December 18, 2024 PORTALS OF PRAYER READINGS

 

Isaiah 35

The Ransomed Shall Return

35 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
    the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
² it shall blossom abundantly
    and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
    the majesty of our God.

³ Strengthen the weak hands,
    and make firm the feeble knees.
⁴ Say to those who have an anxious heart,
    “Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
    will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
    He will come and save you.”

⁵ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
⁶ then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
    and streams in the desert;
⁷ the burning sand shall become a pool,
    and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

⁸ And a highway shall be there,
    and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
    It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
    even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.^[a]
9 No lion shall be there,
    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
    but the redeemed shall walk there.
¹⁰ And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
    and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
    they shall obtain gladness and joy,
    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Footnotes

1. Isaiah 35:8 Or if they are fools, they shall not wander in it

Psalm 119:81-88

Kaph

⁸¹ My soul longs for your salvation;
    I hope in your word.
⁸² My eyes long for your promise;
    I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
    yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
⁸⁴ How long must your servant endure?^[a]
    When will you judge those who persecute me?
⁸⁵ The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;
    they do not live according to your law.
⁸⁶ All your commandments are sure;
    they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
⁸⁷ They have almost made an end of me on earth,
    but I have not forsaken your precepts.
⁸⁸ In your steadfast love give me life,
    that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Footnotes

1. Psalm 119:84 Hebrew How many are the days of your servant?

 

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Source for Bible text - www.biblegateway.com