A reading from the book of Daniel

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed.  Then he wrote down the dream, and told the sum of the matter.  Daniel said...

As I looked,
thrones were placed
and one that was ancient of days
took his seat;
his raiment was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames,
its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued 
and came forth from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened....

I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion 
and glory and kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.

 --Daniel 7:1-2, 9-10, 13-14 (RSV)

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