Malachi 3:1-4
3:1 See, I am sending my messenger
to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to
his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight--indeed, he is
coming, says the LORD of hosts.
3:2 But who can endure the day of his
coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and
like fullers' soap;
3:3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,
and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver,
until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.
3:4 Then the
offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of
old and as in former years.
Luke 1:68-79
1:68 "Blessed
be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and
redeemed them.
1:69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house
of his servant David,
1:70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy
prophets from of old,
1:71 that we would be saved from our enemies and
from the hand of all who hate us.
1:72 Thus he has shown the mercy
promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant,
1:73 the
oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us
1:74 that we,
being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without
fear,
1:75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our
days.
1:76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
1:77 to give
knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their
sins.
1:78 By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will
break upon us,
1:79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the
shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
