Daily Readings - 15/08/2026

^45:1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme: I address my poem to the king; my tongue as ready as the pen of a busy scribe.

^45:2 Of all men you are the most handsome, your lips are moist with grace, for God has blessed you for ever.

^45:3 Hero, strap your sword at your side, in majesty and splendour;

^45:4 on, ride on, in the cause of truth, religion and virtue! Stretch the bowstring tight, lending terror to your right hand.

^45:5 Your arrows are sharp; nations lie at your mercy, the king’s enemies are losing heart.

^45:6 Your throne, God, shall last for ever and ever, your royal sceptre is a sceptre of integrity:

^45:7 virtue you love as much as you hate wickedness. This is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness, above all your rivals;

^45:8 myrrh and aloes waft from your robes. From palaces of ivory harps entertain you;

^45:9 daughters of kings are among your maids of honour; on your right stands the queen, in gold from Ophir.

^45:10 Listen, daughter, pay careful attention: forget your nation and your ancestral home,

^45:11 then the king will fall in love with your beauty. He is your master now, bow down to him.

^45:12 The daughter of Tyre will solicit your favour with gifts, the wealthiest nations,

^45:13 with jewels set in gold. Dressed

^45:14 in brocades, the king’s daughter is led in to the king, with bridesmaids in her train. Her ladies-in-waiting follow

^45:15 and enter the king’s palace to general rejoicing.

^45:16 Your ancestors will be replaced by sons whom you will make lords of the whole world.

^45:17 I shall immortalise your name, nations will sing your praises for ever and ever.

^15:20 But Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep.

^15:21 Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man.

^15:22 Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ;

^15:23 but all of them in their proper order: Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him.

^15:24 After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power.

^15:25 For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet[*a]

^15:26 and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet.

^15:27 – Though when it is said that everything is subjected, this clearly cannot include the One who subjected everything to him.

^1:39 Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah.

^1:40 She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

^1:41 Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

^1:42 She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

^1:43 Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

^1:44 For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy.

^1:45 Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’

^1:46 And Mary[*i] said: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord

^1:47 and my spirit exults in God my saviour;

^1:48 because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid. Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,

^1:49 for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name,

^1:50 and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.

^1:51 He has shown the power of his arm, he has routed the proud of heart.

^1:52 He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

^1:53 The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.

^1:54 He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy

^1:55 -according to the promise he made to our ancestors-of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

^1:56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.