Bible Society of South Africa

Season after Pentecost: Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

First reading and Psalm

Hope for the Future

1How terrible will be the LORD's judgement on those rulers who destroy and scatter his people! 2This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the rulers who were supposed to take care of his people: “You have not taken care of my people; you have scattered them and driven them away. Now I am going to punish you for the evil you have done. 3I will gather the rest of my people from the countries where I have scattered them, and I will bring them back to their homeland. They will have many children and increase in number. 4I will appoint rulers to take care of them. My people will no longer be afraid or terrified, and I will not punish them again. I, the LORD, have spoken.”

5The LORD says, “The time is coming when I will choose as king a righteous descendant of David. That king will rule wisely and do what is right and just throughout the land. 6When he is king, the people of Judah will be safe, and the people of Israel will live in peace. He will be called ‘The LORD Our Salvation’.

Jeremiah 23:1-6GNBOpen in Bible reader

68“Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel!

He has come to the help of his people and has set them free.

69He has provided for us a mighty Saviour,

a descendant of his servant David.

70He promised through his holy prophets long ago

71that he would save us from our enemies,

from the power of all those who hate us.

72He said he would show mercy to our ancestors

and remember his sacred covenant.

73-74With a solemn oath to our ancestor Abraham

he promised to rescue us from our enemies

and allow us to serve him without fear,

75so that we might be holy and righteous before him

all the days of our life.

76“You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.

You will go ahead of the Lord

to prepare his road for him,

77to tell his people that they will be saved

by having their sins forgiven.

78Our God is merciful and tender.

He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us

79and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death,

to guide our steps into the path of peace.”

Luke 1:68-79GNBOpen in Bible reader
Bible Society of South Africav.4.24.4
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