Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
133 Behold, how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brothers to dwell together.
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, which runs down upon the beard (even to Aaron’s beard, which went down on the border of his garments)
3 as the dew of Hermon which falls upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD appointed the blessing and life forever. A song of degrees
2 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams which troubled his spirit, and broke his sleep.
2 Then the king commanded to call the enchanters, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to interpret the king’s dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream. And my spirit was troubled to know the dream.”
4 Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in the Aramite’s language, “O king, live forever. Show your servants your dream, and we shall show the interpretation.”
5 And the king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The thing is spoken. If you will not make me understand the dream, with the interpretation thereof, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.
6 “But, if you declare the dream and the interpretation thereof, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore, show me the dream and the interpretation of it.”
7 They answered again, and said, “Let the king show his servants the dream, and we will declare the interpretation thereof.”
8 Then the king answered, and said, “I know certainly that you would like more time, because you see the thing is spoken.
9 “But if you will not declare to me the dream, there is but one judgment for you. For you have prepared lying and corrupt words, to speak before me till the time changes. Therefore, tell me the dream, that I may know if you can declare to me the interpretation thereof.”
10 Then the Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is no man upon earth who can declare the king’s matter. Yea, there is neither king nor prince nor lord who asked such things of an enchanter, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
11 For it is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can declare it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 For this reason, the king was angry and in a great fury, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babel.
13 And when sentence was given, the wise men were killed. And they sought Daniel and his friends, to be put to death.
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch, the king’s chief steward, who had gone forth to put to death the wise men of Babel.
15 “Yea,” he answered and said to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the sentence so severe from the king?” Then Arioch explained it to Daniel.
16 So Daniel went and asked the king if he would give him time to show the king the interpretation thereof.
17 Then Daniel went to his house and shared the matter with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
18 in order that they should ask the God of heaven for grace in this secret, so that Daniel and his friends should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babel.
19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision by night. Therefore, Daniel praised the God of heaven.
20 And Daniel answered and said, “The Name of God be praised forever and ever. For wisdom and strength are his.
21 “And he changes the times and seasons. He takes away kings. He sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and understanding to those who understand.
22 “He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23 “I thank you and praise you, O God of my fathers, that you have given me wisdom and strength, and have shown me now the thing that we desired of you. For you have declared to us the king’s matter.”
23 Then, as soon as they were let go, they came home, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 And when they heard it, they lifted up their voices in unison to God, and said, “O Lord, You are the God Who has made the heaven, and the Earth, the sea, and all things that are in them;
25 “Who, by the mouth of Your servant David, has said, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the people imagine empty things?
26 ‘The kings of the Earth assembled, and the rulers came together against the Lord, and against His Christ.’
27 “For doubtless, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, gathered themselves together against Your Holy Son Jesus - Whom You have anointed -
28 “to do whatever Your hand and Your counsel had determined beforehand to be done.
29 “And now, O Lord, behold their threats. And grant to Your servants to speak Your Word with all boldness,
30 “by stretching forth Your hand. So that healing and signs and wonders may be done by the Name of Your Holy Son, Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. And they spoke the Word of God boldly.
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