December 24, 2026

1After the king had taken up residence in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side, 2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent!” 3Nathan answered the king, “Whatever is in your heart, go and do, for the LORD is with you.” 4But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: 5Go and tell David my servant, Thus says the LORD: Is it you who would build me a house to dwell in? 8Now then, speak thus to my servant David, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to become ruler over my people Israel. 9I was with you wherever you went, and I cut down all your enemies before you. And I will make your name like that of the greatest on earth. 10I will assign a place for my people Israel and I will plant them in it to dwell there; they will never again be disturbed, nor shall the wicked ever again oppress them, as they did at the beginning, 11and from the day when I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you: 12when your days have been completed and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, sprung from your loins, and I will establish his kingdom. 14I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. If he does wrong, I will reprove him with a human rod and with human punishments; 16Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever.

2A I - I will sing of your mercy forever, LORD proclaim your faithfulness through all ages. 3For I said, “My mercy is established forever; my faithfulness will stand as long as the heavens. 4I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: 5I will make your dynasty stand forever and establish your throne through all ages.” Selah 27He shall cry to me, ‘You are my father, my God, the Rock of my salvation!’ 29Forever I will maintain my mercy for him; my covenant with him stands firm.

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67The Canticle of Zechariah. Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: 68“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people. 69He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant, 70even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: 71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, 72to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant 73and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that, 74rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us 79to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”