Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath [a]visited (A)and [b]redeemed his people,
69 (B)And hath raised up the [c]horn of salvation unto us, in the house of his servant David,
70 (C)As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which were since the world began, saying,
71 That he would send us deliverance from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate us,
72 That he might show mercy towards our fathers: and [d]remember his holy covenant,
73 (D)And the oath, which he sware to our father Abraham.
74 Which was, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
75 All the days of our life, in (E)holiness and righteousness [e]before him.
76 And thou, [f]babe, shalt be called the Prophet of the most High: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 And to [g]give knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the [h]remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby (F)the [i]dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of [j]peace.
5 And I will come near to you to judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the soothsayers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that wrongfully keep back the hireling’s wages, and vex the widow, and the fatherless, and oppress the stranger, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.
6 For I am the Lord: I change not, and ye sons of Jacob [a]are not consumed.
7 From the days of your fathers, ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them: [b]return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts: but ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a [c]man spoil his gods? yet have ye spoiled me: but ye say, Wherein have we spoiled thee? In [d]tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have spoiled me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven unto you, and pour you out a blessing [e]without measure.
11 And I will rebuke the [f]devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruit of your ground, neither shall your vine be barren in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a pleasant land, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 ¶ [a]I would ye understood, brethren, that the things which have come unto me, are turned rather to the furthering of the Gospel,
13 So that my bands [b]in Christ are famous throughout all the [c]judgment hall, and in all other places.
14 Insomuch that many of the brethren in the Lord are boldened through my bands, and dare more frankly speak the [d]Word.
15 Some preach Christ even through envy and strife, and some also of good will.
16 The one part preacheth Christ of contention, and not [e]purely, supposing to add more affliction to my bands.
17 But the others of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the Gospel.
18 [f]What then: yet Christ is preached all manner ways, whether it be under a [g]pretence, or sincerely: and I therein joy: yea, and will joy.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.