Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
48 1 A notable deliverance of Jerusalem from the hands of many kings is mentioned, for the which thanks are given to God, and the state of that city is praised, that hath God so presently at all times ready to defend them. This Psalm seemeth to be made in the time of Ahaz, Jehoshaphat, Asa, or Hezekiah: for in their times chiefly was the city by foreign princes assaulted.
[a]A song or Psalm committed to the sons of Korah.
1 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the [b]City of our God, even upon his holy Mountain.
2 Mount Zion, lying Northward, is fair in situation: it is the [c]joy of the whole earth, and the City of the great king.
3 In the palaces thereof God is known for a [d]refuge.
4 For lo, the kings were [e]gathered, and went together.
5 When they saw [f]it, they marveled: they were astonied, and suddenly driven back.
6 Fear came there upon them, and sorrow, as upon a woman in travail.
7 As with an East wind thou breakest the ships [g]of Tarshish, so were they destroyed.
8 As we have [h]heard, so have we seen in the City of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah.
9 We wait for thy loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of thy Temple.
10 O God, according to thy Name, so is thy praise unto the [i]world’s end: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let [j]mount Zion rejoice, and the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
12 [k]Compass about Zion, and go round about it, and tell the towers thereof.
13 Mark well the wall thereof: behold her towers, that ye may tell your posterity.
14 For this God is our God forever and ever, he shall be our guide unto the death.
24 5 Balaam prophesieth of the great prosperity that should come unto Israel. 17 Also of the coming of Christ. 20 The destruction of the Amalekites, and of the Kenites.
1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, then he went not, (A)as certain times before, to set divinations, but set his face toward the [a]wilderness.
2 And Balaam lift up his eyes, and looked upon Israel, which dwelt according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came upon him,
3 (B)And he uttered his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes [b]were shut up, hath said,
4 He hath said which heard the words of God, and saw the vision of the Almighty, and [c]falling in a trance had his eyes opened:
5 ¶ How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thine habitations, O Israel!
6 As the valleys are they stretched forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the [d]aloe trees, which the Lord hath planted, as the cedars beside the waters.
7 The [e]water droppeth out of his bucket, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his King shall be higher than [f]Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brought him out of Egypt: his strength shall be as an unicorn: he shall eat the nations his enemies, and bruise their bones, and shoot them through with his arrows.
9 (C)He coucheth, and lieth down as a young Lion, and as a Lion: Who shall stir him up? blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
10 Then Balak was very angry with Balaam, and [g]smote his hands together: so Balak said unto Balaam, I sent for thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast blessed them now three times.
11 Therefore now flee unto thy place: I thought surely to promote thee unto honor, but lo, the [h]Lord hath kept thee back from honor.
12 Then Balaam answered Balak, Told I not also thy messengers, which thou sentest unto me, saying,
13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot pass the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind? what the Lord shall command, that same will I speak.
14 And now behold, I go unto my people: come, I will [i][j]advertise thee what this people shall do to thy folk in the latter days.
26 ¶ [a]And in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 (A)To a virgin affianced to a man whose name was Joseph, of the [b]house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the Angel went in unto her, and said, Hail thou that art [c]freely beloved: the Lord is with thee: [d]blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was [e]troubled at his saying, and thought what manner of salutation that should be.
30 Then the Angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast [f]found favor with God.
31 (B)For lo thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bear a son, (C)and shalt call his Name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be [g]called the Son of the most High, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.
33 (D)And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom shall be none end.
34 Then said Mary unto the Angel, [h]How shall this be, seeing [i]I know not man?
35 And the Angel answered, and said unto her, The holy Ghost [j]shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee: therefore also that [k]Holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be [l]called the Son of God.
36 And behold, thy [m]cousin, Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is her [n]sixth month, which was called barren.
37 For with God shall nothing be impossible.
38 Then Mary said, Behold the servant of the Lord: be it unto me according to thy word. So the Angel departed from her.
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