Sunday 3 December 2023

16For you are our Father,though Abraham doesn’t know us,and Israel does not acknowledge us.You, Lord, are our Father.Our Redeemer from everlasting is your name.17O Lord, why do you make us wander from your ways,and harden our heart from your fear?Return for your servants’ sake,the tribes of your inheritance.· · · verse 18 is not read19Oh that you would tear the heavens,that you would come down,that the mountains might quake at your presence—· · · some verses are not read2When you did awesome things which we didn’t look for,you came down, and the mountains quaked at your presence.3For from of old men have not heard,nor perceived by the ear,nor has the eye seen a God besides you,who works for him who waits for him.4You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness,those who remember you in your ways.Behold, you were angry, and we sinned.We have been in sin for a long time.Shall we be saved?5For we have all become like one who is unclean,and all our righteousness is like a polluted garment.We all fade like a leaf;and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.6There is no one who calls on your name,who stirs himself up to take hold of you;for you have hidden your face from us,and have consumed us by means of our iniquities.7But now, Lord, you are our Father.We are the clay and you our potter.We all are the work of your hand.

2Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,you who lead Joseph like a flock,you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.3Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up your might!Come to save us!

15Turn again, we beg you, God of Armies.Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine,16the stock which your right hand planted,the branch that you made strong for yourself.

18Let your hand be on the man of your right hand,on the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.19So we will not turn away from you.Revive us, and we will call on your name.

3Grace to you and peace from God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ.

4I always thank my God concerning you for the grace of Godwhich was given you in Christ Jesus,5that in everything you were enriched in him,in all speech and all knowledge—6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you—7so that you come behind in no gift,waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,8who will also confirm you until the end,blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.9God is faithful, throughwhom you were called into the fellowship of his Son,Jesus Christ our Lord.

33Watch, keep alert, and pray;for you don’t know when the time is.

34“It is like a man traveling to another country,having left his house and given authority to his servants,and to each one his work,and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.35Watch therefore, for you don’t knowwhen the lord of the house is coming—whether at evening,or at midnight, or when the rooster crows,or in the morning;36lest, coming suddenly, he might find you sleeping.37What I tell you, I tell all: Watch!”