Bible Society of South Africa

Christmas: Nativity of the Lord; Proper II

First reading

6On your walls, Jerusalem,

I have placed sentries;

They must never be silent day or night.

They must remind the LORD of his promises

And never let him forget them.

7They must give him no rest until he restores Jerusalem

And makes it a city the whole world praises.

8The LORD has made a solemn promise,

And by his power he will carry it out:

“Your corn will no longer be food for your enemies,

And foreigners will no longer drink your wine.

9But you that sowed and harvested the corn

Will eat the bread and praise the LORD.

You that tended and gathered the grapes

Will drink the wine in the courts of my Temple.”

10People of Jerusalem, go out of the city

And build a road for your returning people!

Prepare a highway; clear it of stones!

Put up a signal so that the nations can know

11That the LORD is announcing to all the earth:

“Tell the people of Jerusalem

That the LORD is coming to save you,

Bringing with him the people he has rescued.”

12You will be called “God's Holy People”,

“The People the LORD has Saved”.

Jerusalem will be called “The City that God Loves”,

“The City that God did not Forsake”.

Isaiah 62:6-12GNBOpen in Bible reader
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