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Daniel 2:4-7:28
New King James Version
Daniel 2:4-7:28
New King James Version
4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, (A)“O[a] king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My [b]decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be (B)cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. 6 (C)However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
7 They answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.”
8 The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm: 9 if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the [c]time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can [d]give me its interpretation.”
10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 It is a [e]difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king (D)except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought (E)Daniel and his companions, to kill them.
God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
14 Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon; 15 he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so [f]urgent?” Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.
16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation. 17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 (F)that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel (G)in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said:
(H)“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
(I)For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes (J)the times and the seasons;
(K)He removes kings and raises up kings;
(L)He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 (M)He reveals deep and secret things;
(N)He knows what is in the darkness,
And (O)light dwells with Him.
23 “I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
You have given me wisdom and might,
And have now made known to me what we (P)asked of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s [g]demand.”
Daniel Explains the Dream
24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”
25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have found a man of the [h]captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.”
26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. 28 (Q)But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar (R)what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these: 29 As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; (S)and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. 30 (T)But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, (U)and that you may [i]know the thoughts of your heart.
31 “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. 32 (V)This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and [j]thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of [k]clay. 34 You watched while a stone was cut out (W)without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 (X)Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became (Y)like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that (Z)no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image (AA)became a great mountain (AB)and filled the whole earth.
36 “This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. 37 (AC)You, O king, are a king of kings. (AD)For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; 38 (AE)and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—(AF)you are this head of gold. 39 But after you shall arise (AG)another kingdom (AH)inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And (AI)the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. 41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, (AJ)so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly [l]fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings (AK)the God of heaven will set up a kingdom (AL)which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; (AM)it shall [m]break in pieces and [n]consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 (AN)Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that 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 will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
Daniel and His Friends Promoted
46 (AO)Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering (AP)and incense to him. 47 The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly (AQ)your God is the God of (AR)gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” 48 (AS)Then the king promoted Daniel (AT)and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and (AU)chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, (AV)and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel (AW)sat in [o]the gate of the king.
The Image of Gold
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was [p]sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald cried [q]aloud: “To you it is commanded, (AX)O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall (AY)be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Daniel’s Friends Disobey the King
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans (AZ)came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, (BA)“O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 (BB)There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have (BC)not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in (BD)rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, (BE)good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (BF)And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, (BG)we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our (BH)God whom we serve is able to (BI)deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we (BJ)worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Saved in Fiery Trial
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was [r]urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his [s]counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”
They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, (BK)walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like (BL)the[t] Son of God.”
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the [u]mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the (BM)Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men (BN)on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His (BO)Angel[v] and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 (BP)Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the (BQ)God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be (BR)cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; (BS)because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
30 Then the king [w]promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
4 Nebuchadnezzar the king,
(BT)To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
2 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders (BU)that the Most High God has worked for me.
3 (BV)How great are His signs,
And how mighty His wonders!
His kingdom is (BW)an everlasting kingdom,
And His dominion is from generation to generation.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, (BX)and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head (BY)troubled me. 6 Therefore I issued 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. 7 (BZ)Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation. 8 But at last Daniel came before me (CA)(his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; (CB)in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying: 9 “Belteshazzar, (CC)chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
10 “These were the visions of my head while on my bed:
I was looking, and behold,
(CD)A tree in the midst of the earth,
And its height was great.
11 The tree grew and became strong;
Its height reached to the heavens,
And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.
12 Its leaves were lovely,
Its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
(CE)The beasts of the field found shade under it,
The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches,
And all flesh was fed from it.
13 “I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was (CF)a watcher, (CG)a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He cried [x]aloud and said thus:
(CH)‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
(CI)Let the beasts get out from under it,
And the birds from its branches.
15 Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth,
Bound with a band of iron and bronze,
In the tender grass of the field.
Let it be wet with the dew of heaven,
And let him graze with the beasts
On the grass of the earth.
16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
Let him be given the heart of a beast,
And let seven (CJ)times[y] pass over him.
17 ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order (CK)that the living may know
(CL)That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
(CM)Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the (CN)lowest of men.’
18 “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, (CO)since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, (CP)for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”
Daniel Explains the Second Dream
19 Then Daniel, (CQ)whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts (CR)troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.”
Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may (CS)the dream [z]concern those who hate you, and its interpretation [aa]concern your enemies!
20 (CT)“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, 21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home— 22 (CU)it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, (CV)and your dominion to the end of the earth.
23 (CW)“And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, (CX)and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven [ab]times pass over him’; 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 25 They shall (CY)drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you (CZ)eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven [ac]times shall pass over you, (DA)till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and (DB)gives it to whomever He chooses.
26 “And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that (DC)Heaven[ad] rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; (DD)break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. (DE)Perhaps there may be (DF)a [ae]lengthening of your prosperity.”
Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation
28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking [af]about the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king (DG)spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
31 (DH)While the word was still in the king’s mouth, (DI)a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And (DJ)they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven [ag]times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”
33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
34 And (DK)at the end of the [ah]time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him (DL)who lives forever:
For His dominion is (DM)an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
35 (DN)All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
(DO)He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
(DP)No one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him, (DQ)“What have You done?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, (DR)and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was (DS)restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was (DT)added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, (DU)praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, (DV)all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. (DW)And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
Belshazzar’s Feast
5 Belshazzar the king (DX)made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. 2 While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels (DY)which his [ai]father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3 Then they brought the gold (DZ)vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank wine, (EA)and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.
5 (EB)In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his (EC)knees knocked against each other. 7 (ED)The king cried [aj]aloud to bring in (EE)the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; (EF)and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” 8 Now all the king’s wise men came, (EG)but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation. 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly (EH)troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were [ak]astonished.
10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. 11 (EI)There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your [al]father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your [am]father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. 12 Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and [an]explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, (EJ)whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”
The Writing on the Wall Explained
13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel [ao]who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my [ap]father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard of you, that (EK)the [aq]Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now (EL)the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. 16 And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and [ar]explain enigmas. (EM)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 around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, (EN)the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your [as]father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. 19 And because of the majesty that He gave him, (EO)all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he (EP)executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. 20 (EQ)But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. 21 Then he was (ER)driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, (ES)till he [at]knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.
22 “But you his son, Belshazzar, (ET)have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. 23 (EU)And you have [au]lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the (EV)vessels of [av]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, bronze and iron, wood and stone, (EW)which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand (EX)and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. 24 Then the [aw]fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written.
25 “And this is the inscription that was written:
[ax]MENE, MENE, [ay]TEKEL, [az]UPHARSIN.
26 This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 27 TEKEL: (EY)You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; 28 PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the (EZ)Medes and (FA)Persians.”[ba] 29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him (FB)that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Belshazzar’s Fall
30 (FC)That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. 31 (FD)And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
The Plot Against Daniel
6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, (FE)because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4 (FF)So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: (FG)“King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have (FH)consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the (FI)law of the Medes and Persians, which [bb]does not alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open (FJ)toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees (FK)three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 (FL)And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”
The king answered and said, “The thing is true, (FM)according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which [bc]does not alter.”
13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, (FN)who is [bd]one of the captives from Judah, (FO)does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
14 And the king, when he heard these words, (FP)was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he [be]labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men [bf]approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is (FQ)the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”
16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17 (FR)Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, (FS)and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.
Daniel Saved from the Lions
18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no [bg]musicians were brought before him. (FT)Also his sleep [bh]went from him. 19 Then the (FU)king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a [bi]lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, (FV)has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel said to the king, (FW)“O king, live forever! 22 (FX)My God sent His angel and (FY)shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”
23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, (FZ)because he believed in his God.
Darius Honors God
24 And the king gave the command, (GA)and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, (GB)their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.
25 (GC)Then King Darius wrote:
To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
26 (GD)I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must (GE)tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
(GF)For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be (GG)destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues,
(GH)And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the [bj]power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius (GI)and in the reign of (GJ)Cyrus the Persian.
Vision of the Four Beasts
7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, (GK)Daniel [bk]had a dream and (GL)visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling [bl]the main facts.
2 Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. 3 And four great beasts (GM)came up from the sea, each different from the other. 4 The first was (GN)like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a (GO)man’s heart was given to it.
5 (GP)“And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’
6 “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had (GQ)four heads, and dominion was given to it.
7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, (GR)a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, (GS)and it had ten horns. 8 I was considering the horns, and (GT)there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes (GU)of a man, (GV)and a mouth speaking [bm]pompous words.
