Staples Mill Road Baptist Church

Daniel 7:1-28 Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts 7In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter.2Daniel declared,I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.3And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.4The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.5And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, Arise, devour much flesh.6After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.7After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.8I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. The Ancient of Days Reigns 9As I looked, thrones were placed,and the Ancient of Days took his seat;his clothing was white as snow,and the hair of his head like pure wool;his throne was fiery flames;its wheels were burning fire.10A stream of fire issuedand came out from before him;a thousand thousands served him,and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;the court sat in judgment,and the books were opened. 11I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.12As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. The Son of Man Is Given Dominion 13I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaventhere came one like a son of man,and he came to the Ancient of Daysand was presented before him.14And to him was given dominionand glory and a kingdom,that all peoples, nations, and languagesshould serve him;his dominion is an everlasting dominion,which shall not pass away,and his kingdom onethat shall not be destroyed. Daniel's Vision Interpreted 15As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.16I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things.17These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.18But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever. 19Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet,20and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions.21As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them,22until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom. 23Thus he said: As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,which shall be different from all the kingdoms,and it shall devour the whole earth,and trample it down, and break it to pieces.24As for the ten horns,out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,and another shall arise after them;he shall be different from the former ones,and shall put down three kings.25He shall speak words against the Most High,and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,and shall think to change the times and the law;and they shall be given into his handfor a time, times, and half a time.26But the court shall sit in judgment,and his dominion shall be taken away,to be consumed and destroyed to the end.27And the kingdom and the dominionand the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heavenshall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 28Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.

Daniel 6:1-28 6It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom;2and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.3Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.4Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.5Then these men said, We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God. 6Then these high officials and satraps came by agreementto the king and said to him, O King Darius, live forever!7All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.8Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.9Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. 10When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.11Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.12Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.13Then they answered and said before the king, Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day. 14Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.15Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed. 16Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!17And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.18Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. 19Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions.20As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?21Then Daniel said to the king, O king, live forever!22My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.23Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.24And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lionsthey, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. 25Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.26I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God,enduring forever;his kingdom shall never be destroyed,and his dominion shall be to the end.27He delivers and rescues;he works signs and wondersin heaven and on earth,he who has saved Danielfrom the power of the lions. 28So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel 5:1-31 5King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. 2Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.3Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.4They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. 5Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote.6Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.7The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.8Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.9Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed. 10The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change.11There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your fatheryour father the kingmade him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,12because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. 13Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah.14I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.15Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter.16But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.18O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty.19And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled.20But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.21He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.22And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,23but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. 24Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.25And this is the writing that was inscribed:Mene,Mene,Tekel, andParsin.26This is the interpretation of the matter:Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;27Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting;28Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. 29Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed.31And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

