The Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs, is a poetic book attributed to Solomon during his reign as king of Israel. The opening verse identifies it as Solomon's song, the greatest of songs. The book presents itself as a collection of love poetry celebrating romantic love between a man and woman. Solomon, renowned for his wisdom and wealth, ruled Israel during its golden age and was known for his many wives and concubines. The passage immediately follows the book's title and superscription, launching directly into the poetic dialogue that characterizes the entire work. The Shulammite woman is addressing Solomon.
[2] Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
For your love is better than wine.
[3] Because of the fragrance of your good ointments,
Your name is ointment poured forth;
Therefore the virgins love you.
[4] Draw me away!
The Daughters of Jerusalem
We will run after you.
The Shulamite
The king has brought me into his chambers.
The Daughters of Jerusalem
We will be glad and rejoice in you.
We will remember your love more than wine.
The Shulamite
Rightly do they love you.
[5] I am dark, but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
Like the tents of Kedar,
Like the curtains of Solomon.
[6] Do not look upon me, because I am dark,
Because the sun has tanned me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
They made me the keeper of the vineyards,
But my own vineyard I have not kept.
(To Her Beloved)
[7] Tell me, O you whom I love,
Where you feed your flock,
Where you make it rest at noon.
For why should I be as one who veils herself
By the flocks of your companions?
The Beloved
[8] If you do not know, O fairest among women,
Follow in the footsteps of the flock,
And feed your little goats
Beside the shepherds’ tents.
[9] I have compared you, my love,
To my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots.
[10] Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
Your neck with chains of gold.
The Daughters of Jerusalem
[11] We will make you ornaments of gold
With studs of silver.
The Shulamite
The prophet Isaiah speaks to the exiled people of Judah, offering hope during their Babylonian captivity. He has been describing God's promise to redeem His people and restore Jerusalem, emphasizing that their suffering will end and they will return home. The preceding verses announce that God will act decisively to free His people from bondage, demonstrating His sovereignty to all nations. Isaiah proclaims that watchmen will witness this deliverance firsthand and break into joyful song when they see the Lord returning to Zion. The passage celebrates messengers who bring good news of peace and salvation, declaring that God reigns and will comfort His people by revealing His holy arm before all nations.
[7] How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
[8] Your watchmen shall lift up their voices,
With their voices they shall sing together;
For they shall see eye to eye
When the Lord brings back Zion.
[9] Break forth into joy, sing together,
You waste places of Jerusalem!
For the Lord has comforted His people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
[10] The Lord has made bare His holy arm
In the eyes of all the nations;
And all the ends of the earth shall see
The salvation of our God.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy with John, God sends the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. Elizabeth, an elderly relative of Mary who had been barren, miraculously conceived after her husband Zechariah received an angelic announcement in the temple. Zechariah had been struck mute for doubting Gabriel's message about his son's birth and future role as a prophet who would prepare the way for the Lord. Now Gabriel arrives with another extraordinary announcement, this time to a young virgin named Mary who is engaged to Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel is addressing Mary.
[26] Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. [28] And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
[29] But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. [30] Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. [32] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. [33] And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
[34] Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
[35] And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. [36] Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. [37] For with God nothing will be impossible.”
[38] Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Two disciples are traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the same day that several women discovered Jesus's empty tomb and reported seeing angels who announced His resurrection. Earlier that morning, Peter also ran to the tomb and found only the linen cloths. The disciples in Jerusalem are confused and discussing these strange reports when two of their group decide to leave the city. As they walk, they are processing the traumatic events of the past three days, including Jesus's crucifixion and burial, and now the perplexing news of the empty tomb that has left them uncertain about what has happened to their teacher's body.
[13] Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. [14] And they talked together of all these things which had happened. [15] So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. [16] But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
[17] And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
[18] Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
[19] And He said to them, “What things?”
So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, [20] and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. [21] But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. [22] Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. [23] When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. [24] And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”
[25] Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” [27] And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
[28] Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. [29] But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
[30] Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
[32] And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” [33] So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, [34] saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” [35] And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
The Book of Proverbs presents collections of wise sayings attributed primarily to Solomon, contrasting righteous and wicked behavior through practical observations about daily life. The preceding verses in chapter eleven emphasize themes of generosity, righteousness leading to life, and the consequences of wickedness. Solomon has been contrasting those who pursue wisdom and righteousness with those who follow folly and wickedness, highlighting how righteous people benefit their communities while the wicked bring harm. The proverbs address various aspects of moral character including integrity, humility, and the treatment of others, consistently showing that righteous living produces blessing while wickedness leads to destruction. These teachings form part of Solomon's broader instruction on wisdom, building upon earlier chapters that established the fear of the Lord as the foundation of knowledge and understanding.
[30] The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who wins souls is wise.
[31] If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.
[1] Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.
[2] A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.
[3] A man is not established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.
[4] An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.
St. Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians 6:16-7:1
In the preceding verses, Paul urges the Corinthian believers not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, emphasizing the fundamental incompatibility between righteousness and lawlessness, light and darkness, Christ and Belial. He has been building an argument about separation from pagan practices and maintaining spiritual purity within the Christian community. The apostle draws sharp contrasts between believers and the world system, establishing that Christians are temples of the living God who must remain distinct from idolatry and moral compromise. This exhortation comes within Paul's broader defense of his apostolic ministry and his deep concern for the Corinthians' spiritual welfare, as they live in a city notorious for its immorality and pagan worship. Paul is addressing the church at Corinth.
[16] And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
[17] Therefore
“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
[18] “I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”
[1] Therefore,having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The prophet Malachi addresses Israel during a time of spiritual apathy and disillusionment following their return from Babylonian exile. The people have grown cynical about God's justice and question whether serving Him has any value. They complain that evildoers seem to prosper while the righteous suffer, asking where the God of justice can be found. The priests have become corrupt, offering defiled sacrifices and showing contempt for God's altar. Marriages have been broken, and the people have robbed God by withholding tithes and offerings. In response to their skepticism about divine judgment, God announces through Malachi that He will send His messenger to prepare the way before Him, and then the Lord they seek will suddenly come to His temple to refine and purify His people.
[1] “Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
[2] “But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
The Lord has sent the prophet Zechariah a series of night visions encouraging the Jewish remnant who returned from Babylonian exile. In the previous vision, Zechariah saw a man with a measuring line going to measure Jerusalem, but an angel instructed him that Jerusalem would expand beyond walls because the Lord himself would be a wall of fire around it and dwell in its midst. The current passage follows this promise of divine protection and presence, calling God's people to respond with joy and anticipation. The Lord is addressing the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Zion through the prophet Zechariah.
[10] “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord. [11] “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. [12] And the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. [13] Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”
On the third day after Jesus' crucifixion and burial, the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee prepare to visit his tomb. Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the council who had not consented to the Sanhedrin's decision, had taken Jesus' body down from the cross on Friday evening and laid it in his own new tomb cut from rock. The women had observed where Joseph placed the body and then returned home to prepare spices and ointments according to Jewish custom. They rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. Now, very early on the first day of the week, these women return to the tomb carrying the spices they had prepared, intending to anoint Jesus' body for proper burial.
[1] Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. [2] But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. [3] Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. [5] Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? [6] He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, [7] saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”
[8] And they remembered His words. [9] Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. [10] It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. [11] And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. [12] But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.