WEBVTT

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Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're

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taking this journey together to read the Bible

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in a year. Today's reading is from the book of

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Zechariah, chapters 9 and 10. Chapter 9. The

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burden of the word of the Lord against the land

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of Hadrach and Damascus, its resting place. For

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the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel

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are on the Lord. Also against Hamath, which borders

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on it, and against Tyre and Sidon. though they

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are very wise. For Tyre built herself a tower,

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heaped up silver like the dust, and gold like

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the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will

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cast her out. He will destroy her power in the

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sea, and she will be devoured by fire. Ashkelon

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shall see it and fear. Gaza also shall be very

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sorrowful, and Ekron, for he dried up her expectation.

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The king shall perish from Gaza. and Ashkelon

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shall not be inhabited. A mixed race shall settle

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in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the

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Philistines. I will take away the blood from

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his mouth and the abominations from between his

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teeth. But he who remains, even he shall be for

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our God, and shall be like a leader in Judah,

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and Ekron like a Jebusite. I will camp around

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my house because of the army. because of him

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who passes by and him who returns. No more shall

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an oppressor pass through them, for now I have

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seen with my eyes. Rejoice greatly, O daughter

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of Zion. Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold,

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your king is coming to you. He is just and having

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salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt,

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the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot

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from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The

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battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace

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to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea

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to sea and from the river to the ends of the

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earth. As for you also, because of the blood

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of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free

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from the waterless pit. Return to the stronghold,

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you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that

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I will restore double to you. For I have bent

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Judah, my bow, fitted the bow with Ephraim, and

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raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons,

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O Greece, and have made you like the sword of

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a mighty man. Then the Lord will be seen over

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them, and his arrow will go forth like lightning.

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The Lord God will blow the trumpet and go with

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whirlwinds from the south. The Lord of hosts

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will defend them. They shall devour and subdue

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with sling stones. They shall drink and roar

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as if with wine. They shall be filled with blood

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like basins, like the corners of the altar. The

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Lord their God will save them in that day as

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the flock of his people. For they shall be like

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the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over

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his land. For how great is its goodness, and

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how great its beauty! Grain shall make the young

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men thrive, and new wine the young women. In

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the time of the latter rain, the Lord will make

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flashing clouds, He will give them showers of

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rain, grass in the field for everyone. For the

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idols speak delusion, the diviners envision lies,

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and tell false dreams. They comfort in vain,

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therefore the people wend their way like sheep.

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They are in trouble because there is no shepherd.

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My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and

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I will punish the goat herds. For the Lord of

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hosts will visit his flock, the house of Judah,

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and will make them as his royal horse in the

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battle. From him comes the cornerstone, from

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him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from

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him every ruler together. They shall be like

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mighty men who tread down their enemies in the

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mire of the streets in the battle. They shall

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fight because the Lord is with them, and the

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riders on horses shall be put to shame. I will

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strengthen the house of Judah and I will save

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the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because

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I have mercy on them. They shall be as though

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I had not cast them aside. For I am the Lord

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their God and I will hear them. Those of Ephraim

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shall be like a mighty man and their heart shall

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rejoice as if with wine. Yes, their children

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shall see it and be glad. Their heart shall rejoice

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in the Lord. I will whistle for them and gather

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them, for I will redeem them, and they shall

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increase as they once increased. I will sow them

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among the peoples, and they shall remember me

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in far countries. They shall live together with

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their children, and they shall return. I will

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also bring them back from the land of Egypt and

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gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into

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the land of Gilead and Lebanon, until no more

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room is found for them. He shall pass through

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the sea with affliction and strike the waves

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of the sea. All the depth of the river shall

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dry up, then the pride of Assyria shall be brought

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down, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart.

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So I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they

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shall walk up and down in his name, says the

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Lord. I hope you enjoyed today's reading as much

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as I did. and I look forward to seeing you again

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tomorrow to continue on our journey. God bless

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you and have a great day.