Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 16

A Miktam of David.

⁴ I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. ⁵ I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. ⁶ Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. ⁷ Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.

⁸ But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar according to the name of my god and in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God, and before him I told the dream, saying, ⁹ “Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation. ¹⁰ Now these were the visions of my mind while on my bed: I saw a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. ¹¹ The tree grew and became strong, and its height reached heaven, and it was visible to the end of all the earth. ¹² Its leaves were fair, and its fruit much, and in it was food for all. The animals of the field had shadow under it, and the fowl of the heavens lived in its boughs, and all flesh was fed of it.

¹³ “I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and there was a holy watcher coming down from heaven. ¹⁴ He cried aloud and said thus: ‘Hew down the tree and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals get away from under it, and the fowl from its branches. ¹⁵ Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field.

“ ‘And let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth. ¹⁶ Let its heart be changed from that of a man, let him be given the heart of an animal. And let seven periods of time pass over it.

¹⁷ “ ‘This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills and sets up over it the basest of men.’

¹⁸ “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell its interpretation to me, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation. But you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”

The Good Fight of Faith

¹¹ But you, O man of God, escape these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you are called and have professed a good profession before many witnesses. ¹³ I command you, in the sight of God, who gives life to all things, and in the sight of Christ Jesus, who testified a good confession before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ to keep this commandment without blemish, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which He, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the proper time. ¹⁶ He alone has immortality, living in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen, nor can see. To Him be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this world that they not be conceited, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who richly gives us all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Command that they do good, that they be rich in good works, generous, willing to share, ¹⁹ and laying up in store for themselves a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of eternal life.

²⁰ O Timothy, guard that which is committed to your trust. Avoid profane babblings and opposing views from so-called knowledge. ²¹ By professing it, some have erred concerning the faith.

Grace be with you. Amen.