Sunday 21 December 2025

10The Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying,11“Ask a sign of the Lord your God;ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.”

12But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask.I won’t tempt the Lord.”

13He said, “Listen now, house of David.Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men,that you will try the patience of my God also?14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.Behold, the virgin will conceive,and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

1The earth is the Lord’s, with its fullness;the world, and those who dwell in it.2For he has founded it on the seas,and established it on the floods.

3Who may ascend to the Lord’s hill?Who may stand in his holy place?4He who has clean hands and a pure heart;who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood,and has not sworn deceitfully.

5He shall receive a blessing from the Lord,righteousness from the God of his salvation.6This is the generation of those who seek Him,who seek your face—even Jacob.

1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,called to be an apostle,set apart for the Good News of God,2which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,3concerning his Son,who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh,4who was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness,by the resurrection from the dead,Jesus Christ our Lord,5through whom we received graceand apostleship for obedience of faith among all the nations for his name’s sake;6among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ;7to all who are in Rome,beloved of God, called to be saints:Grace to you and peace from God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ.

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this:After his mother, Mary,was engaged to Joseph,before they came together,she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.19Joseph, her husband,being a righteous man,and not willing to make her a public example,intended to put her away secretly.20But when he thought about these things,behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,saying, “Joseph, son of David,don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife,for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.21She shall give birth to a son.You shall name him Jesus,for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”

22Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilledwhich was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child,and shall give birth to a son.They shall call his name Immanuel,”which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”

24Joseph arose from his sleep,and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him,and took his wife to himself;