4th Sunday of Advent

1Now it happened that, when the king had settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2he said to the prophet Nathan, “Do you not see that I live in a house of cedar, and that the ark of God has been placed in the midst of tent skins?” 3And Nathan said to the king: “Go, do all that is in your heart. For the Lord is with you.” 4But it happened in that night, behold, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: 5“Go, and say to my servant David: ‘Thus says the Lord: Should you build a house for me as a dwelling place?

…

8And now, so shall you speak to my servant David: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pastures, from following the sheep, so that you would be the leader over my people Israel. 9And I have been with you everywhere that you walked. And I have slain all your enemies before your face. And I have made you a great name, beside the name of the great ones who are upon the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall live there, and they shall no longer be disturbed. Neither shall the sons of iniquity continue to afflict them as before, 11from the day when I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give rest to you from all your enemies. And the Lord foretells to you that the Lord himself will make a house for you. 12And when your days will have been fulfilled, and you will sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will go forth from your loins, and I will make firm his kingdom.

…

14I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he will commit any iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and with the wounds of the sons of men.

…

16And your house shall be faithful, and your kingdom shall be before your face, for eternity, and your throne shall be secure continuously.’ ”

2I will sing the mercies of the Lord in eternity. I will announce your truth with my mouth, from generation to generation.

3For you have said: Mercy will be built in the heavens, unto eternity. Your truth will be prepared there.

4I have set up a covenant with my elect. I have sworn to David my servant:

5I will prepare your offspring, even in eternity. And I will build up your throne, from generation to generation.

…

27He will invoke me: “You are my father, my God, and the support of my salvation.”

…

29I will preserve my mercy for him eternally, and my covenant for him faithfully.

25But to him who is able to confirm you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, in accord with the revelation of the mystery which has been hidden from time immemorial, 26(which now has been made clear through the Scriptures of the Prophets, in accord with the precept of the eternal God, unto the obedience of faith) which has been made known among all the Gentiles: 27to God, who alone is wise, through Jesus Christ, to him be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

26Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. 28And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” 29And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be. 30And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God. 31Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS. 32He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity. 33And his kingdom shall have no end.” 34Then Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?” 35And in response, the Angel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God. 36And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has herself also conceived a son, in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her who is called barren. 37For no word will be impossible with God.” 38Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the Angel departed from her.