Isaiah 25:4-8

New International Version

⁴You have been a refuge^(A) for the poor,^(B)
    a refuge for the needy^(C) in their distress,
a shelter from the storm^(D)
    and a shade from the heat.
For the breath of the ruthless^(E)
    is like a storm driving against a wall
⁵    and like the heat of the desert.
You silence^(F) the uproar of foreigners;^(G)
    as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud,
    so the song of the ruthless^(H) is stilled.

⁶On this mountain^(I) the Lord Almighty will prepare
    a feast^(J) of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
    the best of meats and the finest of wines.^(K)
⁷On this mountain he will destroy
    the shroud^(L) that enfolds all peoples,^(M)
the sheet that covers all nations;
⁸    he will swallow up death^(N) forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears^(O)
    from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace^(P)
    from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.^(Q)

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1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

New International Version

¹⁶Rejoice always,^(A) ¹⁷pray continually,^(B) ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances;^(C) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit.^(D) ²⁰Do not treat prophecies^(E) with contempt ²¹but test them all;^(F) hold on to what is good,^(G) ²²reject every kind of evil.

²³May God himself, the God of peace,^(H) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^(I) and body be kept blameless^(J) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^(K) ²⁴The one who calls^(L) you is faithful,^(M) and he will do it.^(N)

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Mark 12:28-34

New International Version

The Greatest Commandment^(A)

²⁸One of the teachers of the law^(B) came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

²⁹“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[a] ³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^[b]^(C) ³¹The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c]^(D) There is no commandment greater than these.”

³²“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.^(E) ³³To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”^(F)

³⁴When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”^(G) And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.^(H)

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