Vision of the Ancient of Days
9 “I(GW) watched till thrones were [bn]put in place,
And (GX)the Ancient of Days was seated;
(GY)His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
(GZ)Its wheels a burning fire;
10 (HA)A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
(HB)A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
(HC)The [bo]court was seated,
And the books were opened.
11 “I watched then because of the sound of the [bp]pompous words which the horn was speaking; (HD)I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 “I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, (HE)One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14 (HF)Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all (HG)peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is (HH)an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
Daniel’s Visions Interpreted
15 “I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit [bq]within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four [br]kings which arise out of the earth. 18 But (HI)the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’
19 “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; 20 and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke [bs]pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
21 “I was watching; (HJ)and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, (HK)and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
23 “Thus he said:
‘The fourth beast shall be
(HL)A fourth kingdom on earth,
Which shall be different from all other kingdoms,
And shall devour the whole earth,
Trample it and break it in pieces.
24 (HM)The ten horns are ten kings
Who shall arise from this kingdom.
And another shall rise after them;
He shall be different from the first ones,
And shall subdue three kings.
25 (HN)He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall (HO)persecute[bt] the saints of the Most High,
And shall (HP)intend to change times and law.
Then (HQ)the saints shall be given into his hand
(HR)For a time and times and half a time.
26 ‘But(HS) the court shall be seated,
And they shall (HT)take away his dominion,
To consume and destroy it forever.
27 Then the (HU)kingdom and dominion,
And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,
Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
(HV)His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
(HW)And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
28 “This is the end of the [bu]account. As for me, Daniel, (HX)my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I (HY)kept the matter in my heart.”
Footnotes
- Daniel 2:4 The original language of Daniel 2:4b through 7:28 is Aramaic.
- Daniel 2:5 The command
- Daniel 2:9 Situation
- Daniel 2:9 Or declare to me
- Daniel 2:11 Or rare
- Daniel 2:15 Or harsh
- Daniel 2:23 Lit. word
- Daniel 2:25 Lit. sons of the captivity
- Daniel 2:30 Understand
- Daniel 2:32 Or sides
- Daniel 2:33 Or baked clay, also vv. 34, 35, 42
- Daniel 2:42 Or brittle
- Daniel 2:44 Or crush
- Daniel 2:44 Lit. put an end to
- Daniel 2:49 The king’s court
- Daniel 3:1 About 90 feet
- Daniel 3:4 Lit. with strength
- Daniel 3:22 Or harsh
- Daniel 3:24 High officials
- Daniel 3:25 Or a son of the gods
- Daniel 3:26 Lit. door
- Daniel 3:28 Or angel
- Daniel 3:30 Lit. caused to prosper
- Daniel 4:14 Lit. with strength
- Daniel 4:16 Possibly years
- Daniel 4:19 be for
- Daniel 4:19 for
- Daniel 4:23 Possibly years
- Daniel 4:25 Possibly years
- Daniel 4:26 God
- Daniel 4:27 prolonging
- Daniel 4:29 Or upon
- Daniel 4:32 Possibly years
- Daniel 4:34 Lit. days
- Daniel 5:2 Or ancestor
- Daniel 5:7 Lit. with strength
- Daniel 5:9 perplexed
- Daniel 5:11 Or ancestor
- Daniel 5:11 Or ancestor
- Daniel 5:12 Lit. untying knots
- Daniel 5:13 Lit. who is of the sons of the captivity
- Daniel 5:13 Or ancestor
- Daniel 5:14 Or spirit of the gods
- Daniel 5:16 Lit. untie knots
- Daniel 5:18 Or ancestor
- Daniel 5:21 Recognized
- Daniel 5:23 Exalted
- Daniel 5:23 The temple
- Daniel 5:24 Lit. palm
- Daniel 5:25 Lit. a mina (50 shekels) from the verb “to number”
- Daniel 5:25 Lit. a shekel from the verb “to weigh”
- Daniel 5:25 Lit. and half-shekels from the verb “to divide”; pl. of Peres, v. 28
- Daniel 5:28 Aram. Paras, consonant with Peres
- Daniel 6:8 Lit. does not pass away
- Daniel 6:12 Lit. does not pass away
- Daniel 6:13 Lit. of the sons of the captivity
- Daniel 6:14 strove
- Daniel 6:15 Lit. thronged before
- Daniel 6:18 Exact meaning unknown
- Daniel 6:18 Or fled
- Daniel 6:20 Or grieved
- Daniel 6:27 Lit. hand
- Daniel 7:1 Lit. saw
- Daniel 7:1 Lit. the head or chief of the words
- Daniel 7:8 Lit. great things
- Daniel 7:9 Or set up
- Daniel 7:10 Or judgment
- Daniel 7:11 Lit. great
- Daniel 7:15 Lit. in the midst of its sheath
- Daniel 7:17 Representing their kingdoms, v. 23
- Daniel 7:20 Lit. great things
- Daniel 7:25 Lit. wear out
- Daniel 7:28 Lit. word
Daniel 2:4-7:28
New International Version
Daniel 2:4-7:28
New International Version
4 Then the astrologers answered the king,[a](A) “May the king live forever!(B) Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
5 The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided:(C) If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces(D) and your houses turned into piles of rubble.(E) 6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.(F) So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”
7 Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
8 Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty(G) for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”(H)
10 The astrologers(I) answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.(J) 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods,(K) and they do not live among humans.”
