Second Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Sunday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 52:1-10
1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful
garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no
more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. 2 Shake thyself
from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from
the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. 3 For thus saith
the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed
without money. 4 For thus saith the Lord God, My people went down
aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them
without cause. 5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that
my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them
to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is
blasphemed. 6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they
shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth
good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of
good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God
reigneth 8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice
together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord
shall bring again Zion. 9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye
waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he
hath redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in
the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.
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2nd Lesson
Luke 1:26-56
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto
a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man
whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name
was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that
art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among
women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and
cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the
angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with
God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth
a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall
be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him
the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house
of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then
said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come
upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be
called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath
also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with
her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be
impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it
unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 39 And
Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and
saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard
the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was
filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice,
and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of
thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord
should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation
sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And
blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of
those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My
soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:
for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his
name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to
generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered
the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the
mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath
filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty
away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his
mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for
ever. 56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to
her own house.
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1st Lesson
Isaiah 55
1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that
hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for
that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth
not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and
let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come
unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an
everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4
Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and
commander to the people. 5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou
knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee
because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he
hath glorified thee. 6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye
upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he
will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly
pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways
my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven,
and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring
forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the
eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it
shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I
please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12 For ye
shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and
the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees
of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall
come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the
myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an
everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
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2nd Lesson
2 Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady,
highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a
form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive
silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever
learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now
as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the
truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But
they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto
all men, as theirs also was. 10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine,
manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11
Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium,
at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord
delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse
and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the
things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of
whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known
the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God
may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
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Second Sunday in Advent
Evening
Prayer
Sunday
1st Lesson
Amos 3:1-8
1 Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children
of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land
of Egypt, saying, 2 You only have I known of all the families of the
earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3 Can two
walk together, except they be agreed? 4 Will a lion roar in the
forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if
he have taken nothing? 5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth,
where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and
have taken nothing at all? 6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and
the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord
hath not done it? 7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he
revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 8 The lion hath
roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but
prophesy? 9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in
the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of
Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the
oppressed in the midst thereof. 10 For they know not to do right,
saith the Lord, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. 11
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; An adversary there shall be even
round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee,
and thy palaces shall be spoiled. 12 Thus saith the Lord; As the
shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of
an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in
Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. 13 Hear
ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord God, the God of
hosts, 14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of
Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns
of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. 15 And I will
smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory
shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the
Lord.
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2nd Lesson
1 Thessalonians 2:1-13
1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it
was not in vain: 2 But even after that we had suffered before, and
were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in
our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 3
For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in
guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the
gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth
our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye
know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness: 6 Nor of men sought
we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been
burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you,
even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 So being affectionately
desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the
gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto
us. 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring
night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we
preached unto you the gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God
also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among
you that believe: 11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and
charged every one of you, as father doth his children. 12 That ye
would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and
glory. 13 For this cause also we thank God without ceasing, because,
when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it
not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which
effectually worketh also in you that believe.
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1st Lesson
Isaiah 11:1-11
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a
Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the Lord shall
rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of
counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the
Lord; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the
Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither
reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall
he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth:
and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the
breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall
be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie
down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling
together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the
bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the
lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play
on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the
cockatrice's den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy
mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as
the waters cover the sea. 10 And in that day there shall be a root of
Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the
Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. 11 And it shall come to
pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second
time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from
Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from
Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the
sea.
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2nd Lesson
John 5:30-40
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my
judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of
the Father which hath sent me. 31 If I bear witness of myself, my
witness is not true. 32 There is another that beareth witness of me;
and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33 Ye
sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive
not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be
saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing
for a season to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have greater witness
than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to
finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father
hath sent me. 37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath
borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor
seen his shape. 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom
he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the scriptures; for in
them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of
me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
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The Second Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Monday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 8:5-8, 11-20
5 The Lord spake also unto me again, saying, 6 Forasmuch as this
people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in
Rezin and Remaliah's son; 7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth
up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king
of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his
channels, and go over all his banks: 8 And he shall pass through
Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck;
and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy
land, O Immanuel.
11 For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed
me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, 12 Say ye
not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A
confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify
the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be
your dread. 14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of
stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for
a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many
among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and
be taken. 16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house
of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom
the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from
the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. 19 And when they
shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and
unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto
their God? for the living to the dead? 20 To the law and to the
testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because
there is no light in them.
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2nd Lesson
Mark 2:23—3:6
23 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the
sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears
of corn. 24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on
the sabbath day that which is not lawful? 25 And he said unto them,
Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an
hungred, he, and they that were with him? 26 How he went into the
house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the
shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave
also to them which were with him? 27 And he said unto them, The
sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore
the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man
there which had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, whether he
would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 3 And
he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 4 And
he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to
do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5 And
when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for
the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth
thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole
as the other. 6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took
counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy
him.
