Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 63[a]
A psalm of David, written when he was in the Judean wilderness.[b]
63 O God, you are my God. I long for you.[c]
My soul thirsts[d] for you,
my flesh yearns for you,
in a dry and parched[e] land where there is no water.
2 Yes,[f] in the sanctuary I have seen you,[g]
and witnessed[h] your power and splendor.
3 Because[i] experiencing[j] your loyal love is better than life itself,
my lips will praise you.
4 For this reason[k] I will praise you while I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.[l]
5 As with choice meat[m] you satisfy my soul.[n]
My mouth joyfully praises you,[o]
6 whenever[p] I remember you on my bed,
and think about you during the nighttime hours.
7 For you are my deliverer;[q]
under your wings[r] I rejoice.
8 My soul[s] pursues you;[t]
your right hand upholds me.
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and his disposition changed[a] toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders[b] to heat the furnace seven times hotter than it was normally heated. 20 He ordered strong[c] soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 So those men were tied up while still wearing their cloaks, trousers, turbans, and other clothes,[d] and were thrown into the furnace[e] of blazing fire. 22 But since the king’s command was so urgent, and the furnace was so excessively hot, the men who escorted[f] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were killed[g] by the leaping flames.[h] 23 But those three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the furnace[i] of blazing fire while still securely bound.[j]
God Delivers His Servants
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was startled and quickly got up. He said to his ministers, “Wasn’t it three men that we tied up and threw[k] into[l] the fire?” They replied to the king, “For sure, O king.” 25 He answered, “But I see four men, untied and walking around in the midst of the fire! No harm has come to them! And the appearance of the fourth is like that of a god!”[m] 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire. He called out,[n] “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out! Come here!”
Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged from the fire.[o] 27 Once the satraps, prefects, governors, and ministers of the king had gathered around, they saw that those men were physically[p] unharmed by the fire.[q] The hair of their heads was not singed, nor were their trousers damaged. Not even the smell of fire was to be found on them!
28 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed,[r] “Praised be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent forth his angel[s] and has rescued his servants who trusted in him, ignoring[t] the edict of the king and giving up their bodies rather than[u] serve or pay homage to any god other than their God! 29 I hereby decree[v] that any people, nation, or language group that blasphemes[w] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, or Abednego will be dismembered and his home reduced to rubble! For there exists no other god who can deliver in this way.” 30 Then Nebuchadnezzar[x] promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
To the Church in Smyrna
8 “To[a] the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following:[b]
“This is the solemn pronouncement of[c] the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but[d] came to life: 9 ‘I know the distress you are suffering[e] and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know[f] the slander against you[g] by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue[h] of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown[i] into prison so you may be tested,[j] and you will experience suffering[k] for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself.[l] 11 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers[m] will in no way be harmed by the second death.’
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