Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 63

Praise God Who Satisfies

A psalm of David. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.^(A)

¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage,^(A) and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times more than was customary, ²⁰ and he commanded some of the best soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. ²¹ So these men, in their trousers, robes, head coverings,^[a] and other clothes, were tied up and thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. ²² Since the king’s command was so urgent^[b](B) and the furnace extremely hot, the raging flames^[c] killed those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ²³ And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire.

Delivered from the Fire

²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm.^(C) He said to his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?”

“Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” they replied to the king.

²⁵ He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed;^(D) and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”^[d](E)

²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God—come out!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.^{(F) 27} When the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king’s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect^(G) on^[e] the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.^{(H) 28} Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel^[f](I) and rescued his servants who trusted in him.^(J) They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.^{(K) 29} Therefore I issue a decree^(L) that anyone of any people, nation, or language^(M) who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump.^(N) For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.” ³⁰ Then the king rewarded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.^(O)

The Letter to Smyrna

⁸ “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last,^(A) the one who was dead and came to life: ⁹ I know your^[a] affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.^{(B) 10} Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil^(C) is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days.^(D) Be faithful to the point of death,^(E) and I will give you the crown^[b] of life.^(F)

¹¹ “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.^(G)