Advent Bible verses — readings for the season of waiting

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.