Tuesday in Christmas

FIRST READING

Isaiah 26:1-9

Verse 1. In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; salvation is established as its walls and ramparts. Verse 2. Open the gates so a righteous nation may enter— one that remains faithful. Verse 3. You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You. Verse 4. Trust in the LORD forever, because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal. Verse 5. For He has humbled those who dwell on high; He lays the lofty city low. He brings it down to the ground; He casts it into the dust. Verse 6. Feet trample it down — the feet of the oppressed, the steps of the poor. Verse 7. The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright. Verse 8. Yes, we wait for You, O LORD; we walk in the path of Your judgments. Your name and renown are the desire of our souls. Verse 9. My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.

PSALM

Psalm 20

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion.

May He remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings.

May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

May we shout for joy at your victory and raise a banner in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your petitions.

Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand.

Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

O LORD, save the king. Answer us on the day we call.

SECOND READING

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Verse 16. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. Verse 17. For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. Verse 18. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.