A reading from the book of Genesis.

The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying:
“Fear not, Abram!
I am your shield;
I will make your reward very great.”

But Abram said, “O Lord God, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?” Abram continued, “See, you have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir.” Then the word of the Lord came to him: “No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir.” The Lord took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.

The Lord took note of Sarah as he had said he would; he did for her as he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time that God had stated. Abraham gave the name Isaac to this son of his whom Sarah bore him.

The Word of God recorded in the book of Genesis.

R:  The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his name;

make known among the nations his deeds.

Sing to him, sing his praise,

proclaim all his wondrous deeds.

R:  The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

Glory in his holy name;

rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord!

Look to the Lord in his strength;

constantly seek his face.

R:  The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants,

sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!

He, the Lord, is our God;

throughout the earth his judgments prevail.

R:  The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

He remembers forever his covenant

which he made binding for a thousand generations

Which he entered into with Abraham

and by his oath to Isaac.

R:  The Lord remembers his covenant forever.