DANIEL
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¤1 °1 In the third
year of Jehoiakim’s reign as king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon
besieged Jerusalem. °2 The Lord delivered into his hands King
Jehoiakim of Judah, and some of the vessels from the temple of God as well.
These he carried off to the land of Shinar and placed in the treasure house
of his god. °3 King Nebuchadnezzar ordered his chief eunuch
Ashpenaz to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the
nobility: °4 young men without physical defect,
handsome, intelligent and wise, well-informed, quick to learn and understand,
and suitable for service in the king’s palace. They were to be taught the
language and literature of the Chaldeans. °5 They
were allotted a daily portion of food and wine from the king’s table and were
to be trained for three years, after which they were to enter the king’s
service. °6 Among these were young men of Judah: Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, °7
whose names the chief
eunuch changed – Daniel to Belteshazzar, Hananiah to Shadrach, Mishael to
Meshach, and Azariah to Abednego. § Daniel refuses to eat unclean food°8 As Daniel was resolved not to make himself unclean with the king’s food or wine, he begged the chief eunuch to spare him this defilement. °9 By the grace of God, the chief eunuch had been sympathetic to Daniel, °10 but he was afraid of the king, and so he said, “If the king, who has allotted your food and drink, sees that you look more emaciated than the other young men of your age, he might think ill of me. It will put my life in danger to give in to your wish.” °11 Daniel then turned to the steward whom the chief eunuch had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. °12 “Please test your servants for ten days. Give us only vegetables to eat and water to drink, °13 and see how we look in comparison with the young men who eat food from the king’s table. Then treat us in accordance with what you see.” °14 The steward agreed and tested them for ten days, °15 at the end of which they looked healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate the king’s food. °16 So the steward continued to give them vegetables instead of the choice food and wine. °17 To these four youths God gave wisdom and proficiency in literature, and to Daniel the gift of interpreting visions and dreams. °18 At the end of the period set by the king for the
youths’ training, the chief eunuch presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. °19 The king talked with them and found none to equal
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These four became members of the
king’s court. °20 In any matter of wisdom and discernment
about which the king consulted, he found them ten times better than all the
magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. °21 Daniel
remained there until the first year of King Cyrus. § Nebuchadnezzar’s dream¤2 °1 In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, he had a series of troubling dreams which rendered him sleepless. °2 The king summoned magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and Chaldean diviners to interpret his dreams. When they arrived and stood in his presence, °3 the king said, “I had a terrible dream and I want to know its meaning.” °4 The Chaldeans answered in Aramaic, “Live forever, O King! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give you its meaning.” °5 But the king replied, “You have to tell me the dream and interpret it, too. That is my decision. If you won’t do it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses razed to the ground. °6 But if you can tell me the dream and its meaning, I will give you presents and reward you with great honor.” °7 They insisted, “Let the king tell us his dream and we will explain what it means.” °8 The king said, “You are only trying to gain time, for you know what I will surely do, °9 that if you do not tell me my dream there is only one sentence for you. You have conspired to mislead me with a deceitful interpretation, hoping that times will change. But if you can show me that you have the ability to know what my dream was, I can be sure that you also have the power to understand its meaning.” °10 The Chaldeans exclaimed, “No one on earth can do what your majesty asks. Never has any king, however great and mighty, asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter or diviner. °11 What the king demands is too difficult. No one can tell him that except the gods who do not live among mortals.” °12 This made the king so furious that he ordered all the wise men of Babylon executed. °13 Upon issuance of the decree to put the wise men to death, a search was also made for Daniel and his companions to have them killed. °14 Daniel, however, talked prudently with Arioch, the commander of the king’s guards who had gone out to kill the wise men. °15 “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Daniel asked, and Arioch explained. °16 Daniel then went to the king and asked for the suspension of the execution to give him time to interpret the dream. °17 Daniel returned home and informed his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. °18 He asked them to implore God’s mercy regarding this mystery, so that they would not perish with the rest of Babylon’s wise men. °19 Then in a night vision, the mystery was revealed to Daniel. He blessed the God of heaven: °20 Blessed be God’s name forever and ever, for his
are wisdom and power. °21 He changes times and seasons; he sets
up and deposes kings. He gives
wisdom to the wise and
knowledge to the discerning. °22 He reveals things deep and hidden; he knows
what lies in darkness; for the
light dwells with him. °23 I give thanks and praise to you, O God of
my ancestors. You have
given me wisdom and power; you have
shown me what we asked for – you have
made known to us the dream of the king. °24 After this Daniel went to Arioch, the commander
appointed by the king to execute the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him,
“Do not execute the wise men yet. Bring me to the king, and I will interpret
his dreams.” °25 At once Arioch took Daniel to the king
and said, “Here is a man found among the Judean captives who says he can
interpret the king’s dream.” °26 The king asked Daniel, who had been named
Belteshazzar, “Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?” § Daniel interprets the dream°27 Daniel answered, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can interpret the king’s dream. °28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. I will tell you the dream and visions you had. °29 As you lay in bed, O King, your thoughts turned to the future, and he who reveals mysteries showed you what is to happen. °30 This mystery has been revealed to me not because I am wiser than anybody else but so that you may know what it means and what went on in your mind. °31 In your vision you saw a statue – very large, very bright, terrible to look at. °32 Its head was of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, °33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. °34 As you watched, a rock cut from a mountain but not by human hands, struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, smashing them. °35 All at once the iron, clay, bronze, silver and gold crumbled into pieces as fine as chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind swept them off and not a trace was left. But the rock that struck the statue became a great mountain that filled the whole earth. °36 That was the dream. Now the interpretation. °37 You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given dominion, strength, power and glory, °38 and into whose hand he has placed humankind, the beasts of the field and the birds of the air, making you ruler over them. You are that head of gold. °39 After you, another kingdom inferior to yours will rise. Then a third kingdom of bronze will rule the whole world. °40 Last shall be a fourth kingdom strong as iron and just as iron breaks and crushes everything else, so will it break and smash all the others. °41 The partly-clay and partly-iron feet and toes mean that it will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron, just as you saw iron mixed with clay. °42 And as the toes were partly iron and partly clay, the kingdom will be partly strong and partly weak. °43 Just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, the people will be a mixture but will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. °44 In the time of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom never to be destroyed or delivered up to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and put an end to them. And it will endure forever. °45 This is the meaning of your vision of a rock cut from a mountain not by human hands, the rock which struck the statue and broke into pieces the iron, bronze, clay, silver and gold. The great God has shown the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation reliable.” °46 King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and
ordered that oblation and incense be offered to him. °47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God
of gods, the Lord of kings and the revealer of mysteries. That is why you
were able to reveal this mystery.” °48 The king gave Daniel a high position and showered
gifts on him. He made him governor of the entire province of Babylon and in
charge of all its wise men. °49 At Daniel’s request the king appointed
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators of the province of Babylon,
while Daniel himself remained at the king’s court. § The golden statue¤3 °1 King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden statue, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, erected on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. °2 Then he summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come for the dedication of the statue. °3 All those summoned came together for the dedication and stood before the statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. °4 There a herald proclaimed aloud, “Nations and peoples of every language, you are hereby commanded °5 to fall down and worship the golden statue as soon as you hear the music played on the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all other instruments. °6 Whoever fails to do this will at once be thrown into a burning furnace.” °7 At this command, all the people of every nation and language who heard the sound of music on the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and other instruments fell down and worshiped the statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. § The Jews: accused and condemned°8 It was then that Chaldean diviners came to the king accusing the Jews. °9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Live forever, O king! °10 You issued a decree that upon hearing the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and other musical instruments, everyone must fall down and worship the golden statue, °11 and whoever failed to do so was to be thrown into a burning furnace. °12 There are some Jews, those whom you appointed administrators of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who gave no heed to your order. They would not serve your gods or worship the golden image you set up.” °13 Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who were immediately brought before the king. °14 King Nebuchadnezzar questioned them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up? °15 If you hear now the sound of horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and other instruments, will you fall down and worship the statue I made? If you won’t, you know the punishment: you will immediately be thrown into a burning furnace. And then what god can deliver you out of my hands?” °16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we need not defend ourselves before you on this matter. °17 If you order us to be thrown into the furnace, the God we serve will rescue us. °18 But even if he won’t, we would like you to know, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.” °19 Nebuchadnezzar’s face reddened with fury as he looked at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual °20 and commanded some of his strongest soldiers to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the burning furnace. °21 At once they were bound and thrown into the furnace, with their hats, shoes and garments on, °22 for the king’s order was very urgent. So fierce was the fire in the furnace that it devoured even the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into it. °23 The three, bound fast, fell into the midst of the blazing furnace. °24 They walked in the midst of the flames, singing to God and praising the Lord. °25 Azariah stood up in the midst of the fire and prayed aloud: °26 Blessed and worthy of praise are you, O Lord
God of our fathers! your name
is glorious forever! °27 Justice is in all that you do; your
acts are faultless, your ways are right, your
judgments always true. °28 You have indeed given a just sentence in bringing
evil upon us and upon Jerusalem, the Holy City of our fathers. You have acted
in accordance with truth and justice, as punishment for our sins. °29 For we have sinned and acted perversely by deserting
you. We have sinned gravely in everything and have not listened to your
commandments. °30 We have not observed them, and we have
not fulfilled everything you commanded us for our good. °31 All the evils you have brought upon us, all that you
have done to us, you have done according to your just sentence. °32 You have given us into the hands of our enemies,
lawless people, the worst of the impious, into the hands of an unjust king,
the most perverse in all the world. °33 And today, we cannot even open our mouths; shame and
humiliation have overcome those who serve and worship you. °34 Do not abandon us forever, do not reject your
covenant for your Name’s sake. °35 Do not withdraw your mercy from us, for the sake of
Abraham, your friend, of Isaac, your servant, of Israel, your holy one, °36 to whom you promised to multiply their race as the
stars of heaven and the sand on the shore of the sea. °37 Lord, see, we have become the least among the
nations in all the world, and we are humiliated because of our sins. °38 At this time, we no longer have a king, or prophet,
or leader. We cannot offer you holocausts, sacrifices, offerings, or incense.
We have no place to present to you the first-fruits of our crops, and so
obtain your favor. °39 But at least when we present ourselves with a
contrite soul and humbled spirit may we then be acceptable to you, °40 more than by offerings of rams and calves as
holocausts, and of thousands of fat lambs. May this
sacrifice of ours today obtain for us your favor for we know that those who
trust in you shall never be disappointed. °41 And now, we serve you with our whole heart, we fear
you and we seek your face. °42 Do not leave us in our humiliation, but
treat us according to your kindness and your great mercy. °43 Free us in keeping with your wonders, and give us
the glory of your Name, Lord. °44 Let those who maltreat your servants be confounded,
may they be covered with shame and deprived of all their power. Crush their
strength, °45 and let them know that you alone are God
and Lord, glorious over all the earth.” °46 The king’s servants who had thrown them into the furnace
did not stop kindling the fire with oil, tar, tow and vine shoots, °47 so that the flames rose up to about twenty-five
meters above the furnace °48 and extending out, burnt the Chaldeans
who were standing around. °49 But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace
beside Azariah and his companions; he drove the flames of the fire outside
the furnace, and blew upon them, °50
in the middle of the
furnace, a coolness like that of wind and dew, so that the fire did not touch
them or cause them pain or trouble them. °51 Then the three began singing together, glorifying
and blessing God within the furnace, and saying; °52 “Blessed are you, Lord, God of our
fathers, be praised and exalted for ever. Blessed
is your holy and glorious name, celebrated and exalted for ever. °53 Blessed are you in the temple of your
sacred glory, your praises are sung for ever. °54 Blessed are you on the throne of your
kingdom, honored and glorified for ever. °55 Blessed are you who fathom the depths,
who are enthroned on the cherubim, praised and exalted for ever. °56 Blessed are you in the firmament of
heaven, praised and glorified for ever. °57 All the works of the Lord, bless him,
praise him, exalt him for ever. °58 Angels of the Lord, bless him, praise and
glorify him for ever. °59 Heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt
him for ever. °60 All the waters above the heavens, bless
the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever. °61 All the powers of the Lord, bless the
Lord, praise and exalt him for ever. °62 Sun and moon, praise and exalt him for
ever. °63 Stars of heaven, praise and exalt him for
ever. °64 Rain and dew, praise and exalt him for
ever. °65 All winds, praise and exalt him for ever. °66 Fire and heat, praise and exalt him for
ever. °67 Cold and heat, praise and exalt him for
ever. °68 Dew and frost, praise and exalt him for
ever. °69 Ice and cold, praise and exalt him for
ever. °70 Frost and snow, praise and exalt him for
ever. °71 Days and nights, praise and exalt him for
ever. °72 Light and darkness, praise and exalt him
for ever. °73 Lightnings and clouds, praise and exalt
him for ever. °74 Earth, praise and exalt him for ever. °75 Mountains and hills, praise and exalt him
for ever. °76 Everything that sprouts on the earth, praise
and exalt him for ever. °77 Springs of water, praise and exalt him
for ever. °78 Seas and rivers, praise and exalt him for
ever. °79 Whales and fishes, praise and exalt him
for ever. °80 All the birds of heaven, praise and exalt
him for ever. °81 Animals wild and tame, praise and exalt
him for ever. °82 All people on earth, praise and exalt him
for ever. °83 Israel, praise and exalt him for ever. °84 Priests of the Lord, praise and exalt him
for ever. °85 Servants of the Lord, praise and exalt him
for ever. °86 Spirits and souls of the just, praise and
exalt him for ever. °87 Those who are holy and humble of heart,
praise and exalt him for ever. °88 Ananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the
Lord, praise and exalt him for ever. For he
has taken us out from the netherworld, he has saved us from the hands of
death, freed us from the furnace of burning flames and rescued us from the
midst of the fire. °89 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy is everlasting. °90 All who worship the Lord, bless the God
of gods, praise and acknowledge him for his mercy is everlasting.” °91 Then King Nebuchadnezzar suddenly rose up in great
amazement and asked his counselors, “Did we not throw three men bound into
the fire?” They answered, “Certainly.” °92 The
king said, “But I can see four men walking about freely through the fire
without suffering any harm, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” °93 Nebuchadnezzar approached the mouth of the blazing
furnace and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High
God, come out and come here.” So they came out from the midst of the fire. °94 The officials, prefects, governors and counselors of
the king drew near to examine them: the fire had no effect on their bodies,
their hair was not singed, their trousers were not burned, and they did not
even have the smell of smoke. °95 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Blessed be the God of
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who sent his angel to free his servants who,
trusting in him, disobeyed the king’s order and preferred to give their
bodies to the fire rather than serve and worship any other god but their God. °96 I give this command, therefore: From every race,
nation and language, anyone who speaks irreverently of the God of Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego shall be cut into pieces and his house shall be
destroyed, for there is no other god who can save like this.” °97 And the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
in the province of Babylon. § Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and insanity°98 Nebuchadnezzar, the king, to all peoples, all
nations on the earth whatever be their language: Peace. °99 It pleases me to make known to you the signs and
wonders the Most High God has done in me. °100 How great are his signs, how
mighty his wonders! His
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, his
dominion lasts for all generations. ¤4 °1 I,
Nebuchadnezzar, was at peace in my house and content in my palace when I had
a dream which appalled me. °2 The nightmares I had as I lay in bed, and
the visions that passed through my mind tormented me. °3 So I summoned all the wise men of Babylon that they
might explain to me what the dream meant. °4 The wise men, seers and astrologers came, and I
recounted the dream to them, but they could not explain it to me. °5 So Daniel came in before me – he was renamed
Belteshazzar after the name of my god, for in him dwells the spirit of the
Holy God. I told him my dream in this way: °6 Belteshazzar,
chief of the wise men, I know that you have the spirit of the Holy God and
that no mystery is ever difficult for you. Examine the dream I have had and
explain it to me. °7 These were my dreams as I lay in bed. There was a
tree at the center of the world; it was very tall. °8 The tree grew, it became big and reached up to
heaven, and its branches could be seen from the ends of the earth. °9 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruits abundant;
there was food for all in it. Animals of the field found refuge in its shade,
the birds of heaven nested in its branches and all living things fed on it. °10 I was looking at this interior vision when a
watchful one, a holy one, came down from heaven. °11 He cried in a loud voice: Cut the tree down, cut off
its branches, strip off its leaves and throw away its fruits. Let the beasts flee
from under it and the birds as well. °12 But
leave in the earth the stump and the roots bound with iron and bronze bands,
in the grass of the field. Let him
be drenched with the dew of heaven, let him share the grass of the earth with
the animals. °13 Let his heart cease from being human, and
let a beast’s heart be given him and pass over him seven times. °14 This is the sentence given by the watchful ones, the
question settled by the holy ones, so that every living thing may know that
the Most High is higher than any human authority. He confers power on whom he
pleases and raises the most humble of men. °15 This was the dream I had, I, King Nebuchadnezzar.
You, Belteshazzar, explain it to me, since not one of the wise men in my
kingdom has been able to interpret it for me. But you can, for the spirit of
the Holy God dwells in you. °16 Then Daniel, renamed Belteshazzar, was stunned for a
while and looked very much upset. The king said, “Belteshazzar, what is in
that dream or in its interpretation that upsets you so?” Belteshazzar
answered, °17 “My lord, may this dream be meant for
your enemies and its content refer to your foes!” °18 The tree you saw, which grew big and strong, and
reached to heaven and was visible through all the earth, with beautiful
leaves and abundant fruit, which had food for all, under which animals of the
field found refuge and in whose branches the birds of heaven built their
nests – °19 this tree is you, O King, whose power has
increased reaching up to heaven, whose empire extends to the ends of the
earth. °20 Now, regarding what the king has seen: a watchful
one, a holy one, who came down from heaven and said: Cut the tree down,
destroy it, but leave the stump and the roots in the ground with bands of
iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; let him be drenched with the dew
of heaven, and share the lot of the animals of the field until they have
passed over him seven times. °21 Now I shall explain it to you: This is
the decree of the Most High regarding the king, my lord. °22 You shall be driven out from among human society and
live with the beasts of the field. You shall eat grass like the oxen, and be
drenched by the dew of heaven. Seven times shall pass over you until you
acknowledge that the Most High is higher than any human authority, and that
he gives the power to whom he pleases. °23 The order to leave the stump and the roots means
that you shall recover your kingdom when you have acknowledged that all power
comes from heaven. °24 May it then please the king to accept my
advice: wipe out your sins with works of justice, and your iniquities by
showing mercy to the poor; then perhaps you may lengthen your prosperity.” °25 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. °26 Twelve months later, while walking on the roof of
the royal palace in Babylon, °27 the king said, “Is this not the great
Babylon I built with the strength of my own power as my royal residence, and
for the glory of my majesty?” °28 These words were still in the mouth of the king when
a voice came down from heaven: “King
Nebuchadnezzar, I speak to you: your empire is finished. °29 You shall be driven from among people, and live with
the animals of the field; you shall eat grass like oxen and seven times shall
pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High disposes of the power
among mortals and gives it to whom he pleases.” °30 These words were fulfilled at once. Nebuchadnezzar
was driven from among humans, he fed on grass like oxen, his body was
drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an
eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. °31 At the end of this time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted
up my eyes to heaven and my reason returned to me; so I blessed the Most
High: Blessed
and glorified is he who lives for ever, whose dominion is everlasting and
whose kingdom lasts through all generations. °32 All the inhabitants of the earth are before him as
if they were nothing. He does as he pleases with the army of heaven and the
inhabitants of the earth. No one can stop his hand or ask him to render an
account. °33 At that moment, I regained my reason, I recovered my
throne and again began to govern, for the glory of my kingdom. My counselors
and my noblemen acclaimed me, they restored me to my throne and I was given
still greater power. °34 So now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and glorify
the King of Heaven. For all his works are true, and his ways are all just; he
knows how to humble those who walk in pride. § The banquet of Belshazzar¤5 °1 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for his nobles, a thousand of them attended and he drank wine with them. °2 Under the influence of wine, he ordered that the gold and silver vessels his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem be brought in so that he and his nobles, his wives and concubines might drink from them. °3 The gold and silver vessels taken from God’s temple were brought in, and the king and his nobles, his wives and concubines drank from them. °4 While they drank wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone. °5 Suddenly a man’s fingers appeared opposite the lampstand and wrote on the plastered wall of the king’s palace. Watching the hand as it wrote, the king turned pale. °6 So terrified was he that his knees knocked and his legs gave way. °7 He shouted, calling for his enchanters and Chaldean diviners. “Whoever reads this writing and tells me its meaning,” said he to the wise men of Babylon, “will be clothed in purple, wear a gold chain around his neck, and be made the third highest ruler in my kingdom.” °8 All the king’s wise men came, but none could read the writing or tell its meaning. °9 King Belshazzar became very frightened and his face grew even more pale. His nobles were likewise terrified and confused. °10 Hearing the troubled voices of the king and his
nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall and said, “Live forever, O king!
Do not be alarmed and become pale. °11 In
your kingdom is a man who has the spirit of the holy gods. He was found to
have discernment and god-like wisdom during your father’s lifetime. He was in
fact appointed chief of the magicians, enchanters and diviners by your father
King Nebuchadnezzar. °12 This man Daniel, whom the king called
Belteshazzar, knew how to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve
difficult problems. Call for Daniel and he will tell you what the writing
means.” °13 Daniel was brought in and questioned by the king,
“Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father brought from Judah? °14 I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods,
that you have insight and extraordinary wisdom. °15 Wise
men and enchanters were brought here, but none of them could read this
writing and tell its meaning. °16 I have heard that you can interpret
dreams and solve problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it
means, you will be clothed in purple, wear a gold chain around your neck, and
be appointed third in rank in my kingdom.” °17 Daniel replied, “You may keep your gifts or give them to someone else. Just the same I will read and interpret the writing for you. °18 God the Most High gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and a great kingdom. °19 Because of the greatness given him by God, he was feared by nations and peoples of every language. He had the power of life and death over everyone. He exalted or humbled whomsoever he wished. °20 But when he became arrogant and insolent, he was deposed and stripped of his glory. °21 He became an outcast and as senseless as a beast. He lived with wild asses, ate grass like cattle and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that God the Most High rules over the human kingdoms and appoints whom he pleases to govern it. °22 But you his son Belshazzar, although you knew all this, have not humbled yourself. °23 You have defied the Lord of heaven. You had the vessels from his temple brought to you, and together with your nobles, your wives and concubines, you drank wine from them. You praised the idols made of silver and gold, of bronze, iron and stones, which neither see, nor hear, nor understand; but you never glorified God who has power over your life and all your fortunes. °24 So he sent the hand that wrote the inscription °25 which read MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. And these words mean: °26 MENE, God has numbered the days of your reign and put an end to it; °27 TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; °28 PARSIN, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.” °29 On Belshazzar’s order, Daniel was clothed in purple, given a gold chain to wear around his neck, and proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. °30 That very night, however, the Chaldean king Belshazzar was slain. ¤6 °1 Darius the Mede, at the age of sixty-two, took over the kingdom. § Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den°2 Darius appointed one hundred and twenty satraps
throughout the whole kingdom. They were made accountable to three administrators,
one of whom was Daniel. This was to ensure that no loss or harm should come
to the king. °3 Because of the extraordinary spirit
residing in him, Daniel excelled above all the other administrators and
satraps, so that the king planned to give him authority over the entire
kingdom. °4 This provoked envy among the
administrators and satraps, who tried to find grounds for filing charges
against Daniel as regard his performance of official duties. But he was so
trustworthy that neither corruption nor negligence could be found in him. °5 Finally the men decided: “We will never find any
grounds for charges against this man Daniel except in something that has to
do with the law of his God.” °6 These administrators and satraps, therefore, went as
a group to the king and said to him, “Live forever, O King Darius! °7 The administrators of the kingdom, the prefects,
satraps, counselors and governors are all agreed that the king should issue
and enforce a decree that anyone who prays and makes petition to any god or
man within the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into
the lions’ den. °8 And now, O king, put the decree in
writing and have it signed at once, so that it cannot be altered or annulled,
in accordance with Medo-Persian laws. °9 King
Darius put in writing and signed the prohibition, thus making it a law. °10 Daniel heard about the new law, but just as usual,
he returned home and prayed three times a day, giving thanks to his God, in
his room upstairs with the windows opened towards Jerusalem. °11 There the men spying on him found Daniel kneeling in
prayer and asking God for help. °12
So they went to the
king and reminded him about the prohibition, “O king, did you not publish a
decree that anyone who prays or makes petition to any god or man except to
you would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king
answered, “Yes, and the decree stands, in accordance with Medo-Persian laws
which cannot be altered or annulled.” °13 Then they said, “But the Jewish exile Daniel pays no
attention to you and to your decree. Three times a day he still prays to some
god other than you.” °14 Greatly aggrieved at what he heard, the king decided
to help Daniel. He made every effort till sundown to save him. °15 But the men kept coming to him and insisting,
“Remember, O king, that under the Medo-Persian laws every decree or
prohibition issued by the king is irrevocable.” °16 The king, therefore, could not help giving the order
that Daniel be brought and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel,
“May your God, whom you serve faithfully, save you.” °17 A stone was placed at the mouth of the den, and the
king sealed it with his own signet ring and with that of his nobles, so that
Daniel’s situation might remain unchanged. °18 Then
the king returned to his palace and spent a sleepless night, refusing food
and entertainment. °19 Very early next morning, he rose and
hurried to the lions’ den. °20 As he came near he called in an anguished
voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, did your God whom you serve
faithfully save you from the lions?” °21 Daniel answered, “Live forever, O king! °22 My God sent his angel who closed the lions’ mouths
so that they did not hurt me. God did that because I am innocent in his
sight. Neither have I wronged you, O king.” °23 The king felt very glad and ordered Daniel released
from the lions’ den. No wound was found on him for he had trusted in his God.
°24 At the king’s order, the men who had
accused Daniel were thrown into the lions’ den, together with their wives and
children. No sooner had they reached the floor of the den than the lions
lunged at them and tore them to pieces. °25 King Darius wrote to the nations,to peoples of every
language, “Peace to you all! °26 I decree that throughout my kingdom
people should reverence and fear the God of Daniel. “For
he is the living God, and
forever he endures; his
kingdom will not be crushed, his
dominion will never cease. °27 He rescues and he delivers; he
performs signs and wonders both in
heaven and on earth. And he
came to Daniel’s rescue saving
him from the lions’ tooth and claw.” °28 Daniel greatly prospered during the reign of Darius
and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. § Vision of the four empires¤7 °1 In the first year of the reign of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions in his mind as he was sleeping. When he woke up, he wrote down the dream. This is how the narrative began: °2 Daniel said, “I saw the following in my vision: the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, °3 and four great beasts, each one different from the other, came out of the sea. °4 The first was like a lion with eagle’s wings. As I looked at it, its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, stood up on its feet like a man, and was given a human heart. °5 The second was a beast like a bear; it was raised up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told: Go and devour much flesh. °6 I went on looking and saw another beast like a leopard with four wings on its back; it had four heads and dominion was given to it. °7 I continued seeing my visions of the night and saw a terrible fourth beast. It was fearful and extraordinarily strong; it had great iron teeth; it ate, tore into pieces, and crushed underfoot whatever remained. It was different from the previous beasts and had ten horns. °8 I was looking at the horns, when another small horn sprang among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots to make way for the new. It had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that uttered insolent words. § The son of man°9 I looked and saw the following: Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took his seat. His robe was white as snow, his hair white as washed wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire. °10 A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before him. Thousands upon thousands served him and a countless multitude stood before him. Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book. °11 But as I remembered the haughty words of the horn with human eyes and mouth which I had seen before, this animal was killed before my eyes, and its body destroyed and cast into the fire. °12 Dominion was taken from the other animals, though they were allowed to stay alive for a time, until the fixed time. °13 I continued watching the nocturnal vision: One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into his presence. °14 Dominion, honor and kingship were given him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served him. His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be destroyed. °15 I, Daniel, was deeply troubled, since these visions
terrified me. °16 I approached one of those who were
standing there, and asked him to tell me what all this meant. He answered me
and gave me the interpretation of these things: °17 ‘These four beasts are four kings who will rise from
the earth. °18 But the holy ones of the Most High shall
receive the kingdom to possess it eternally, forever and ever.’ °19 Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth
beast, different from the others, extraordinarily terrifying, with iron teeth
and bronze claws, that ate, tore into pieces and crushed underfoot whatever
remained. °20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns
it had on its head, and about the other horn which had sprung up, and the
three first horns that fell, and about this horn with eyes and a mouth that
spoke with arrogance, and that looked greater than the other horns. °21 As I looked, this horn waged war against the holy
ones and was subduing them °22 until the One of Great Age came to do
justice for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came for the holy
ones to take possession of the kingdom. °23 Then I was told: ‘The
fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all the
kingdoms. It will devour the earth, crush it and destroy it. °24 The ten horns are ten kings who shall rise from this
kingdom. Another one will rise up after them and destroy three kings. °25 This king shall insult the Most High and persecute
the holy ones of the Most High. He shall try to change the feasts and the
laws. The holy ones shall be handed over to his power for a time, two times,
and half a time. °26 But judgment will come and dominion will be taken
from him; he shall be destroyed and utterly wiped out. °27 The kingship, dominion and leadership of all the
kingdoms of the world shall be given to the people of the holy ones of God Most
High: his kingdom will be without end. All the kingdoms shall serve him and
be subject to him.’ °28 Here ends the narrative. I, Daniel, was greatly
disturbed in my thoughts, I grew pale and I kept these things in my heart.” § Another vision about King Antiochus¤8 °1 In the
third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, I, Daniel, had another vision. °2 In the vision, I saw myself in Susa, the fortified
city in the province of Elam; I noticed that I was by the river Ulai. |