Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Exaltation of the Afflicted
61 The (A)Spirit of the Lord [a]God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To (B)bring good news to the [b](C)afflicted;
He has sent me to (D)bind up the brokenhearted,
To (E)proclaim liberty to captives
And [c]freedom to prisoners;
2 To (F)proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
And the (G)day of vengeance of our God;
To (H)comfort all who mourn,
3 To (I)grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The (J)oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called [d](K)oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
4 Then they will (L)rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
8 For I, the Lord, (A)love justice,
I hate robbery [a]in the burnt offering;
And I will faithfully give them their recompense
And make an (B)everlasting covenant with them.
9 Then their offspring will be known among the nations,
And their descendants in the midst of the peoples.
All who see them will recognize them
Because they are the (C)offspring whom the Lord has blessed.
10 I will (D)rejoice greatly in the Lord,
My soul will exult in (E)my God;
For He has (F)clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And (G)as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the (H)earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord [b]God will (I)cause (J)righteousness and praise
To spring up before all the nations.
Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity.
A Song of Ascents.
126 When the Lord (A)brought back [a]the captive ones of Zion,
We were (B)like those who dream.
2 Then our (C)mouth was filled with laughter
And our (D)tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has (E)done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
We are (F)glad.
The Magnificat
46 And Mary said:
“(A)My soul [a](B)exalts the Lord,
47 And (C)my spirit has rejoiced in (D)God my Savior.
48 “For (E)He has had regard for the humble state of His [b]bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me (F)blessed.
49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
50 “(G)And His mercy is [c]upon generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
51 “(H)He has done [d]mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the [e]thoughts of their heart.
52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has (I)exalted those who were humble.
53 “(J)He has filled the hungry with good things;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
54 “He has given help to Israel His servant,
[f]In remembrance of His mercy,
55 (K)As He spoke to our fathers,
(L)To Abraham and his [g]descendants forever.”
16 (A)Rejoice always; 17 (B)pray without ceasing; 18 in everything (C)give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 (D)Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise (E)prophetic [a]utterances. 21 But (F)examine everything carefully; (G)hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every [b]form of evil.
23 Now (H)may the God of peace (I)Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your (J)spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, (K)without blame at (L)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 (M)Faithful is He who (N)calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
The Testimony of John
19 This is (A)the testimony of John, when (B)the Jews sent to him priests and Levites (C)from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “(D)I am not [a]the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you (E)Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you (F)the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am (G)a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the [b]Christ, nor Elijah, nor (H)the Prophet?” 26 John answered them saying, “(I)I baptize [c]in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 It is (J)He who comes after me, the (K)thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany (L)beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
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