Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Yahweh Makes Me Abide in Safety

^[a]For the choir director. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

² In those days, I, Daniel, had been ^(A)mourning for three entire ^[a]weeks. ³ I ^(B)did not eat any ^[b]tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three ^[c]weeks were fulfilled.

⁴ And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great ^(C)river, that is, the ^[d]Tigris, ⁵ I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man ^(D)dressed in linen, whose loins were ^(E)girded with a belt of pure ^(F)fine gold of Uphaz. ⁶ His body also was like ^[e]beryl, his face ^[f]had the appearance of lightning, ^(G)his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. ⁷ Now I, Daniel, ^(H)alone saw the vision that appeared, but the ^(I)men who were with me did not see the vision that appeared; nevertheless, a great ^(J)terror fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. ⁸ So I alone ^(K)remained and saw this great vision that appeared; yet ^(L)no might remained in me, for my outward splendor turned to ^[g]a deathly pallor, and I retained no might. ⁹ But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I ^(M)fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

Daniel Is Strengthened

¹⁰ Then behold, a hand ^(N)touched me and set me shaking on my ^[h]hands and knees. ¹¹ And he said to me, “O ^(O)Daniel, man of ^[i]high esteem, ^(P)understand the words that I am about to speak to you and ^(Q)stand ^[j]upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up ^(R)trembling. ¹² Then he said to me, “^(S)Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you gave your heart to understand this and to ^(T)humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response ^(U)to your words. ¹³ But the ^[k]prince of the kingdom of Persia was ^[l]standing against me for twenty-one days; then behold, ^(V)Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. Now I had been left there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to ^(W)give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the ^[m](X)last days, for the vision pertains to ^(Y)the days yet future.” ¹⁵ Now when he had spoken to me according to these words, I ^[n]turned my face toward the ground and became ^(Z)speechless.

¹⁶ And behold, ^(AA)one ^[o]in the likeness of the sons of men was ^(AB)touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, as a result of the vision that appeared, ^(AC)pains have come upon me, and I have retained no might. ¹⁷ Now ^(AD)how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, right now ^(AE)no might stands within me, nor does any breath remain within me.”

¹⁸ Then this one with the appearance of a man touched me again and ^(AF)strengthened me. ¹⁹ And he said, “O man of ^[p]high esteem, ^(AG)do not be afraid. Peace ^[q]be with you; gather ^(AH)strength and be strong!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have ^(AI)strengthened me.”

²⁶ These things I have written to you about those who are trying to ^(A)deceive you. ²⁷ And as for you, the ^(B)anointing whom you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as His anointing ^(C)teaches you about all things, and is ^(D)true and is not a lie, and just as He has taught you, ^[a]abide in Him.

²⁸ And now, ^(E)little children, abide in Him, so that when He ^(F)is manifested, we may have ^(G)confidence and ^(H)not ^[b]shrink away from Him in shame ^[c]at His ^(I)coming.