‘Console my people, console them’ 
says your God.
‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalem 
and call to her
that her time of service is ended, 
that her sin is atoned for,
that she has received from the hand of the Lord
double punishment for all her crimes.’

A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the wilderness 
a way for the Lord.
Make a straight highway for our God 
across the desert.
Let every valley be filled in, 
every mountain and hill be laid low.
Let every cliff become a plain, 
and the ridges a valley;
then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed 
and all mankind shall see it;
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’

Go up on a high mountain, 
joyful messenger to Zion.
Shout with a loud voice,
 joyful messenger to Jerusalem.
Shout without fear, 
say to the towns of Judah, 
‘Here is your God.’

Here is the Lord coming with power, 
his arm subduing all things to him.
The prize of his victory is with him, 
his trophies all go before him.
He is like a shepherd feeding his flock,
gathering lambs in his arms,
holding them against his breast
and leading to their rest the mother ewes.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
  a voice that speaks of peace,
  peace for his people.
His help is near for those who fear him
  and his glory will dwell in our land.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;
  justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
  and justice look down from heaven.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

The Lord will make us prosper
  and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him
  and peace shall follow his steps.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

There is one thing, my friends, that you must never forget: that with the Lord, ‘a day’ can mean a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not being slow to carry out his promises, as anybody else might be called slow; but he is being patient with you all, wanting nobody to be lost and everybody to be brought to change his ways. The Day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then with a roar the sky will vanish, the elements will catch fire and fall apart, the earth and all that it contains will be burnt up.

Since everything is coming to an end like this, you should be living holy and saintly lives while you wait and long for the Day of God to come, when the sky will dissolve in flames and the elements melt in the heat. What we are waiting for is what he promised: the new heavens and new earth, the place where righteousness will be at home. So then, my friends, while you are waiting, do your best to live lives without spot or stain so that he will find you at peace.

Alleluia, alleluia!
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight,
and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia!