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Darius’ Officials Seek to Accuse Daniel
6 [a]It seemed good to Darius that he set 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom, 2 and over them three commissioners (of whom (A)Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer (B)loss. 3 Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself [b]among the commissioners and satraps because an (C)extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to set him over the (D)entire kingdom. 4 Then the commissioners and satraps began (E)seeking to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to matters of the kingdom; but they were not able to find (F)any ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the (G)law of his God.”
6 Then these commissioners and satraps came [c]by agreement to the king and said thus to him: “King Darius, (H)live forever! 7 All the (I)commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have (J)counseled together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who seeks to make a petition [d]to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall (K)be cast into the lions’ [e]den. 8 Now, O king, (L)establish the injunction and [f]sign the written document so that it may not be changed, according to the (M)law of the Medes and Persians, which [g]may not be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius (N)signed the written document, that is, the injunction.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the written document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open (O)toward Jerusalem); and he continued (P)kneeling on his knees three times a day, (Q)praying and (R)giving thanks before his God, [h]as he had been doing previously. 11 Then these men came [i](S)by agreement and found Daniel seeking to make a petition and making supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near and (T)said before the king concerning the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who seeks to make a petition [j]to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king answered and said, “The word is certain, according to the (U)law of the Medes and Persians, which [k]may not be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “(V)Daniel, who is one of the [l]exiles from Judah, pays (W)no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps seeking to make his petition three times a day.”
14 Then, as soon as the king heard this word, he was greatly (X)distressed within himself and set his mind on saving Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to deliver him. 15 Then these men came [m]by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a (Y)law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
16 Then the king said the word, and Daniel was brought in and (Z)cast into the lions’ den. The king answered and said to Daniel, “[n](AA)Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself save you.” 17 And a (AB)stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel. 18 Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night (AC)fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his (AD)sleep fled from him.
19 Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and hurriedly went to the lions’ den. 20 When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has (AE)your God, whom you constantly serve, been (AF)able to save you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke [o]to the king, “(AG)O king, live forever! 22 My God (AH)sent His angel and (AI)shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as [p]I was found innocent before Him; and also [q]toward you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was greatly pleased and said for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and (AJ)no harm whatsoever was found on him because he had (AK)believed in his God. 24 The king then said the word, and they brought those men who had [r]brought charges against Daniel, and they (AL)cast them, their (AM)children, and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then Darius the king wrote to all the (AN)peoples, nations, and men of every tongue who were inhabiting all the land: “(AO)May your [s]peace abound! 26 [t]I (AP)make a decree that in all the [u]dominion of my kingdom, men are to fear and be in dread before the God of Daniel;
For He is the (AQ)living God and (AR)enduring forever,
And (AS)His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
And His [v]dominion will be unto the end.
27 He saves and delivers and does (AT)signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has also saved Daniel from the [w]power of the lions.”
28 So this (AU)Daniel enjoyed success in the kingdom of Darius and in the kingdom of (AV)Cyrus the Persian.
The Day of the Lord Will Come
3 This is now, (A)beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am (B)stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should (C)remember the words spoken beforehand by (D)the holy prophets and (E)the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles, 3 (F)knowing this first of all, that (G)in the last days (H)mockers will come with their mocking, (I)following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “(J)Where is the promise of His (K)coming? For since the fathers (L)fell asleep, all continues just as it was (M)from the beginning of creation.” 5 For [a]when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that (N)by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was (O)formed out of water and by water, 6 through which (P)the world at that time was (Q)destroyed, being deluged with water. 7 But by His word (R)the present heavens and earth are being reserved for (S)fire, being kept for (T)the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, (U)beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and (V)a thousand years like one day. 9 (W)The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but (X)is patient toward you, (Y)not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But (Z)the day of the Lord (AA)will come like a thief, in which (AB)the heavens (AC)will pass away with a roar and the (AD)elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and (AE)the earth and [b]its works will be [c]found out.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 (AF)looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which (AG)the heavens burning will be destroyed, and the (AH)elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His (AI)promise we are looking for (AJ)new heavens and a new earth, (AK)in which righteousness dwells.
Be on Your Guard
14 (AL)Therefore, (AM)beloved, since you are looking for these things, be diligent to be (AN)found by Him in peace, (AO)spotless and blameless, 15 and consider the (AP)patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also (AQ)our beloved brother Paul, (AR)according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of (AS)these things, (AT)in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and (AU)unstable distort, as they do also (AV)the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, (AW)beloved, knowing this beforehand, (AX)be on your guard lest you, having been carried away by (AY)the error of (AZ)unprincipled men, (BA)fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and (BB)knowledge of our (BC)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (BD)To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Pe
129 Your testimonies are (A)wonderful;
Therefore my soul (B)observes them.
130 The (C)unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives (D)understanding to the simple.
131 I (E)opened my mouth wide and (F)panted,
For I (G)longed for Your commandments.
132 (H)Turn to me and be gracious to me,
According to Your judgment [a]for those who love Your name.
133 Establish my (I)steps in Your [b]word,
And do not let any wickedness (J)overpower me.
134 (K)Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135 (L)Make Your face shine upon Your slave,
And (M)teach me Your statutes.
136 My eyes [c]shed (N)streams of water,
Because they (O)do not keep Your law.
Tsadhe
137 (P)Righteous are You, O Yahweh,
And upright are Your judgments.
138 In (Q)righteousness, You have commanded Your testimonies
And in exceeding (R)faithfulness.
139 My (S)zeal has [d]consumed me,
Because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.
140 Your [e](T)word is exceedingly refined,
Therefore Your slave (U)loves it.
141 I am small and (V)despised,
Yet I do not (W)forget Your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And (X)Your law is truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have found me,
Yet Your commandments are my (Y)delight.
144 Righteous are Your (Z)testimonies forever;
(AA)Give me understanding that I may live.
Qoph
145 I called (AB)with all my heart; answer me, O Yahweh!
I will (AC)observe Your statutes.
146 I called to You; (AD)save me
And I shall keep Your testimonies.
147 I [f](AE)eagerly greet the dawn and cry for help;
I [g]wait for Your words.
148 My eyes [h]eagerly greet the (AF)night watches,
That I may (AG)muse on Your [i]word.
149 Hear my voice (AH)according to Your lovingkindness;
(AI)O Yahweh, revive me, according to Your judgments.
150 [j]Near are those who pursue wickedness;
They are far from Your law.
151 (AJ)Near are You, O Yahweh,
And all Your commandments are (AK)truth.
152 Of old I have (AL)known from Your testimonies
That You have founded them (AM)forever.
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