The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday November 30, 2020 (NIV)

Daniel 7

Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts

In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream with visions in his mind(A) as he was lying in his bed. He wrote down the dream,(B) and here is the summary[a] of his account. Daniel said, “In my vision at night I was watching, and suddenly the four winds of heaven(C) stirred up the great sea. Four huge beasts(D) came up from the sea,(E) each different from the other.

“The first was like a lion(F) but had eagle’s wings. I continued watching until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, set on its feet like a man, and given a human mind.

“Suddenly, another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear.(G) It was raised up on one side, with three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up! Gorge yourself on flesh.’

“After this, while I was watching, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard(H) with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads,(I) and it was given dominion.

“After this, while I was watching in the night visions, suddenly a fourth beast(J) appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.(K)

“While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn,(L) a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. And suddenly in this horn there were eyes like the eyes of a human and a mouth that was speaking arrogantly.(M)

The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man

“As I kept watching,

thrones were set in place,(N)
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was white like snow,(O)
and the hair of his head like whitest wool.(P)
His throne was flaming fire;(Q)
its wheels were blazing fire.(R)
10 A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from his presence.
Thousands upon thousands(S) served him;
ten thousand times ten thousand(T) stood before him.
The court was convened,(U)
and the books were opened.(V)

11 “I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire.(W) 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time.(X) 13 I continued watching in the night visions,

and suddenly one like a son of man(Y)
was coming with the clouds of heaven.(Z)
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
14 He was given dominion(AA)
and glory and a kingdom,
so that those of every people,
nation, and language(AB)
should serve(AC) him.
His dominion is an everlasting(AD) dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.

Interpretation of the Vision

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was deeply distressed within me,[b] and the visions in my mind terrified me.(AE) 16 I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him(AF) to clarify all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things:(AG) 17 ‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.’(AH)

19 “Then I wanted to be clear about the fourth beast,(AI) the one different from all the others, extremely terrifying, with iron teeth and bronze claws, devouring, crushing, and trampling with its feet whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns(AJ) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly,(AK) and that looked bigger than the others. 21 As I was watching, this horn waged war(AL) against the holy ones and was prevailing over them 22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment(AM) was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.

23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms. It will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24 The ten horns(AN) are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. Another king, different from the previous ones, will rise after them and subdue three kings. 25 He will speak words against the Most High(AO) and oppress[c] the holy ones(AP) of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals[d] and laws,(AQ) and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.[e](AR) 26 But the court will convene,(AS) and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.(AT) 27 The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom,(AU) and all rulers will serve and obey him.’

28 “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly,(AV) and my face turned pale,[f] but I kept the matter to myself.”(AW)

Footnotes:

  1. 7:1 Lit beginning
  2. 7:15 Lit was distressed in the middle of its sheath
  3. 7:25 Lit wear out
  4. 7:25 Lit change times
  5. 7:25 Or for three and a half years
  6. 7:28 Lit my brightness changed on me
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

1 John 1

Prologue: Our Declaration

What was from the beginning,(A) what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word(B) of life— that life was revealed,(C) and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us(D) what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship(E) with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father(F) and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things[a] so that our[b] joy(G) may be complete.

Fellowship with God

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light,(H) and there is absolutely no darkness in him.(I) If we say, “We have fellowship(J) with him,” and yet we walk in darkness,(K) we are lying and are not practicing the truth.(L) If we walk in the light(M) as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus(N) his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,”(O) we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive(P) us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word(Q) is not in us.(R)

Footnotes:

  1. 1:4 Other mss add to you
  2. 1:4 Other mss read your
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Psalm 119:153-176

ר Resh

153 Consider my affliction and rescue me,(A)
for I have not forgotten your instruction.(B)
154 Champion my cause and redeem me;(C)
give me life as you promised.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked
because they do not study your statutes.(D)
156 Your compassions are many, Lord;(E)
give me life according to your judgments.
157 My persecutors and foes are many.(F)
I have not turned from your decrees.(G)
158 I have seen the disloyal(H) and feel disgust(I)
because they do not keep your word.
159 Consider how I love your precepts;
Lord, give me life according to your faithful love.(J)
160 The entirety of your word is truth,
each of your righteous judgments endures forever.(K)

שׂ Sin

161 Princes have persecuted me without cause,
but my heart fears only your word.(L)
162 I rejoice over your promise(M)
like one who finds vast treasure.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood,(N)
but I love your instruction.(O)
164 I praise you seven times a day
for your righteous judgments.(P)
165 Abundant peace belongs to those(Q)
who love your instruction;
nothing makes them stumble.(R)
166 Lord, I hope for your salvation(S)
and carry out your commands.
167 I obey your decrees
and love them greatly.(T)
168 I obey your precepts and decrees,
for all my ways are before you.(U)

ת Taw

169 Let my cry reach you, Lord;(V)
give me understanding according to your word.(W)
170 Let my plea reach you;(X)
rescue me according to your promise.(Y)
171 My lips pour out praise,(Z)
for you teach me your statutes.(AA)
172 My tongue sings about your promise,(AB)
for all your commands are righteous.(AC)
173 May your hand be ready to help me,(AD)
for I have chosen your precepts.(AE)
174 I long for your salvation, Lord,
and your instruction is my delight.(AF)
175 Let me live, and I will praise you;(AG)
may your judgments help me.
176 I wander like a lost sheep;(AH)
seek your servant,(AI)
for I do not forget your commands.(AJ)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Proverbs 28:23-24

23 One who rebukes a person will later find more favor(A)
than one who flatters with his tongue.(B)

24 The one who robs his father or mother(C)
and says, “That’s no sin,”(D)
is a companion to a person who destroys.(E)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.