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Daniel, starting at chapter 4
{4:1} Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and
languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
{4:2} It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the
Most High God has worked toward me. {4:3} How great are his signs! and
how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and
his dominion is from generation to generation. {4:4} I,
Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
{4:5} I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed
and the visions of my head troubled me. {4:6} Therefore made I a
decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they
might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. {4:7} Then
came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Kasdim, and the
soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make
known to me its interpretation. {4:8} But 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, [saying], {4:9} Belteshazzar, master of the magicians,
because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no
secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen,
and its interpretation. {4:10} Thus were the visions of my head on my
bed: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and its
height was great. {4:11} The tree grew, and was strong, and its height
reached to the sky, and its sight to the end of all the earth. {4:12}
The leaves of it were beautiful, and its fruit much, and in it was
food for all: the animals of the field had shadow under it, and the
birds of the sky lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
{4:13} I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a
watcher and a holy one came down from the sky. {4:14} He cried aloud,
and said thus, Cut 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 fowls from its branches. {4:15} Nevertheless leave the
stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass,
in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of
the sky: and let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the
earth: {4:16} let his heart be changed from man's, and let an animal's
heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him. {4:17} The
sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word
of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most
High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will,
and sets up over it the lowest of men. {4:18} This dream I, king
Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, Belteshazzar, declare the
interpretation, because 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. {4:19} Then Daniel, whose name was
Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled
him. The king answered, Belteshazzar, don't let the dream, or the
interpretation, trouble you. Belteshazzar answered, My lord, the dream
be to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries.
{4:20} The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height
reached to the sky, and its sight to all the earth; {4:21} whose
leaves were beautiful, and its fruit much, and in it was food for all;
under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the
birds of the sky had their habitation: {4:22} it is you, O king, that
are grown and become strong; for your greatness is grown, and reaches
to the sky, and your dominion to the end of the earth. {4:23} Whereas
the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the sky, and
saying, Cut down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the
stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass,
in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of
the sky: and let his portion be with the animals of the field, until
seven times pass over him; {4:24} this is the interpretation, O king,
and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come on my lord the
king: {4:25} that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling
shall be with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat
grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven
times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in
the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will. {4:26} Whereas
they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your
kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the
heavens do rule. {4:27} Therefore, O king, let my counsel be
acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your
iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening
of your tranquility. {4:28} All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar.
{4:29} At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace
of Babylon. {4:30} The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon,
which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my
power and for the glory of my majesty? {4:31} While the word was in
the king's mouth, there fell a voice from the sky, [saying], O king
Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from
you: {4:32} and you shall be driven from men; and your dwelling shall
be with the animals of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as
oxen; and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the
Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he
will. {4:33} The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar:
and he was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was
wet with the dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles'
[feathers], and his nails like birds' [claws]. {4:34} At the end of
the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my
understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I
praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an
everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.
{4:35} All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he
does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the
inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or ask him, What
are you doing? {4:36} At the same time my understanding returned to
me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness
returned to me; and my counselors and my lords sought to me; and I was
established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me.
{4:37} 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 abase.
