December 16, 2027

1Raise a glad cry, you barren one who never bore a child, break forth in jubilant song, you who have never been in labor, For more numerous are the children of the deserted wife than the children of her who has a husband, says the LORD. 2Enlarge the space for your tent, spread out your tent cloths unsparingly; lengthen your ropes and make firm your pegs. 3For you shall spread abroad to the right and left; your descendants shall dispossess the nations and shall people the deserted cities. 4Do not fear, you shall not be put to shame; do not be discouraged, you shall not be disgraced. For the shame of your youth you shall forget, the reproach of your widowhood no longer remember. 5For your husband is your Maker; the LORD of hosts is his name, Your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, called God of all the earth. 6The LORD calls you back, like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, A wife married in youth and then cast off, says your God. 7For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great tenderness I will take you back. 8In an outburst of wrath, for a moment I hid my face from you; But with enduring love I take pity on you, says the LORD, your redeemer. 9This is for me like the days of Noah: As I swore then that the waters of Noah should never again flood the earth, So I have sworn now not to be angry with you, or to rebuke you. 10Though the mountains fall away and the hills be shaken, My love shall never fall away from you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

2I - I praise you, LORD, for you raised me up and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. 4LORD, you brought my soul up from Sheol; you let me live, from going down to the pit. 5II - Sing praise to the LORD, you faithful; give thanks to his holy memory. 6For his anger lasts but a moment; his favor a lifetime. At dusk weeping comes for the night; but at dawn there is rejoicing. 11Hear, O LORD, have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper.” 12IV - You changed my mourning into dancing; you took off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. 13So that my glory may praise you and not be silent. O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.

4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

24Jesus’ Testimony to John. When the messengers of John had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. “What did you go out to the desert to see—a reed swayed by the wind? 25Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine garments? Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously are found in royal palaces. 26Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27This is the one about whom scripture says: ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.’ 28I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29(All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, and who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God; 30but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves.)