Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 93[a]
93 The Lord reigns.
He is robed in majesty.
The Lord is robed;
he wears strength around his waist.[b]
Indeed, the world is established; it cannot be moved.
2 Your throne has been secure from ancient times;
you have always been king.[c]
3 The waves[d] roar, O Lord,
the waves roar,
the waves roar and crash.[e]
4 Above the sound of the surging water,[f]
and the mighty waves of the sea,
the Lord sits enthroned in majesty.[g]
5 The rules you set down[h] are completely reliable.[i]
Holiness[j] aptly adorns your house, O Lord, forever.[k]
Daniel has a Vision of Four Animals Coming up from the Sea
7 In the first[a] year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had[b] a dream filled with visions[c] while he was lying on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream in summary fashion.[d] 2 Daniel explained:[e] “I was watching in my vision during the night as[f] the four winds of the sky[g] were stirring up the great sea.[h] 3 Then four large beasts came up from the sea; they were different from one another.
4 “The first one was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off and it was lifted up from the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a human being, and a human mind[i] was given to it.[j]
5 “Then[k] a second beast appeared, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and there were three ribs[l] in its mouth between its teeth.[m] It was told,[n] ‘Get up and devour much flesh!’
6 “After these things,[o] as I was watching, another beast[p] like a leopard appeared, with four bird-like wings on its back.[q] This beast had four heads,[r] and ruling authority was given to it.
7 “After these things, as I was watching in the night visions[s] a fourth beast appeared—one dreadful, terrible, and very strong.[t] It had two large rows[u] of iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and anything that was left it trampled with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns.
8 “As I was contemplating the horns, another horn—a small one—came up between them, and three of the former horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it.[v] This horn had eyes resembling human eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant[w] things.
An Angel Interprets Daniel’s Vision
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed,[a] and the visions of my mind[b] were alarming me. 16 I approached one of those standing nearby and asked him about the meaning[c] of all this. So he spoke with me and revealed[d] to me the interpretation of the vision:[e] 17 ‘These large beasts, which are four in number, represent four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 The holy ones[f] of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will take possession of the kingdom forever and ever.’
31 The one who comes from above is superior to all.[a] The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things.[b] The one who comes from heaven[c] is superior to all.[d] 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The one who has accepted his testimony has confirmed clearly that God is truthful.[e] 34 For the one whom God has sent[f] speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly.[g] 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority.[h] 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects[i] the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath[j] remains[k] on him.
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