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The Second Sunday in
Advent
Monday
Evening Prayer
1st Lesson
Isaiah 9:8-17
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of
Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, 10 The bricks
are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are
cut down, but we will change them into cedars. 11 Therefore the Lord
shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his
enemies together; 12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind;
and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger
is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 13 For the
people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek
the Lord of hosts. 14 Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head
and tail, branch and rush, in one day. 15 The ancient and honourable,
he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. 16
For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are
led of them are destroyed. 17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in
their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and
widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth
speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his
hand is stretched out still.
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2nd Lesson
Revelation 11:15
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in
heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of
our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 16
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats,
fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, We give thee
thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come;
because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 18
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the
dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward
unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear
thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy
the earth. 19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there
was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were
lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great
hail.
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The Second Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Tuesday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 9:18—10:4
18 For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers
and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they
shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. 19 Through the wrath of
the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the
fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. 20 And he shall
snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left
hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the
flesh of his own arm: 21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and
they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not
turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write
grievousness which they have prescribed; 2 To turn aside the needy
from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people,
that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! 3
And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation
which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where
will ye leave your glory? 4 Without me they shall bow down under the
prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger
is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
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2nd Lesson
Mark 3:7-19
7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a
great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, 8 And from
Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about
Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great
things he did, came unto him. 9 And he spake to his disciples, that a
small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they
should throng him. 10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they
pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. 11 And
unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried,
saying, Thou art the Son of God. 12 And he straitly charged them that
they should not make him known. 13 And he goeth up into a mountain,
and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 14 And he
ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send
them forth to preach, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to
cast out devils: 16 And Simon he surnamed Peter; 17 And James the son
of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them
Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: 18 And Andrew, and Philip,
and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of
Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, 19 And Judas
Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
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The Second Sunday in Advent
Evening
Prayer
Tuesday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-21
5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is
mine indignation. 6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation,
and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take
the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire
of the streets. 7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart
think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a
few.
13 For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by
my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the
people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the
inhabitants like a valiant man: 14 And my hand hath found as a nest
the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left,
have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing,
or opened the mouth, or peeped. 15 Shall the axe boast itself against
him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him
that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that
lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no
wood. 16 Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his
fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like
the burning of a fire. 17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire,
and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns
and his briers in one day; 18 And shall consume the glory of his
forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall
be as when a standardbearer fainteth. 19 And the rest of the trees of
his forest shall be few, that a child may write them. 20 And it shall
come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are
escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that
smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in
truth. 21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto
the mighty God.
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2nd Lesson
Revelation 12:1-12
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with
the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of
twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth,
and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in
heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten
horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third
part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the
dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to
devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man
child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child
was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into
the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they
should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 7
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the
dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not;
neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great
dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,
which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and
his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying
in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our
God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is
cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their
testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore
rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters
of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you,
having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short
time.
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The Second Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Wednesday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 11:1-10
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a
Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the Lord shall
rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of
counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the
Lord; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the
Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither
reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall
he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth:
and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the
breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall
be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie
down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling
together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the
bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the
lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play
on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the
cockatrice's den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy
mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as
the waters cover the sea. 10 And in that day there shall be a root of
Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the
Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
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2nd Lesson
Mark 3:20
20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not
so much as eat bread. 21 And when his friends heard of it, they went
out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. 22 And
the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub,
and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. 23 And he
called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan
cast out Satan? 24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that
kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house be divided against itself,
that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and
be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. 27 No man can enter into
a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind
the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. 28 Verily I say unto
you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies
wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme
against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of
eternal damnation: 30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. 31
There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without,
sent unto him, calling him. 32 And the multitude sat about him, and
they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek
for thee. 33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my
brethren? 34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him,
and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35 For whosoever shall do
the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and
mother.
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The Second Sunday in Advent
Evening
Prayer
Wednesday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 12
1 And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee:
though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou
comfortedst me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not
be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is
become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of
the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the
Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make
mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath
done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and
shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in
the midst of thee.
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2nd Lesson
Revelation 13:1-10
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out
of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten
crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast
which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of
a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him
his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his
heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed:
and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the
dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast,
saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two
months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to
blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to
overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues,
and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,
whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from
the foundation of the world. 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that
killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the
patience and the faith of the saints.
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The Second Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Thursday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 13:1-5, 17-22
1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. 2
Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them,
shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. 3 I
have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones
for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. 4 The noise of
a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous
noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts
mustereth the host of the battle. 5 They come from a far country, from
the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation,
to destroy the whole land.
17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not
regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. 18 Their
bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no
pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children. 19
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees'
excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20 It
shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation
to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither
shall the shepherds make their fold there. 21 But wild beasts of the
desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful
creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate
houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to
come, and her days shall not be prolonged.
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2nd Lesson
Mark 4:1-20
1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was
gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship,
and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the
land. 2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them
in his doctrine, 3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4
And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the
fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony
ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up,
because it had no depth of earth: 6 But when the sun was up, it was
scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And some
fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it
yielded no fruit. 8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit
that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some
sixty, and some an hundred. 9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears
to hear, let him hear. 10 And when he was alone, they that were about
him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he said unto
them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God:
but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may
hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted,
and their sins should be forgiven them. 13 And he said unto them, Know
ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14 The
sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where
the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately,
and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these
are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have
heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no
root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when
affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately
they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns;
such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the
deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in,
choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20 And these are they
which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it,
and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an
hundred.
