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Daniel 1-3
New King James Version

Daniel and His Friends Obey God(A)

1 In the third year of the reign of (B)Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with (C)some of the articles of [a]the house of God, which he carried (D)into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; (E)and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.

3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring (F)some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men (G)in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and (H)whom they might teach the language and [b]literature of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might (I)serve before the king. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 (J)To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: (K)he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself (L)with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now (M)God had brought Daniel into the favor and [c]goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”

11 So Daniel said to [d]the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. 16 Thus [e]the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

17 As for these four young men, (N)God gave them (O)knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had (P)understanding in all visions and dreams.

18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 Then the king [f]interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore (Q)they served before the king. 20 (R)And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. 21 (S)Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

2 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; (T)and his spirit was so troubled that (U)his sleep left him. 2 (V)Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to [g]know the dream.”

4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, (W)“O[h] king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”

5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My [i]decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be (X)cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. 6 (Y)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 [j]time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can [k]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 [l]difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king (Z)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 (AA)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 [m]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 (AB)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 (AC)in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said:

(AD)“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
(AE)For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes (AF)the times and the seasons;
(AG)He removes kings and raises up kings;
(AH)He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 (AI)He reveals deep and secret things;
(AJ)He knows what is in the darkness,
And (AK)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 (AL)asked of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s [n]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 [o]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 (AM)But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar (AN)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; (AO)and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. 30 (AP)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, (AQ)and that you may [p]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 (AR)This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and [q]thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of [r]clay. 34 You watched while a stone was cut out (AS)without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 (AT)Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became (AU)like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that (AV)no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image (AW)became a great mountain (AX)and filled the whole earth.

36 “This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. 37 (AY)You, O king, are a king of kings. (AZ)For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; 38 (BA)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—(BB)you are this head of gold. 39 But after you shall arise (BC)another kingdom (BD)inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And (BE)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, (BF)so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly [s]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 (BG)the God of heaven will set up a kingdom (BH)which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; (BI)it shall [t]break in pieces and [u]consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 (BJ)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 (BK)Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering (BL)and incense to him. 47 The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly (BM)your God is the God of (BN)gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” 48 (BO)Then the king promoted Daniel (BP)and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and (BQ)chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, (BR)and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel (BS)sat in [v]the gate of the king.

The Image of Gold

3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was [w]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 [x]aloud: “To you it is commanded, (BT)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 (BU)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 (BV)came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, (BW)“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 (BX)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 (BY)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 (BZ)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, (CA)good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (CB)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, (CC)we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our (CD)God whom we serve is able to (CE)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 (CF)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 [y]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 [z]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, (CG)walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like (CH)the[aa] Son of God.”

Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the [ab]mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the (CI)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 (CJ)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 (CK)Angel[ac] 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 (CL)Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the (CM)God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be (CN)cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; (CO)because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

30 Then the king [ad]promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 1:2 The temple
  2. Daniel 1:4 Lit. writing or book
  3. Daniel 1:9 kindness
  4. Daniel 1:11 Or Melzar
  5. Daniel 1:16 Or Melzar
  6. Daniel 1:19 Lit. talked with them
  7. Daniel 2:3 Or understand
  8. Daniel 2:4 The original language of Daniel 2:4b through 7:28 is Aramaic.
  9. Daniel 2:5 The command
  10. Daniel 2:9 Situation
  11. Daniel 2:9 Or declare to me
  12. Daniel 2:11 Or rare
  13. Daniel 2:15 Or harsh
  14. Daniel 2:23 Lit. word
  15. Daniel 2:25 Lit. sons of the captivity
  16. Daniel 2:30 Understand
  17. Daniel 2:32 Or sides
  18. Daniel 2:33 Or baked clay, also vv. 34, 35, 42
  19. Daniel 2:42 Or brittle
  20. Daniel 2:44 Or crush
  21. Daniel 2:44 Lit. put an end to
  22. Daniel 2:49 The king’s court
  23. Daniel 3:1 About 90 feet
  24. Daniel 3:4 Lit. with strength
  25. Daniel 3:22 Or harsh
  26. Daniel 3:24 High officials
  27. Daniel 3:25 Or a son of the gods
  28. Daniel 3:26 Lit. door
  29. Daniel 3:28 Or angel
  30. Daniel 3:30 Lit. caused to prosper
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Daniel 1-3
New International Version

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim(A) king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar(B) king of Babylon(C) came to Jerusalem and besieged it.(D) 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried(E) off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.(F)

3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility(G)— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome,(H) showing aptitude for every kind of learning,(I) well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language(J) and literature of the Babylonians.[b] 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine(K) from the king’s table.(L) They were to be trained for three years,(M) and after that they were to enter the king’s service.(N)

6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel,(O) Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.(P) 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar;(Q) to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.(R)

8 But Daniel resolved not to defile(S) himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor(T) and compassion(U) to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink.(V) Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test(W) your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”(X) 14 So he agreed to this and tested(Y) them for ten days.

15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.(Z) 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.(AA)

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding(AB) of all kinds of literature and learning.(AC) And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.(AD)

18 At the end of the time(AE) set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.(AF) 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians(AG) and enchanters in his whole kingdom.(AH)

21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.(AI)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

2 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams;(AJ) his mind was troubled(AK) and he could not sleep.(AL) 2 So the king summoned the magicians,(AM) enchanters, sorcerers(AN) and astrologers[d](AO) to tell him what he had dreamed.(AP) When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles(AQ) me and I want to know what it means.[e]”

4 Then the astrologers answered the king,[f](AR) “May the king live forever!(AS) Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

5 The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided:(AT) If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces(AU) and your houses turned into piles of rubble.(AV) 6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.(AW) 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(AX) 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.”(AY)

10 The astrologers(AZ) 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.(BA) 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods,(BB) and they do not live among humans.”

12 This made the king so angry and furious(BC) that he ordered the execution(BD) 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.(BE)

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.(BF) 18 He urged them to plead for mercy(BG) from the God of heaven(BH) concerning this mystery,(BI) 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(BJ) was revealed to Daniel in a vision.(BK) Then Daniel praised the God of heaven(BL) 20 and said:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;(BM)
    wisdom and power(BN) are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;(BO)
    he deposes(BP) kings and raises up others.(BQ)
He gives wisdom(BR) to the wise
    and knowledge to the discerning.(BS)
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;(BT)
    he knows what lies in darkness,(BU)
    and light(BV) dwells with him.
23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:(BW)
    You have given me wisdom(BX) and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
    you have made known to us the dream of the king.(BY)”

Daniel Interprets the Dream

24 Then Daniel went to Arioch,(BZ) 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(CA) from Judah(CB) who can tell the king what his dream means.”

26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar),(CC) “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,(CD) 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.(CE) He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.(CF) Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind(CG) as you were lying in bed(CH) are these:(CI)

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.(CJ) 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed(CK) 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,(CL) awesome(CM) 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.(CN) It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed(CO) them.(CP) 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(CQ) without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain(CR) and filled the whole earth.(CS)

36 “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.(CT) 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings.(CU) The God of heaven has given you dominion(CV) 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.(CW) 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.(CX) 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.(CY) 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(CZ) all those kingdoms(DA) and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.(DB) 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock(DC) cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands(DD)—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.(DE) The dream is true(DF) and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate(DG) before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering(DH) and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods(DI) and the Lord of kings(DJ) and a revealer of mysteries,(DK) for you were able to reveal this mystery.(DL)”

48 Then the king placed Daniel in a high(DM) 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.(DN) 49 Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon,(DO) while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.(DP)

The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image(DQ) of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,[g] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps,(DR) prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials(DS) 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,(DT) this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp,(DU) pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image(DV) of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.(DW) 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”(DX)

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.(DY)

8 At this time some astrologers[h](DZ) came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!(EA) 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree(EB) 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,(EC) 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(ED)—who pay no attention(EE) to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”(EF)

13 Furious(EG) 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(EH) or worship the image(EI) 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(EJ) will be able to rescue(EK) you from my hand?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(EL) 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(EM) us from it, and he will deliver(EN) us[i] 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.(EO)”

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven(EP) times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(EQ) 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,(ER) 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,(ES) come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers(ET) crowded around them.(EU) They saw that the fire(EV) 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(EW) and rescued(EX) his servants! They trusted(EY) 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.(EZ) 29 Therefore I decree(FA) 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,(FB) for no other god can save(FC) in this way.”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.(FD)

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 1:2 Hebrew Shinar
  2. Daniel 1:4 Or Chaldeans
  3. Daniel 1:10 The Hebrew for your and you in this verse is plural.
  4. Daniel 2:2 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 4, 5 and 10
  5. Daniel 2:3 Or was
  6. 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.
  7. Daniel 3:1 That is, about 90 feet high and 9 feet wide or about 27 meters high and 2.7 meters wide
  8. Daniel 3:8 Or Chaldeans
  9. Daniel 3:17 Or If the God we serve is able to deliver us, then he will deliver us from the blazing furnace and
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