Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
8 Lord God of the Heavenly Armies, hear my prayer!
Listen, God of Jacob!
9 God, look at our shield,
and show favor to your anointed,
10 for a day in your Temple[a] courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather stand
at the entrance of God’s house
than live in the tent of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord grants grace and favor;
the Lord will not withhold any good thing
from those who walk blamelessly.
12 Lord of Heavenly Armies,
how happy are those who trust in you.
Daniel Interprets the Handwriting
13 Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king spoke up and told Daniel, “So you are Daniel, one of the Judean exiles whom my grandfather the king brought from Judah! 14 I’ve heard about you, that a spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, discernment, and extraordinary wisdom. 15 Take note that the advisors[a] and enchanters[b] were brought before me to read the writing and explain its meaning, but they were unable to do so.[c] 16 However, I’ve heard that you can provide meaning and interpretation, and that you can solve difficult problems. If you are able to read the writing and report its meaning, you will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
17 At this, Daniel answered, speaking directly to[d] the king, “Let your gifts and rewards be given to someone else. However, I’ll read the writing for the king and tell him its meaning. 18 Your majesty, the Most High God gave your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty, as well as greatness, glory, and splendor. 19 And because of the greatness that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages revered and feared him. He executed those whom he desired to execute, he spared those whom he wished to spare, he promoted those whom he desired to promote, and he humbled those whom he wished to humble. 20 But when he[e] became arrogant and his spirit hardened, he was removed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. 21 He was driven away from human society[f] and given the mind of an animal. He lived with wild donkeys, ate grass like cattle, and his body was soaked with dew from the sky until he realized that the Most High God is sovereign over human kingdoms and places over them whomever he desires.
22 “But you, Belshazzar, his grandson, haven’t humbled yourself, even though you knew all of this.
23 “You’ve exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven.
“You’ve had the vessels from his Temple brought into your presence.
“And you, your officials, and your wives and mistresses drank wine from them.
“You praised gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which can’t see, hear, or demonstrate knowledge.
“But you didn’t honor God, who holds in his power your very life and all your ways.
24 “Therefore, the hand[g] that wrote this inscription was sent from his presence. 25 This is the written inscription:
MENE, MENE, TEKEL and PARSIN
26 These are the meanings of the words:
MENE: God has audited[h] your kingdom—and has ended it.
27 TEKEL: You’ve been weighed on the scales—and you don’t measure up.[i]
28 PERES: Your kingdom has been divided—and will be given to the Medes and Persians.”
29 Then Belshazzar gave orders to clothe Daniel in purple, to place a chain of gold around his neck, and to proclaim him the third highest ruler of the kingdom.
30 That night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was killed, 31 [j]and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of 62.
The Parable about Two Sons
28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 His son[a] replied, ‘I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the father[b] went to the other son[c] and told him the same thing. He replied, ‘I will,[d] sir,’ but he didn’t go. 31 Which of the two did the father’s will?”
They answered, “The first one.”
Jesus told them, “I tell all of you[e] with certainty, tax collectors and prostitutes will get into God’s kingdom ahead of you! 32 John came to you living a righteous life,[f] and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. But even when you saw that, you didn’t change your minds[g] at last and believe him.”
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