Second Sunday of Advent, Year B

¹ “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. ² “Speak comfortably to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” ³ The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of the LORD in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God. ⁴ Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain. ⁵ The LORD’s glory shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.” ⁶ The voice of one saying, “Cry!” One said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field. ⁷ The grass withers, the flower fades, because the LORD’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass. ⁸ The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.” ⁹ You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength! Lift it up! Don’t be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold, your God!” ¹⁰ Behold, the Lord the LORD will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. ¹¹ He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young.

¹ O LORD, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob. ² You have forgiven the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sin.

⁸ I will hear what God, the LORD, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints; but let them not turn again to folly. ⁹ Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. ¹⁰ Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. ¹¹ Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven. ¹² Yes, the LORD will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase. ¹³ Righteousness goes before him, And prepares the way for his steps.

⁸ But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. ¹¹ Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, ¹² looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? ¹³ But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. ¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight. ¹⁵ Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you,