Daniel 1:1-10

New International Version

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim^(A) king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar^(B) king of Babylon^(C) came to Jerusalem and besieged it.^(D) ²And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried^(E) off to the temple of his god in Babylonia^[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.^(F)

³Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility^(G)— ⁴young men without any physical defect, handsome,^(H) showing aptitude for every kind of learning,^(I) well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language^(J) and literature of the Babylonians.^[b] ⁵The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine^(K) from the king’s table.^(L) They were to be trained for three years,^(M) and after that they were to enter the king’s service.^(N)

⁶Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel,^(O) Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.^(P) ⁷The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar;^(Q) to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.^(R)

⁸But Daniel resolved not to defile^(S) himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹Now God had caused the official to show favor^(T) and compassion^(U) to Daniel, ¹⁰but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your^[c] food and drink.^(V) Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

Daniel 1:2 Hebrew Shinar
Daniel 1:4 Or Chaldeans
Daniel 1:10 The Hebrew for your and you in this verse is plural.

Psalm 24:1-6

New International Version

Psalm 24

Of David. A psalm.

¹The earth is the Lord’s,^(A) and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;^(B)
²for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.^(C)

³Who may ascend the mountain^(D) of the Lord?
    Who may stand in his holy place?^(E)
⁴The one who has clean hands^(F) and a pure heart,^(G)
    who does not trust in an idol^(H)
    or swear by a false god.^[a]

⁵They will receive blessing^(I) from the Lord
and vindication^(J) from God their Savior.
⁶Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face,^(K) God of Jacob.^[b]^[c]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

Psalm 24:4 Or swear falsely
Psalm 24:6 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts face, Jacob
Psalm 24:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.

Luke 21:1-4

New International Version

The Widow’s Offering^(A)

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.^(B) ²He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”^(C)