(H) was hovering^(I) over the waters.

³And God said,^(J) “Let there be light,” and there was light.^(K) ⁴God saw that the light was good,^(L) and he separated the light from the darkness.^(M) ⁵God called^(N) the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.”^(O) And there was evening, and there was morning^(P)—the first day.

⁶And God said,^(Q) “Let there be a vault^(R) between the waters^(S) to separate water from water.” ⁷So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it.^(T) And it was so.^(U) ⁸God called^(V) the vault “sky.”^(W) And there was evening, and there was morning^(X)—the second day.

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Genesis 1:14-18

New International Version

¹⁴And God said, “Let there be lights^(A) in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night,^(B) and let them serve as signs^(C) to mark sacred times,^(D) and days and years,^(E) ¹⁵and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.^(F) ¹⁶God made two great lights—the greater light^(G) to govern^(H) the day and the lesser light to govern^(I) the night.^(J) He also made the stars.^(K) ¹⁷God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, ¹⁸to govern the day and the night,^(L) and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.^(M)

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Psalm 148:2-13

New International Version

²Praise him, all his angels;^(A)
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.^(B)
³Praise him, sun^(C) and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
⁴Praise him, you highest heavens^(D)
    and you waters above the skies.^(E)

⁵Let them praise the name^(F) of the Lord,
for at his command^(G) they were created,
⁶and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree^(H) that will never pass away.

⁷Praise the Lord^(I) from the earth,
    you great sea creatures^(J) and all ocean depths,^(K)
⁸lightning and hail,^(L) snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,^(M)
⁹you mountains and all hills,^(N)
    fruit trees and all cedars,
¹⁰wild animals^(O) and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
¹¹kings^(P) of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
¹²young men and women,
    old men and children.

¹³Let them praise the name of the Lord,^(Q)
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor^(R) is above the earth and the heavens.^(S)

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Isaiah 60:1-3

New International Version

The Glory of Zion

60 “Arise,^(A) shine, for your light^(B) has come,
    and the glory^(C) of the Lord rises upon you.
²See, darkness^(D) covers the earth
    and thick darkness^(E) is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
³Nations^(F) will come to your light,^(G)
    and kings^(H) to the brightness of your dawn.

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Isaiah 60:18-20

New International Version

¹⁸No longer will violence^(A) be heard in your land,
    nor ruin or destruction^(B) within your borders,
but you will call your walls Salvation^(C)
    and your gates Praise.^(D)
¹⁹The sun will no more be your light by day,
    nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,^(E)
    and your God will be your glory.^(F)
²⁰Your sun^(G) will never set again,
    and your moon will wane no more;
the Lord will be your everlasting light,
    and your days of sorrow^(H) will end.