Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 13[a]
For the music director, a psalm of David.
13 How long, Lord, will you continue to ignore me?[b]
How long will you pay no attention to me?[c]
2 How long must I worry,[d]
and suffer in broad daylight?[e]
How long will my enemy gloat over me?[f]
3 Look at me![g] Answer me, O Lord my God!
Revive me,[h] or else I will die.[i]
4 Then[j] my enemy will say, “I have defeated him.”
Then[k] my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I[l] trust in your faithfulness.
May I rejoice because of your deliverance.[m]
6 I will sing praises[n] to the Lord
when he vindicates me.[o]
An Angel Interprets Daniel’s Vision
15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision, I sought to understand it. Now one who appeared to be a man was standing before me. 16 Then I heard a human voice coming from between the banks of the Ulai. It called out, “Gabriel,[a] enable this person to understand the vision.” 17 So he approached the place where I was standing. As he came, I felt terrified and fell flat on the ground.[b] Then he said to me, “Understand, son of man,[c] that the vision pertains to the time of the end.” 18 As he spoke with me, I fell into a trance with my face to the ground. But he touched me and stood me upright.[d]
19 Then he said, “I am going to inform you about what will happen in the latter time of wrath, for the vision[e] pertains to the appointed time of the end. 20 The ram that you saw with the two horns stands for the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The male goat[f] is the king of Greece,[g] and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. 22 The horn that was broken[h] and in whose place there arose four others stands for four kingdoms that will arise from his nation, though they will not have his strength. 23 Toward the end of their rule, when rebellious acts[i] are complete, a rash[j] and deceitful[k] king will arise.[l] 24 His power will be great, but it will not be by his strength alone. He will cause terrible destruction.[m] He will be successful in what he undertakes.[n] He will destroy powerful people and the people of the holy ones.[o] 25 By his treachery[p] he will succeed through deceit.[q] He will have an arrogant attitude,[r] and he will destroy many who are unaware of his schemes.[s] He will rise up against the Prince of princes, yet he will be broken apart—but not by human agency.[t] 26 The vision of the evenings and mornings that was told to you is correct.[u] But you should seal up the vision, for it refers to a time many days from now.”
27 I, Daniel, was exhausted[v] and sick for days. Then I got up and again carried out the king’s business. But I was astonished at the vision, and there was no one to explain it.
32 But remember the former days when you endured a harsh conflict of suffering after you were enlightened. 33 At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way. 34 For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison,[a] and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainly[b] had a better and lasting possession. 35 So do not throw away your confidence, because it[c] has great reward. 36 For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised.[d] 37 For just a little longer[e] and he who is coming will arrive and not delay.[f] 38 But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I[g] take no pleasure in him.[h] 39 But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.[i]
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