Monthly Offerings

¹¹ “‘On the first of every month,^(A) present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls,^(B) one ram^(C) and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(D) 12} With each bull there is to be a grain offering^(E) of three-tenths of an ephah^[a](F) of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, a grain offering of two-tenths^(G) of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; ¹³ and with each lamb, a grain offering^(H) of a tenth^(I) of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil. This is for a burnt offering,^(J) a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord.^{(K) 14} With each bull there is to be a drink offering^(L) of half a hin^[b] of wine; with the ram, a third of a hin^[c]; and with each lamb, a quarter of a hin. This is the monthly burnt offering to be made at each new moon^(M) during the year. ¹⁵ Besides the regular burnt offering^(N) with its drink offering, one male goat^(O) is to be presented to the Lord as a sin offering.^[d](P)

The Passover^(Q)

¹⁶ “‘On the fourteenth day of the first month the Lord’s Passover^(R) is to be held. ¹⁷ On the fifteenth day of this month there is to be a festival; for seven days^(S) eat bread made without yeast.^{(T) 18} On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.^{(U) 19} Present to the Lord a food offering^(V) consisting of a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(W) 20} With each bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah^(X) of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths;^{(Y) 21} and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.^{(Z) 22} Include one male goat as a sin offering^(AA) to make atonement for you.^{(AB) 23} Offer these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering. ²⁴ In this way present the food offering every day for seven days as an aroma pleasing to the Lord;^(AC) it is to be offered in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. ²⁵ On the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon^(A)

9 When the queen of Sheba^(B) heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind. ² Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her. ³ When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon,^(C) as well as the palace he had built, ⁴ the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes and the burnt offerings he made at^[a] the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.

⁵ She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. ⁶ But I did not believe what they said until I came^(D) and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard. ⁷ How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! ⁸ Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne^(E) as king to rule for the Lord your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king^(F) over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.”

⁹ Then she gave the king 120 talents^[b] of gold,^(G) large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

¹⁰ (The servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon brought gold from Ophir;^(H) they also brought algumwood^[c] and precious stones. ¹¹ The king used the algumwood to make steps for the temple of the Lord and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen in Judah.)

¹² King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.

The Interpretation of the Dream

¹⁵ “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.^{(A) 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^(B) of these things: ¹⁷ ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. ¹⁸ But the holy people^(C) of the Most High will receive the kingdom^(D) and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’^(E)

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^(F) 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.^{(G) 21} As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,^{(H) 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.^(I)

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.^{(J) 24} The ten horns^(K) 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^(L) and oppress his holy people^(M) and try to change the set times^(N) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.^[a](O)

²⁶ “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed^(P) forever. ²⁷ Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms^(Q) under heaven will be handed over to the holy people^(R) of the Most High.^(S) His kingdom will be an everlasting^(T) kingdom, and all rulers will worship^(U) and obey him.’

²⁸ “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled^(V) by my thoughts,^(W) and my face turned pale,^(X) but I kept the matter to myself.”