Daniel 4:1-37 1 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you!2It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. 3How great are his signs,how mighty his wonders!His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,and his dominion endures from generation to generation. 4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.5I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.6So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.7Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.8At last Daniel came in before mehe who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy godsand I told him the dream, saying,9O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.10The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.11The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth.12Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. 13I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.14He proclaimed aloud and said thus: Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.15But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.16Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him.17The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.18This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you. 19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!20The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth,21whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived22it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.23And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,24this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,25that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.26And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.27Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity. 28All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.29At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,30and the king answered and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?31While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,32and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.33Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws. 34At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;35all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,and he does according to his will among the host of heavenand among the inhabitants of the earth;and none can stay his handor say to him, What have you done? 36At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Psalm 78 78Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;incline your ears to the words of my mouth!2I will open my mouth in a parable;I will utter dark sayings from of old,3things that we have heard and known,that our fathers have told us.4We will not hide them from their children,but tell to the coming generationthe glorious deeds of theLord, and his might,and the wonders that he has done. 5He established a testimony in Jacoband appointed a law in Israel,which he commanded our fathersto teach to their children,6that the next generation might know them,the children yet unborn,and arise and tell them to their children,7so that they should set their hope in Godand not forget the works of God,but keep his commandments;8and that they should not be like their fathers,a stubborn and rebellious generation,a generation whose heart was not steadfast,whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Daniel 3:1-30 3King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubitsand its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.2Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.3Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.4And the herald proclaimed aloud, You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,5that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.6And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.7Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.9They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever!10You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.11And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.12There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. 13Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.14Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?15Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands? 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.17If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. 19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.20And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.21Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.22Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. 24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king.25He answered and said, But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. 26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here! Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.27And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.28Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.29Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Daniel 2:1-49 2In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him.2Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.3And the king said to them, I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.4Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic,[a]O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.5The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins.6But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.7They answered a second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.8The king answered and said, I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm9if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.10The Chaldeans answered the king and said, There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.11The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. 12Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.13So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.14Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.15He declared[b]to Arioch, the king's captain, Why is the decree of the king so urgent? Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel.16And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king. 17Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,18and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.19Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.20Daniel answered and said: Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,to whom belong wisdom and might.21He changes times and seasons;he removes kings and sets up kings;he gives wisdom to the wiseand knowledge to those who have understanding;22he reveals deep and hidden things;he knows what is in the darkness,and the light dwells with him.23To you, O God of my fathers,I give thanks and praise,for you have given me wisdom and might,and have now made known to me what we asked of you,for you have made known to us the king's matter. 24Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation. 25Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.26The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?27Daniel answered the king and said, No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked,28but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:29To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be.30But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind. 31You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening.32The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze,33its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.34As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.35Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 36This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation.37You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory,38and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them allyou are the head of gold.39Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.40And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these.41And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay.42And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle.43As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage,[c]but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.44And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,45just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure. 46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him.47The king answered and said to Daniel, Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.48Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.49Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.

Daniel 1:1-21 1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.3Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family[a]and of the nobility,4youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.5The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.6Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah.7And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. 8But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.9And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,10and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.11Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,12Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.13Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.14So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.15At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food.16So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.18At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.19And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king.20And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.21And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Hebrews 13:7 7Rememberyour leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, andimitate their faith. Hebrews 13:17-25 17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.19I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,21equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us[a]that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 22I appeal to you, brothers,[b]bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.23You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.24Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings.25Grace be with all of you.

Luke 24:36-53 36As they were talking about these things,Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them,Peace to you!37But they werestartled andfrightened andthought they saw a spirit.38And he said to them,Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?39See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.40And when he had said this,he showed them his hands and his feet.41And while they still disbelievedfor joy and were marveling,he said to them,Have you anything here to eat?42They gave him a piece of broiled fish,43and he took it and ate before them. 44Then he said to them,These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.45Thenhe opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,46and said to them,Thusit is written,that the Christ should suffer and on the third dayrise from the dead,47and thatrepentance forthe forgiveness of sins should be proclaimedin his nameto all nations,beginning from Jerusalem.48You are witnesses of these things.49And behold, I am sendingthe promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until youare clothed withpowerfrom on high. 50Andhe led them out as far asBethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.51While he blessed them,he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.52And theyworshiped him andreturned to Jerusalemwith great joy,53andwere continually in the templeblessing God.

Hebrews 13:8-16 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.9Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.10We have an altar from which those who serve the tenthave no right to eat.11For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.12So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.13Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.14For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.15Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.16Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Hebrews 13:1-6 13Let brotherly love continue.2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.3Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.5Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.6So we can confidently say, The Lord is my helper;I will not fear;what can man do to me?

Hebrews 13:1-6 13Let brotherly love continue.2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.3Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.5Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.6So we can confidently say, The Lord is my helper;I will not fear;what can man do to me?

