Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

35 The desert and the wilderness shall rejoice. And the waste ground shall be glad and flourish as the rose.

² It shall flourish abundantly and shall also greatly rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the beauty of Carmel and of Sharon. They shall see the Glory of the LORD, the excellency of our God.

³ Strengthen the weak hands and comfort the feeble knees.

⁴ Say to those who are fearful, “Be strong! Do not fear! Behold, your God comes with vengeance! God, with a recompense, He will come and save you!”

⁵ Then shall the eyes of the blind be lightened, and the ears of the deaf be opened.

⁶ Then shall the lame man leap as a deer. And the mute man’s tongue shall shout for joy. For waters shall break out in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

⁷ And the dry ground shall be as a pool, and the thirsty as springs of water. In the habitation of dragons, where they lay, shall be a place for reeds and rushes.

⁸ And there shall be a path and a way. And the way shall be called holy. The polluted shall not pass by it. But it shall be for those who walk in that way. And they, though fools, shall not err on it.

⁹ There shall be no lion. Nor shall noisy beasts ascend by it. Nor shall they be found there. So that the redeemed may walk.

¹⁰ Therefore, the redeemed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with praise. And everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness. And sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

⁵ Blessed is he who has the God of Jacob for his help; whose hope is in the LORD his God,

⁶ Who made Heaven and Earth, the sea, and all that therein is. Who keeps his fidelity forever.

⁷ Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives bread to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners.

⁸ The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises up the crooked. The LORD loves the righteous.

⁹ The LORD keeps the strangers. He relieves the fatherless and widow; but He overthrows the way of the wicked.

¹⁰ The LORD shall reign forever! O Zion, your God endures from generation to generation. Praise the LORD!

⁴⁶ Then Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

⁴⁷ “And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

⁴⁸ “For He has looked on the poor degree of His servant. For behold, from now on all ages shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹ “Because He Who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name.

⁵⁰ “And His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.

⁵¹ “He Who showed strength with His arm, He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² “He has put down the mighty from their seats and exalted those of low degree.

⁵³ “He has filled the hungry with good things and sent away the rich empty.

⁵⁴ “He has upheld Israel, His servant, to be mindful of His mercy,

⁵⁵ “(as He has spoken to our fathers – that is, to Abraham and his seed) forever.”

⁷ Therefore brothers, be patient until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth (and has long patience for it) until he receives the early and the late rain.

⁸ Therefore, you also be patient, and settle your hearts. For the coming of the Lord draws near.

⁹ Do not groan against one another, brothers, lest you be condemned. Behold, the judge stands before the door.

¹⁰ My brothers, take the Prophets as an example of suffering adversity and of long patience, who have spoken in the Name of the Lord.

² And when John (who was in the prison) heard of the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said to Him,

³ “Are You Him Who should come? Or shall we look for another?”

⁴ And Jesus, answering, said to them, “Go, and show John what things you hear and see.

⁵ “The blind receive sight. And the lame walk. The lepers are cleansed. And the deaf hear. The dead are raised up. And the poor receive the Gospel.

⁶ “And blessed is he who shall not be offended by Me.”

⁷ And as they departed, Jesus began to speak to the multitude about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see - a reed shaken with the wind?

⁸ “But what did you go out to see - a man wearing soft clothes? Behold, those who wear soft clothes are in kings’ houses.

⁹ “But what did you go out to see - a Prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a Prophet.

¹⁰ “For this is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You.’

¹¹ “Truly I say to you, among those who are begotten of women, there has not arisen a greater than John Baptist. Even so, the least in the Kingdom of Heaven, is greater than he.