Luke 1:39–56; Ephesians 2:1–10; Psalm 119:17–176; 1 Kings 4–5

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Luke 1:39–56

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into rthe hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth swas filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, tBlessed are you among women, and ublessed is vthe fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of wmy Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And xblessed is she who believed that there would be1 a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.

Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat

46 And Mary said,

yMy zsoul amagnifies the Lord,

47  band my zspirit rejoices in cGod my Savior,

48  for dhe has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations ewill call me blessed;

49  for fhe who is mighty ghas done great things for me,

and hholy is his name.

50  And ihis mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

51  jHe has shown strength with his arm;

khe has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

52  jhe has brought down the mighty from their thrones

land exalted those of humble estate;

53  he has filled mthe hungry with good things,

and the rich nhe has sent away empty.

54  He has ohelped phis servant Israel,

qin remembrance of his mercy,

55  ras he spoke to our fathers,

qto Abraham and to his offspring forever.

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.


Ephesians 2:1–10

By Grace Through Faith

jAnd you were kdead in the trespasses and sins lin which you once walked, following the course of this world, following mthe prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in nthe sons of disobedience among whom we all once lived in othe passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body1 and the mind, and pwere by nature qchildren of wrath, like the rest of mankind.2 But3 God, being rrich in mercy, sbecause of the great love with which he loved us, even twhen we were dead in our trespasses, umade us alive together with Christvby grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and wseated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable xriches of his grace in ykindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For zby grace you have been saved athrough faith. And this is bnot your own doing; cit is the gift of God, dnot a result of works, eso that no one may boast. 10 For fwe are his workmanship, gcreated in Christ Jesus hfor good works, iwhich God prepared beforehand, jthat we should walk in them.


Psalm 119:17–176

Gimel

17  gDeal bountifully with your servant,

hthat I may live and keep your word.

18  Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

19  I am ia sojourner on the earth;

jhide not your commandments from me!

20  My soul is consumed with klonging

for your rules1 at all times.

21  You rebuke lthe insolent, maccursed ones,

who nwander from your commandments.

22  Take away from me oscorn and contempt,

pfor I have kept your testimonies.

23  Even though qprinces sit plotting against me,

your servant will rmeditate on your statutes.

24  Your testimonies are my sdelight;

they are my tcounselors.

Daleth

25  uMy soul clings to the dust;

vgive me life waccording to your word!

26  When xI told of my ways, you answered me;

yteach me your statutes!

27  zMake me understand the way of your precepts,

and I will ameditate on your wondrous works.

28  bMy soul melts away for sorrow;

strengthen me according to your word!

29  Put false ways far from me

and graciously cteach me your law!

30  I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

I dset your rules before me.

31  I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;

elet me not be put to shame!

32  I will run in the way of your commandments

when you fenlarge my heart!2

He

33  gTeach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;

and I will keep it hto the end.3

34  iGive me understanding, that I may keep your law

and observe it with my whole heart.

35  jLead me in the path of your commandments,

for I kdelight in it.

36  lIncline my heart to your testimonies,

and not to mselfish gain!

37  nTurn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

and ogive me life in your ways.

38  pConfirm to your servant your promise,

qthat you may be feared.

39  Turn away the rreproach that I dread,

for your rules are good.

40  Behold, I slong for your precepts;

tin your righteousness give me life!

Waw

41  Let your usteadfast love come to me, O Lord,

your salvation vaccording to your promise;

42  then wshall I have an answer for him rwho taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

43  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,

for my xhope is in your rules.

44  I will keep your law continually,

forever and ever,

45  and I shall walk yin a wide place,

for I have zsought your precepts.

46  I will also speak of your testimonies abefore kings

and shall not be put to shame,

47  for I bfind my delight in your commandments,

which I love.

48  I will clift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,

and I will dmeditate on your statutes.

Zayin

49  Remember eyour word to your servant,

in which you have made me fhope.

50  This is gmy comfort in my affliction,

that your promise hgives me life.

51  iThe insolent utterly deride me,

but I do not jturn away from your law.

52  When I think of your rules from of old,

I take comfort, O Lord.

53  kHot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,

who forsake your law.

54  Your statutes have been my songs

in the house of my lsojourning.

55  I mremember your name in the night, O Lord,

and keep your law.

56  This blessing has fallen to me,

that nI have kept your precepts.

Heth

57  oThe Lord is my portion;

I promise to keep your words.

58  I pentreat your favor with all my heart;

be gracious to me qaccording to your promise.

59  When I rthink on my ways,

I turn my feet to your testimonies;

60  I hasten and do not delay

to keep your commandments.

61  Though sthe cords of the wicked ensnare me,

I do not tforget your law.

62  At umidnight I rise to praise you,

because of your vrighteous rules.

63  wI am a companion of all who fear you,

of those who keep your precepts.

64  xThe earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;

yteach me your statutes!

Teth

65  You have dealt well with your servant,

O Lord, zaccording to your word.

66  Teach me agood judgment and knowledge,

for I believe in your commandments.