Hebrews 12:18-29 18For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest19and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.20For they could not endure the order that was given, If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.21Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, I tremble with fear.22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,23and to the assembly[a]of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.27This phrase, Yet once more, indicates the removal of things that are shakenthat is, things that have been madein order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.28Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,29for our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:18-29 18For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest19and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.20For they could not endure the order that was given, If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.21Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, I tremble with fear.22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,23and to the assembly[a]of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.27This phrase, Yet once more, indicates the removal of things that are shakenthat is, things that have been madein order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.28Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,29for our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:12-17 12Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.14Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.15See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;16that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.17For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Hebrews 12:4-11 4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.5And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,nor be weary when reproved by him.6For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,and chastises every son whom he receives. 7It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?8If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.9Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?10For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.11For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:4-11 4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.5And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,nor be weary when reproved by him.6For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,and chastises every son whom he receives. 7It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?8If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.9Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?10For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.11For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:1-3 12Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

32And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets33who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.35Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated38of whom the world was not worthywandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,40since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.27By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.28By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies

17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,18of whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.19He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.20By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.21By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.22By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

8By faithAbraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a placethat he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.9By faith he went to live inthe land of promise, as in a foreign land,living in tentswith Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.10For he was looking forward tothe city that hasfoundations,whose designer and builder is God.11By faithSarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she consideredhim faithful who had promised.12Therefore from one man, andhim as good as dead, were born descendantsas many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13These all died in faith,not having received the things promised, buthaving seen them and greeted them from afar, andhaving acknowledged that they werestrangers and exiles on the earth.14For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.15If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out,they would have had opportunity to return.16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamedto be called their God, forhe has prepared for them a city.

4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.6And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.7By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

1Remember also your Creator inthe days of your youth, beforethe evil days come and the years draw near of whichyou will say, I have no pleasure in them;2beforethe sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,3in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, andthose who look through the windows are dimmed,4andthe doors on the street are shutwhenthe sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and allthe daughters of song are brought low5they are afraid also of what is high, andterrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along,and desire fails, because man is going to hiseternalhome, and themourners go about the streets6before the silver cord is snapped, orthe golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher isshattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,7andthe dust returns to the earth as it was, andthe spirit returns to Godwho gave it.8Vanityof vanities, saysthe Preacher; all is vanity. 9Besides being wise,the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arrangingmany proverbs with great care.10The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. 11The words of the wise are like goads, and likenails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they aregiven byone Shepherd.12My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of makingmany books there is no end, andmuch study is a weariness of the flesh. 13The end of the matter; all has been heard.Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.14ForGod will bring every deed into judgment, withevery secret thing, whether good or evil.

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.16For byhim all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things were created through him and for him.17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ[a]took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed[b]to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.19And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.20But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,25but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.10And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!

67May Godbe gracious to us and bless usand make his face toshine upon us,Selah2thatyour way may be known on earth,yoursaving power among all nations.3Let the peoples praise you, O God;let all the peoples praise you!

16Rejoice always,17pray without ceasing,18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

16Rejoice always,17pray without ceasing,18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.2For by it the people of old received their commendation.3By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

32But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,33sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.34For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.35Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.37For, Yet a little while,and the coming one will come and will not delay;38but my righteous one shall live by faith,and if he shrinks back,my soul has no pleasure in him. 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

26For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,27but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.28Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.29How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?30For we know him who said, Vengeance is mine; I will repay. And again, The Lord will judge his people.31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

19Therefore, brothers,since we have confidence to enterthe holy places by the blood of Jesus,20bythe new and living way that he opened for us throughthe curtain, that is, through his flesh,21and since we havea great priest over the house of God,22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our heartssprinkled cleanfrom an evil conscience and our bodieswashed with pure water.23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, forhe who promised is faithful.24Andlet us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, andall the more as you seethe Day drawing near.

10For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?3But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Consequently, when Christ[a]came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,but a body have you prepared for me;6in burnt offerings and sin offeringsyou have taken no pleasure.7Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,as it is written of me in the scroll of the book. 8When he said above, You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law),9then he added, Behold, I have come to do your will. He does away with the first in order to establish the second.10And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.12But when Christ[b]had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,13waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16This is the covenant that I will make with themafter those days, declares the Lord:I will put my laws on their hearts,and write them on their minds, 17then he adds, I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more. 18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

