Micah 5:1–6

5:1 (4:14) But now slash yourself, daughter surrounded by soldiers!

We are besieged!

With a scepter they strike Israel’s ruler

on the side of his face.

2(5:1) As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah—

from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf,

one whose origins are in the distant past.

3So the Lord will hand the people of Israel over to their enemies

until the time when the woman in labor gives birth.

Then the rest of the king’s countrymen will return

to be reunited with the people of Israel.

4He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the Lord’s strength,

by the sovereign authority of the Lord his God.

They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored

even in the distant regions of the earth.

5He will give us peace.

Should the Assyrians try to invade our land

and attempt to set foot in our fortresses,

we will send against them seven shepherd-rulers,

make that eight commanders.

6They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,

the land of Nimrod with a drawn sword.

Our king will rescue us from the Assyrians

should they attempt to invade our land

and try to set foot in our territory.

Ps. 65

65:1 For the music director, a psalm of David, a song.

Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion.

Vows made to you are fulfilled.

2You hear prayers;

all people approach you.

3Our record of sins overwhelms me,

but you forgive our acts of rebellion.

4How blessed is the one whom you choose

and allow to live in your palace courts.

May we be satisfied with the good things of your house—

your holy palace.

5You answer our prayers by performing awesome acts of deliverance,

O God, our savior.

All the ends of the earth trust in you,

as well as those living across the wide seas.

6You created the mountains by your power

and demonstrated your strength.

7You calmed the raging seas

and their roaring waves,

as well as the commotion made by the nations.

8Even those living in the remotest areas are awestruck by your acts;

you cause those living in the east and west to praise you.

9You visit the earth and give it rain;

you make it rich and fertile.

God’s streams are full of water;

you provide grain for the people of the earth,

for you have prepared the earth in this way.

10You saturate its furrows,

and soak its plowed ground.

With rain showers you soften its soil,

and make its crops grow.

11You crown the year with your good blessings,

and you leave abundance in your wake.

12The pastures in the wilderness glisten with moisture,

and the hills are clothed with joy.

13The meadows are clothed with sheep,

and the valleys are covered with grain.

They shout joyfully, yes, they sing.

Luke 3:1–14

3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3He went into all the region around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

4As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one shouting in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make his paths straight.

5Every valley will be filled,

and every mountain and hill will be brought low,

and the crooked will be made straight,

and the rough ways will be made smooth,

6and all humanity will see the salvation of God.’”

7So John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and don’t begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 9Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10So the crowds were asking him, “What then should we do?” 11John answered them, “The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.” 12Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13He told them, “Collect no more than you are required to.” 14Then some soldiers also asked him, “And as for us—what should we do?” He told them, “Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay.”