12 This made the king so angry and furious(L) that he ordered the execution(M) of all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.(N)
14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15 He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.(O) 18 He urged them to plead for mercy(P) from the God of heaven(Q) concerning this mystery,(R) so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery(S) was revealed to Daniel in a vision.(T) Then Daniel praised the God of heaven(U) 20 and said:
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;(V)
wisdom and power(W) are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;(X)
he deposes(Y) kings and raises up others.(Z)
He gives wisdom(AA) to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.(AB)
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;(AC)
he knows what lies in darkness,(AD)
and light(AE) dwells with him.
23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:(AF)
You have given me wisdom(AG) and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.(AH)”
Daniel Interprets the Dream
24 Then Daniel went to Arioch,(AI) whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”
25 Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles(AJ) from Judah(AK) who can tell the king what his dream means.”
26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar),(AL) “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”
27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,(AM) 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.(AN) He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.(AO) Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind(AP) as you were lying in bed(AQ) are these:(AR)
29 “As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.(AS) 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed(AT) to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
31 “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue,(AU) awesome(AV) in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands.(AW) It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed(AX) them.(AY) 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away(AZ) without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain(BA) and filled the whole earth.(BB)
36 “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.(BC) 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings.(BD) The God of heaven has given you dominion(BE) and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all.(BF) You are that head of gold.
39 “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth.(BG) 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.(BH) 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush(BI) all those kingdoms(BJ) and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.(BK) 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock(BL) cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands(BM)—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.
“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future.(BN) The dream is true(BO) and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate(BP) before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering(BQ) and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods(BR) and the Lord of kings(BS) and a revealer of mysteries,(BT) for you were able to reveal this mystery.(BU)”
48 Then the king placed Daniel in a high(BV) position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.(BW) 49 Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon,(BX) while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.(BY)
The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace
3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image(BZ) of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,[b] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps,(CA) prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials(CB) to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language,(CC) this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp,(CD) pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image(CE) of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.(CF) 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”(CG)
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.(CH)
8 At this time some astrologers[c](CI) came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!(CJ) 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree(CK) that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,(CL) 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(CM)—who pay no attention(CN) to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”(CO)
13 Furious(CP) with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods(CQ) or worship the image(CR) of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god(CS) will be able to rescue(CT) you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(CU) replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver(CV) us from it, and he will deliver(CW) us[d] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.(CX)”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven(CY) times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(CZ) and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,(DA) 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God,(DB) come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers(DC) crowded around them.(DD) They saw that the fire(DE) had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel(DF) and rescued(DG) his servants! They trusted(DH) in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.(DI) 29 Therefore I decree(DJ) that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble,(DK) for no other god can save(DL) in this way.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.(DM)
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree
4 [e]King Nebuchadnezzar,
To the nations and peoples of every language,(DN) who live in all the earth:
May you prosper greatly!(DO)
2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs(DP) and wonders that the Most High God(DQ) has performed for me.
