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.
6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty governors, who should be over the whole kingdom;
2 And over these, three rulers, (of whom Daniel was one); that the governors might be accountable to them. And the king should be protected.
3 Now this Daniel was preferred above the rulers and governors, because the spirit was excellent in him. And the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 Therefore, the rulers and governors sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom. But they could find no charge or fault. For he was so faithful that there was no blame or fault found in him.
5 Then said these men, “We shall not find a charge against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the Law of his God.”
6 Therefore, the rulers and these governors went together to the king, and said to him, “King Darius, live forever.
7 “All the rulers of your kingdom, the officers and governors, the counselors and dukes, have consulted together to make a decree for the king, and to establish a statute: that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 “Now, O king, confirm the decree, and seal the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alters not.”
9 Therefore, king Darius sealed the writing and the decree.
10 Now when Daniel understood that he had sealed the writing, he went into his house, and his window being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed and praised his God, as he always did.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying, and making supplication to his God.
12 So they came and spoke to the king concerning the king’s decree, “Have you not sealed the decree, that every man who shall make a request to any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered, and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alters not.”
13 Then they answered, and said to the king, “This Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, does not regard you, O king, or the decree that you have sealed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 When the king heard these words, he was very displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel, to deliver him. And he labored till the Sun went down, to deliver him.
15 Then these men came together, and said to the king, “Understand, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is that no decree or statute which the king confirms, may be altered.”
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Your God, whom you always serve, he will deliver you.”
17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his princes, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
18 Then the king went to his palace and fasted, and no instruments of music were brought before him, and he did not sleep.
19 Then the king arose early in the morning, and went quickly to the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice to Daniel. And the king spoke, and said to Daniel, “O Daniel, the servant of the living God, was not your God (whom you always serve) able to deliver you from the lions?
21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!
22 My God has sent his Angel and has shut the lion’s mouths. And they have not hurt me. For I was justified before him. And to you, O king, I have done no harm!”
23 Then was the King exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel out of the den. So, Daniel was brought out of the den, and no manner of harm was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And by the commandment of the king, these men who had accused Daniel were brought, and were cast into the den of lions; they, their children, and their wives. And the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces, before they ever hit the ground of the den.
25 Afterward, King Darius wrote, “To all people, nations and languages, who dwell in all the world: Peace be multiplied to you.
26 “I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom, men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and remains forever. And his kingdom shall not perish. And his dominion shall be everlasting.
27 “He rescues and delivers. And he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus of Persia.
22 And while they were in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
23 “And they shall kill Him. But the third day He shall rise again.” And they were very sorrowful.
24 And when they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter, and said, “Does not your Master pay temple taxes?
25 He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus stopped him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the Earth take tribute (or temple taxes) - from their children, or from strangers?
26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Then Jesus said to him, “Then the children are free.”
27 Nevertheless, so that we should not offend them, go to the sea and cast in a hook. And take the first fish that comes up. And when you have opened its mouth, you shall find a coin. Take it, and give it to them for you and Me.
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