Scripture Readings

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Isaiah 7:10-16; 8:1-4, 9-10 (Vespers, 8th reading)

10
Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying,
11
“Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”
12
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!”
13
Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?
14
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
15
“Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.
16
“For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings.
1
Moreover the Lord said to me, “Take a large scroll, and write on it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.
2
“And I will take for Myself faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.”
3
Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz;
4
“for before the child shall have knowledge to cry ‘My father’ and ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria.”
9
“Be shattered, O you peoples, and be broken in pieces! Give ear, all you from far countries. Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces.
10
Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak the word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.”