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The Second Sunday in Advent
Evening
Prayer
Thursday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 13:6-15
Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a
destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore shall all hands be faint,
and every man's heart shall melt: 8 And they shall be afraid: pangs
and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman
that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces
shall be as flames. 9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both
with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall
destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and
the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall
be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light
to shine. 11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the
wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud
to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. 12 I will
make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden
wedge of Ophir. 13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth
shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and
in the day of his fierce anger. 14 And it shall be as the chased roe,
and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his
own people, and flee every one into his own land. 15 Every one that is
found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them
shall fall by the sword.
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2nd Lesson
Revelation 14:1-13
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with
him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name
written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the
voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard
the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it
were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the
elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and
four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they
which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are
they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed
from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And
in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before
the throne of God. 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of
heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell
on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him;
for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made
heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And
there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen,
that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the
wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying
with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and
receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without
mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented
with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the
presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up
for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship
the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice
from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in
the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest
from their labours; and their works do follow them.
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The Second Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Friday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 24:16b
16b But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the
treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous
dealers have dealt very treacherously. 17 Fear, and the pit, and the
snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. 18 And it shall come
to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into
the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be
taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the
foundations of the earth do shake. 19 The earth is utterly broken
down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. 20
The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed
like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it;
and it shall fall, and not rise again. 21 And it shall come to pass in
that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that
are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. 22 And they
shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and
shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be
visited. 23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed,
when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem,
and before his ancients gloriously.
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2nd Lesson
Mark 4:21-29
21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a
bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22 For
there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any
thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23 If any man have
ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said unto them, Take heed what
ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and
unto you that hear shall more be given. 25 For he that hath, to him
shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even
that which he hath. 26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a
man should cast seed into the ground; 27 And should sleep, and rise
night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not
how. 28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the
blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29 But when
the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle,
because the harvest is come.
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The Second Sunday in Advent
Evening
Prayer
Friday
2nd Lesson
Isaiah 26:11-19
11 Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they
shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire
of thine enemies shall devour them. 12 Lord, thou wilt ordain peace
for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. 13 O Lord our
God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee
only will we make mention of thy name. 14 They are dead, they shall
not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou
visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. 15
Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord, thou hast increased the
nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the
ends of the earth. 16 Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, they
poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them. 17 Like as a
woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in
pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O
Lord. 18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it
were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the
earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. 19 Thy dead
men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and
sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and
the earth shall cast out the dead.
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2nd Lesson
Revelation 15
1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven
angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the
wrath of God. 2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire:
and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his
image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on
the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of
Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and
marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy
ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and
glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come
and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. 5 And
after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the
testimony in heaven was opened: 6 And the seven angels came out of the
temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and
having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 7 And one of the four
beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath
of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with
smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able
to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels
were fulfilled.
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The Second Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Saturday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 28:1-13
1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose
glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat
valleys of them that are overcome with wine! 2 Behold, the Lord hath a
mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying
storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the
earth with the hand. 3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim,
shall be trodden under feet: 4 And the glorious beauty, which is on
the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty
fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth,
while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. 5 In that day shall the
Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty,
unto the residue of his people, 6 And for a spirit of judgment to him
that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the
battle to the gate. 7 But they also have erred through wine, and
through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet
have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they
are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they
stumble in judgment. 8 For all tables are full of vomit and
filthiness, so that there is no place clean. 9 Whom shall he teach
knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that
are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept
must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon
line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips
and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said,
This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is
the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13 But the word of the Lord
was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon
line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they
might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
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2nd Lesson
Mark 4:30
30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or
with what comparison shall we compare it? 31 It is like a grain of
mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all
the seeds that be in the earth: 32 But when it is sown, it groweth up,
and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches;
so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. 33 And
with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able
to hear it. 34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when
they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. 35 And the
same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over
unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude,
they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him
other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the
waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in
the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him,
and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he
arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.
And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto
them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And
they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man
is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
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The Second Sunday in Advent
Evening
Prayer
Saturday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 28:14-22
14 Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule
this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have
made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when
the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us:
for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid
ourselves: 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion
for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a
sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment
also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the
hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall
overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be
disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the
overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down
by it. 19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for
morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it
shall be a vexation only to understand the report. 20 For the bed is
shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering
narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. 21 For the Lord shall
rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of
Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass
his act, his strange act. 22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest
your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts
a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.
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2nd Lesson
Revelation 18:1-10
1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven,
having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And
he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is
fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the
hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful
bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her
fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication
with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the
abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven,
saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her
sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have
reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward
her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to
her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How
much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much
torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a
queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 8 Therefore shall her
plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she
shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who
judgeth her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed
fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and
lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10
Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas,
that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy
judgment come.
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