Becauseof the tendermercyof our God,With whichthe Sunrisefrom on highwill visitus,
Remember,O LORD,Your compassionand Your lovingkindnesses,For they have been from of old.
Then a shootwill springfrom the stemof Jesse,And a branchfrom his rootswill bearfruit.
"I will leadthe blindby a waythey do not know,In pathsthey do not knowI will guidethem. I will makedarknessinto lightbeforethem And ruggedplacesinto plains.Theseare the thingsI will do,And I will not leavethem undone."
Lookdownfrom heavenand seefrom Your holyand glorioushabitation;Whereare Your zealand Your mightydeeds?The stirringsof Your heartand Your compassionare restrainedtowardme.
I shall makementionof the lovingkindnessesof the LORD,the praisesof the LORD,Accordingto allthat the LORDhas grantedus, And the greatgoodnesstoward the houseof Israel,WhichHe has grantedthem according to His compassionAnd according to the abundanceof His lovingkindnesses.
Nowlisten,Joshuathe highpriest,you and your friendswho are sittingin frontof you-- indeedthey are menwho are a symbol,for behold,I am going to bringin My servantthe Branch.
"Then sayto him, 'Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Behold,a manwhose nameis Branch,for He will branchout from whereHe is; and He will buildthe templeof the LORD.
"But for you who fearMy name,the sunof righteousnesswill risewith healingin its wings;and you will goforthand skipaboutlike calvesfrom the stall.
"I seehim, but not now;I beholdhim, but not near;A starshall comeforth from Jacob,A sceptershall risefrom Israel,And shall crushthroughthe foreheadof Moab,And teardownallthe sonsof Sheth.
"For Godsolovedthe world,that He gaveHis only begottenSon,that whoeverbelievesin Him shall not perish,but haveeternallife.
For this reasonit says,"Awake,sleeper,And arisefrom the dead,And Christwill shineon you."
For Godis my witness,howI longfor you allwith the affectionof ChristJesus.
Thereforeifthere is anyencouragementin Christ,ifthere is anyconsolationof love,ifthere is anyfellowshipof the Spirit,ifanyaffectionand compassion,
So,as those who have been chosenof God,holyand beloved,puton a heartof compassion,kindness,humility,gentlenessand patience;
[So] we havethe propheticword[made] more sure,to whichyou dowellto pay attentionas to a lampshiningin a darkplace,untilthe daydawnsand the morning stararisesin your hearts.
But whoeverhasthe world'sgoods,and seeshis brotherin needand closeshis heartagainsthim, howdoes the loveof Godabidein him?
"I, Jesus,have sentMy angelto testifyto you these thingsfor the churches.I amthe rootand the descendantof David,the brightmorningstar."
