Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Davidic Psalm, while he was in the Judean wilderness.

Joyful Trust in God

The King Orders an Execution

¹⁹ Out of control with rage, Nebuchadnezzar’s facial expression changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and he ordered^[a] that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. ²⁰ Then he issued orders to his elite guard to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego with ropes^[b] and throw them into the blazing fire furnace. ²¹ So the elite guard tied them up fully clothed, still wearing their robes, tunics, and turbans, and threw them into the blazing fire furnace, ²² because the king’s command was so drastic. Since the furnace was blazing hot, its flames killed those who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the blazing fire. ²³ Bound firmly with ropes, these three men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the blazing fire furnace.

The Fourth Man in the Furnace

²⁴ Astonished, King Nebuchadnezzar stood up in terror, and asked his advisors, “Didn’t we throw three men into the fire, bound firmly with ropes?”

In reply they told the king, “Yes, your majesty.”

²⁵ “Look!” he told them,^[c] “I see four men walking untied and unharmed in the middle of the fire, and the appearance of the fourth resembles a divine being.”^[d]

²⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the opening of the blazing fire furnace. He shouted out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. ²⁷ The regional authorities,^[e] viceroys, governors, and royal advisors gazed at those men and saw that the fire had no effect on their bodies—not a hair on their head was singed, their clothes were not burned, and they did not smell of fire.

²⁸ Nebuchadnezzar spoke up and announced:

³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego within the province of Babylon.

The Letter to the Church in Smyrna

⁸ “To the messenger^[a] of the church in Smyrna, write:

‘The first and the last, who was dead and became alive, says this:

⁹ ‘I know your suffering and your poverty—though you are rich—and the slander committed by those who claim to be Jews but are not. They are the synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The Devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. For ten days you will undergo suffering. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the victor’s crown of life.

¹¹ ‘Let everyone^[b] listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes^[c] will never be hurt by the second death.’”