Isaiah 63:1-6

New International Version

God’s Day of Vengeance and Redemption

63 Who is this coming from Edom,^(A)
from Bozrah,^(B) with his garments stained crimson?^(C)
Who is this, robed in splendor,
striding forward in the greatness of his strength?^(D)

“It is I, proclaiming victory,
mighty to save.”^(E)

²Why are your garments red,
like those of one treading the winepress?^(F)

³“I have trodden the winepress^(G) alone;
    from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled^(H) them in my anger
    and trod them down in my wrath;^(I)
their blood spattered my garments,^(J)
    and I stained all my clothing.
⁴It was for me the day of vengeance;^(K)
    the year for me to redeem had come.
⁵I looked, but there was no one^(L) to help,
    I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm^(M) achieved salvation for me,
    and my own wrath sustained me.^(N)
⁶I trampled^(O) the nations in my anger;
    in my wrath I made them drunk^(P)
    and poured their blood^(Q) on the ground.”

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Matthew 1:18-25

New International Version

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about^[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.^(A) ¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet^[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce^(B) her quietly.

²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel^(C) of the Lord appeared to him in a dream^(D) and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[c]^(E) because he will save his people from their sins.”^(F)

²²All this took place to fulfill^(G) what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^[d]^(H) (which means “God with us”).

²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel^(I) of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.^(J)

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Footnotes

Matthew 1:18 Or The origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this
Matthew 1:19 Or was a righteous man and
Matthew 1:21 Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves.
Matthew 1:23 Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 63:7-19

New International Version

Praise and Prayer

⁷I will tell of the kindnesses^(A) of the Lord,
    the deeds for which he is to be praised,
    according to all the Lord has done for us—
yes, the many good things^(B)
    he has done for Israel,
    according to his compassion^(C) and many kindnesses.
⁸He said, “Surely they are my people,^(D)
    children who will be true to me”;
    and so he became their Savior.^(E)
⁹In all their distress he too was distressed,
    and the angel^(F) of his presence^(G) saved them.^[a]
In his love and mercy he redeemed^(H) them;
    he lifted them up and carried^(I) them
    all the days of old.^(J)
¹⁰Yet they rebelled^(K)
    and grieved his Holy Spirit.^(L)
So he turned and became their enemy^(M)
    and he himself fought^(N) against them.

¹¹Then his people recalled^[b] the days of old,
    the days of Moses and his people—
where is he who brought them through the sea,^(O)
    with the shepherd of his flock?^(P)
Where is he who set
    his Holy Spirit^(Q) among them,
¹²who sent his glorious arm^(R) of power
    to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters^(S) before them,
    to gain for himself everlasting renown,^(T)
¹³who led^(U) them through the depths?^(V)
Like a horse in open country,
    they did not stumble;^(W)
¹⁴like cattle that go down to the plain,
    they were given rest^(X) by the Spirit of the Lord.
This is how you guided your people
    to make for yourself a glorious name.

¹⁵Look down from heaven^(Y) and see,
    from your lofty throne,^(Z) holy and glorious.
Where are your zeal^(AA) and your might?
    Your tenderness and compassion^(AB) are withheld^(AC) from us.
¹⁶But you are our Father,^(AD)
    though Abraham does not know us
    or Israel acknowledge^(AE) us;
you, Lord, are our Father,
    our Redeemer^(AF) from of old is your name.
¹⁷Why, Lord, do you make us wander^(AG) from your ways
    and harden our hearts^(AH) so we do not revere^(AI) you?
Return^(AJ) for the sake of your servants,
    the tribes that are your inheritance.^(AK)
¹⁸For a little while^(AL) your people possessed your holy place,
    but now our enemies have trampled^(AM) down your sanctuary.^(AN)
¹⁹We are yours from of old;
    but you have not ruled over them,
    they have not been called^[c] by your name.^(AO)

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Footnotes

Isaiah 63:9 Or Savior ⁹in their distress. / It was no envoy or angel / but his own presence that saved them
Isaiah 63:11 Or But may he recall
Isaiah 63:19 Or We are like those you have never ruled, / like those never called

1 Thessalonians 1

New International Version

1 Paul, Silas^[a]^(A) and Timothy,^(B)

To the church of the Thessalonians^(C) in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.^(D)

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

²We always thank God for all of you^(E) and continually mention you in our prayers.^(F) ³We remember before our God and Father^(G) your work produced by faith,^(H) your labor prompted by love,^(I) and your endurance inspired by hope^(J) in our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴For we know, brothers and sisters^[b] loved by God,^(K) that he has chosen you, ⁵because our gospel^(L) came to you not simply with words but also with power,^(M) with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know^(N) how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶You became imitators of us^(O) and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering^(P) with the joy^(Q) given by the Holy Spirit.^(R) ⁷And so you became a model^(S) to all the believers in Macedonia^(T) and Achaia.^(U) ⁸The Lord’s message^(V) rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.^(W) Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned^(X) to God from idols^(Y) to serve the living and true God,^(Z) ¹⁰and to wait for his Son from heaven,^(AA) whom he raised from the dead^(AB)—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.^(AC)

Footnotes

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
1 Thessalonians 1:4 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 2:1, 9, 14, 17; 3:7; 4:1, 10, 13; 5:1, 4, 12, 14, 25, 27.