Isaiah 43:18-25
Psalm 41
2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Mark 2:1-12
Isaiah 43:18-25
43:18 Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.
43:19 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
43:20 The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,
43:21 the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.
43:22 Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel!
43:23 You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense.
43:24 You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities.
43:25 I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
Psalm 41
41:1 Happy are those who consider the poor; the LORD delivers them in the day of trouble.
41:2 The LORD protects them and keeps them alive; they are called happy in the land. You do not give them up to the will of their enemies.
41:3 The LORD sustains them on their sickbed; in their illness you heal all their infirmities.
41:4 As for me, I said, "O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you."
41:5 My enemies wonder in malice when I will die, and my name perish.
41:6 And when they come to see me, they utter empty words, while their hearts gather mischief; when they go out, they tell it abroad.
41:7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.
41:8 They think that a deadly thing has fastened on me, that I will not rise again from where I lie.
41:9 Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted the heel against me.
41:10 But you, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.
41:11 By this I know that you are pleased with me; because my enemy has not triumphed over me.
41:12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.
41:13 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
2 Corinthians 1:18-22
1:18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been "Yes and No."
1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not "Yes and No"; but in him it is always "Yes."
1:20 For in him every one of God's promises is a "Yes." For this reason it is through him that we say the "Amen," to the glory of God.
1:21 But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us,
1:22 by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.
Mark 2:1-12
2:1 When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.
2:2 So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them.
2:3 Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
2:4 And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.
2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
2:6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,
2:7 "Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
2:8 At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?
2:9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'?
2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --he said to the paralytic--
2:11 "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home."
2:12 And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
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