Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
98 Sing to the LORD a new song; for He has done marvelous things! His right hand and His holy arm have gotten Him the victory.
2 The LORD declared His salvation. He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered His mercy and His truth toward the House of Israel. All the ends of the Earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Sing loud to the LORD, all the Earth! Cry out and rejoice; and sing praises!
5 Sing praise to the LORD upon the harp, upon the harp with a singing voice.
6 With shofars and sound of trumpets sing loud before the LORD the King.
7 Let the sea roar and all that therein is, the world and those who dwell therein.
8 Let the floods clap their hands! Let the mountains rejoice together
9 before the LORD! For He has come to judge the Earth. With righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity.
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was 60 cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babel.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to gather together the nobles, the princes and the dukes; the judges, the receivers, the counselors, the officers, and all the governors of the provinces, that they should come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3 So the nobles, princes, and dukes; the judges, the receivers, the counselors, the officers, and all the governors of the provinces were assembled for the dedicating of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. And they stood before the image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then a herald cried aloud, “Be it known to you, O people, nations, and languages,
5 That when you hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all instruments of music, you shall fall down, and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.
6 “And whoever does not fall down and worship, shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a hot fiery furnace!”
7 Therefore as soon as all the people heard the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all instruments of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down, and worshipped the golden image, that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 By reason whereof, at that same time came men of the Chaldeans, and grievously accused the Jews.
9 For they spoke and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever.
10 “You, O king, have made a decree that every man who shall hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all instruments of music, shall fall down, and worship the golden image.
11 “And whoever does not fall down, and worship, that he should be cast into the midst of a hot fiery furnace.
12 “There are certain Jews whom you have set over the charge of the province of Babel: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not regarded your commandment. Nor will they serve your gods, nor worship the golden image that you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his anger and wrath, commanded that they should bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king.
14 And Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said to them, “What is this? Will not you, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, serve my god, and worship the golden image that I have set up?
15 “Now, therefore, you should be ready when you hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all instruments of music, to fall down, and worship the image which I have made. “For if you do not worship it, you shall immediately be cast into the midst of a hot fiery furnace. For who is that God, that can deliver you out of my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not hesitant to answer you in this matter.
17 “Behold, our God whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the hot fiery furnace. And he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18 “But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.”
18 And after these things, I saw another angel come down from Heaven, having great power, so that the Earth was lightened with his glory,
2 And he cried out mightily with a loud voice, saying, “It is fallen! It is fallen! Babylon, that great city, has become the habitation of demons, and the prison of all foul spirits, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird!
3 “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the kings of the Earth have committed fornication with her. And the merchants of the Earth have grown rich on the abundance of her pleasures!”
4 And I heard another voice from Heaven say, “Come out of her, my people, so that you are not partakers of her sins, and that you do not receive her plagues.
5 “For her sins have come up into Heaven. And God has remembered her iniquities.
6 “Reward her, even as she has rewarded you. And give her double according to her works. And in the cup that she has filled to you, fill her double.
7 “Inasmuch as she glorified herself, and lived in pleasure, give her the same in torment and sorrow. For she says in her heart, ‘I sit, being a queen, and am no widow. And I shall see no mourning.’
8 “Therefore, her plagues shall come in one day: death and sorrow and famine. And she shall be burnt with fire. For God, who condemns her, is a strong Lord.
9 And the kings of the Earth who have committed fornication, and lived in pleasure with her, shall bewail her and lament for her when they shall see the smoke of her burning.
10 And they shall stand at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, “Alas, alas, that great city Babylon; that mighty city! For in one hour has your judgment come!”
19 And they shall cast dust on their heads and cry, weeping and wailing, and say, “Alas, alas, that great city wherein were made rich all who had ships on the sea by her coastlines! For in one hour she was made desolate!
20 “O Heaven, rejoice over her; and you, holy Apostles and Prophets! For God has punished her and judged against her for your sakes!”
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