Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Thirsting Soul Satisfied in God.
A Psalm of David, [a]when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
63 O God, (A)You are my God; I shall seek You [b]earnestly;
My soul (B)thirsts for You, my flesh [c]yearns for You,
In a (C)dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 Thus I have (D)seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3 Because Your (E)lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
4 So I will bless You (F)as long as I live;
I will (G)lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul is (H)satisfied as with [d]marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers (I)praises with joyful lips.
Daniel’s Friends Protected
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with (A)wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered [a]by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 He commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 Then these men were tied up in their [b](B)trousers, their [c]coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 For this reason, because the king’s [d]command was [e](C)urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. 23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, (D)fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Certainly, O king.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and (E)walking about in the midst of the fire [f]without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the (F)gods!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the (G)Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (H)came out of the midst of the fire. 27 The (I)satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the (J)fire had no [g]effect on [h]the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their [i](K)trousers [j]damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the (L)God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has (M)sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their (N)trust in Him, [k]violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as (O)not to serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I (P)make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of (Q)Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their (R)houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is (S)no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” 30 Then the king (T)caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.
Message to Smyrna
8 “And to the angel of the church in (A)Smyrna write:
(B)The first and the last, who [a](C)was dead, and has come to life, says this:
9 ‘I know your (D)tribulation and your (E)poverty (but you are (F)rich), and the blasphemy by those who (G)say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of (H)Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be (I)tested, and you will have tribulation (J)for ten days. [b]Be (K)faithful until death, and I will give you (L)the crown of life. 11 (M)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (N)He who overcomes will not be hurt by the (O)second death.’
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.