Saint Nicholas, Bishop

1The wilderness and the dry land will be glad.

The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.

2It will blossom abundantly,

and rejoice even with joy and singing.

Lebanon’s glory will be given to it,

the excellence of Carmel and Sharon.

They will see the LORD’s glory,

the excellence of our God.

3Strengthen the weak hands,

and make the feeble knees firm.

4Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong!

Don’t be afraid!

Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution.

He will come and save you.

5Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,

and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.

6Then the lame man will leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the mute will sing;

for waters will break out in the wilderness,

and streams in the desert.

7The burning sand will become a pool,

and the thirsty ground springs of water.

Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay.

8A highway will be there, a road,

and it will be called “The Holy Way”.

The unclean shall not pass over it,

but it will be for those who walk in the Way.

Wicked fools shall not go there.

9No lion will be there,

nor will any ravenous animal go up on it.

They will not be found there;

but the redeemed will walk there.

10Then the LORD’s ransomed ones will return,

and come with singing to Zion;

and everlasting joy will be on their heads.

They will obtain gladness and joy,

and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

8I 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.

9Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,

that glory may dwell in our land.

10Mercy and truth meet together.

Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11Truth springs out of the earth.

Righteousness has looked down from heaven.

12Yes, the LORD will give that which is good.

Our land will yield its increase.

13Righteousness goes before him,

and prepares the way for his steps.

17On one of those days, he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them. 18Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus. 19Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the middle before Jesus. 20Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” 22But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts? 23Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, arise, take up your cot, and go to your house.” 25Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God. 26Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”