Luke 1:1-25
[1]
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things
that have been accomplished among us, [2] just as those who from the
beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered
them to us, [3] it seemed good to me also, having followed all things
closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most
excellent Theophilus, [4] that you may have certainty concerning the
things you have been taught.
[5]
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named
Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the
daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. [6] And they were both
righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and
statutes of the Lord. [7] But they had no child, because Elizabeth was
barren, and both were advanced in years.
[8]
Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on
duty, [9] according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by
lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. [10] And the whole
multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
[11] And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the
right side of the altar of incense. [12] And Zechariah was troubled when
he saw him, and fear fell upon him. [13] But the angel said to him, “Do
not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife
Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. [14]
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
[15] for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or
strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his
mother’s womb. [16] And he will turn many of the children of Israel to
the Lord their God, [17] and he will go before him in the spirit and
power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and
the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a
people prepared.”
[18]
And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an
old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” [19] And the angel answered
him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to
speak to you and to bring you this good news. [20] And behold, you will
be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take
place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in
their time.” [21] And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they
were wondering at his delay in the temple. [22] And when he came out, he
was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a
vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained
mute. [23] And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
[24]
After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she
kept herself hidden, saying, [25] “Thus the Lord has done for me in the
days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Ephesians 1:1-14
[1] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
[2] Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
[3]
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed
us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4]
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and blameless before him. In love [5] he predestined us
for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the
purpose of his will, [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which
he has blessed us in the Beloved. [7] In him we have redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches
of his grace, [8] which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
[9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his
purpose, which he set forth in Christ [10] as a plan for the fullness of
time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
[11]
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined
according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the
counsel of his will, [12] so that we who were the first to hope in
Christ might be to the praise of his glory. [13] In him you also, when
you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed
in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is the
guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the
praise of his glory.
Psalm 119:1-8
[1] Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD!
[2] Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
[3] who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
[4] You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
[5] Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
[6] Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
[7] I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules.
[8] I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me!
1 Kings 1
[1]
Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered
him with clothes, he could not get warm. [2] Therefore his servants
said to him, “Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let
her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms,
that my lord the king may be warm.” [3] So they sought for a beautiful
young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag
the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. [4] The young woman was
very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him,
but the king knew her not.
[5]
Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be
king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men
to run before him. [6] His father had never at any time displeased him
by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome
man, and he was born next after Absalom. [7] He conferred with Joab the
son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah
and helped him. [8] But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David’s mighty men were
not with Adonijah.
[9]
Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s
Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the
king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, [10] but he did not
invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his
brother.
[11]
Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not
heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king and David our
lord does not know it? [12] Now therefore come, let me give you advice,
that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. [13]
Go in at once to King David, and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the
king, swear to your servant, saying, “Solomon your son shall reign after
me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then is Adonijah king?’ [14]
Then while you are still speaking with the king, I also will come in
after you and confirm your words.”
[15]
So Bathsheba went to the king in his chamber (now the king was very
old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to the king). [16]
Bathsheba bowed and paid homage to the king, and the king said, “What do
you desire?” [17] She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your servant
by the LORD your God, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me,
and he shall sit on my throne.’ [18] And now, behold, Adonijah is king,
although you, my lord the king, do not know it. [19] He has sacrificed
oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the
sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the
army, but Solomon your servant he has not invited. [20] And now, my lord
the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit
on the throne of my lord the king after him. [21] Otherwise it will
come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and
my son Solomon will be counted offenders.”
[22]
While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
[23] And they told the king, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he
came in before the king, he bowed before the king, with his face to the
ground. [24] And Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said,
‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? [25] For
he has gone down this day and has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and
sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders
of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and
drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ [26] But me,
your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,
and your servant Solomon he has not invited. [27] Has this thing been
brought about by my lord the king and you have not told your servants
who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”
[28]
Then King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the
king’s presence and stood before the king. [29] And the king swore,
saying, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every
adversity, [30] as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel,
saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my
throne in my place,’ even so will I do this day.” [31] Then Bathsheba
bowed with her face to the ground and paid homage to the king and said,
“May my lord King David live forever!”
[32]
King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. [33] And the
king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have
Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. [34]
And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king
over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
[35] You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my
throne, for he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be
ruler over Israel and over Judah.” [36] And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
answered the king, “Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king,
say so. [37] As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so may he
be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord
King David.”
[38]
So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of
Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had
Solomon ride on King David’s mule and brought him to Gihon. [39] There
Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed
Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live
King Solomon!” [40] And all the people went up after him, playing on
pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth was split by
their noise.
[41]
Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished
feasting. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “What
does this uproar in the city mean?” [42] While he was still speaking,
behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said,
“Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news.” [43] Jonathan
answered Adonijah, “No, for our lord King David has made Solomon king,
[44] and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the
prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the
Pelethites. And they had him ride on the king’s mule. [45] And Zadok the
priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they
have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar.
This is the noise that you have heard. [46] Solomon sits on the royal
throne. [47] Moreover, the king’s servants came to congratulate our lord
King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous
than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king
bowed himself on the bed. [48] And the king also said, ‘Blessed be the
LORD, the God of Israel, who has granted someone to sit on my throne
this day, my own eyes seeing it.’”
[49]
Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his
own way. [50] And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took
hold of the horns of the altar. [51] Then it was told Solomon, “Behold,
Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold of the horns
of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will
not put his servant to death with the sword.’” [52] And Solomon said,
“If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall
to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” [53] So
King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came
and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your
house.”
