Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Prayer for Help in Time of Trouble
13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long must I plan what to do in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will those who hate me rise above me?
3 Look on me and answer, O Lord, my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death. 4 Or the one who hates me will say, “I have power over him.” And those who hate me will be happy when I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in Your loving-kindness. My heart will be full of joy because You will save me. 6 I will sing to the Lord, because He has been good to me.
Gabriel Tells the Meaning of the Dream
15 When I, Daniel, had seen the special dream, I tried to understand it. Then I saw one standing in front of me who looked like a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai River. He called out and said, “Gabriel, help this man to understand the special dream.” 17 When he came near the place where I was standing, I was afraid and fell on my face to the ground. But he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the special dream is about the time of the end.” 18 While he was talking to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up. 19 He said, “I am going to let you know what the end of God’s anger will be. For the special dream is about the time of the end. 20 The ram you saw had two horns which are 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. 22 The broken horn and the four horns that grew in its place are the four nations which will come from his nation. But they will not be as powerful. 23 In the later part of their rule, when they have become as sinful as they can be, a king will rise to power. This king will be very proud and will understand secret things. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will destroy much, and do well in whatever he wants done. He will destroy powerful men and the holy people. 25 He will do well by using his false ways and lies, and will think of himself as great. He will destroy many who are taking it easy. He will even go against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by a human hand. 26 The special dream of the evenings and mornings that has been given to you is true. But keep the dream secret, for it has to do with things far into the future.”
27 I, Daniel, was tired and sick for days. Then I got up again and did the work that the king had given me. But I was filled with wonder because of the special dream, and did not understand it.
32 Remember how it was in those days after you heard the truth. You suffered much. 33 People laughed at you and beat you. When others suffered, you suffered with them. 34 You had loving-pity for those who were in prison. You had joy when your things were taken away from you. For you knew you would have something better in heaven which would last forever.
35 Do not throw away your trust, for your reward will be great. 36 You must be willing to wait without giving up. After you have done what God wants you to do, God will give you what He promised you. 37 The Holy Writings say, “In a little while, the One you are looking for will come. It will not be a long time now. 38 For the one right with God lives by faith. If anyone turns back, I will not be pleased with him.” (A) 39 We are not of those people who turn back and are lost. Instead, we have faith to be saved from the punishment of sin.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.