Saturday after Epiphany

14And this is the confidence which we have toward God: that no matter what we shall request, in accord with his will, he hears us. 15And we know that he hears us, no matter what we request; so we know that we can obtain the things that we request of him. 16Anyone who realizes that his brother has sinned, with a sin that is not unto death, let him pray, and life shall be given to him who has sinned not unto death. There is a sin which is unto death. I am not saying that anyone should ask on behalf of that sin. 17All that is iniquity is sin. But there is a sin unto death. 18We know that everyone who is born of God does not sin. Instead, rebirth in God preserves him, and the evil one cannot touch him. 19We know that we are of God, and that the entire world is established in wickedness. 20And we know that the Son of God has arrived, and that he has given us understanding, so that we may know the true God, and so that we may remain in his true Son. This is the true God, and this is Eternal Life. 21Little sons, keep yourselves from false worship. Amen.

1Alleluia. Sing to the Lord a new song. His praise is in the Church of the saints.

2Let Israel rejoice in him who made them, and let the sons of Zion exult in their king.

3Let them praise his name in chorus. Let them sing psalms to him with the timbrel and the psaltery.

4For the Lord is well pleased with his people, and he will exalt the meek unto salvation.

5The saints will exult in glory. They will rejoice upon their couches.

6The exultations of God will be in their throat, and two-edged swords will be in their hands:

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9to obtain judgment over them, as it has been written. This is glory for all his saints. Alleluia.

22After these things, Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea. And he was living there with them and baptizing. 23Now John was also baptizing, at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water in that place. And they were arriving and being baptized. 24For John had not yet been cast into prison. 25Then a dispute occurred between the disciples of John and the Jews, about purification. 26And they went to John and said to him: “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, about whom you offered testimony: behold, he is baptizing and everyone is going to him.” 27John responded and said: “A man is not able to receive anything, unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28You yourselves offer testimony for me that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but that I have been sent before him. 29He who holds the bride is the groom. But the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to Him, rejoices joyfully at the voice of the groom. And so, this, my joy, has been fulfilled. 30He must increase, while I must decrease.