Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 13

How Long, O Lord?

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For the choir director. A psalm by David.

Anguished Questions

An Urgent Prayer

A Solid Answer

Gabriel Explains the Vision of the Ram and the Goat

¹⁵ When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I tried to understand it. Then suddenly there was someone standing in front of me who had the appearance of a man. ¹⁶ I heard a human voice coming from between the banks of the Ulai. It called out and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”

¹⁷ So he came beside the spot where I stood, and when he came, I was terrified and fell facedown. He said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision concerns the time of the end.” ¹⁸ When he had spoken with me, I fell into a deep sleep, facedown on the ground. He touched me and made me stand up.

¹⁹ He said, “Listen, I am about to make known to you what will happen during the last part of the furious anger, because this concerns the appointed time of the end.

²⁰ “The ram that you saw had two horns, the kings of Media and Persia. ²¹ The male goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king.^{[a] 22} He is the one who was broken, and four others arose in his place. Four kingdoms will arise from his nation, but not with the same power he had.

²³ “In the latter part of their kingdom, when the rebels have reached their full measure, a merciless king who understands intrigue will arise.^{[b] 24} His power will be very great, but not from his own power. He will destroy wonderful things, and he will succeed in doing this. He will destroy mighty men^[c] and the people of the saints. ²⁵ Through his cunning, he will deceive in order to succeed by his power and will also exalt himself in his heart. He will destroy many who are at ease,^[d] and he will rise up against the Prince of Princes. However, he will be broken, but not by human power. ²⁶ The vision of the evenings and the mornings that was spoken is true. But you—seal the vision, because it concerns a time many days in the future.”

²⁷ I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up and carried out the king’s business. I was stunned by the vision, but I did not understand it.

Endure Suffering Patiently

³² Remember the former days when, after you were enlightened, you patiently endured a great struggle of sufferings. ³³ Sometimes you were publicly shamed by insults and persecutions. At other times you became companions of those who were treated this way. ³⁴ Indeed, you also sympathized with those in prison,^[a] and when your possessions were seized, you accepted it with joy, because you knew that you yourselves had a better and lasting possession. ³⁵ So do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. ³⁶ Certainly you need patient endurance so that, after you do God’s will, you may receive what was promised. ³⁷ For in just a little while:

³⁹ Now we are not part of those who shrink back, resulting in destruction, but of those who have faith, resulting in the soul’s salvation.