Isaiah 9:2-7
English Standard Version
2 [a] (A)The people (B)who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of (C)deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 (D)You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with (E)joy at the harvest,
as they (F)are glad (G)when they divide the spoil.
4 (H)For the yoke of his burden,
(I)and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as (J)on the day of Midian.
5 (K)For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 (L)For to us a child is born,
to us (M)a son is given;
(N)and the government shall be (O)upon[b] his shoulder,
and his name shall be called[c]
Wonderful (P)Counselor, (Q)Mighty God,
(R)Everlasting (S)Father, Prince of (T)Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
(U)there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
(V)with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
(W)The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 9:2 Ch 9:1 in Hebrew
- Isaiah 9:6 Or is upon
- Isaiah 9:6 Or is called
Isaiah 9:2-7
The Message
2-7 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
you expanded its joy.
Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!
Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
all their whips and clubs and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He’ll rule from the historic David throne
over that promised kingdom.
He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing
and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this.
Psalm 96
English Standard Version
Worship in the Splendor of Holiness
96 (A)Oh sing to the Lord (B)a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
(C)tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For (D)great is the Lord, and (E)greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above (F)all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord (G)made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
(H)strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, O (I)families of the peoples,
(J)ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the Lord (K)the glory due his name;
bring (L)an offering, and (M)come into his courts!
9 Worship the Lord in (N)the splendor of holiness;[a]
(O)tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, (P)“The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will (Q)judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let (R)the heavens be glad, and let (S)the earth rejoice;
let (T)the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let (U)the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all (V)the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes (W)to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Footnotes
- Psalm 96:9 Or in holy attire
Psalm 96
The Message
96 1-2 Sing God a brand-new song!
Earth and everyone in it, sing!
Sing to God—worship God!
2-3 Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea,
Take the news of his glory to the lost,
News of his wonders to one and all!
4-5 For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs.
His furious beauty puts the other gods to shame;
Pagan gods are mere tatters and rags.
5-6 God made the heavens—
Royal splendor radiates from him,
A powerful beauty sets him apart.
7 Bravo, God, Bravo!
Everyone join in the great shout: Encore!
In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might.
8-9 Bring gifts and celebrate,
Bow before the beauty of God,
Then to your knees—everyone worship!
10 Get out the message—God Rules!
He put the world on a firm foundation;
He treats everyone fair and square.
11 Let’s hear it from Sky,
With Earth joining in,
And a huge round of applause from Sea.
12 Let Wilderness turn cartwheels,
Animals, come dance,
Put every tree of the forest in the choir—
13 An extravaganza before God as he comes,
As he comes to set everything right on earth,
Set everything right, treat everyone fair.
Titus 2:11-14
English Standard Version
11 For (A)the grace of God (B)has appeared, bringing salvation (C)for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and (D)worldly passions, and (E)to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in (F)the present age, 13 (G)waiting for our blessed (H)hope, the (I)appearing of the glory of our great (J)God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 (K)who gave himself for us to (L)redeem us from all lawlessness and (M)to purify for himself (N)a people for his own possession who are (O)zealous for good works.
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Titus 2:11-14
The Message
11-14 God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
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Luke 2:1-14
English Standard Version
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2 In those days (A)a decree went out from (B)Caesar Augustus that all the world should be (C)registered. 2 This was the first (D)registration when[a] Quirinius (E)was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up (F)from Galilee, from the town of (G)Nazareth, to Judea, to (H)the city of David, which is called (I)Bethlehem, (J)because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And (K)while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and (L)wrapped him in swaddling cloths and (M)laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in (N)the inn.[c]
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord (O)appeared to them, and (P)the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all (Q)the people. 11 For (R)unto you is born this day in (S)the city of David (T)a Savior, who is (U)Christ (V)the Lord. 12 And (W)this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby (X)wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel (Y)a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 (Z)“Glory to God (AA)in the highest,
(AB)and on earth (AC)peace (AD)among those with whom he is pleased!”[d]
Luke 2:1-14
The Message
The Birth of Jesus
2 1-5 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
An Event for Everyone
8-12 There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
Luke 2:15-20
English Standard Version
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby (A)lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But (B)Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, (C)glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
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Luke 2:15-20
The Message
15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.
19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!
Read full chapterThe Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson