First Reading

When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him:

“My covenant with you is this:

you are to become the father of a host of nations.

No longer shall you be called Abram;

your name shall be Abraham,

for I am making you the father of a host of nations.

I will render you exceedingly fertile;

I will make nations of you;

kings shall stem from you.

I will maintain my covenant with you

and your descendants after you

throughout the ages as an everlasting pact,

to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

I will give to you

and to your descendants after you

the land in which you are now staying,

the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession;

and I will be their God.”

God also said to Abraham:

“On your part, you and your descendants after you

must keep my covenant throughout the ages.”