Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 13
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?(A)
2 How long must I bear pain[a] in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?(B)
Gabriel Interprets the Vision
15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I tried to understand it. Then someone appeared standing before me, having the appearance of a man,(A) 16 and I heard a human voice by the Ulai, calling, “Gabriel, help this man understand the vision.”(B) 17 So he came near where I stood, and when he came, I became frightened and fell prostrate. But he said to me, “Understand, O mortal,[a] that the vision is for the time of the end.”(C)
18 As he was speaking to me, I fell into a trance, face to the ground; then he touched me and set me on my feet.(D) 19 He said, “Listen, and I will tell you what will take place later in the period of wrath, for it refers to the appointed time of the end.(E) 20 As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The male goat[b] is the king of Greece, and the great horn between its eyes is the first king.(F) 22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his[c] nation but not with his power.(G)
23 At the end of their rule,
when the transgressions have reached their full measure,
a king of bold countenance shall arise,
skilled in intrigue.
24 He shall grow strong in power,[d]
shall cause fearful destruction,
and shall succeed in what he does.
He shall destroy the powerful
and the people of the holy ones.(H)
25 By his cunning
he shall make deceit prosper under his hand,
and in his own mind he shall be great.
Without warning he shall destroy many
and shall even rise up against the Prince of princes.
But he shall be broken, and not by human hands.(I)
26 “The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true. As for you, seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.”(J)
27 So I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days; then I arose and went about the king’s business. But I was dismayed by the vision and did not understand it.(K)
32 But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,(A) 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to insults and afflictions and sometimes becoming partners with those so treated.(B) 34 For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting.[a](C) 35 Do not, therefore, abandon that boldness of yours; it brings a great reward. 36 For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what was promised.(D) 37 For yet
“in a very little while,
the one who is coming will come and will not delay,(E)
38 but my righteous one will live by faith.
My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.”(F)
39 But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost but among those who have faith and so preserve our souls.(G)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.