Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁶⁸ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people. ⁶⁹ And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, ⁷⁰ just as he promised by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began: ⁷¹ that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us, ⁷² to fulfil the mercy promised to our fathers, to remember his holy covenant, ⁷³ and to perform the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, ⁷⁴ to give us, so that we, delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear all the days of our life, ⁷⁵ in such holiness and righteousness as are accepted before him.

⁷⁶ And thou, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest. For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁷⁷ and to give knowledge of salvation to his people for the remission of sins, ⁷⁸ through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the Dayspring from on high has visited us, ⁷⁹ to give light to those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

¹⁸ What then? If only Christ be preached – whatever the way, whether through opportunism or of a true intent – I rejoice.

¹⁹ Yea, and I will rejoice, because I know that these circumstances will bear toward my salvation (through your prayer and ministering of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ as I heartily look for), and hope that in nothing I will be ashamed, but that with all confidence, as always in times past, so now Christ may be magnified in my body, whether it be through life or death. ²¹ For Christ is to me life, and death is to me gain.

²² If it happens that I live in the flesh, it means fruitful work for me, and what to choose I do not know. ²³ I am constrained by two things: I desire to be released and to be with Christ, which thing is best of all. ²⁴ Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. ²⁵ And this I am sure of: that I will abide, and continue with you all for the furtherance and joy of your faith, ²⁶ so that you may more abundantly rejoice in Jesus Christ through me, by my coming to you again.