The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday November 26, 2022 (NIV)

²⁴ Therefore Daniel went to Arioch,^(A) whom the king had assigned to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He came and said to him, “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation.”^(B)

²⁵ Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king and said to him, “I have found a man among the Judean exiles^(C) who can let the king know the interpretation.”

²⁶ The king said in reply to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar,^(D) “Are you able to tell me the dream I had and its interpretation?” ^(E)

²⁷ Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, medium, magician, or diviner^(F) is able to make known to the king the mystery he asked about. ²⁸ But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen in the last days.^(G) Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay in bed^(H) were these: ²⁹ Your Majesty, while you were in your bed, thoughts came to your mind about what will happen in the future.^[a](I) The revealer of mysteries^(J) has let you know what will happen. ³⁰ As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me,^(K) not because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.^(L)

The Dream’s Interpretation

³¹ “Your Majesty, as you were watching, suddenly a colossal statue appeared. That statue, tall and dazzling, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was terrifying. ³² The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its stomach and thighs were bronze, ³³ its legs were iron, and its feet were partly iron and partly fired clay. ³⁴ As you were watching, a stone broke off without a hand touching it,^[b](M) struck the statue^(N) on its feet of iron and fired clay, and crushed them.^{(O) 35} Then the iron, the fired clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were shattered and became like chaff^(P) from the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled^(Q) the whole earth.

³⁶ “This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation. ³⁷ Your Majesty, you are king of kings.^(R) The God of the heavens has given you sovereignty, power,^(S) strength, and glory. ³⁸ Wherever people live—or wild animals, or birds of the sky—he has handed them over to you and made you ruler over them all.^(T) You are the head of gold.

³⁹ “After you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours, and then another, a third kingdom, of bronze, which will rule the whole earth.^{(U) 40} A fourth kingdom will be as strong as iron; for iron crushes and shatters everything, and like iron that smashes, it will crush and smash all the others.^{[c](V) 41} You saw the feet and toes, partly of a potter’s fired clay and partly of iron—it will be a divided kingdom, though some of the strength of iron will be in it. You saw the iron mixed with clay, ⁴² and that the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly fired clay—part of the kingdom will be strong, and part will be brittle. ⁴³ You saw the iron mixed with clay—the peoples will mix with one another^[d] but will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with fired clay.

⁴⁴ “In the days of those kings, the God of the heavens will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed,^(W) and this kingdom will not be left to another people. It will crush all these kingdoms^(X) and bring them to an end, but will itself endure forever. ⁴⁵ You saw a stone^(Y) break off from the mountain without a hand touching it,^[e](Z) and it crushed the iron, bronze, fired clay, silver, and gold. The great God has told the king what will happen in the future.^(AA) The dream is certain, and its interpretation reliable.”

Nebuchadnezzar’s Response

⁴⁶ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell facedown, worshiped Daniel, and gave orders to present an offering and incense to him.^{(AB) 47} The king said to Daniel, “Your God is indeed God of gods, Lord of kings,^(AC) and a revealer of mysteries,^(AD) since you were able to reveal this mystery.” ⁴⁸ Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.^{(AE) 49} At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego^(AF) to manage the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.^(AG)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Gold Statue

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue,^(AH) ninety feet high and nine feet wide.^[f] He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.^{(AI) 2} King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers^(AJ) of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. ³ So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue the king had set up. Then they stood before the statue Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

⁴ A herald loudly proclaimed, “People of every nation and language, you are commanded: ⁵ When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither,^[g] lyre,^[h] harp, drum,^[i] and every kind of music,^(AK) you are to fall facedown and worship^(AL) the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. ⁶ But whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.”^(AM)

⁷ Therefore, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and every kind of music, people of every nation and language fell down and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

The Furnace of Blazing Fire

⁸ Some Chaldeans^(AN) took this occasion to come forward and maliciously accuse^[j](AO) the Jews. ⁹ They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever. ¹⁰ You as king have issued a decree^(AP) that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music must fall down and worship the gold statue. ¹¹ Whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. ¹² There are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.^(AQ) These men have ignored you,^(AR) the king; they do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

¹³ Then in a furious rage^(AS) Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king. ¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar asked them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don’t serve my gods or worship the gold statue^(AT) I have set up? ¹⁵ Now if you’re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire—and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?” ^(AU)

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question. ¹⁷ If the God we serve exists,^(AV) then he can rescue^(AW) us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can^[k] rescue us from the power of you, the king. ¹⁸ But even if he does not rescue us,^[l] we want you as king to know that we will not serve^(AX) your gods^(AY) or worship the gold statue you set up.”

¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage,^(AZ) and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times more than was customary, ²⁰ and he commanded some of the best soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. ²¹ So these men, in their trousers, robes, head coverings,^[m] and other clothes, were tied up and thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. ²² Since the king’s command was so urgent^[n](BA) and the furnace extremely hot, the raging flames^[o] killed those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ²³ And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire.

Delivered from the Fire

²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm.^(BB) He said to his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?”

“Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” they replied to the king.

²⁵ He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed;^(BC) and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”^[p](BD)

²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God—come out!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.^{(BE) 27} When the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king’s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect^(BF) on^[q] the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.^{(BG) 28} Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel^[r](BH) and rescued his servants who trusted in him.^(BI) They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.^{(BJ) 29} Therefore I issue a decree^(BK) that anyone of any people, nation, or language^(BL) who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump.^(BM) For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.” ³⁰ Then the king rewarded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.^(BN)

End-Time Ethics

⁷ The end of all things is near;^(A) therefore, be alert and sober-minded^(B) for prayer. ⁸ Above all, maintain constant love^(C) for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.^{[a](D) 9} Be hospitable^(E) to one another without complaining. ¹⁰ Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others,^(F) as good stewards of the varied grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides,^(G) so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Christian Suffering

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.^{(H) 13} Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ,^(I) so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.^{(J) 14} If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,^(K) you are blessed, because the Spirit^(L) of glory and of God^[b] rests on you. ¹⁵ Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.^{[c] 16} But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.^{[d] 17} For the time has come for judgment^(M) to begin with God’s household,^(N) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

¹⁹ So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves^(P) to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.

About the Elders

5 I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness^(Q) to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:^{(R) 2} Shepherd God’s flock among you,^(S) not overseeing^[f] out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you;^[g] not out of greed for money but eagerly; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd^(T) appears, you will receive the unfading crown^(U) of glory. ⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with^[h] humility toward one another, because

Conclusion

⁶ Humble^(W) yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand^(X) of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷ casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.^{(Y) 8} Be sober-minded,^(Z) be alert.^(AA) Your adversary the devil^(AB) is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. ⁹ Resist him,^(AC) firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

¹⁰ The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory^(AD) in Christ,^[j] will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.^{[k] 11} To him be dominion^[l] forever.^[m] Amen.

¹² Through Silvanus,^[n](AE) a faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! ¹³ She who is in Babylon,^(AF) chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love.^(AG) Peace^(AH) to all of you who are in Christ.^[o]

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