3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!(DR)
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures(DS) from generation to generation.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented(DT) and prosperous. 5 I had a dream(DU) that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed,(DV) the images and visions that passed through my mind(DW) terrified me.(DX) 6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret(DY) the dream for me. 7 When the magicians,(DZ) enchanters, astrologers[f] and diviners(EA) came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.(EB) 8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar,(EC) after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods(ED) is in him.)
9 I said, “Belteshazzar, chief(EE) of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods(EF) is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed:(EG) I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous.(EH) 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.(EI) 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches;(EJ) from it every creature was fed.
13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed,(EK) I looked, and there before me was a holy one,(EL) a messenger,[g] coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree(EM) and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.(EN) 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.
“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times[h] pass by for him.(EO)
17 “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High(EP) is sovereign(EQ) over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest(ER) of people.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me.(ES) But you can,(ET) because the spirit of the holy gods(EU) is in you.”(EV)
Daniel Interprets the Dream
19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified(EW) him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”(EX)
Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds(EY)— 22 Your Majesty, you are that tree!(EZ) You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.(FA)
23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one,(FB) a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’(FC)
24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree(FD) the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched(FE) with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High(FF) is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.(FG) 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots(FH) means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.(FI) 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.(FJ) It may be that then your prosperity(FK) will continue.(FL)”
The Dream Is Fulfilled
28 All this happened(FM) to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory(FN) of my majesty?”(FO)
31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.(FP) 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”(FQ)
33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched(FR) with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.(FS)
34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity(FT) was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.(FU)
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom(FV) endures from generation to generation.(FW)
35 All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.(FX)
He does as he pleases(FY)
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back(FZ) his hand(GA)
or say to him: “What have you done?”(GB)
36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom.(GC) My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt(GD) and glorify(GE) the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.(GF) And those who walk in pride(GG) he is able to humble.(GH)
The Writing on the Wall
5 King Belshazzar(GI) gave a great banquet(GJ) for a thousand of his nobles(GK) and drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking(GL) his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets(GM) that Nebuchadnezzar his father[i] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines(GN) might drink from them.(GO) 3 So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. 4 As they drank the wine, they praised the gods(GP) of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.(GQ)
5 Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. 6 His face turned pale(GR) and he was so frightened(GS) that his legs became weak(GT) and his knees were knocking.(GU)
7 The king summoned the enchanters,(GV) astrologers[j](GW) and diviners.(GX) Then he said to these wise(GY) men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck,(GZ) and he will be made the third(HA) highest ruler in the kingdom.”(HB)
8 Then all the king’s wise men(HC) came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.(HD) 9 So King Belshazzar became even more terrified(HE) and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.
10 The queen,[k] hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!”(HF) she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods(HG) in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom(HH) like that of the gods.(HI) Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.(HJ) 12 He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar,(HK) was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles(HL) and solve difficult problems.(HM) Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.(HN)”
13 So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?(HO) 14 I have heard that the spirit of the gods(HP) is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.(HQ) 15 The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it.(HR) 16 Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems.(HS) If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck,(HT) and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”(HU)
17 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.(HV) Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
18 “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar(HW) sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.(HX) 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death;(HY) those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.(HZ) 20 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride,(IA) he was deposed from his royal throne(IB) and stripped(IC) of his glory.(ID) 21 He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign(IE) over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.(IF)
22 “But you, Belshazzar, his son,[l] have not humbled(IG) yourself, though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against(IH) the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives(II) and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand.(IJ) But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life(IK) and all your ways.(IL) 24 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.
25 “This is the inscription that was written:
mene, mene, tekel, parsin
26 “Here is what these words mean:
Mene[m]: God has numbered the days(IM) of your reign and brought it to an end.(IN)
27 Tekel[n]: You have been weighed on the scales(IO) and found wanting.(IP)
28 Peres[o]: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes(IQ) and Persians.”(IR)
29 Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck,(IS) and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.(IT)
30 That very night Belshazzar,(IU) king(IV) of the Babylonians,[p] was slain,(IW) 31 and Darius(IX) the Mede(IY) took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.[q]
Daniel in the Den of Lions
6 [r]It pleased Darius(IZ) to appoint 120 satraps(JA) to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.(JB) The satraps were made accountable(JC) to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.(JD) 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges(JE) against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”(JF)
6 So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!(JG) 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors(JH) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.(JI) 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”(JJ) 9 So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward(JK) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees(JL) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.(JM) 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.(JN) 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”(JO)
13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,(JP) pays no attention(JQ) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;(JR) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”(JS)
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.(JT) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue(JU) you!”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed(JV) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating(JW) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.(JX)
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”(JY)
21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!(JZ) 22 My God sent his angel,(KA) and he shut the mouths of the lions.(KB) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.(KC) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound(KD) was found on him, because he had trusted(KE) in his God.
