Jeremiah 31:7-14

New International Version

⁷This is what the Lord says:

“Sing^(A) with joy for Jacob;
    shout for the foremost^(B) of the nations.
Make your praises heard, and say,
    ‘Lord, save^(C) your people,
    the remnant^(D) of Israel.’
⁸See, I will bring them from the land of the north^(E)
    and gather^(F) them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind^(G) and the lame,^(H)
    expectant mothers and women in labor;
    a great throng will return.
⁹They will come with weeping;^(I)
    they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead^(J) them beside streams of water^(K)
    on a level^(L) path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,^(M)
    and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

¹⁰“Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;
    proclaim it in distant coastlands:^(N)
‘He who scattered^(O) Israel will gather^(P) them
    and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’^(Q)
¹¹For the Lord will deliver Jacob
    and redeem^(R) them from the hand of those stronger^(S) than they.
¹²They will come and shout for joy^(T) on the heights^(U) of Zion;
    they will rejoice in the bounty^(V) of the Lord—
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,^(W)
    the young of the flocks^(X) and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,^(Y)
    and they will sorrow^(Z) no more.
¹³Then young women will dance and be glad,
    young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning^(AA) into gladness;
    I will give them comfort^(AB) and joy^(AC) instead of sorrow.
¹⁴I will satisfy^(AD) the priests^(AE) with abundance,
    and my people will be filled with my bounty,^(AF)”
declares the Lord.

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Ephesians 1:3-6

New International Version

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms^(B) with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴For he chose us^(C) in him before the creation of the world^(D) to be holy and blameless^(E) in his sight. In love^(F) ⁵he^[a] predestined^(G) us for adoption to sonship^[b]^(H) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure^(I) and will— ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace,^(J) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.^(K)

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Footnotes

Ephesians 1:5 Or sight in love. ⁵He
Ephesians 1:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.

Ephesians 1:15-19

New International Version

Thanksgiving and Prayer

¹⁵For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus^(A) and your love for all God’s people,^(B) ¹⁶I have not stopped giving thanks for you,^(C) remembering you in my prayers.^(D) ¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^(E) may give you the Spirit^[a] of wisdom^(F) and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened^(G) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called^(H) you, the riches^(I) of his glorious inheritance^(J) in his holy people,^(K) ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power^(L) is the same as the mighty strength^(M)

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Footnotes

Ephesians 1:17 Or a spirit

Luke 2:41-52

New International Version

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

⁴¹Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.^(A) ⁴²When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷Everyone who heard him was amazed^(B) at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother^(C) said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father^(D) and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

⁴⁹“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^[a]^(E) ⁵⁰But they did not understand what he was saying to them.^(F)

⁵¹Then he went down to Nazareth with them^(G) and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.^(H) ⁵²And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.^(I)

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