⁶ So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!^{(A) 7} The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors^(B) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.^{(C) 8} Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^{(D) 9} So King Darius put the decree in writing.

¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward^(E) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees^(F) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.^{(G) 11} Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.^{(H) 12} So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(I)

¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,^(J) pays no attention^(K) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴ When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;^(L) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

¹⁵ Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”^(M)

¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.^(N) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue^(O) you!”

¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed^(P) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸ Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating^(Q) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.^(R)

¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”^(S)

²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!^{(T) 22} My God sent his angel,^(U) and he shut the mouths of the lions.^(V) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.^(W) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound^(X) was found on him, because he had trusted^(Y) in his God.

²⁴ At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,^(Z) along with their wives and children.^(AA) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.^(AB)

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language^(AC) in all the earth:

Psalm 99

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,^(A) you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.^{(B) 22} For this is the time of punishment^(C) in fulfillment^(D) of all that has been written. ²³ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled^(E) on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.^{(F) 26} People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.^{(G) 27} At that time they will see the Son of Man^(H) coming in a cloud^(I) with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”^(J)

Psalm 19^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The Offer of Life or Death

¹¹ Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.^{(A) 12} It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven^(B) to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”^{(C) 13} Nor is it beyond the sea,^(D) so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”^{(E) 14} No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.^(F)

⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”^[a](A) that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: ⁹ If you declare^(B) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”^(C) and believe^(D) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,^(E) you will be saved.^{(F) 10} For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”^{[b](G) 12} For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile^(H)—the same Lord is Lord of all^(I) and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord^(J) will be saved.”^[c](K)

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”^[d](L)

¹⁶ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.^(M) For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”^{[e](N) 17} Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,^(O) and the message is heard through the word about Christ.^{(P) 18} But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

Jesus Calls His First Disciples^(A)

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee,^(B) he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter^(C) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,”^(D) Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.^(E)

²¹ Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.^(F) They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²² and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.^(G)