First ReadingEzekiel 37:21-28
From the Book of Ezekiel
21Say to them, ‘The Lord GOD says:“Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations where they have gone,and will gather them on every side,and bring them into their own land.22I will make them one nation in the land,on the mountains of Israel.One king will be king to them all.They will no longer be two nations.They won’t be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.23They won’t defile themselves any more with their idols,nor with their detestable things,nor with any of their transgressions;but I will save them out of all their dwelling places inwhich they have sinned,and will cleanse them.So they will be my people, and I will be their God.
24“‘“My servant David will be king over them.They all will have one shepherd.They will also walk in my ordinancesand observe my statutes, and do them.25They will dwell in the landthat I have given to Jacob my servant,in which your fathers lived.They will dwell therein,they, and their children,and their children’s children, forever.David my servant will be their prince forever.26Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them.It will be an everlasting covenant with them.I will place them,multiply them,and will set my sanctuary among them forever more.27My tent also will be with them.I will be their God, and they will be my people.28The nations will know that I am the Lordwho sanctifies Israel,when my sanctuary is among them forever more.”’”