December 21, 2026

8Her Lover’s Visit Remembered - W The sound of my lover! here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. 9My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. See! He is standing behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices. 10My lover speaks and says to me, M “Arise, my friend, my beautiful one, and come! 11For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. 12The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the turtledove is heard in our land. 13The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my friend, my beautiful one, and come! 14My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, Let me see your face, let me hear your voice, For your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.”

14Shout for joy, daughter Zion! sing joyfully, Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, daughter Jerusalem! 15The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. 16On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, Zion, do not be discouraged! 17The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior, Who will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, Who will sing joyfully because of you, 18as on festival days. I will remove disaster from among you, so that no one may recount your disgrace.

2Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise. 3Sing to him a new song; skillfully play with joyful chant. 11But the plan of the LORD stands forever, the designs of his heart through all generations. 12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people chosen as his inheritance. 20VI - Our soul waits for the LORD, he is our help and shield. 21For in him our hearts rejoice; in his holy name we trust.

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39Mary Visits Elizabeth. During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, 42cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”