1. In the beginning God created the heavens and
the earth.
2. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and
the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
4. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
5. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And
there was evening, and there was morning--the first day.
6. And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from
water."
7. So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above
it. And it was so.
8. God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was
morning--the second day.
9. And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry
ground appear." And it was so.
10. God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called
"seas." And God saw that it was good.
11. Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on
the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it
was so.
12. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees
bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
13. And there was evening, and there was morning--the third day.
14. And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day
from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years,
15. and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And
it was so.
16. God made two great lights--the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to
govern the night. He also made the stars.
17. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth,
18. to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that
it was good. |
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7. This is what the LORD says: "Sing with
joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, `O
LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.'
8. See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the
earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a
great throng will return.
9. They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them
beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's
father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
10. "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: `He who
scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.'
11. For the LORD will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than
they.
12. They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the
bounty of the LORD-- the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young of the flocks and
herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more.
13. Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their
mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
14. I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my
bounty," declares the LORD. |
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