Psalm 3^[a]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.^(A)

⁵ Then you shall declare before the Lord your God: “My father was a wandering^(A) Aramean,^(B) and he went down into Egypt with a few people^(C) and lived there and became a great nation,^(D) powerful and numerous. ⁶ But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer,^(E) subjecting us to harsh labor.^{(F) 7} Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our voice^(G) and saw^(H) our misery,^(I) toil and oppression.^{(J) 8} So the Lord brought us out of Egypt^(K) with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,^(L) with great terror and with signs and wonders.^{(M) 9} He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;^{(N) 10} and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.^(O)” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him.

³² Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,^(A) when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.^{(B) 33} Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;^(C) at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.^{(D) 34} You suffered along with those in prison^(E) and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.^{(F) 35} So do not throw away your confidence;^(G) it will be richly rewarded.

³⁶ You need to persevere^(H) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.^{(I) 37} For,

³⁸ And,

³⁹ But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Psalm 13^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The Interpretation of the Vision

¹⁵ While I, Daniel, was watching the vision^(A) and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man.^{(B) 16} And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai^(C) calling, “Gabriel,^(D) tell this man the meaning of the vision.”^(E)

¹⁷ As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate.^(F) “Son of man,”^[a] he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”^(G)

¹⁸ While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.^(H) Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.^(I)

¹⁹ He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath,^(J) because the vision concerns the appointed time^(K) of the end.^{[b](L) 20} The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.^{(M) 21} The shaggy goat is the king of Greece,^(N) and the large horn between its eyes is the first king.^{(O) 22} The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.

²³ “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. ²⁴ He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people.^{(P) 25} He will cause deceit^(Q) to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes.^(R) Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.^(S)

²⁶ “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true,^(T) but seal^(U) up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”^(V)

²⁷ I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted^(W) for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business.^(X) I was appalled^(Y) by the vision; it was beyond understanding.