Psalm 14^(A)

For the director of music. Of David.

Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts

7 In the first year of Belshazzar^(A) king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions^(B) passed through his mind^(C) as he was lying in bed.^(D) He wrote^(E) down the substance of his dream.

² Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven^(F) churning up the great sea. ³ Four great beasts,^(G) each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

The Interpretation of the Dream

¹⁵ “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.^{(A) 16} I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.

“So he told me and gave me the interpretation^(B) of these things: ¹⁷ ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. ¹⁸ But the holy people^(C) of the Most High will receive the kingdom^(D) and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’^(E)

²⁰ Looking at his disciples, he said:

²³ “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,^(G) because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.^(H)

Love for Enemies^(N)

²⁷ “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,^{(O) 28} bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.^{(P) 29} If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.^{(Q) 31} Do to others as you would have them do to you.^(R)

¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[a] having been predestined^(A) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose^(B) of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.^{(C) 13} And you also were included in Christ^(D) when you heard the message of truth,^(E) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,^(F) the promised Holy Spirit,^{(G) 14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance^(H) until the redemption^(I) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.^(J)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus^(K) and your love for all God’s people,^{(L) 16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you,^(M) remembering you in my prayers.^{(N) 17} I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^(O) may give you the Spirit^[b] of wisdom^(P) and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened^(Q) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called^(R) you, the riches^(S) of his glorious inheritance^(T) in his holy people,^{(U) 19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power^(V) is the same as the mighty strength^{(W) 20} he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead^(X) and seated him at his right hand^(Y) in the heavenly realms,^{(Z) 21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,^(AA) and every name^(AB) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.^{(AC) 22} And God placed all things under his feet^(AD) and appointed him to be head^(AE) over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body,^(AF) the fullness of him^(AG) who fills everything in every way.^(AH)