Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Jehovah the psalmist’s portion in life and deliverer in death.

Michtam 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 ^[a]thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. ⁶ Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. ⁷ Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. 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 gods: and I told the dream before him, saying, ⁹ O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. ¹⁰ Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and, behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and the height thereof was great. ¹¹ The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth. ¹² The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed from it. ¹³ I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came 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 beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches. ¹⁵ Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven: and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: ¹⁶ let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. ¹⁷ The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the ^[b]demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men. ¹⁸ This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

¹¹ But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, ^[a]patience, meekness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. ¹³ I charge thee in the sight of God, who ^[b]giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession; ¹⁴ that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: ¹⁵ which in ^[c]its own times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of ^[d]kings, and Lord of ^[e]lords; ¹⁶ who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.

¹⁷ Charge them that are rich in this present ^[f]world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; ¹⁸ that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, ^[g]willing to communicate; ¹⁹ laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.

²⁰ O Timothy, guard ^[h]that which is committed unto thee, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called; ²¹ which some professing have ^[i]erred concerning the faith.

Grace be with you.