DANIEL heard the sound of the horn, jnpe, harp, trigon, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the na- tions, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews, ^hey spoke and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: '0 king, live for ever! 10Thou, 0 king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image; uand whoso falleth not down an<J worshippeth shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12There are certain Jews whom thou hast appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Me- shach, and Abed-nego; these men, 0 king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.'
"Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then were thesemen brought before the king. "Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them: 'Is it true, 0 Shad- rach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that ye serve not my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 16Now if ye be ready that at what time, ye hear the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made L well]; but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery* furnace; and who is the god that shall deliver you out of my hands?' "Shadrach, Me- shach; and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king: '0 Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter. 17If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, He will deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and out of thy hand, 0 king. 18But if not, be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.'
419Then was Nebuchadnezzar filled with fury, and the form of his visage was changed, against Shadrach, Me- shach, and Abed-nego; he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20And he com- manded certain mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Me- shach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, and their robes, and their other garments, and^ were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. ^Therefore because the king's com- mandment was peremptory, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. ^And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
^hen, Nebuchadnezzar the king was alarmed, and rose up in haste; he spoke and said unto his ministers: 'Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?' They an- swered and said unto the king: ' True, 0 king/ 25He answered and said: 'Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods/ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery DANIEL furnace; he spoke and said: ' Shadrach Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servant of God Most High, come forth, anc come hither.' Then Shadrach, Me- shach, and Abed-nego, came forth ou of the midst of the fire. 27And th< satraps, the prefects, and the gover nors, and the king's ministers, being gathered together, saw these men, tha the fire had no power upon thei: bodies, nor was the hah* of their heac singed, neither were their cloaks changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them. 28Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said: 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- nego, who hath sent His angel, anc delivered His servants that trustee in Him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29Theref ore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; be- cause there is no other god that is able to deliver after this sort.' 80Then the king promoted Shadrach, Me- shach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon 8V Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; peace be multiplied unto you. 32It hath seemed good unto me to declare the signs and wonders that God Most High hath wrought toward me. ^How great are His signs! And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting king- dom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.
A I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. 2I saw a dream which made me afraid; and imaginings upon my bed and the visions of my head affrighted me. 3Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpreta- tion of the dream. 4Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chal- deans, and the astrologers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the inter- pretation thereof. 5But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and I told the dream before him: *0 Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy 'gods is in thee, and no secret causeth thee trouble, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. 7Thus were the visions of my head upon my aed: I saw, And behold a tree in the midst of the earth, And the height thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong, And the height thereof reached unto heaven, And the sight thereof to the end of all the earth. The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, And ia it was food for all; The beasts of the field had shadow under it, And the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the branches thereof, And all flesh was fed of it. °I saw in the visions of nty head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy cue came down from DANIEL heaven. nHe cried aloud, and said thus* Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, Shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; Let the beasts get away from under it, And the fowls from its branches. ^Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, Even in a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; And let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth; 13Let his heart be changed from man's, And let a beast's heart be given un- to him; And let seven times pass over him. 14The matter is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones; To the intent that the living may know That the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, And giveth it to whomsoever He will, And setteth up over it the lowest of men.
"This dream I king Nebuchad- nezzar have seen; and thou, 0 Belte- shazzar, declare the interpretation, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee,' 16Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while, and his thoughts affrighted him. The king spoke and said: 'Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation, affright thee.7 Belteshazzar an- swered and said: ' My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine ad- versaries. 17The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 18whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habita- tion; 19it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. 20And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying: Hew down the tree, and destroy it; 'never- theless leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even in a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him — 21this is the interpretation, 0 king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king, ^that thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee; till thou l^now that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will. ^And whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 24Whorefore, 0 king, lot my counsel be acceptable unto thoe, and break off thy sins by almsgiving, and DANIEL thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there niay be a lengthening of thy prosperity.1 25A11 this came upon the king Nebu- chadnezzar. 26At the end of twelve months he was walking upon the royal palace of Babylon. 27The king spoke and said: 'Is not this great Baby- lon, which I have built for a royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power andforthe glory of my majesty?' 28While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven: '0 king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: the kingdom is departed from thee. 29And thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will/ 30The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar; and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
31 'And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and hon- oured Him that liveth for ever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,. And His kingdom from generation to generation; 32 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; And He doeth according to His will in the host of heaven, And among the inhabitants of the earth; And none can stay His hand, Or say unto Him: What doest Thou?
the same time mine understand- ing returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and my splendour returned unto me; and my ministers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and surpassing greatness was added unto me. 34Now I Nebu- chadnezzar praise and extol and hon- our the King of heaven; for all His works are truth, and His ways justice; and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.'
£ Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his consorts and his concubines, might drink therein. 3Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jeru- salem; and the king and his lonfe, bis consorts and his concubines, drank in them. 4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. *In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, ami wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the kingfa palace; md the king saw the palm of the land that wrote. 'Then the king's countenance was changed in him. and his thoughts affrighted him; and ihe joints of his loins were loosed, and lis knees smote one against another. 7The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeana, arid the DANIEL DANIEL astrologers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon: 'Who- soever shall read this writing, and declare unto me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall rule as one of three in the kingdom.'
8Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation. 9Then was king Belshazzar greatly affrighted, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed. 10Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the ban- quet house; the queen spoke and said: '0 king, live for ever! let not thy thoughts affright thee, nor let thy countenance be changed; "there is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and under- standing and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers; foras- much as a surpassing spirit, and knowl- edge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and declaring of riddles, and loosing of knots, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will declare the inter- pretation.'
