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.”
David Offers a Prayer to God
18 King David went in, sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family,[a] that you should have brought me to this point?
23 Who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation[a] on the earth? Their God[b] went[c] to claim[d] a nation for himself and to make a name for himself! You did great and awesome acts for your land,[e] before your people whom you delivered for yourself from the Egyptian empire and its gods.[f] 24 You made Israel your very own people for all time.[g] You, O Lord, became their God. 25 So now, O Lord God, make this promise you have made about your servant and his family a permanent reality.[h] Do as you promised,[i] 26 so you may gain lasting fame,[j] as people say,[k] ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ The dynasty[l] of your servant David will be established before you, 27 for you, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, have told[m] your servant, ‘I will build you a dynastic house.’[n] That is why your servant has had the courage[o] to pray this prayer to you. 28 Now, O Sovereign Lord, you are the true God.[p] May your words prove to be true![q] You have made this good promise to your servant.[r] 29 Now be willing to bless your servant’s dynasty[s] so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O Sovereign Lord, have spoken. By your blessing may your servant’s dynasty be blessed from now on into the future!”[t]
6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,[a] 7 so then, understand[b] that those who believe are the sons of Abraham.[c] 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time,[d] saying, “All the nations[e] will be blessed in you.”[f] 9 So then those who believe[g] are blessed along with Abraham the believer. 10 For all who[h] rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.”[i] 11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.[j] 12 But the law is not based on faith,[k] but the one who does the works of the law[l] will live by them.[m] 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming[n] a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)[o] 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles,[p] so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
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