Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Mary’s Hymn of Praise
“My soul exalts[c] the Lord,[d]
47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice[e] in God my Savior,
48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.[f]
For[g] from now on[h] all generations will call me blessed,[i]
49 because he who is mighty[j] has done great things for me, and holy is his name;
50 from[k] generation to generation he is merciful[l] to those who fear[m] him.
51 He has demonstrated power[n] with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance[o] of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the mighty[p] from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position;[q]
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,[r] and has sent the rich away empty.[s]
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering[t] his mercy,[u]
55 as he promised[v] to our ancestors,[w] to Abraham and to his descendants[x] forever.”
17 You will see a king in his splendor;[a]
you will see a wide land.[b]
18 Your mind will recall the terror you experienced,[c]
and you will ask yourselves,[d] “Where is the scribe?
Where is the one who weighs the money?
Where is the one who counts the towers?”[e]
19 You will no longer see a defiant[f] people
whose language you do not comprehend,[g]
whose derisive speech you do not understand.[h]
20 Look at Zion, the city where we hold religious festivals!
You[i] will see Jerusalem,
a peaceful settlement,
a tent that stays put;[j]
its stakes will never be pulled up;
none of its ropes will snap in two.
21 Instead the Lord will rule there as our mighty king.[k]
Rivers and wide streams will flow through it;[l]
no war galley will enter;[m]
no large ships will sail through.[n]
22 For the Lord, our ruler,
the Lord, our commander,
the Lord, our king—
he will deliver us.
A Final Reminder
6 Then[a] the angel[b] said to me, “These words are reliable[c] and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants[d] what must happen soon.”
7 (Look ! I am coming soon!
Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy expressed in this book.)[e]
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described[a] in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life[b] and in the holy city that are described in this book.
20 The one who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
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