The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord xappeared to them, and ythe glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all zthe people. 11 For aunto you is born this day in bthe city of David ca Savior, who is dChrist ethe Lord. 12 And fthis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby gwrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel ha multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 i“Glory to God jin the highest,
jand on earth kpeace lamong those with whom he is pleased!”1
God Is King over All the Earth
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of wthe Sons of Korah.
1 xClap your hands, all peoples!
yShout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the Lord, the Most High, zis to be feared,
aa great king over all the earth.
3 He bsubdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our cheritage for us,
dthe pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God ehas gone up with a shout,
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is fthe King of all the earth;
8 God hreigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
9 iThe princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For jthe shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted!
21 aDo you not know? Do you not hear?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are blike grasshoppers;
cwho stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
23 dwho brings princes to nothing,
and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.
24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows on them, and they wither,
eand the tempest carries them off like stubble.
25 fTo whom then will you compare me,
that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
