Conviction and Vision in the Kingdom

1. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2. The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. He brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. 3. The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, even of the royal offspring and of the nobles; 4. youths in whom was no defect, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and endowed with knowledge, and understanding science, and who had the ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans. 5. The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s dainties, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at its end they should stand before the king. 6. Now among these were of the children of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7. The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. 8. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s dainties, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9. Now God made Daniel find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. 10. The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age? So would you endanger my head with the king.” 11. Then Daniel said to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 12. “Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink. 13. Then let our faces be examined before you, and the face of the youths who eat of the king’s dainties; and as you see, deal with your servants.” 14. So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15. At the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths who ate of the king’s dainties. 16. So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they would drink, and gave them vegetables. 17. Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18. At the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19. The king talked with them; and among them all was found no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore stood they before the king. 20. In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm. 21. Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus. 1. In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. 2. Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3. The king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4. Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in the Syrian language, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5. The king answered the Chaldeans, “The thing has gone from me. If you don’t make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut in pieces, and your houses will be made a dunghill. 6. But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you will receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 7. They answered the second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 8. The king answered, “I know of a certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see the thing has gone from me. 9. But if you don’t make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the situation changes. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10. The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, “There is not a man on the earth who can show the king’s matter, because no king, lord, or ruler, has asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean. 11. It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” 12. Because of this, the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13. So the decree went out, and the wise men were to be slain. They sought Daniel and his companions to be slain. 14. Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15. He answered Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree so urgent from the king?” Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 16. Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation. 17. Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18. that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20. Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his. 21. He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings, and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding. 22. He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 23. I thank you, and praise you, you God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” 24. Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said this to him: “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon. Bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation.” 25. Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said this to him: “I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah who will make known to the king the interpretation.” 26. The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?” 27. Daniel answered before the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded can’t be shown to the king by wise men, enchanters, magicians, or soothsayers; 28. but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are these: 29. “As for you, O king, your thoughts came on your bed, what should happen hereafter; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you what will happen. 30. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart. 31. “You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and its appearance was terrifying. 32. As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of brass, 33. its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay. 34. You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35. Then the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 36. “This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king. 37. You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory. 38. Wherever the children of men dwell, he has given the animals of the field and the birds of the sky into your hand, and has made you rule over them all. You are the head of gold. 39. “After you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to you; and another third kingdom of brass, which will rule over all the earth. 40. The fourth kingdom will be strong as iron, because iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things; and as iron that crushes all these, it will break in pieces and crush. 41. Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but there will be in it of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed with miry clay. 42. As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom will be partly strong, and partly broken. 43. Whereas you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they will mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they won’t cling to one another, even as iron does not mix with clay. 44. “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever. 45. Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what will happen hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” 46. Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him. 47. The king answered to Daniel, and said, “Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.” 48. Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon. 49. Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel was in the king’s gate.

1. After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. 2. He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. 3. Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him. 4. Peter answered, and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5. While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” 6. When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. 7. Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.” 8. Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone. 9. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” 10. His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11. Jesus answered them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things, 12. but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.” 13. Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer. 14. When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15. “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16. So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 17. Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18. Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour. 19. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?” 20. He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21. But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.” 22. While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men, 23. and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up.” They were exceedingly sorry. 24. When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?” 25. He said, “Yes.” When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?” 26. Peter said to him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Therefore the children are exempt. 27. But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you.” 1. In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 2. Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them, 3. and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4. Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5. Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me, 6. but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea. 7. “Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes! 8. If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. 9. If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire. 10. See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 11. For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost. 12. “What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray? 13. If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. 15. “If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. 16. But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector. 18. Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven. 19. Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.” 21. Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” 22. Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven. 23. Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants. 24. When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25. But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26. The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’ 27. The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28. “But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29. “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’ 30. He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due. 31. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told their lord all that was done. 32. Then his lord called him in, and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. 33. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’ 34. His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. 35. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.” 1. When Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2. Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there. 3. Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” 4. He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5. and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’ 6. So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.” 7. They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?” 8. He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so. 9. I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.” 10. His disciples said to him, “If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.” 11. But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given. 12. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.” 13. Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14. But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.” 15. He laid his hands on them, and departed from there. 16. Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” 17. He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18. He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’ 19. ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20. The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21. Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22. But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions. 23. Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty. 24. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.” 25. When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26. Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27. Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?” 28. Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29. Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life. 30. But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.

1. To you, Yahweh, do I lift up my soul. 2. My God, I have trusted in you. Don’t let me be shamed. Don’t let my enemies triumph over me. 3. Yes, no one who waits for you shall be shamed. They shall be shamed who deal treacherously without cause. 4. Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths. 5. Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long. 6. Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times. 7. Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh. 8. Good and upright is Yahweh, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way. 9. He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way. 10. All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11. For your name’s sake, Yahweh, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. 12. What man is he who fears Yahweh? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose. 13. His soul shall dwell at ease. His offspring shall inherit the land. 14. The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant. 15. My eyes are ever on Yahweh, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. 16. Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. 17. The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses. 18. Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins. 19. Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred. 20. Oh keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you. 21. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. 22. Redeem Israel, God, out of all his troubles.