10For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?3But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Consequently, when Christ[a]came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,but a body have you prepared for me;6in burnt offerings and sin offeringsyou have taken no pleasure.7Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,as it is written of me in the scroll of the book. 8When he said above, You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law),9then he added, Behold, I have come to do your will. He does away with the first in order to establish the second.10And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.12But when Christ[b]had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,13waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16This is the covenant that I will make with themafter those days, declares the Lord:I will put my laws on their hearts,and write them on their minds, 17then he adds, I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more. 18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

23Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.24For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,26for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

15Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.[a]16For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.17For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.18Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.19For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,20saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.21And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship.22Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

The Earthly Holy Place 9Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.2For a tent[a]was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence.[b]It is called the Holy Place.3Behind the second curtain was a second section[c]called the Most Holy Place,4having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.5Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties,7but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.8By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing9(which is symbolic for the present age).[d]According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,10but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. Redemption Through the Blood of Christ 11But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come,[e]then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)12he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify[f]for the purification of the flesh,14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our[g]conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Hebrews 8:1-13 8Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,2a minister in the holy places, in the true tent[a]that the Lord set up, not man.3For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.4Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.5They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.6But as it is, Christ[b]has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.7For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. 8For he finds fault with them when he says:[c] Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israeland with the house of Judah,9not like the covenant that I made with their fatherson the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.For they did not continue in my covenant,and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israelafter those days, declares the Lord:I will put my laws into their minds,and write them on their hearts,and I will be their God,and they shall be my people.11And they shall not teach, each one his neighborand each one his brother, saying, Know the Lord,for they shall all know me,from the least of them to the greatest.12For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,and I will remember their sins no more. 13In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

7For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.3He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. 4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!5And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers,[a]though these also are descended from Abraham.6But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.7It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.8In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.9One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,10for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Jesus Compared to Melchizedek 11Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.13For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.14For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,16who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.17For it is witnessed of him, You are a priest forever,after the order of Melchizedek. 18For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness19(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,21but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: The Lord has swornand will not change his mind,You are a priest forever. 22This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. 23The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,24but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost[b]those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.27He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.28For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

9Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better thingsthings that belong to salvation.10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. The Certainty of God's Promise 13For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,14saying, Surely I will bless you and multiply you.15And thus Abraham,[a]having patiently waited, obtained the promise.16For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.17So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,18so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.19We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

9Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better thingsthings that belong to salvation.10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. The Certainty of God's Promise 13For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,14saying, Surely I will bless you and multiply you.15And thus Abraham,[a]having patiently waited, obtained the promise.16For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.17So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,18so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.19We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers,by the mercies of God,to present your bodiesas a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.Do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed bythe renewal of your mind, that by testing you maydiscern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers,by the mercies of God,to present your bodiesas a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.Do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed bythe renewal of your mind, that by testing you maydiscern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Guest Speaker Joel Williams, IMB 1 Timothy 4:11-16 11Command and teach these things.12Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.14Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.15Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,[a]so that all may see your progress.16Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

6Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,2and of instruction about washings,[a]the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.3And this we will do if God permits.4For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,5and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,6and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.7For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.8But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. 9Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better thingsthings that belong to salvation.10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

11About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,13for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.14But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

5For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.2He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.3Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.4And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, You are my Son,today I have begotten you; 6as he says also in another place, You are a priest forever,after the order of Melchizedek. 7In the days of his flesh, Jesus[a]offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.8Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.9And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,10being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

26Nowan angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and go toward the south[a]to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert place.27And he rose and went. And there was anEthiopian, aeunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians,who was in charge of all her treasure.He had come to Jerusalem to worship28and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.29And the Spirit said to Philip, Go over and join this chariot.30So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, Do you understand what you are reading?31And he said,How can I, unless someoneguides me? Andhe invited Philip to come up and sit with him.32Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughterand like a lamb before its shearer is silent,so he opens not his mouth.33In hishumiliation justice was denied him.Who can describe his generation?For his life is taken away from the earth. 34And the eunuch said to Philip, About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?35Then Philip opened his mouth, andbeginning with this Scripturehe told him the good news about Jesus.36And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, See, here is water!What prevents me from being baptized?[b]38And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.39And when they came up out of the water,the Spirit of the Lordcarried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.