November 29  

Daily Bible in a Year

Daily Old and New Testaments, Psalms, and Proverbs

  •   Daniel 6
    Daniel 6

    Daniel and the Lions' Den
    6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and 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.3 Then 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. 4 Then 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. 5 Then 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.”
    6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement[a] to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All 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. 8 Now, 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.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.
    10 When 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. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then 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.” 13 Then 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.”
    14 Then 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.15 Then 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.”
    16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared[b] to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And 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. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
    19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As 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?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My 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.” 23 Then 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. 24 And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, 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.
    25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I 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.

    27 
    He delivers and rescues;
         he works signs and wonders
         in heaven and on earth,
     he who has saved Daniel
         from the power of the lions.”

    28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

    Footnotes:
    1. Daniel 6:6 Or came thronging; also verses 11, 15
    2. Daniel 6:16 Aramaic answered and said; also verse 20
  •   2 Peter 3
    2 Peter 3

    The Day of the Lord Will Come
    3 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
    8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.[c]
    11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

    Final Words
    14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

    Footnotes:
    1. 2 Peter 3:9 Some manuscripts on your account
    2. 2 Peter 3:10 Or elements; also verse 12
    3. 2 Peter 3:10 Greek found; some manuscripts will be burned up
  •   Psalm 119:129-152
    Psalm 119:129-152

    Pe
    129 
    Your testimonies are wonderful;
         therefore my soul keeps them.

    130 
    The unfolding of your words gives light;
         it imparts understanding to the simple.

    131 
    I open my mouth and pant,
         because I long for your commandments.

    132 
    Turn to me and be gracious to me,
         as is your way with those who love your name.

    133 
    Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
         and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

    134 
    Redeem me from man's oppression,
         that I may keep your precepts.

    135 
    Make your face shine upon your servant,
         and teach me your statutes.

    136 
    My eyes shed streams of tears,
         because people do not keep your law.

    Tsadhe
    137 
    Righteous are you, O Lord,
         and right are your rules.

    138 
    You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness
         and in all faithfulness.

    139 
    My zeal consumes me,
         because my foes forget your words.

    140 
    Your promise is well tried,
         and your servant loves it.

    141 
    I am small and despised,
         yet I do not forget your precepts.

    142 
    Your righteousness is righteous forever,
         and your law is true.

    143 
    Trouble and anguish have found me out,
         but your commandments are my delight.

    144 
    Your testimonies are righteous forever;
         give me understanding that I may live.

    Qoph
    145 
    With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!
         I will keep your statutes.

    146 
    I call to you; save me,
         that I may observe your testimonies.

    147 
    I rise before dawn and cry for help;
         I hope in your words.

    148 
    My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
         that I may meditate on your promise.

    149 
    Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
         O Lord, according to your justice give me life.

    150 
    They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
         they are far from your law.

    151 
    But you are near, O Lord,
         and all your commandments are true.

    152 
    Long have I known from your testimonies
         that you have founded them forever.
  •   Proverbs 28:21-22

    Proverbs 28:21-22

    21 
    To show partiality is not good,
         but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

    22 
    A stingy man[a] hastens after wealth
         and does not know that poverty will come upon him.

    Footnotes:
    1. Proverbs 28:22 Hebrew A man whose eye is evil


    English Standard Version (ESV)
    The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.