Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord,
I exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation
and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness,(A)
as a groom wears a turban
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.(B)
11 For as the earth produces its growth,
and as a garden enables what is sown to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.(C)
Zion’s Restoration
62 I will not keep silent because of Zion,
and I will not keep still because of Jerusalem,(D)
until her righteousness shines like a bright light(E)
and her salvation, like a flaming torch.
2 Nations will see your righteousness(F)
and all kings, your glory.
You will be given a new name
that the Lord’s mouth will announce.(G)
3 You will be a glorious crown in the Lord’s hand,
and a royal diadem in the palm of your God’s hand.(H)
Psalm 148
Creation’s Praise of the Lord
1 Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.(A)
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly armies.(B)
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.(C)
4 Praise him, highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens.(D)
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded, and they were created.(E)
6 He set them in position forever and ever;
he gave an order that will never pass away.(F)
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
all sea monsters and ocean depths,(G)
8 lightning[a] and hail, snow and cloud,
stormy wind that executes his command,(H)
9 mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,(I)
10 wild animals and all cattle,
creatures that crawl and flying birds,(J)
11 kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all judges of the earth,(K)
12 young men as well as young women,
old and young together.(L)
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted.
His majesty covers heaven and earth.(M)
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
resulting in praise to all his faithful ones,
to the Israelites, the people close to him.(N)
Hallelujah!
4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son,(A) born of a woman,(B) born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.(C) 6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son(D) into our[a] hearts, crying, “Abba,[b] Father!” (E) 7 So you are no longer a slave(F) but a son,(G) and if a son, then God has made you an heir.(H)
22 And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished,(A) they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated[a] to the Lord[b](B)) 24 and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons[c](C)).
Simeon’s Prophetic Praise
25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout,(D) looking forward to Israel’s consolation,(E) and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit(F) that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.(G) 27 Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,
29 Now, Master,
you can dismiss your servant in peace,
as you promised.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation.(H)
31 You have prepared it
in the presence of all peoples—
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles[d](I)
and glory to your people Israel.(J)
33 His father and mother[e] were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel(K) and to be a sign that will be opposed[f]— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts[g] of many hearts may be revealed.”
Anna’s Testimony
36 There was also a prophetess,(L) Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.(M) She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,[h](N) 37 and was a widow for eighty-four years.[i] She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.(O) 38 At that very moment,[j] she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.[k](P)
The Family’s Return to Nazareth
39 When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.(Q) 40 The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him.(R)
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