67  bBefore I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I keep your word.

68  cYou are good and do good;

dteach me your statutes.

69  eThe insolent fsmear me with lies,

but with my whole heart I gkeep your precepts;

70  their heart is unfeeling hlike fat,

but I idelight in your law.

71  It is jgood for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

72  kThe law of your mouth is better to me

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh

73  lYour hands have made and fashioned me;

mgive me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

74  Those who fear you shall see me and nrejoice,

because I have ohoped in your word.

75  I know, O Lord, that your rules are prighteous,

and that in qfaithfulness you have afflicted me.

76  Let your steadfast love comfort me

according to your promise to your servant.

77  Let your rmercy come to me, that I may live;

for your law is my sdelight.

78  Let tthe insolent be put to ushame,

because they have vwronged me with falsehood;

as for me, I will wmeditate on your precepts.

79  Let those who fear you xturn to me,

that they may know your testimonies.

80  May my heart be yblameless in your statutes,

zthat I may not be put to shame!

Kaph

81  My soul alongs for your salvation;

I bhope in your word.

82  My ceyes long for your promise;

I ask, dWhen will you comfort me?

83  For I have ebecome like a fwineskin in the smoke,

yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

84  gHow long must your servant endure?4

hWhen will you judge those who persecute me?

85  iThe insolent have jdug pitfalls for me;

they do not live according to your law.

86  All your commandments are ksure;

they persecute me lwith falsehood; mhelp me!

87  They have almost made an end of me on earth,

but I have not forsaken your precepts.

88  In your steadfast love ngive me life,

that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Lamedh

89  Forever, O Lord, your oword

is firmly fixed in the heavens.

90  Your pfaithfulness endures to all generations;

you have qestablished the earth, and it rstands fast.

91  By your sappointment they stand this day,

for all things are your servants.

92  If your law had not been my tdelight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

93  I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have ugiven me life.

94  I am yours; save me,

vfor I have sought your precepts.

95  The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,

but I consider your testimonies.

96  I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but your commandment is exceedingly wbroad.

Mem

97  Oh how xI love your law!

It is my ymeditation all the day.

98  Your commandment makes me zwiser than my enemies,

for it is ever with me.

99  I have more understanding than all my teachers,

for ayour testimonies are my meditation.

100  I understand more than bthe aged,5

for I ckeep your precepts.

101  I dhold back my feet from every evil way,

in order to keep your word.

102  I do not turn aside from your rules,

for you have taught me.

103  How esweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104  Through your precepts I get understanding;

therefore fI hate every false way.

Nun

105  gYour word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

106  I have hsworn an oath and confirmed it,

to keep your irighteous rules.

107  I am severely jafflicted;

kgive me life, O Lord, according to your word!

108  Accept lmy freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,

and mteach me your rules.

109  I hold my life nin my hand continually,

but I do not oforget your law.

110  The wicked have laid pa snare for me,

but qI do not stray from your precepts.

111  Your testimonies are rmy heritage forever,

for they are sthe joy of my heart.

112  I tincline my heart to perform your statutes

forever, uto the end.6

Samekh

113  I hate vthe double-minded,

but I love wyour law.

114  You are my xhiding place and my yshield;

I zhope in your word.

115  aDepart from me, you evildoers,

that I may bkeep the commandments of my God.

116  Uphold me caccording to your promise, that I may live,

and let me not be dput to shame in my ehope!

117  fHold me up, that I may be safe

and have regard for your statutes continually!

118  You gspurn all who hgo astray from your statutes,

for their cunning is in vain.

119  All the wicked of the earth you discard like idross,

therefore jI love your testimonies.

120  My flesh ktrembles for fear of you,

and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin

121  I have done what is just and right;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

122  Give your servant la pledge of good;

let not mthe insolent oppress me.

123  My neyes long for your salvation

and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

124  Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,

and oteach me your statutes.

125  I am your pservant; qgive me understanding,

that I may know your testimonies!

126  It is time for the Lord to act,

for your law has been broken.

127  Therefore I rlove your commandments

above gold, above fine gold.

128  Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;

I hate every sfalse way.

Pe

129  Your testimonies are twonderful;

therefore my soul ukeeps them.

130  The unfolding of your words gives light;

it imparts vunderstanding to the simple.

131  I wopen my mouth and xpant,

because I ylong for your commandments.

132  zTurn to me and be gracious to me,

as is your way with those who love your name.

133  aKeep steady my steps according to your promise,

and let no iniquity bget dominion over me.

134  cRedeem me from man’s oppression,

that I may keep your precepts.

135  dMake your face shine upon your servant,

and eteach me your statutes.

136  My eyes fshed streams of tears,

because people gdo not keep your law.

Tsadhe

137  hRighteous are you, O Lord,

and right are your rules.

138  You have appointed your testimonies in irighteousness

and in all jfaithfulness.

139  My kzeal consumes me,

because my foes forget your words.

140  Your promise is well ltried,

and your servant mloves it.

141  I am small and despised,

yet I do not nforget your precepts.

