But God commendeth his own love toward us,
In that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
WHO hath believed our message? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground:
He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:
And as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised; and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows;
Yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:
The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way,
And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
Because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors:
Yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
SELECTION 36
THE NEW YEAR
MY days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
But thou, O Lord, wilt abide for ever; and thy memorial name unto all generations.
