Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
A Call to Praise the Lord for His Righteousness.
A Psalm.
98 Sing a (A)new song to the Lord,
For He has done (B)wonderful things,
His (C)right hand and His (D)holy arm have [a]gained the victory for Him.
2 (E)The Lord has made His salvation known;
He has (F)revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has (G)remembered His graciousness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
(H)All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Daniel Serves Darius
6 [a]It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, to be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2 and over them, three commissioners (of whom (A)Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not [b]suffer (B)loss. 3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself [c]among the commissioners and satraps because [d]he possessed an (C)extraordinary spirit, and the king intended to appoint him over the (D)entire kingdom. 4 Then the commissioners and satraps began (E)trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel regarding [e]government affairs; but they could find (F)no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him regarding the (G)law of his God.”
6 Then these commissioners and satraps came [f]by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, (H)live forever! 7 All the (I)commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have (J)consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall (K)be thrown into the lions’ [g]den. 8 Now, O king, (L)establish the injunction and sign the document so that it will not be changed, according to the (M)law of the Medes and Persians, which [h]may not be revoked.” 9 Thereupon, King Darius (N)signed the document, that is, the injunction.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the document was signed, he entered his house (and in his roof chamber he had windows open (O)toward Jerusalem); and he continued (P)kneeling on his knees three times a day, (Q)praying and (R)offering praise before his God, just as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came [i](S)by agreement and found Daniel offering a prayer and imploring favor before his God. 12 Then they approached and (T)spoke before the king about the king’s injunction: “Did you not sign an injunction that any person who offers a prayer to any god or person besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the (U)law of the Medes and Persians, which [j]may not be revoked.” 13 Then they responded and spoke before the king, “(V)Daniel, who is one of the [k]exiles from Judah, pays (W)no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps offering his prayer three times a day.”
14 Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply (X)distressed, and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and until sunset he kept exerting himself to save him. 15 Then these men came [l]by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Recognize, O king, that it is a (Y)law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
16 Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and (Z)thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “[m](AA)Your God whom you continually serve will Himself rescue you.” 17 And a (AB)stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed regarding Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night (AC)fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his (AD)sleep fled from him.
19 Then the king got up at dawn, at the break of day, and went in a hurry to the lions’ den. 20 And when he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has (AE)your God, whom you continually serve, been (AF)able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke [n]to the king, “(AG)O king, live forever! 22 My God (AH)sent His angel and (AI)shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, since [o]I was found innocent before Him; and also [p]toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.” 23 Then the king was very glad and gave orders for Daniel to be lifted up out of the den. So Daniel was lifted up out of the den, and (AJ)no injury whatever was found on him, because he had (AK)trusted in his God. 24 The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had [q]maliciously accused Daniel, and they (AL)threw them, their (AM)children, and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the (AN)peoples, nations, and populations of all [r]languages who were living in all the land: “(AO)May your [s]peace be great! 26 [t]I (AP)issue a decree that in all the realm of my kingdom people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel;
For He is the (AQ)living God and (AR)enduring forever,
And (AS)His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His dominion will be [u]forever.
27 He rescues, saves, and performs (AT)signs and miracles
In heaven and on earth,
He who has also rescued Daniel from the [v]power of the lions.”
28 So this (AU)Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of (AV)Cyrus the Persian.
22 (A)And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be [a]handed over to men; 23 and (B)they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.
The Temple Tax
24 Now when they came to Capernaum, those who collected (C)the [b]two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay (D)the [c]two-drachma tax?” 25 He *said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect (E)customs or [d](F)poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are [e]exempt. 27 However, so that we do not (G)offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a [f]stater. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”
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