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20 Gather! Come! Draw near together,
you survivors from the nations.
They have no knowledge—
those who are lifting up their idols of wood
and praying to a god that cannot save.
21 Make an announcement and come close.
Let them consult together.
Who made this known ahead of time?
From time past who announced it?
Was it not I, the Lord?
There is no god except me,
a righteous God and Savior.
There is no one except me.
22 Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth,
because I am God,
and there is no other.
23 I have sworn by myself.
From my mouth a righteous word has gone out,
and it will not return unfulfilled.
Indeed, to me every knee will bow,
and every tongue will swear allegiance.
24 “Only in the Lord,” they will say of me,
“Only in the Lord is there true righteousness and strength.”
To him they will come and be ashamed—
all those who are angry at him.
25 In the Lord, all the descendants[a] of Israel will be justified.
They will be praised by him.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 45:25 Or all the seed
  2. Isaiah 45:25 Or be confident in him or shine in glory

20 “Gather together(A) and come;
    assemble, you fugitives from the nations.
Ignorant(B) are those who carry(C) about idols of wood,
    who pray to gods that cannot save.(D)
21 Declare what is to be, present it—
    let them take counsel together.
Who foretold(E) this long ago,
    who declared it from the distant past?(F)
Was it not I, the Lord?
    And there is no God apart from me,(G)
a righteous God(H) and a Savior;(I)
    there is none but me.

22 “Turn(J) to me and be saved,(K)
    all you ends of the earth;(L)
    for I am God, and there is no other.(M)
23 By myself I have sworn,(N)
    my mouth has uttered in all integrity(O)
    a word that will not be revoked:(P)
Before me every knee will bow;(Q)
    by me every tongue will swear.(R)
24 They will say of me, ‘In the Lord alone
    are deliverance(S) and strength.(T)’”
All who have raged against him
    will come to him and be put to shame.(U)
25 But all the descendants(V) of Israel
    will find deliverance(W) in the Lord
    and will make their boast in him.(X)

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Psalm 111

God’s Works and God’s Word

Opening Praise

Praise the Lord.[a]

I will thank the Lord with all my heart
    in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

God’s Works

Great are the deeds of the Lord.
They are studied by all who delight in them.
Glorious and majestic is his work,
and his righteousness stands forever.
He has set up a memorial to his wonders.
Gracious and compassionate is the Lord.
He gives food to those who fear him.
He remembers his covenant forever.
He has declared the power of his deeds to his people,
    to give them the nations as their possession.
The works of his hands are truth and justice.

God’s Word

All his precepts are trustworthy,
steadfast forever and ever,
done in truth and uprightness.
He sent redemption for his people.
He commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning[b] of wisdom.
All who do his precepts have good understanding.

Closing Praise

His praise stands forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 111:1 Hebrew hallelu Yah
  2. Psalm 111:10 Or foundation or prerequisite

Psalm 111[a]

Praise the Lord.[b]

I will extol the Lord(A) with all my heart(B)
    in the council(C) of the upright and in the assembly.(D)

Great are the works(E) of the Lord;
    they are pondered by all(F) who delight in them.
Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
    and his righteousness endures(G) forever.
He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
    the Lord is gracious and compassionate.(H)
He provides food(I) for those who fear him;(J)
    he remembers his covenant(K) forever.

He has shown his people the power of his works,(L)
    giving them the lands of other nations.(M)
The works of his hands(N) are faithful and just;
    all his precepts are trustworthy.(O)
They are established for ever(P) and ever,
    enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
He provided redemption(Q) for his people;
    he ordained his covenant forever—
    holy and awesome(R) is his name.

10 The fear of the Lord(S) is the beginning of wisdom;(T)
    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.(U)
    To him belongs eternal praise.(V)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 111:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the lines of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 111:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, waiting for the comfort of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, 28 Simeon took him into his arms and praised God. He said,

29 Lord, you now dismiss your servant in peace, according to
    your word,
30 because my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared before the face of all people,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your
    people Israel.

33 Joseph[a] and the child’s[b] mother were amazed at the things that were spoken about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Listen carefully, this child is appointed for the falling and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 Anna, a prophetess, was there. She was a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old. She had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,[c] 37 and then she was a widow of eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple complex, since she was worshipping with fasting and prayers night and day. 38 Standing nearby at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord. She kept speaking about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.[d]

39 When they had accomplished everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town, Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong.[e] He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:33 Some witnesses to the text read His father.
  2. Luke 2:33 Literally his
  3. Luke 2:36 Literally after her virginity
  4. Luke 2:38 Some witnesses to the text read in Jerusalem.
  5. Luke 2:40 Some witnesses to the text add spiritually or in spirit.

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.(A) He was waiting for the consolation of Israel,(B) and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,(C) 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,(D)
    you may now dismiss[a] your servant in peace.(E)
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,(F)
31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”(G)

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:(H) “This child is destined to cause the falling(I) and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet,(J) Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[b](K) She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.(L) 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.(M)

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.(N) 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:29 Or promised, / now dismiss
  2. Luke 2:37 Or then had been a widow for eighty-four years.

List of Virtues

12 Therefore, as God’s elect, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against anyone else. Forgive, just as Christ[a] forgave you. 14 And, in addition to all these things, put on love, which ties things together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ control your hearts, to which you were also called, in one body. And be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ[b] dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.[c] 17 And everything you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:13 Some witnesses to the text read the Lord.
  2. Colossians 3:16 A few witnesses to the text read God.
  3. Colossians 3:16 Some witnesses to the text read the Lord.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves(A) with compassion, kindness, humility,(B) gentleness and patience.(C) 13 Bear with each other(D) and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.(E) 14 And over all these virtues put on love,(F) which binds them all together in perfect unity.(G)

15 Let the peace of Christ(H) rule in your hearts, since as members of one body(I) you were called to peace.(J) And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ(K) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom(L) through psalms,(M) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.(N) 17 And whatever you do,(O) whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks(P) to God the Father through him.

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