18Then was Daniel brought -in be- fore the king. The king spoke and said unto Daniel: 'Art thou Daniel, who is of the children of the cap- tivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah? UI have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and surpassing wisdom is found in thee. 16And now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpreta- tion thereof; but they could not de- clare the interpretation of the thing 16But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and loose knots; now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt rule as one of three in the kingdom.'
17Then Daniel answered and said before the king: 'Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 180 thou king, God Most High gave Nebu- chadnezzar thy father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty; I9and because of the greatness that He gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down. 20But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glpry was taken from him; 2land he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses, he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; until he knew that God Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that He setteth up over it whom- soever He will. ^And thou his son, 0 Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knowest all this; DANIEL DANIEL hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house be- fore thee, and thou and thy lords, thy consorts and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the God hi whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified; 24then was the palm of the hand sent from before Him, and this writing was inscribed. ^And this is the writing that was inscribed.
MENE MENE, TEKEL UPHARSIN. 26ThlS is the interpretation of the thing: MENE, God hath numbered thy king- dom, and brought it to an end. 27TEKEL, thou art weighed in the bal- ances, and art found wanting. 28PERES, thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians/ 29Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should rule as one of three in the kingdom. 30In that night Belshaz- zar the Chaldean king was slain. £j And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about three- score and two years old. 2It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole king- dom; 3and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage. 4Then this Daniel distin- guished himself above the presidents ancHhe satraps, because a surpassing spirit was in him; and the king thought to sot him over the whole realm.
*Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. ^hen said these men: 'We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him in the matter of the law of his God.' 7Then these presidents and satraps came tumultuously to the king, and said thus unto him: 'King Darius, live for ever! 8All the presi- dents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the ministers and the governors, have consulted together that the king should establish a statute, and make a strong inter- dict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, 0 king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 9Now, 0 king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it bo not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not/ ^Where- fore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict.
^And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house— now his windows were opeu in his upper chamber toward Jerusa- lem — and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, ami prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 18Then these men came tumultuously, and found Daniel mak- ing petition and supplication before his God. 15Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's interdict: 'Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, -0 king, shall be cast into the den of lions?' The king answered and said: 'The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, DANIEL DANIEL which altereth not.' 14Then answered they and said before the king: 'That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.' 15Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he laboured till the going down of the sun to rescue him. 16Then these men came tumult- uously unto the king, and said unto the king: 'Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king estabhsheth may be changed.' 17Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel: ^Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.' 18And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it ^with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
19Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were diversions brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. 20Then the king arose very early in the morn- ing, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 21And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a pained voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel: * 0 Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to de- Hver tnee from the lions?' l22Then said Daniel unto the king: '0 king, live for ever! ^My God hath sent Hia angel-, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; foras- much as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee> 0 king, have I done no hurt.' 24Then was the king exceeding glad, and com- manded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out ©f the den, and no man- ner of hurt was found upon him, be- cause he had trusted in his God. 25And the king commanded, and they brought those men that had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and they had not come to the bottom of the den, when the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces, 26Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth' 'Peace be multiplied unto you. 27I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God, And stedf ast for ever, And His kingdom that which shall not fye destroyed, And His dominion shall be even unto the end; 28He delivereth and rescueth, And He worketh signs and wonders In heaven and in earth; Who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.'
29So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
J7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel tad a dream and visions of his head upon his bed; then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters. *Dauiel spoke and said: I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the1 heaven broke forth upon the great sea* 8And four groat boasts came up from the sea, diverse one 73 DANIEL 73 DANIEL from another. 4The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings; I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. 5And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was said thus unto it: 'Arise, devour much flesh.7 6After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the sides of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong ex- ceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet, and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9I beheld Till thrones were placed, And one that was ancient of days did sit: His raiment was as white snow, And the hair of his head like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames, And the wheels thereof burning fire. 10A fiery stream issued And came forth from before him; Thousand thousands ministered unto Mm, And ten thousand times ten thou- sand stood before him; The judgment was set, And the books were opened. lll beheld at that time because of the the the devoice of the great words which horn spoke, I beheld even till beast was slain, and its body stroyed, and it was given to bo burned with fire. lzAud as for the rc^t of the beasts, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13I saw in the night visions, And, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven One like unto a son of man, And he came even to the Ancient of days, And he was brought near before Him. 14And there was given him dominion, And glory, and a kingdom.
That all the peoples, nations, and languages Should serve him; His dominion is an ever lasting domin- ion, which shall not paas awuy t And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
lfiAs for me Daniel, my spirit was pained in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head affrighted me. 16I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things: "'These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth. I8But the saints of the Most High shall re- ceive the kingdom, and posness the kingdom for ever, oven for ever and ever.' 19Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beaat, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; *°and con- cerning the ten horns that were ou ims DANIEL its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell; even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose appearance was greater than that of its fellows. 21I beheld, and the same horn -made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High; and the time came, and the saints possessed the kingdom. ^Th he said: 'The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon "earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24And as for the ten horns, put of this kingdom shall ten kings arise; and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings. 26And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the seasons and the law; and they shall be g^ven into his hand until a time and times and half a time. 26But the judgment shall sit, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and to be de- stroyed unto the end. 27And the king- dom and the dominion, and the great- ness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.' 28Here is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my thoughts much affrighted me, and my countenance was changed, in me; but I kept the matter in my heart. Q In the third year of the reign of ° king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. 2And I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in Shushan the castle, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was by the stream Ulai. 3And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the stream a tarn which had two horns; and the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no beasts could stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.