Then I heard a human voice coming from between the banks of the Ulai. It called out, “Gabriel, enable this person to understand the vision.”

Then he said, “I am going to inform you about what will happen in the latter time of wrath, for the vision pertains to the appointed time of the end.

He spoke with me, instructing me as follows: “Daniel, I have now come to impart understanding to you.

One said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river, “When will the end of these wondrous events occur?”

He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end.

Then the Lord took me from tending flocks and gave me this commission, ‘Go! Prophesy to my people Israel!’

Then the Lord commanded the fish and it disgorged Jonah on dry land.

The Lord responded: “Write down this message! Record it legibly on tablets, so the one who announces it may read it easily.

Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s word to the people: “I am with you!” says the Lord.

Then the man standing among the myrtle trees spoke up and said, “These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk about on the earth.”

He replied, “Don’t you know what these are?” And I said, “No, sir.”

So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

He replied, “To build a temple for her in the land of Babylonia. When it is finished, she will be placed there in her own residence.”

All these strong ones are scattering; they have sought permission to go and walk about over the earth.” The Lord had said, “Go! Walk about over the earth!” So they are doing so.

Again the Lord said to me, “Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd.

So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, “She is really your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac replied, “Because I thought someone might kill me to get her.”

Esau exclaimed, “‘Jacob’ is the right name for him! He has tripped me up two times! He took away my birthright, and now, look, he has taken away my blessing!” Then he asked, “Have you not kept back a blessing for me?”

So Laban asked, “What should I give you?” “You don’t need to give me a thing,” Jacob replied, “but if you agree to this one condition, I will continue to care for your flocks and protect them:

When Esau looked up and saw the women and the children, he asked, “Who are these people with you?” Jacob replied, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”

When Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this your youngest brother, whom you told me about?” Then he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.”