24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,(KF) along with their wives and children.(KG) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.(KH)
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language(KI) in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!(KJ)
26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence(KK) the God of Daniel.(KL)
“For he is the living God(KM)
and he endures forever;(KN)
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.(KO)
27 He rescues and he saves;(KP)
he performs signs and wonders(KQ)
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”(KR)
28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[s](KS) the Persian.(KT)
Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts
7 In the first year of Belshazzar(KU) king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions(KV) passed through his mind(KW) as he was lying in bed.(KX) He wrote(KY) down the substance of his dream.
2 Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven(KZ) churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts,(LA) each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
4 “The first was like a lion,(LB) and it had the wings of an eagle.(LC) I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
5 “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’(LD)
6 “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard.(LE) And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7 “After that, in my vision(LF) at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron(LG) teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled(LH) underfoot whatever was left.(LI) It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.(LJ)
8 “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little(LK) one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being(LL) and a mouth that spoke boastfully.(LM)
9 “As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days(LN) took his seat.(LO)
His clothing was as white as snow;(LP)
the hair of his head was white like wool.(LQ)
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels(LR) were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire(LS) was flowing,
coming out from before him.(LT)
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books(LU) were opened.
11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking.(LV) I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.(LW) 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[t](LX) coming(LY) with the clouds of heaven.(LZ) He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority,(MA) glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.(MB) His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom(MC) is one that will never be destroyed.(MD)
The Interpretation of the Dream
15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.(ME) 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.
“So he told me and gave me the interpretation(MF) of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people(MG) of the Most High will receive the kingdom(MH) and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’(MI)
19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns(MJ) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.(MK) 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,(ML) 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.(MM)
23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.(MN) 24 The ten horns(MO) are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High(MP) and oppress his holy people(MQ) and try to change the set times(MR) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.[u](MS)
26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed(MT) forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms(MU) under heaven will be handed over to the holy people(MV) of the Most High.(MW) His kingdom will be an everlasting(MX) kingdom, and all rulers will worship(MY) and obey him.’
28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled(MZ) by my thoughts,(NA) and my face turned pale,(NB) but I kept the matter to myself.”
Footnotes
- Daniel 2:4 At this point the Hebrew text has in Aramaic, indicating that the text from here through the end of chapter 7 is in Aramaic.
- Daniel 3:1 That is, about 90 feet high and 9 feet wide or about 27 meters high and 2.7 meters wide
- Daniel 3:8 Or Chaldeans
- Daniel 3:17 Or If the God we serve is able to deliver us, then he will deliver us from the blazing furnace and
- Daniel 4:1 In Aramaic texts 4:1-3 is numbered 3:31-33, and 4:4-37 is numbered 4:1-34.
- Daniel 4:7 Or Chaldeans
- Daniel 4:13 Or watchman; also in verses 17 and 23
- Daniel 4:16 Or years; also in verses 23, 25 and 32
- Daniel 5:2 Or ancestor; or predecessor; also in verses 11, 13 and 18
- Daniel 5:7 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 11
- Daniel 5:10 Or queen mother
- Daniel 5:22 Or descendant; or successor
- Daniel 5:26 Mene can mean numbered or mina (a unit of money).
- Daniel 5:27 Tekel can mean weighed or shekel.
- Daniel 5:28 Peres (the singular of Parsin) can mean divided or Persia or a half mina or a half shekel.
- Daniel 5:30 Or Chaldeans
- Daniel 5:31 In Aramaic texts this verse (5:31) is numbered 6:1.
- Daniel 6:1 In Aramaic texts 6:1-28 is numbered 6:2-29.
- Daniel 6:28 Or Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus
- Daniel 7:13 The Aramaic phrase bar enash means human being. The phrase son of man is retained here because of its use in the New Testament as a title of Jesus, probably based largely on this verse.
- Daniel 7:25 Or for a year, two years and half a year
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.