{5:1} Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his
lords, and drank wine before the thousand. {5:2} Belshazzar, 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 wives and his
concubines, might drink from them. {5:3} Then they brought the golden
vessels that were taken out of the temple of God's house which was at
Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines,
drank from them. {5:4} They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold,
and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. {5:5} In the
same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over
against the menorah on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace:
and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. {5:6} Then the
king's face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the
joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against
another. {5:7} The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the
Kasdim, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men
of Babylon, Whoever shall read this writing, and show me its
interpretation, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold
about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. {5:8}
Then came in all the king's wise men; but they could not read the
writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation. {5:9} Then was
king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his face was changed in him, and
his lords were perplexed. {5:10} [Now] the queen by reason of the
words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: the queen
spoke and said, O king, live forever; don't let your thoughts trouble
you, nor let your face be changed. {5:11} There is a man in your
kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of
your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the
gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the
king, [I say], your father, made him master of the magicians,
enchanters, Kasdim, and soothsayers; {5:12} because an excellent
spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and
showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the
same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be
called, and he will show the interpretation. {5:13} Then was Daniel
brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, Are you
that Daniel, who are of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom
the king my father brought out of Judah? {5:14} I have heard of you,
that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and
understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. {5:15} Now the
wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they
should read this writing, and make known to me its interpretation; but
they could not show the interpretation of the thing. {5:16} But I have
heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and dissolve doubts;
now if you can read the writing, and make known to me its
interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of
gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
{5:17} Then Daniel answered before the king, Let your gifts be to
yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read
the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
{5:18} You, king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father
the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty: {5:19} and because
of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and
languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he killed, and
whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom
he would he put down. {5:20} But when his heart was lifted up, and his
spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his
kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: {5:21} and he was
driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals',
and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was fed with grass like
oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky; until he knew that
the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up
over it whomever he will. {5:22} You, his son, Belshazzar, have not
humbled your heart, though you knew all this, {5:23} but have lifted
up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the
vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives
and your concubines, have drunk wine from them; and you have praised
the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which
don't see, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand your breath
is, and whose are all your ways, you have not glorified. {5:24} Then
was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was
inscribed. {5:25} This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE,
TEKEL, UPHARSIN. {5:26} This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE;
God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end; {5:27} TEKEL;
you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting. {5:28} PERES;
your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. {5:29}
Then 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 be the third ruler in the kingdom. {5:30} In that
night Belshazzar the Kasdian King was slain. {5:31} Darius the Mede
received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
{6:1} It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty
satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; {6:2} and over
them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps
might give account to them, and that the king should have no damage.
{6:3} Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the
satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought
to set him over the whole realm. {6:4} Then the presidents and the
satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the
kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, because he was
faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. {6:5}
Then these men said, We shall not find any occasion against this
Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
{6:6} Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the
king, and said thus to him, King Darius, live forever. {6:7} All the
presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the
counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a
royal statute, and to make a strong decree, that whoever shall ask a
petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he
shall be cast into the den of lions. {6:8} Now, O king, establish the
decree, and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the
law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn't alter. {6:9} Therefore
king Darius signed the writing and the decree. {6:10} When Daniel knew
that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows
were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees
three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he
did before. {6:11} Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel
making petition and supplication before his God. {6:12} Then they came
near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree: Haven't
you signed an decree, that every man who shall make petition to any
god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast
into the den of lions? The king answered, The thing is true, according
to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn't alter. {6:13} Then
answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the
children of the captivity of Judah, doesn't respect you, O king, nor
the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a
day. {6:14} Then the king, when he heard these words, was very
displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored
until the going down of the sun to rescue him. {6:15} Then these men
assembled together to the king, and said to the king, Know, O king,
that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute
which the king establishes may be changed. {6:16} Then the king
commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of
lions. [Now] the king spoke and said to Daniel, Your God whom you
serve continually, he will deliver you. {6:17} A stone was brought,
and laid on 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. {6:18} Then the king went to his palace,
and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music
brought before him: and his sleep fled from him. {6:19} Then the king
arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of
lions. {6:20} When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a
lamentable voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel, Daniel, servant
of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to
deliver you from the lions? {6:21} Then Daniel said to the king, O
king, live forever. {6:22} My God has sent his angel, and has shut the
lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; because as before him
innocence was found in me; and also before you, O king, have I done no
hurt. {6:23} Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they
should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of
the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted
in his God. {6:24} The king commanded, and they brought those men who
had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them,
their children, and their wives; and the lions mauled them, and broke
all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den.
{6:25} Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and
languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
{6:26} I 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 steadfast forever, His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed;
and his dominion shall be even to the end. {6:27} He delivers and
rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who
has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. {6:28} So this
Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the
Persian.
________________________________________________________________________
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