PSALM 146:5-10

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God,  who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; [the LORD] upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked [the LORD] brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!  

 

ADDITIONAL TEXTS 

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.  I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.  When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before you.  For you have maintained

my just cause; you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.  You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name forever and ever.  The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins; their cities you have rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.  But the LORD sits enthroned forever, [the LORD] has established [the LORD’s] throne for judgment.  [The LORD] judges the world with righteousness; [the LORD] judges the peoples with equity.  The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.  Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion. Declare [the LORD’s] deeds among the peoples.  For [the One] who avenges blood is mindful of them; [the LORD] does not forget the cry of the afflicted.  Be gracious to me, O LORD. See what I suffer from those who hate me; you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death, so that I may recount all your praises, and, in the gates of daughter Zion, rejoice in your deliverance.  The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.  The LORD has made [the LORD’s self] known, [the LORD] has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.  The wicked shall depart to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.  For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever.  Rise up, O LORD! Do not let mortals prevail; let the nations be judged before you.  Put them in fear, O LORD; let the nations know that they are only human.

Psalm 9:1-20

 

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; [the LORD] has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion—to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

Isaiah 61:1-3

 

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?  For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?  Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.  Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love [God]?  But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court?  Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?  You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

James 2:1-9

 

 

ADDITIONAL LECTIONARY TEXTS: 

Isaiah 35:1-10   

Psalm 146:5-10  

Luke 1:47-55  

James 5:7-10  

Matthew 11:2-11

 

Texts are from the NRSV.