Zephaniah 3:14-18

New International Version

¹⁴Sing, Daughter Zion;^(A)
    shout aloud,^(B) Israel!
Be glad and rejoice^(C) with all your heart,
    Daughter Jerusalem!
¹⁵The Lord has taken away your punishment,
    he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;^(D)
    never again will you fear^(E) any harm.^(F)
¹⁶On that day
    they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
    do not let your hands hang limp.^(G)
¹⁷The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.^(H)
He will take great delight^(I) in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,^(J)
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”^(K)

¹⁸“I will remove from you
all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,
which is a burden and reproach for you.

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Romans 12:9-16

New International Version

Love in Action

⁹Love must be sincere.^(A) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.^(B) ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in love.^(C) Honor one another above yourselves.^(D) ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,^(E) serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope,^(F) patient in affliction,^(G) faithful in prayer.^(H) ¹³Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.^(I) Practice hospitality.^(J)

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you;^(K) bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.^(L) ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another.^(M) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[a] Do not be conceited.^(N)

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Footnotes

Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work

Luke 1:39-56

New International Version

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,^(A) ⁴⁰where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.^(B) ⁴²In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women,^(C) and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord^(D) should come to me? ⁴⁴As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song^(E)

⁴⁶And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord^(F)
⁴⁷    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,^(G)
⁴⁸for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.^(H)
From now on all generations will call me blessed,^(I)
⁴⁹    for the Mighty One has done great things^(J) for me—
    holy is his name.^(K)
⁵⁰His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.^(L)
⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;^(M)
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.^(N)
⁵²He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.^(O)
⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things^(P)
    but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful^(Q)
⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants^(R) forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”