Sunday, December 12, 2027

²Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD, the LORD, is my strength and song; and he has become my salvation.” ³Therefore with joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation. ⁴In that day you will say, “Give thanks to the LORD! Call on his name! Declare his doings among the peoples! Proclaim that his name is exalted! ⁵Sing to the LORD, for he has done excellent things! Let this be known in all the earth! ⁶Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!”

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” ⁵Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

¹⁰The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?” ¹¹He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.” ¹²Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?” ¹³He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.” ¹⁴Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.” ¹⁵As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, ¹⁶John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” ¹⁸Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people,