The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday November 29, 2020 (NIV)

The Plot against Daniel

6 Darius decided^[a] to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, ² and over them three administrators, including Daniel.^(A) These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded.^{(B) 3} Daniel^[b] distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit,^(C) so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.^{(D) 4} The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel^(E) regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption,^(F) for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”^(G)

⁶ So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever.^{(H) 7} All the administrators of the kingdom^(I)—the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors—have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that, for thirty days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den.^{(J) 8} Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict^(K) and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.”^{(L) 9} So King Darius signed the written edict.^(M)

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

¹⁰ When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem,^(N) and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God,^(O) just as he had done before. ¹¹ Then these men went as a group and found^(P) Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. ¹² So they approached the king^(Q) and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for thirty days any person who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands^[c] and is irrevocable.”^(R)

¹³ Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you,^(S) the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.” ¹⁴ As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel^(T) and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.

¹⁵ Then these men went together to the king and said to him, “You know, Your Majesty, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.”^(U)

¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.^(V) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you continually serve,^(W) rescue you!” ¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den.^(X) The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. ¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting.^(Y) No diversions^[d] were brought to him, and he could not sleep.^(Z)

Daniel Released

¹⁹ At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said,^[e] “has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you^(AA) from the lions?”

²¹ Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. ²² My God sent his angel^(AB) and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.”

²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. When Daniel was brought up from the den, he was found to be unharmed, for he trusted in his God.^{(AC) 24} The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel^[f](AD) were brought and thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives.^(AE) They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Darius Honors God

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live on the whole earth: “May your prosperity abound.^{(AF) 26} I issue a decree^(AG) that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel:^(AH)

²⁸ So Daniel prospered^(AK) during the reign of Darius and^[g] the reign of Cyrus the Persian.^(AL)

The Day of the Lord

3 Dear friends, this is now the second letter^(A) I have written to you; in both letters, I want to stir up your sincere^(B) understanding by way of reminder, ² so that you recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. ³ Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days^(C) scoffing and following their own evil desires, ⁴ saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised?^(D) Ever since our ancestors fell asleep,^(E) all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.” ⁵ They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God^(F) the heavens came into being long ago and the earth was brought about from water and through water.^{(G) 6} Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded.^{(H) 7} By the same word,^(I) the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment^(J) and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.^{(K) 9} The Lord does not delay his promise,^(L) as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any^(M) to perish^(N) but all to come to repentance.^(O)

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord^(P) will come like a thief;^[a](Q) on that day the heavens will pass away^(R) with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved,^(S) and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.^{[b][c] 11} Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness ¹² as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming.^[d](T) Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. ¹³ But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth,^(U) where righteousness dwells.^(V)

Conclusion

¹⁴ Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace.^{(W) 15} Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.^{(X) 16} He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction,^(Y) as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard,^(Z) so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. ¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge^(AA) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.^[e](AB)

פ Pe

צ Tsade

ק Qoph