Saturday in Advent

1Verse 1. At that time Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation. 2Verse 2. There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God. 3Verse 3. Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed. 4Verse 4. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble are equipped with strength. 5Verse 5. The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away. 6Verse 6. The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7Verse 7. The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. 8Verse 8. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.

1Verse 1. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2Verse 2. during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3Verse 3. He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4Verse 4. as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him. 5Verse 5. Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth. 6Verse 6. And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’” 7Verse 7. Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Verse 8. Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9Verse 9. The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10Verse 10. The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11Verse 11. John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” 12Verse 12. Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13Verse 13. “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered. 14Verse 14. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.” 15Verse 15. The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ. 16Verse 16. John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17Verse 17. His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18Verse 18. With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.