Advent - Week 1 - Isaiah 1:12-20 and Psalm 40

ISAIAH 1:12-20

¹²When you come to appear before me,
     who asked this from your hand?
     Trample my courts no more;
¹³bringing offerings is futile;
     incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation —
     I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
¹⁴Your new moons and your appointed festivals
     my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me,
     I am weary of bearing them.
¹⁵When you stretch out your hands,
     I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
     I will not listen;
     your hands are full of blood.
¹⁶Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
     remove the evil of your doings
     from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
¹⁷  learn to do good;
seek justice,
     rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
     plead for the widow.

¹⁸Come now, let us argue it out,
     says the LORD:
though your sins are like scarlet,
     they shall be like snow;
though they are red like crimson,
     they shall become like wool.
¹⁹If you are willing and obedient,
     you shall eat the good of the land;
²⁰but if you refuse and rebel,
     you shall be devoured by the sword;
     for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

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PSALM 40

1   I waited patiently for the LORD; 

          he inclined to me and heard my cry. 

2   He drew me up from the desolate pit, 

          out of the miry bog, 

     and set my feet upon a rock, 

          making my steps secure. 

3   He put a new song in my mouth, 

          a song of praise to our God. 

     Many will see and fear, 

          and put their trust in the LORD.

4   Happy are those who make 

          the LORD their trust, 

     who do not turn to the proud, 

          to those who go astray after false gods. 

5   You have multiplied, O LORD my God, 

          your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; 

          none can compare with you. 

     Were I to proclaim and tell of them, 

          they would be more than can be counted.

6   Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, 

          but you have given me an open ear. 

     Burnt offering and sin offering 

          you have not required. 

7   Then I said, “Here I am; 

          in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 

8   I delight to do your will, O my God; 

          your law is within my heart.”

9   I have told the glad news of deliverance 

          in the great congregation; 

     see, I have not restrained my lips, 

          as you know, O LORD. 

10  I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, 

          I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; 

     I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness 

          from the great congregation.

11  Do not, O LORD, withhold 

          your mercy from me; 

     let your steadfast love and your faithfulness 

          keep me safe forever. 

12  For evils have encompassed me 

          without number; 

     my iniquities have overtaken me, 

          until I cannot see; 

     they are more than the hairs of my head, 

          and my heart fails me.

13  Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; 

          O LORD, make haste to help me. 

14  Let all those be put to shame and confusion 

          who seek to snatch away my life; 

     let those be turned back and brought to dishonor 

          who desire my hurt. 

15  Let those be appalled because of their shame 

          who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

16  But may all who seek you 

          rejoice and be glad in you; 

     may those who love your salvation 

          say continually, “Great is the LORD!” 

17  As for me, I am poor and needy, 

          but the Lord takes thought for me. 

     You are my help and my deliverer; 

          do not delay, O my God.