Isaiah 9:2-7

New International Version

²The people walking in darkness^(A)
    have seen a great light;^(B)
on those living in the land of deep darkness^(C)
    a light has dawned.^(D)
³You have enlarged the nation^(E)
    and increased their joy;^(F)
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.^(G)
⁴For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,^(H)
    you have shattered^(I)
the yoke^(J) that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,^(K)
    the rod of their oppressor.^(L)
⁵Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,^(M)
    will be fuel for the fire.
⁶For to us a child is born,^(N)
    to us a son is given,^(O)
    and the government^(P) will be on his shoulders.^(Q)
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor,^(R) Mighty God,^(S)
    Everlasting^(T) Father,^(U) Prince of Peace.^(V)
⁷Of the greatness of his government^(W) and peace^(X)
    there will be no end.^(Y)
He will reign^(Z) on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice^(AA) and righteousness^(AB)
    from that time on and forever.^(AC)
The zeal^(AD) of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

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John 1:1-14

New International Version

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word,^(A) and the Word was with God,^(B) and the Word was God.^(C) ²He was with God in the beginning.^(D) ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.^(E) ⁴In him was life,^(F) and that life was the light^(G) of all mankind. ⁵The light shines in the darkness,^(H) and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.^(I)

⁶There was a man sent from God whose name was John.^(J) ⁷He came as a witness to testify^(K) concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.^(L) ⁸He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹The true light^(M) that gives light to everyone^(N) was coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,^(O) the world did not recognize him. ¹¹He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.^(P) ¹²Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed^(Q) in his name,^(R) he gave the right to become children of God^(S)— ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.^(T)

¹⁴The Word became flesh^(U) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,^(V) the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace^(W) and truth.^(X)

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