Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
133 1 This Psalm containeth the commendation of brotherly amity among the servants of God.
A song of degrees, or Psalm of David.
1 Behold, how good and how comely a thing it is, brethren to dwell even [a]together.
2 It is like to the precious [b]ointment upon the head, that runneth down upon the beard, even unto Aaron’s beard, which went down on the border of his garments,
3 And as the dew of [c]Hermon which falleth upon the mountains of Zion: for [d]there the Lord appointed the blessing and life forever.
2 1 The dreams of Nebuchadnezzar. 13 The king commandeth all the wise men of Babylon to be slain, because they could not interpret his dream. 16 Daniel requireth time to solute the question. 24 Daniel is brought unto the king, and showeth him his dream, and the interpretation thereof. 44 Of the everlasting kingdom of Christ.
1 And in the [a]second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed [b]dreams wherewith his spirit was [c]troubled, and his [d]sleep was upon him.
2 Then the king commanded to call the enchanters, and the astrologians, and the sorcerers, and the [e]Chaldeans for to show the king his dreams: so they came and stood before the King.
3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in the [f]Aramite’s language, O king, live forever: show thy servants thy dream, and we shall show the interpretation.
5 And the King answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me. If ye will not make me understand the dream with the interpretation thereof, ye [g]shall be drawn in pieces, and your houses shall be made a jakes.
6 But if ye declare the dream and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards, and great honor: therefore show me the dream and the interpretation of it.
7 They answered again, and said, Let the king show [h]his servants the dream, and we will declare the interpretation thereof.
8 Then the king answered, and said, I know certainly that ye [i]would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
9 But if ye will not declare me the dream, there is but one judgment for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words, to speak before me till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, that I may know, if ye can declare me the interpretation thereof.
10 Then the Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is no man upon earth that can declare the king’s matter: yea, there is neither King nor Prince nor lord that asked such things at an enchanter, or astrologian, or Chaldean.
11 For it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can declare it before the king, except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh.
12 For this cause the king was angry and in great fury, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babel.
13 ¶ And when sentence was given, the wise men were slain: and they [j]sought Daniel and his fellows to be put to death.
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the king’s [k]chief steward, which was gone forth to put to death the wise men of Babel.
15 Yea, he answered and said unto Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the sentence so hasty from the king? Then Arioch declared the thing to Daniel.
16 So Daniel went and desired the king that he would give him leisure, and that he would show the king the interpretation thereof.
17 ¶ Then Daniel went to his house, and showed the matter to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah his companions,
18 That they should beseech the God of heaven for grace in this secret, that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babel.
19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a vision by night: therefore Daniel praised the God of heaven.
20 And Daniel answered and said, (A)The Name of God be praised forever and ever: for wisdom and strength are his.
21 And he changeth the times and seasons: he taketh away kings: he setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and understanding to those that understand.
22 He discovereth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in darkness, and the [l]light dwelleth with him.
23 I thank thee and praise thee, O thou God of my [m]fathers, that thou hast given me wisdom and [n]strength, and hast showed me now the thing that we desired of thee: for thou hast declared unto us the king’s matter.
23 [a]Then as soon as they were let go, they came to their fellows, and showed all that the high Priests and Elders had said unto them.
24 [b]And when they heard it, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou art the God which had made the heaven, and the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.
25 Which by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, (A)Why did the Gentiles rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth assembled, and the rulers came together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For doubtless, against thine holy Son Jesus, whom thou hadst anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the [c]people of Israel gathered themselves together.
28 To [d]do whatsoever [e]thine hand, and thy counsel had determined before to be done.
29 And now, O Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant unto thy servants with all boldness to speak thy word,
30 So that thou stretch forth thine hand that healing, and signs, and wonders may be done by the Name of thine holy Son Jesus.
31 [f]And when as they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God boldly.
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