Daily Readings for Friday, 29 November
2013
Daniel 7: 2 I,[a]
Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the
great sea, 3 and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one
another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then, as I watched,
its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand
on two feet like a human being; and a human mind was given to it. 5 Another
beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one
side, had three tusks[b] in its mouth among its teeth and was told, “Arise,
devour many bodies!” 6 After this, as I watched, another appeared, like a
leopard. The beast had four wings of a bird on its back and four heads; and
dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the visions by night a fourth
beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth
and was devouring, breaking in pieces, and stamping what was left with its
feet. It was different from all the beasts that preceded it, and it had ten
horns. 8 I was considering the horns, when another horn appeared, a little one
coming up among them; to make room for it, three of the earlier horns were
plucked up by the roots. There were eyes like human eyes in this horn, and a
mouth speaking arrogantly.
Judgment before the Ancient One
9 As I watched,
thrones were set in place,
and an Ancient One[c] took his throne,
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames,
and its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and flowed out from his presence.
A thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.
The court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
11 I watched then because of the noise of
the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was
put to death, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12
As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives
were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a human being[d]
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One[e]
and was presented before him.
14 To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.
Footnotes:
Daniel 7:2 Theodotion: Aram Daniel
answered and said, I
Daniel 7:5 Or ribs
Daniel 7:9 Aram an Ancient of Days
Daniel 7:13 Aram one like a son of man
Daniel 7:13 Aram the Ancient of Days(NRSV)
(Psalm) Daniel 3: 75 Bless the Lord, mountains and hills;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
76 Bless the Lord, all that grows in the
ground;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
77 Bless the Lord, you springs;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
78 Bless the Lord, seas and rivers;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
79 Bless the Lord, you whales and all
that swim in the waters;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
80 Bless the Lord, all birds of the air;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
81 Bless the Lord, all wild animals and
cattle;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.(NRSV)
Luke 21: The
Lesson of the Fig Tree
29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at
the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see
for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see
these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I
tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.(NRSV)
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment