Nebuchadnezzar’s court

1 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon laid siege to Jerusalem.

2 The Lord handed King Jehoiakim over to him, with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them off to the land of Shinar to the temple of his god, and placed them in the temple treasury.

3 The king commanded Ashpenaz, the chief of his eunuchs, to bring to him some of the Israelite princes and nobles. 4 They were to be young men who were without physical defect and handsome, comfortable with all types of knowledge, well taught and quick to learn and able to serve in the king’s palace. They were to be taught the learning and the language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king gave to them each day some of his rich food and some of the wine which he drank. 6 He also commanded that they should be taught for three years, and that at the end of that time they should enter the royal service.

6b Among these young men were: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, all of whom were from the tribe of Judah; 7 but the chief of the king’s eunuchs gave other names to them. To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah, Shadrach, and to Mishael, Meshach, and to Azariah, Abednego.

8 But Daniel made up his mind not to become ritually unclean by being contaminated by the rich food of the king nor with the wine which he drank. So he asked the chief of the king’s eunuchs to help him avoid it. 9 God helped Daniel to win the kindness and favor of the chief.

10 But the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, ‘I fear that my lord, the king, who has given you your food and your drink, will see that your faces are sadder than those of young men who are your own age, and so you will endanger my head with the king.’

11 So Daniel went to the guardian whom the chief of the eunuchs had put over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and said 12 ‘Test us for ten days; and let us have vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare the way we look with that of the young men who eat of the king’s rich food. Then do to us as seems best.’ 14 So he did as they asked and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days they looked better and they were healthier than all the young men who ate the king’s rich food. 16 So the guardian took away their rich food and the wine and gave them vegetables.

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge, learning, and wisdom; and Daniel understood all kinds of visions and dreams.

18 On the date which the king had fixed for introducing all the young men to the court, the chief of his eunuchs brought them to Nebuchadnezzar, 19 and the king talked with them. But not one of all the young men was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they began to serve the king. 20 On every subject which called for wisdom and understanding and about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the wise men and magicians who were in his entire kingdom.

21 Daniel remained at the court until the start of the reign of King Cyrus.

Childrens

A king’s strange dream

2 Nebuchadnezzar in the second year of his reign had dreams, and his mind was so troubled that he could not sleep. 2 Then the king sent for the magicians and the wise men, and the Chaldaens (who studied the stars) to tell him what his dreams meant. So they came in before the king, 3 and he said to them, ‘I have had a dream and my mind is troubled, for I want to know what the dream means.’

4 Then those who studied the stars said to the king in Aramaic: ‘O king, live forever! Tell the dream to your servants and we will tell you what it means.’ 5 The king answered, ‘What I now say is certain: if you do not tell me the dream and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb and your houses will be maderuins. 6 But if you tell the dream and what it means, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honors; therefore tell me the dream and what it means.’ 7 They answered the second time, ‘Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will tell what it means.’ 8 The king replied, ‘I see clearly that you wish to gain time, for you know that what I have said is certain, 9 and that if you do not tell the dream to me, you will all suffer the same punishment. So you have planned to speak lying and false words before me, until the time when it is to happen has passed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can tell me what it means.’ 10 The Chaldeans answered the king, ‘There is no man on earth who can do what the king asks, for no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any wise man or magician, or of one who studies the stars. 11 What the king asks is too hard. There is no one else who can tell it to the king, except the gods, who do not live among mortals.’ 12 This made the king very angry and he ordered all the wise men of Babylon put to death.

13 So the command was given that the wise men were to be put to death. Search was made for Daniel and his friends that they too might be put to death. 14 Then Daniel approached Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to put the wise men of Babylon to death, and quietly and carefully asked, 15 ‘Why is the king’s command so harsh?’ When Arioch told Daniel the facts, 16 he went to the king and asked that he give him time to tell what the dream meant.

17 Then Daniel went to his house and told the facts to his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, so that they might beg the God of heaven to be kind to them and to tell Daniel this secret, so that they might not die with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was told to Daniel in a vision at night, and he praised the God of heaven and said:

20 ‘Blessed be the name of God

from everlasting to everlasting!

For wisdom and power are his.

21 He controls the seasons and times,

he removes and installs kings,

He gives wisdom to the wise,

and knowledge to those who have insight.

22 He shows the deep, secret things;

he knows what is in the darkness,

and the light of truth dwells in him.

23 God of my fathers:

I give you thanks and praise,

For you gave me wisdom and strength,

and havemade known the things we asked;

You have made known to us the king’s secret!’

24 Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had commanded to kill the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, ‘Do not kill the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will tell him what his dream means.’

25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel to the king and said to him, ‘I have found a man among the captives from Judah who will tell you what this dream means.’ 26 The king said to Daniel (whose name was Belteshazzar), ‘Can you make known to me the dream which I have had and what it means?’ 27 Daniel answered, ‘The secret which the king asks is something that neither wise men, magicians, nor those who study the stars can make known to him; 28 but there is a God in heaven who tells secrets, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will come in the future. Your dream and the visions which you had as you lay asleep are these:

29 ‘The thoughts which came into your mind on your bed concerned what will happen in the future. The one who reveals secrets has made known to you what will come to pass. 30 This secret was not revealed to me because I am wiser than other living people, but so that the king might learn the interpretation: so that you might understand the thoughts that have come to you.

31 ‘You, O king, had a vision and saw a great image. That image was large and it was exceedingly bright as it stood before you, and its appearance was terrifying. 32 The head of the image was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its body and its thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 You looked at it until a stone was cut out, not by human hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were all broken in pieces and became like the chaff which blows from the summer threshing-floors, and the wind carried them away so that nothing was left of them. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the earth.

36 ‘This is the dream, and we will tell the king what it means: 37 O king, you are the king of kings to whom the God of heaven has given the rule, the power, the strength, and the glory. 38 Over the whole world he has given into your power, people, the wild beasts and the birds, and has made you rule over them all. You are the head of gold.

39 ‘After you will rise another kingdom not so strong as you are, and a third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over the whole earth. 40 A fourth kingdom will be strong as iron, for iron breaks in pieces and shatters all things, and like iron which crushes, it will break in pieces and crush all things. 41 As you saw the feet and toes, part clay and part iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but there will be in it some of the strength of the iron, for you saw the iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes of the feet were part iron and part clay, so the kingdom will be partly strong and partly broken. 43 You saw the iron mixed with clay, for the ruling families will arrange marriage alliances between each other, but they will not stick together, just as iron does not stick to clay.

44 ‘During the reigns of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will the power be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and destroy all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever. 45 This is shown by the fact that you saw a stone cut out of the mountain, but not with human hand. It broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold.

‘The great God has made known to the king what is to come, and the dream is real and this meaning true.’

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and worshipped Daniel, and ordered that a sacrifice and sweet odors should be offered to him. 47 The king also said to Daniel, ‘Your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings, and one who tells his secrets to his servant, for you have been able to tell this great secret.’ 48 Then the king gave Daniel a high position and many costly gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief over all the wise men in Babylon. 49 But at Daniel’s request the king placed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in charge of the province of Babylon; while Daniel stayed in the king’s court.

Childrens

The test by fire

3 Nebuchadnezzar, the king, made a statue of gold ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then he sent for the officers, the governors, the judges, the treasurers, and all the rulers of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue he had set up. 3 So the officers, the governors, the judges, the treasurers, and all the rulers of the provinces all came together for the dedication and stood before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

4 Then the herald cried aloud, ‘To you it is commanded, peoples, nations: 5 The moment you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, you must fall down and worship the golden statue which King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a burning, fiery furnace.’ 7 So when all the people heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, all the peoples, nations, and the speakers of all languages fell down and worshipped the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 But at that time certain Chaldeans came near to the king and made this accusation against the Jews: 9 ‘O king, live forever! O king, you have commanded that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble must fall down and worship the golden statue, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a burning, fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whom you have placed in charge of the province of Babylon. These men, O king, have not obeyed your command; they do not serve your gods nor worship the golden statue which you have set up.’

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury gave command to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 14 When they were brought before the king, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my god nor worship the golden statue which I have set up? 15 If you are now ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, to fall down and worship the statue which I have made, well and good; but if you do not worship, you will at once be thrown into a burning, fiery furnace. Where is there a god who can deliver you out of my hands?’ 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, ‘O king, there is no need of our answering you about this. 17 Our God whom we serve is able to save us from the burning, fiery furnace; he will save us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, know, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up.’

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was very angry and the appearance of his face changed, as he looked at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 He also commanded certain strong men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and throw them into the burning, fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their robes, and their other garments, and were thrown into the burning, fiery furnace. 22 As the king’s command was urgent and the furnace very hot, the flames destroyed the men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound, into the midst of the burning, fiery furnace.

24 Nebuchadnezzar, the king, was so astonished that he rose up hastily and said to his counsellors, ‘Did we not throw three men, bound, into the fire?’ They answered, ‘True, O king.’ 25 He said, ‘Now I see four men, unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are unhurt, and the fourth looks like a god.’

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the door of the burning, fiery furnace and said, ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out.’ Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. 27 The officers, governors, and counsellors who were there saw that the fire had no power over the bodies of these men, and that the hair of their heads was not singed and that their cloaks were not harmed, and that there was no smell of fire. And 28 Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel to save his servants who trusted in him and refused to obey the king’s command and have offered their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own. 29 Therefore I command that every people, nation, and speaker of every language that says anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut in pieces and their house will be made a ruin, for there is no other god who is so able to save as is this one.’ 30 Then the king gave high positions, in the province of Babylon, to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Student’s Old Testament

The king’s madness

4 Nebuchadnezzar the king to all peoples, nations, and languages that live throughout the earth: May your peace be great. 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God worked for me. 3 How great are his signs! And how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his rule lasts from generation to generation.

4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and prosperous in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, so that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told the dream to them; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.

8 But at last there came before me Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and I told the dream to him: 9 ‘Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the secret visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation. 10 These were the visions of my head on my bed: I saw a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and was strong, and its height reached to heaven, and it could be seen to the end of the earth. 12 Its leaves were fair, and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all; the animals of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens nested in its branches, and every kind of living being was fed from it. 13 I saw in the visions of my head on my bed a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He cried aloud, “Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; let the animals get away from under it, and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, with a band of iron and bronze; bound with iron and bronze he will be fed with the grass of the field, and wet with the dew of heaven, and his portion will be with the animals. 16 His mind will be changed so that it will not be that of a man, and an animals’s mind will be given to him, and seven times will pass over him. 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the affair by the word of the holy ones, that the living may know that the Most High rules over human kingdoms of gives them to whoever he will, and can set up as ruler the humblest of people. 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, O Belteshazzar, must declare the interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dumfounded for a moment, and his thoughts troubled him. The king said, ‘Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation trouble you.’ Belteshazzar answered, ‘My lord, I wish the dream applied to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries! 20 The tree which you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to heaven, and the sight of it to all the earth, 21 whose leaves were fair, and whose fruit abundant, and in which was food for all; under which the animals sheltered, and upon whose branches the birds of the heavens had their nests, 22 is you, O king – you who are great and strong; and your greatness has grown, and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the end of the earth. 23 You saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven, and saying. Hew down the tree and destroy it. 24 This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 25 You will be driven from people, and your dwelling will be with the animals of the field, and you will be made to eat grass as oxen, and will be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times will pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he will. 26 And as they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, so your kingdom will be secure to you as soon as you recognize that the heavens do rule. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteous works, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; then perhaps there may be a continuation of your prosperity.’

28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar: 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king said, ‘Is not this great Babylon which I have built for a residence, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ 31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came down from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has passed away from you, 32 and you will be driven from people, and your home will be with the animals of the field; you will be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in human kingdoms and gives them to whom he will.’ 33 The same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar; and he was driven from people, and ate grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until his hair had grown like eagles” feathers and his nails like birds” claws.

34 At the end of the appointed time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion and his kingdom lasts generation to generation; 35 and all the inhabitants of the earth are considered as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no oone can stay his hand, or say to him. What are you doing? 36 At that same time my reason returned to me, and for the sake of my royal honor, my majesty and my kingly appearance were restored to me. Then my counsellors and my nobles sought eagerly for me; and I was established in my kingdom, and still greater power was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Childrens

The handwriting on the wall

5 Belshazzar, the king, made a great feast for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine before them all. 2 Under the influence of wine, he gave command to bring the gold and silver utensils which his father, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the temple at Jerusalem, so that the king, his nobles, his wives, and concubines might drink from them. 3 So they brought the golden vessels which were taken from the temple of God which was at Jerusalem. The king, his nobles, his wives, and concubines drank from them. 4 They drank wine and praised the gods of gold, of silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

5 At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote opposite the lamp on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the palm of the hand that wrote.

6 Then the king grew pale, and fear filled his mind, his legs trembled and his knees knocked together. 7 He called for the magicians and the Chaldeans (who study the stars) and said to the wise men of Babylon, ‘Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a chain of gold about his neck and will be the third ruler in the kingdom.’ 8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing nor tell the king what it meant. 9 So King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, and his face grew pale, and his nobles were thrown into confusion.

10 Now the queen, because of what the king and his nobles had said, came into the banquet-house and said, ‘O king, live forever; let not your thoughts trouble you nor let yourself grow pale. 11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and in the days of your father he was found to have light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, put him in charge of all the magicians, Chaldeans and those who study the stars. 12 for an excellent spirit and knowledge and understanding, the interpreting of dreams and explaining of riddles and the solving of difficulties were found in this same Daniel, whose name the king changed to Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will tell what it means.’

13 So Daniel was brought in before the king, and the king said to him, ‘Are you that Daniel, one of the men who were carried away captive, whom the king, my father, brought from Judah? 14 I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have understanding and great wisdom. 15 The wise men and the magicians have been brought in before me to read this writing and to tell what it means; but they are not able. 16 I have heard that you can tell what dreams mean and answer hard questions. Now if you can read the writing and tell what it means, you will be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold about your neck and will be the third ruler in the kingdom.’

17 Then Daniel answered the king, ‘Keep your gifts and give your rewards to another. Without them I will read the writing to the king, and tell what it means. 18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar, your father, the kingdom and power, glory and majesty. 19 Because of the power that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and races trembled and feared him. He killed or kept alive as he wished; and he raised up or put down whom he pleased. 20 But when he became proud and haughty, he was made to come down from his kingly throne and his glory was taken from him, 21 and he was driven away from men, and his mind became like that of the beasts, and he lived with the wild asses; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God rules over the realm of humanity and that he sets up over it whom he will.

22 ‘But you, his son Belshazzar, have not been humble, though you knew all this, 23 but you have raised yourself against the Lord of heaven, and have had the utensils of his temple brought before you, and you, your nobles, your wives, and the others of your household have drunk wine from them. You have given praise to the gods of silver, of gold, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone, which cannot see nor hear nor know; and you have not praised the God in whose control are your very breath and all that you do.’

24 ‘Then the hand was sent out before him and traced this writing:

25 MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

26 ‘This is what it means: Mene: God has numbered the days your kingdom and brought it to an end. 27 Tekel: you are weighed in the scales and found wanting. 28 Upharsin: your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’

29 Then at Belshazzar’s command Daniel was clothed with purple and a chain of gold was put about his neck, and he was proclaimed the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 But on that very night Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed, 31 and Darius, the Mede, who was sixty-two years old, received the kingdom.

Childrens

Daniel in the lions” den

6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty officers who ruled the whole kingdom, 2 and over them three chief officials, of whom Daniel was one, so that these officers might report to them and that the king should lose nothing. 3 Daniel was better than the other chief officials and the officers, for he had a fine spirit; and the king intended to set him over the whole empire.

4 Then the chief officials and the officers tried to find a way to accuse Daniel of not having done his duty, but they could not find anything against him, for he was faithful and was not guilty of any mistake or wrongdoing.

5 Then these men said, ‘We will not find any way to accuse this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.’ 6 So these chief officials and officers all went to the king, and said to him, ‘King Darius, live forever. 7 All the chief officials of the kingdom, the counsellors and the officers, the judges and the governors, have consulted together to have the king make a law and give a strong command that whoever will ask a petition of any god or person for thirty days, except of you, O king, will be thrown into a den of lions. 8 Now, O king, give the command and sign the law that, like the law of the Medes and Persians, it may not be changed.’ 9 So King Darius signed the law and the command.

10 When Daniel learnt that the law was signed, he went into his house. His windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem, and he knelt upon his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks to his God as he had done before. 11 Then these men rushed in and found Daniel praying and calling upon his God. 12 So they went before the king and spoke to him about the royal command: ‘Have you not signed a command, that everyone who asks a petition of any person or god within thirty days, except of you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?’ The king answered, ‘The rule is fixed according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.’ 13 Then they went on to say to the king, ‘Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, nor to the command that you have signed, but prays three times a day.’

14 When the king heard these words, he was greatly displeased, and set his heart on saving Daniel, and he worked until the sun set to save him. 15 Then these men all went to the king and said to him, ‘Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no command nor law which the king gives may be changed.’

16 So the king gave his command, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. But the king said to Daniel, ‘Your God, whom you always serve, will save you.’ 17 Then a stone was brought and laid at the entrance to the den; and the king sealed it with his own seal-ring and with those of his nobles, that no change might be made so as to rescue Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fastingalone; he could not sleep.

19 At dawn, as soon as it was light, the king rose and hurried to the den of lions. 20 When he came near to the den where Daniel was, he called anxiously, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you always serve, been able to save you from the lions?’ 21 Daniel said to the king, ‘O king, live forever. 22 My God has sent his angel and has closed the lions” mouths, and they have not hurt me, for I was innocent before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.’ 23 Then the king was very glad and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and it was found that he was not injured, for he had trusted in his God.

24 Then the king commanded that those men who had accused Daniel should be brought and thrown into the den of lions, with their wives and children. Before they reached the floor of the den, the lions pounced on them and tore them to pieces.

25 King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and races in all his kingdom, ‘May your peace be great! 26 I make a law that throughout all my kingdom, men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and is the same forever, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed; and his rule will be without end. 27 He saves and rescues, and does wonderful things in heaven and earth; it is he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.’

28 So Daniel was successful and happy during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Students

Vision of the great beasts

7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions as he lay on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream:

2 ‘I saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven broke forth upon the great sea. 3 Four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagle’s wings. I looked until its wings were stripped off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet as a person; and a human heart was given to it. 5 And I saw a second beast, like a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth, between its teeth; and they said to it: “Arise, devour much flesh.” 6 After this I saw another like a leopard, which had upon its sides four wings of a bird; and the beast had also four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night-visions a fourth beast, terrible and fearful, and exceedingly strong; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped the rest with its feet; and it differed from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8 While I considered the horns, another little horn came up among them, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; in this horn were eyes, like human eyes, and a mouth speaking arrogrant things.

9 ‘I waited until thrones were set up, and an aged one took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and his hair like spotless wool, his throne was fiery flames, its wheels burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the judgment was set and the books were opened.

11 ‘I looked at that time because of the sound of the arrogant words which the horn spoke – I looked even until the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and given to be fuel for the fire. 12 Also the rule of the rest of the beasts was taken away; but their lives were prolonged for a fixed time and season.

13 ‘I saw in the night-visions that there came with the clouds of heaven one like a human being, and he came even to the Aged One, and was brought near before him. 14 There was given him dominion and glory, and sovereignty, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away, and his sovereignty one which will not be destroyed.’

15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved by reason of this, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me the interpretation of the things: 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise out of the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the sovereignty, and possess the sovereignty for ever, for ever and ever.

19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of bronze; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the rest with its feet: 20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three horns fell – it that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogant things, and it appeared to be greater than the rest. 21 I looked, and the same horn made war with the holy ones, and prevailed against them, 22 until the Aged One came, and judgment was given to the holy one of the Most High, and the fixed time came that the holy ones possessed the sovereignty.

23 Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which will be different from all the kingdoms; and will devour the whole earth, and will tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them; and he will be different from the former, and he will put down three kings. 25 He will speak words against the Most High, and will continually harass the holy ones of the Most High; and he will think to change the fixed times and the law; and they will be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. 26 But the judgment will be set, and they will take away his kingdom, to consume and to destroy finally. 27 The sovereignty, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, will surely be given to the holy people of the Most High; his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’ 28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me much, and I turned pale, but I kept the matter in my mind.

Students

Vision of the ram and goat

8 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision came to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me previously.

2 I saw in a vision – and when I saw, I was in the Shushan, the royal palace, which is in the province of Elam – and I saw in a vision, and I was by the River Ulai. 3 Then I looked up and saw standing before the river a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward and northward and southward, and no beast could stand before him, and none could escape, but he did as he pleased and exulted himself.

5 As I was observing, a he-goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6 He came to the ram that had two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran upon him in the fury of his power. 7 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was angered against him, and stuck the ram, and broke his two horns; and the ram had no strength to stand before him, but he threw him down to the ground and trampled upon him, and none could rescue the ram from him. 8 The he-goat exulted himself exceedingly; and when he had become strong, the great horn was broken. In its place there came up four other horns toward the four winds of heaven.

9 Out of one of them came another little horn, which grew exceedingly great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land. 10 It grew great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host, and of the stars it cast down to the ground and trampled upon them. 11 It exulted itself even to the prince of the host, and took away from him the daily sacrifice, and threw down the place of his sanctuary, 12 and it set up the sacrilegious tithing over the daily sacrifice, and threw down truth to the ground, and did it and prospered.

13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to the one who spoke, ‘For how long will the vision be that the daily sacrifice will be taken away and the appalling sacrilege set up and the sanctuary and the host trampled under foot?’ 14 He answered, ‘For two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings. Then will the sanctuary be justified.’

15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and suddenly there stood before me one who had the appearance of a man. 16 I heard a human voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called and said, ‘Gabriel, cause this man to understand the vision.’ 17 So he came near where I stood; and when he came I was afraid and fell upon my face, but he said to me, ‘Understand, mortal, for the vision belongs to the time of the end.’ 18 Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep trance with my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright in my place. 19 He said, ‘I will make you know what will be in the time of wrath, for it belongs to the appointed time of the end. 20 The ram which you saw, with the two horns, represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The he-goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 As for that which was broken so that four stood up in its place, four kingdoms will arise out of his nation, but not with his power. 23 In the later days of their rule, when the transgressors have come to the full, a king defiant and skilled in dissimulation will stand up. 24 His power will be mighty, but not by his own power; and he will utter monstrous things, and will achieve, and will destroy the mighty ones. 25 His cleverness will be directed against the holy people; he will succeed through deceit, and devise great things, and he will destroy many unawares; he will also stand up against the prince of princes; but he will be destroyed, but not by human hands. 26 The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true; but hide the vision for it belongs to many days to come.’

27 I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick for days; then I rose up and did the king’s business and I wondered at the vision, but no one understood it.

Students

Vision of the seventy weeks

9 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by birth a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived by the books the number of years concerning which the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that they should be completed while Jerusalem stood in ruins – namely seventy years. 3 I turned my face to the Lord God, to apply myself to prayer and supplication, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, ‘Oh, Lord, the great and the terrible God, who keeps the covenant and shows mercy to those who serve him and keep his commands, 5 we have sinned and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances; 6 neither have we listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but shame belongs, as at this day, to the people of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel who are near, and those who are afar off, in the lands where you have driven them, because of their crimes which they have committed against you.

8 ‘Lord, to us belongs shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our ancestors, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belongs compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him, 10 neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his teachings which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel have transgressed your law and have turned so as not to obey your voice. Therefore the curse has been poured out upon us, and the oath which is written in the law of Moses, the servant of God; for we have sinned against him. 12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great misfortune; for under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done as has been done to Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favour of the Lord our God, that we should turn from our iniquities, and discern your faithfulness. 14 Therefore the Lord has watched over the evil and brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he does, and we have not obeyed his voice.

15 ‘Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have gained renown as at this day, we have sinned and we have done wickedly. 16 O Lord, according to all your righteousness, let your anger and your wrath, I beg you, be turned away from your city, Jerusalem, your holy mountain; because for our sins and for the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have become an object of reproach to all who are round about us. 17 Listen, our God to the prayer of your servant, and to his supplications, and show favor to your sanctuary, which is desolate, for the sake of your servants, O Lord. 18 O my God, incline your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which bears your name; for we do not present our supplications before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great compassion. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and perform; defer not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.’

20 While I was speaking, and praying, and confessing, my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen earlier in the vision, being made to fly swiftly, approached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 He came, and talked with me, and said, ‘ Daniel, I have now come forth to give you wisdom and insight. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went forth, and I have come to tell you; for you are greatly beloved; therefore heed the word, and understand the vision.

24 ‘Seventy weeks have been decreed upon your people and upon your holy city, to make an end of the sacrilege, and to complete the sin, and to make atonement for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. 25 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the command to repeople and rebuild Jerusalem to the anointed one, the prince, will be seven weeks; sixty-two weeks will it be rebuilt, with broad places and streets. At the end of times 26 (even after the sixty-two weeks) an anointed one will be cut off without judicial trial; and the city and the sanctuary will be destroyed together, and his end will come with a flood and even to the end there will be war, a sentence of desolations. 27 The covenant will be annulled for many for one week; and in the midst of the week the sacrifice and the offering will cease, and in its place will be an appalling abomination and that until the ruin determined upon, is poured out upon the appalling thing.’

Students

Vision of the kings of north and south

10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a a revelation came to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the word was true, and it means great distress. He gave heed to the words, and understood the vision:

2 ‘In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither did any meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were past. 4 In the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, 5 I looked up, and there was a man clothed in linen, with a belt of pure gold of Ophir; 6 his body also was like the chrysolith, and his face like lightning, and his eyes like flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling seized them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me, for my fresh appearance was changed to pallor. 9 Yet when I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep trance with my face toward the ground.

10 ‘Suddenly, a hand touched me, which set me trembling upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 He said to me, “Daniel, greatly beloved, give heed to the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for to you have I now been sent.” When he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to gain insight, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I left him there with the prince of the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will befall your people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days. 15 When he had said these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground, and was dumb. 16 Then one who looked human touched my lips; then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to him who stood before me, “My Lord, because of the vision my pangs have come upon me, and I retain no strength, 17 for how can this the servant of my Lord talk with my Lord? For as for me, henceforth there remains no strength in me, nor is there breath left in me.

18 ‘Then another in appearance like a person touched me, and strengthened me. 19 He said, “Greatly beloved, fear not; peace be to you; be strong, be bold.” When he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my Lord speak; for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia, and when I go forth, then the prince of Greece will come; 21 and none who help me against these, except Michael, your prince, stand as my helper and defence.

11 ‘“But now I will tell you what is written in the book of truth. 2 Three more kings will stand up for Persia; and the fourth will be far richer than them all; and when he has grown strong through his riches, he will stir up all against the realm of Greece. 3 Then a warrior king will stand up, who will rule with great dominion and do according to his will. 4 When he has become strong, his kingdom will be broken, and will be divided to the four winds of heaven, but it will not belong to his posterity, nor will it be as great as his dominion, which he ruled, for his kingdom will be overthrown and will belong to others besides these.

5 ‘“The king of the south will be strong, but one of his princes will be stronger than he, and will rule; his dominion will be great. 6 At the end of some years they will make an alliance with one another, and the daughter of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to make an agreement, but that support will not retain strength, neither will his supports stand; but she will be given up, and they who brought her, and her child, and he who supported her.

7 ‘“But in those times a shoot out of her roots will arise in his place, who will come to the army, and will enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and will act against them and prevail, 8 and also will carry away their gods, together with their molten images and their costly things of silver and gold, captive into Egypt; and he will refrain some years from the king of the north. 9 Then another will come into the realm of the king of the south, but he will return to his own land.

10 His son will war, and will assemble a multitude of great forces, and he will come onward, and overflow, and pass through, and will return and war, even to his fortress. 11 The king of the south will be enraged, and the will come forth and fight with him. even with the king of the north, and that one will raise a great multitude, but the multitude will be delivered into his hands. 12 The multitude will be carried away, and his heart will be exalted; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not show himself strong.

13 ‘“The king of the north will return, and will raise a multitude greater than the former; and he will come after a period of several years, with a great army and with much equipment. 14 In those times many will stand up against the king of the south, also the sons of the violent among your people will lift themselves up to establish the vision, but they will be overthrown.

15 ‘“So the king of the north will come, and cast up a mound, and take a well-fortified city; and the forces of the south will not stand, nor his chosen men, and there will be no strength to stand. 16 But he who will come against him, will do as he desires, and none will withstand him; and he will stand in the glorious land, and in his hand will be destruction. 17 He will set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, but he will make an agreement with him; and he will perform them; and he will give him the daughter of women, to ruin it; but it will not avail nor will he attain it. 18 After this he will turn his face to the coast-lands, and he will take many; but a consul will put an end to the insults offered by him; and will repay his insults sevenfold. 19 Then he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he will stumble and fall and will no longer be found.

20 ‘“Then one will stand up in his place who will cause an exactor to pass through the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be broken, but not in anger nor in battle. 21 In his place there will stand up a contemptible person upon whom they had not conferred the royal honor; but he will come unexpectedly, and will obtain the kingdom by intrigues. 22 Forces will be utterly overwhelmed before him and will be broken, and also a prince of the covenant. 23 After they make a league with him he will act deceitfully; for he will rise and become strong, with a small nation. 24 He will come unperceived, even into the fattest parts of a province; and he will do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers” fathers; he will scatter among them prey and spoil and riches, and he will devise plans against the strongholds, even for a time. 25 He will arouse his might and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south will make war with an exceedingly great army; but he will not stand, for they will devise plans against him. 26 Those who eat his dainties will ruin him, and his army will be swept away as a flood, and many will fall down slain. 27 As for these kings, their hearts will be bent on mischief, and they will speak lies at one table; but it will not prosper, for yet the end will be at the time appointed.

28 ‘“Then will he return to his land with great riches, and his heart will be against the holy covenant; and he will do his pleasure, and return to his own land. 29 At the time appointed he will return, and enter into the south; but it will not be in the latter time as in the former; 30 for ships of Kittim will come against him; therefore he will be cowed, and will return, and vent his rage on the holy covenant, and will do his pleasure. He will return and fix his attention on those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 Forces sent by him will prevail, and they will profane the sanctuary, the fortress, and will take away the daily offering and set up the appalling abomination. 32 He will pervert by specious promises, those who bring guilt upon the covenant; but the people who know their God will be valiant and do exploits.

33 ‘“They who are wise among the people will give understanding to many; yet they will fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil many days. 34 Now when they are falling, they will be helped with a little help; but many will join themselves to them with false protestations. 35 Some of those who are wise will fall, in order to refine them and cleanse them and make them white, until the time of the end, for it is yet for the time appointed.

36 ‘“The king will do according to his will; and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and will speak marvellous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until God’s wrath be exhausted; for that which is decreed will be done. 37 Neither will he regard the gods of his fathers; nor the desire of women, nor regard any god, for he will magnify himself above all. 38 But in his place will he honor a god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not will he honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly things. 39 He will procure for the strong fortresses the people of a foreign god. Whomsoever he regards with favor he will raise to great honor, and he will make them to rule over many, and he will divide the land for a price.

40 ‘“At the time of the end the king of the south will contend with him; and the king of the north will come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships; and he will enter into the countries, and he will overflow them and pass through. 41 He will enter also into the glorious land, and many thousands will fall; but these will be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the remnant of the Ammonites. 42 He will stretch forth his hand also upon the countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. 43 He will have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and Ethiopians will follow in his train. 44 But rumors out of the east and north will trouble him; and he will go forth with great fury to destroy and to utterly exterminate many. 45 He will plant his palace between the Mediterranean and the glorious holy mountain; so he will come to his end, and none will help him.

12 ‘“At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of my people; and there will be a time of affliction such as there never was since there was a nation, even to that time; and at that time your people will be delivered, every one who will be found written in the loyal book. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 They who are wise will shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. 4 But thou, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, to the time of the end; many will run to and fro and knowledge will be increased.”

5 ‘Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on the other side. 6 One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be to the end of these marvels?” 7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, and he lifted up his right and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever: “It will be for a time, times, and a half; and when the power of the shatterer of the holy people will come to an end all these things will be finished.” 8 I heard but I understood not. Then I said, “My lord, what will be the end of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will cleanse themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but they who are wise will understand. 11 From the time that the daily sacrifice will be taken away, and the appalling abomination set up will be twelve hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand, three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 But go your way to the end. You will take your rest and stand up to receive your lot at the end of the days.” ’