Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 124[a]
Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Help
1 A song of ascents. Of David.
[b]If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel now proclaim—[c]
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when our enemies attacked[d] us,
3 [e]then they would have swallowed us alive
as their wrath was kindled against us.
4 [f]The waters would have washed us away,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5 and we would have drowned
in the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the Lord,
who did not give us as prey to their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare was broken,
and we escaped.[g]
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.[h]
Edifying Accounts: The Acts of Daniel and His Companions[a]
Daniel and His Companions Trained for the King’s Service
Chapter 1
The Food Test.[b] 1 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, marched into Jerusalem and laid siege to it.[c] 2 The Lord allowed King Jehoiakim of Judah to fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the temple of God, which he carried off to the land of Shinar and placed in the temple treasury of his own god.
3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring into the palace some Israelites from the royal family and from the nobility; 4 young men who were handsome and without physical defects of any kind, possessing an aptitude for every branch of knowledge and with great insight, clearly showing the necessary competence to serve in the king’s palace. Those so chosen were to be instructed in the language and the literature of the Chaldeans.
5 The king designated a daily allotment of food and wine from the royal table for them. After having been educated for three years, they would enter the king’s service. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief eunuch assigned them different names: Daniel would be called Belteshazzar, Hananiah would be called Shadrach, Mishael would be called Meshach, and Azariah would be called Abednego.
8 However, Daniel was determined not to defile himself by partaking of food and wine from the royal table, and he pleaded with the chief eunuch to spare him this defilement. 9 God influenced the eunuch to grant this favor and to treat Daniel with compassion. 10 However, the eunuch said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king. He has specifically designated what food and drink are to be supplied to you. If he should notice that you appear to be notably thinner than the other young men of your age, he would probably issue a command that I be beheaded.”
11 Then Daniel said to the guard whom the eunuch had assigned to supervise Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for a period of ten days, during which we will be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 You can then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat only the food designated by the king. Then deal with your servants and treat us in accordance with what you observe.”
14 The guard agreed to this proposal and tested them for a period of ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days they looked better nourished and healthier than any of the young men who had subsisted solely on the food provided by the king. 16 Therefore, the guard continued to withdraw the food and the wine they were to drink, and he provided them with vegetables. 17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and learning. In addition, Daniel was given the gift of interpreting visions and dreams of every kind.
18 When the time arrived that the king had designated for their presentation to him, the eunuch brought all the young men into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar. 19 After the king had spoken with all of them, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore, all four of them were appointed to the king’s court. 20 In regard to whatever point of wisdom or understanding the king would question them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters throughout his entire kingdom. 21 Daniel remained there until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.[d]
46 The Canticle of Mary.[a] And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
48 For he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant;
henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is shown from age to age
to those who fear him.
51 He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has routed those who are arrogant in the desires of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has come to the aid of Israel his servant,
ever mindful of his merciful love,
55 according to the promises he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
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