Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 16[a]
A prayer[b] of David.
16 Protect me, O God, for I have taken shelter in you.[c]
2 I say to the Lord, “You are the Lord,
my only source of well-being.”[d]
3 As for God’s chosen people who are in the land,
and the leading officials I admired so much[e]—
4 their troubles multiply;
they desire other gods.[f]
I will not pour out drink offerings of blood to their gods,[g]
nor will I make vows in the name of their gods.[h]
5 Lord, you give me stability and prosperity;[i]
you make my future secure.[j]
6 It is as if I have been given fertile fields
or received a beautiful tract of land.[k]
7 I will praise[l] the Lord who[m] guides[n] me;
yes, during the night I reflect and learn.[o]
8 I constantly trust in the Lord;[p]
because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 So my heart rejoices
and I am happy;[q]
my life is safe.[r]
10 You will not abandon me[s] to Sheol;[t]
you will not allow your faithful follower[u] to see[v] the Pit.[w]
11 You lead me in[x] the path of life.[y]
I experience absolute joy in your presence;[z]
you always give me sheer delight.[aa]
Nebuchadnezzar Dreams of a Tree Chopped Down
4 (4:1)[a] I, Nebuchadnezzar, was relaxing in my home,[b] living luxuriously[c] in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that[d] frightened me badly. The things I imagined while lying on my bed—these visions of my mind—were terrifying me. 6 So I issued an order[e] for all the wise men of Babylon to be brought[f] before me so that they could make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 When the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners entered, I recounted the dream for them. But they were unable to make known its interpretation to me. 8 Later Daniel entered (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god,[g] and in whom there is a spirit of the holy gods). I recounted the dream for him as well, 9 saying, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, in whom I know there to be a spirit of the holy gods and whom no mystery baffles, consider[h] my dream that I saw and set forth its interpretation! 10 Here are the visions of my mind[i] while I was on my bed.
“While I was watching,
there was a tree in the middle of the land.[j]
It was enormously tall.[k]
11 The tree grew large and strong.
Its top reached far into the sky;
it could be seen[l] from the borders of all the land.[m]
12 Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful;
on it there was food enough for all.
Under it the wild animals[n] used to seek shade,
and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest.
All creatures[o] used to feed themselves from it.
13 While I was watching in my mind’s visions[p] on my bed,
a holy sentinel[q] came down from heaven.
14 He called out loudly[r] as follows:[s]
‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches!
Strip off its foliage
and scatter its fruit!
Let the animals flee from under it
and the birds from its branches.
15 But leave its taproot[t] in the ground,
with a band of iron and bronze around it[u]
surrounded by the grass of the field.
Let it become damp with the dew of the sky,
and let it live with[v] the animals in the grass of the land.
16 Let his mind[w] be altered from that of a human being,
and let an animal’s mind be given to him,
and let seven periods of time[x] go by for[y] him.
17 This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels;
this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones,
so that[z] those who are alive may understand
that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms,[aa]
and he bestows them on whomever he wishes.
He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its[ab] interpretation, for none of the wise men in[ac] my kingdom are able to make known to me the interpretation. But you can do so, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
11 But you, as a person dedicated to God,[a] keep away from all that.[b] Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Compete well[c] for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession[d] for[e] in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you[f] before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession[g] before Pontius Pilate, 14 to obey[h] this command[i] without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 15 —whose appearing[j] the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time. 16 He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this world’s goods[k] not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain,[l] but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to do good,[m] to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.[n] 19 In this way they will save up[o] a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation[p] for the future and so lay hold of[q] what is truly life.
Conclusion
20 O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid[r] the profane chatter and absurdities[s] of so-called “knowledge.”[t] 21 By professing it, some have strayed from the faith.[u] Grace be with you all.[v]
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