Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

God Helps Men in Trouble

107 Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His loving-kindness lasts forever! ² Let the people who have been saved say so. He has bought them and set them free from the hand of those who hated them. ³ He gathered them from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

¹⁷ Some were fools because of their wrong-doing. They had troubles because of their sins. ¹⁸ They hated all kinds of food. And they came near the gates of death. ¹⁹ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble. And He saved them from their suffering. ²⁰ He sent His Word and healed them. And He saved them from the grave. ²¹ Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness and His great works to the children of men! ²² Let them give Him gifts of thanks and tell of His works with songs of joy.

⁵ Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others. One was standing on this side of the river, and the other was standing on that side. ⁶ And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” ⁷ The man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven. And I heard him promise by Him Who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and a half a time (three and a half years). As soon as the power of the holy people is broken, all these things will be completed. ⁸ I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “My lord, how will it all end?” ⁹ And he said, “Go your way, Daniel. For these words are hidden and locked up until the end of time. ¹⁰ Many will be made pure and made white and tried, but the sinners will be very sinful. None of the sinful will understand, but those who are wise will understand. ¹¹ From the time the burnt gifts are stopped and the very sinful manmade god is set up, there will be 1,290 days. ¹² How happy is he who waits and comes to the end of the 1,335 days! ¹³ But go your way until the end. Then you will have rest, and will rise again to take your place at the end of time.”

⁷ Because of the blood of Christ, we are bought and made free from the punishment of sin. And because of His blood, our sins are forgiven. His loving-favor to us is so rich. ⁸ He was so willing to give all of this to us. He did this with wisdom and understanding. ⁹ God told us the secret of what He wanted to do. It is this: In loving thought He planned long ago to send Christ into the world. ¹⁰ The plan was for Christ to gather us all together at the right time. If we are in heaven or still on earth, He will bring us together and will be head over all.

¹¹ We were already chosen to be God’s own children by Christ. This was done just like the plan He had. ¹² We who were the first to put our trust in Christ should thank Him for His greatness. ¹³ The truth is the Good News. When you heard the truth, you put your trust in Christ. Then God marked you by giving you His Holy Spirit as a promise. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit was given to us as a promise that we will receive everything God has for us. God’s Spirit will be with us until God finishes His work of making us complete. God does this to show His shining-greatness.