142  Your righteousness is righteous forever,

and your law is otrue.

143  Trouble and anguish have found me out,

but your commandments are my pdelight.

144  Your testimonies are righteous forever;

qgive me understanding that I may rlive.

Qoph

145  With my swhole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!

I will tkeep your statutes.

146  I call to you; save me,

that I may observe your testimonies.

147  I rise before udawn and cry for help;

I vhope in your words.

148  My eyes are awake before wthe watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promise.

149  Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;

O Lord, xaccording to your justice ygive me life.

150  They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;

they are far from your law.

151  But zyou are near, O Lord,

and all your commandments are atrue.

152  Long have I known from your testimonies

that you have bfounded them forever.

Resh

153  Look on my caffliction and deliver me,

for dI do not forget your law.

154  ePlead my cause and redeem me;

fgive me life according to your promise!

155  gSalvation is far from the wicked,

hfor they do not seek your statutes.

156  iGreat is your mercy, O Lord;

fgive me life according to your rules.

157  jMany are my persecutors and my adversaries,

but I do not kswerve from your testimonies.

158  I look at lthe faithless with mdisgust,

because they do not keep your commands.

159  Consider how I nlove your precepts!

fGive me life according to your steadfast love.

160  oThe sum of your word is ptruth,

and every one of your qrighteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

161  rPrinces persecute me swithout cause,

but my heart tstands in awe of your words.

162  I trejoice at your word

like one who ufinds great spoil.

163  I hate and abhor falsehood,

but I love vyour law.

164  Seven times a day I praise you

for your qrighteous rules.

165  Great wpeace have those who love your law;

xnothing can make them stumble.

166  I yhope for your salvation, O Lord,

and I do your commandments.

167  My soul keeps your testimonies;

I vlove them exceedingly.

168  I keep your precepts and testimonies,

zfor all my ways are before you.

Taw

169  Let my acry come before you, O Lord;

bgive me understanding caccording to your word!

170  Let my plea come before you;

ddeliver me according to your word.

171  My lips will epour forth praise,

for you fteach me your statutes.

172  My tongue will sing of your word,

for gall your commandments are right.

173  Let your hand be ready to help me,

for I have hchosen your precepts.

174  I ilong for your salvation, O Lord,

and your law is my jdelight.

175  Let my soul live and praise you,

and let your rules help me.

176  I have kgone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,

for I do not lforget your commandments.


1 Kings 4–5

Solomon’s Officials

King Solomon was king over all Israel, and these were his high officials: Azariah the son of Zadok was bthe priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha were secretaries; cJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; dBenaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the army; eZadok and Abiathar were priests; Azariah the son of Nathan was over fthe officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and gking’s friend; Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and hAdoniram the son of Abda was in charge of ithe forced labor.

Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for one month in the year. These were their names: Ben-hur, in jthe hill country of Ephraim; Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elonbeth-hanan; 10 Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (to him belonged Socoh and all the land of Hepher); 11 Ben-abinadab, in all kNaphath-dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as his wife); 12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in lTaanach, Megiddo, and all lBeth-shean that is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam; 13 Ben-geber, min Ramoth-gilead (he had nthe villages of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, and he had othe region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim; 15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he had taken Basemath the daughter of Solomon as his wife); 16 Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; 17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; 18 pShimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin; 19 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, qthe country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. And there was one governor who was over the land.

Solomon’s Wealth and Wisdom

20 Judah and Israel were as many ras the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy. 1 21 sSolomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the tEuphrates2 to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. uThey brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

22 Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty cors3 of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, 23 ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. 24 For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates4 from Tiphsah to vGaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. wAnd he had peace on all sides around him. 25 And Judah and Israel xlived in safety, yfrom Dan even to Beersheba, zevery man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. 26 aSolomon also had 40,0005 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. 27 And those officers supplied provisions for King Solomon, and for all who came to King Solomon’s table, each one in his month. They let nothing be lacking. 28 Barley also and straw for the horses and bswift steeds they brought to the place where it was required, each according to his duty.

29 cAnd God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind dlike the sand on the seashore, 30 so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all ethe people of the east fand all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was cwiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32 gHe also spoke 3,000 proverbs, hand his songs were 1,005. 33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. 34 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from iall the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

Preparations for Building the Temple

6 Now jHiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, kfor Hiram always loved David. And Solomon sent word to Hiram, lYou know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God mbecause of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. nBut now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. And so I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, oas the Lord said to David my father, Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name. Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.

As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people. And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber. My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes pby providing food for my household. 10 So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired, 11 while Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 cors7 of wheat as food for his household, and 20,0008 cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year. 12 And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, qas he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

13 King Solomon drafted rforced labor out of all Israel, and the draft numbered 30,000 men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. sAdoniram was in charge of the draft. 15 Solomon also thad 70,000 burden-bearers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country, 16 besides Solomon’s 3,300 uchief officers who were over the work, vwho had charge of the people who carried on the work. 17 At the king’s command wthey quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. 18 So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and xthe men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.