Micah 5:2-5a
5:2 But you, O Bethlehem of
Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth
for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient
days.
5:3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is
in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the
people of Israel.
5:4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the
strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they
shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the
earth;
5:5 and he shall be the one of peace.
Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)
1:39 In those days Mary set
out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country,
1:40 where
she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
1:41 When
Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Spirit
1:42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed
are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
1:43 And why
has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
1:44 For
as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for
joy.
1:45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a
fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."
1:46 And Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
1:47 and my spirit rejoices in God my
Savior,
1:48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his
servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
1:49
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his
name.
1:50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to
generation.
1:51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the
proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
1:52 He has brought down the
powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
1:53 he has filled
the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
1:54 He has
helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
1:55 according to
the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants
forever."
