Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Evening Prayer of Trust in God.

^[a]For the music director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

² In those days, I, Daniel, had been ^(A)mourning for three ^[a]entire weeks. ³ I ^(B)did not eat any ^[b]tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed. ⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great ^(C)river, that is, the ^[c]Tigris, ⁵ I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man ^(D)dressed in linen, whose waist ^(E)had a belt of pure ^(F)gold of Uphaz. ⁶ His body also was like topaz, his face ^[d]had the appearance of lightning, ^(G)his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. ⁷ Now I, Daniel, ^(H)alone saw the vision, while the ^(I)men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great ^(J)fear fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. ⁸ So I was ^(K)left alone and saw this great vision; yet ^(L)no strength was left in me, for my complexion turned to ^[e]a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. ⁹ But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I ^(M)fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

Daniel Comforted

¹⁰ Then behold, a hand ^(N)touched me and shook me on my ^[f]hands and knees. ¹¹ And he said to me, “^(O)Daniel, ^[g]you who are treasured, ^(P)understand the words that I am about to tell you and ^(Q)stand at your place, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up ^(R)trembling. ¹² Then he said to me, “^(S)Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on ^(T)humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come ^(U)in response to your words. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing ^[h]in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, ^(V)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to ^(W)explain to you what will happen to your people in the ^[i](X)latter days, because the vision pertains to ^(Y)the days still future.”

¹⁵ When he had spoken to me according to these words, I ^[j]turned my face toward the ground and became ^(Z)speechless. ¹⁶ And behold, ^[k](AA)one who resembled a human was ^(AB)touching my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “My lord, due to the vision ^[l](AC)anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. ¹⁷ For ^(AD)how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now ^(AE)no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”

¹⁸ Then this one with human appearance touched me again and ^(AF)strengthened me. ¹⁹ And he said, “^[m]You who are treasured, ^(AG)do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take ^(AH)courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I felt strengthened and said, “May my lord speak, for you have ^(AI)strengthened me.”

²⁶ These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to ^(A)deceive you. ²⁷ And as for you, the ^(B)anointing which you received from Him remains in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing ^(C)teaches you about all things, and is ^(D)true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, ^[a]you remain in Him.

²⁸ Now, ^(E)little children, remain in Him, so that when He ^(F)appears, we may have ^(G)confidence and ^(H)not ^[b]draw back from Him in shame ^[c]at His ^(I)coming.