Daniel 4-6
Christian Standard Bible
Nebuchadnezzar’s Proclamation
4 King Nebuchadnezzar,
To those of every people, nation, and language, who live on the whole earth:(A)
May your prosperity increase.(B) 2 I am pleased to tell you about the miracles and wonders(C) the Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are his miracles,
and how mighty his wonders!(D)
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom,(E)
and his dominion is from generation to generation.(F)
The Dream
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.(G) 5 I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.(H) 6 So I issued a decree(I) to bring all the wise men of Babylon to me in order that they might make the dream’s interpretation known to me.(J) 7 When the magicians, mediums, Chaldeans, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.(K)
8 Finally Daniel, named Belteshazzar(L) after the name of my god—and a spirit of the holy gods is in him(M)—came before me. I told him the dream: 9 “Belteshazzar, head of the magicians, because I know that you have the spirit of the holy gods(N) and that no mystery puzzles you,(O) explain to me the visions of my dream that I saw, and its interpretation. 10 In the visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this:
There was a tree in the middle of the earth,
and it was very tall.
11 The tree grew large and strong;
its top reached to the sky,(P)
and it was visible to the ends of the[a] earth.
12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant,
and on it was food for all.(Q)
Wild animals found shelter under it,
the birds of the sky(R) lived in its branches,
and every creature was fed from it.(S)
13 “As I was lying in my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one,[b](T) coming down from heaven.(U) 14 He called out loudly:
Cut down the tree and chop off its branches;
strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
Let the animals flee from under it,
and the birds from its branches.(V)
15 But leave the stump with its roots in the ground(W)
and with a band of iron and bronze around it
in the tender grass of the field.
Let him be drenched with dew from the sky
and share the plants of the earth(X)
with the animals.
16 Let his mind be changed from that of a human,
and let him be given the mind of an animal
for seven periods of time.[c][d](Y)
17 This word is by decree of the watchers,
and the decision is by command from the holy ones.
This is so that the living will know
that the Most High is ruler
over human kingdoms.
He gives them to anyone he wants
and sets the lowliest of people over them.(Z)
18 This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can make the interpretation known to me.(AA) But you can, because you have a spirit of the holy gods.”
The Dream Interpreted
19 Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was stunned for a moment, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.”
Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!(AB) 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky and was visible to the whole earth, 21 and whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant—and on it was food for all, under it the wild animals lived, and in its branches the birds of the sky lived— 22 that tree is you, Your Majesty. For you have become great and strong: your greatness has grown and even reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.(AC)
23 “The king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground and with a band of iron and bronze around it in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with dew from the sky and share food with the wild animals for seven periods of time.’ 24 This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree of the Most High that has been issued against my lord the king:(AD) 25 You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals. You will feed on grass like cattle(AE) and be drenched with dew from the sky for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms, and he gives them to anyone he wants.(AF) 26 As for the command to leave the tree’s stump with its roots, your kingdom will be restored[e] to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven[f] rules.(AG) 27 Therefore, may my advice seem good to you my king. Separate yourself from your sins by doing what is right,(AH) and from your injustices by showing mercy to the needy.(AI) Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”(AJ)
The Sentence Executed
28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.(AK) 29 At the end of twelve months, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, 30 the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built to be a royal residence by my vast power and for my majestic glory?” (AL)
31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared that the kingdom has departed from you.(AM) 32 You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals, and you will feed on grass like cattle for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms, and he gives them to anyone he wants.”
33 At that moment the message against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.(AN)
Nebuchadnezzar’s Praise
34 But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified him who lives forever:(AO)
For his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom is from generation to generation.(AP)
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing,(AQ)
and he does what he wants(AR) with the army of heaven
and the inhabitants of the earth.
There is no one who can block his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?” (AS)
36 At that time my sanity returned to me, and my majesty and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and my nobles sought me out, I was reestablished over my kingdom, and even more greatness came to me.(AT) 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of the heavens, because all his works are true and his ways are just.(AU) He is able to humble(AV) those who walk in pride.(AW)
Belshazzar’s Feast
5 King Belshazzar(AX) held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine in their presence. 2 Under the influence of[g] the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels(AY) that his predecessor[h] Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines could drink from them. 3 So they brought in the gold[i] vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem,(AZ) and the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines drank from them. 4 They drank the wine and praised their gods made of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.(BA)
The Handwriting on the Wall
5 At that moment the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the king’s palace wall next to the lampstand. As the king watched the hand[j] that was writing, 6 his face turned pale,[k] and his thoughts so terrified him that he soiled himself[l] and his knees knocked together. 7 The king shouted to bring in the mediums, Chaldeans, and diviners. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and gives me its interpretation will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around his neck,(BB) and have the third highest position in the kingdom.” 8 So all the king’s wise men came in, but none could read the inscription or make its interpretation known to him. 9 Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face turned pale,[m] and his nobles were bewildered.(BC)
10 Because of the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen[n] came to the banquet hall. “May the king live forever,” she said. “Don’t let your thoughts terrify you or your face be pale.[o](BD) 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has a spirit of the holy gods in him.(BE) In the days of your predecessor he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, mediums, Chaldeans, and diviners. Your own predecessor, the king, 12 did this because Daniel, the one the king named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and intelligence, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems.[p](BF) Therefore, summon Daniel, and he will give the interpretation.”
Daniel before the King
13 Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the Judean exiles that my predecessor the king brought from Judah?(BG) 14 I’ve heard that you have a spirit of the gods in you, and that insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom are found in you. 15 Now the wise men and mediums were brought before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not give its interpretation. 16 However, I have heard about you that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around your neck, and have the third highest position in the kingdom.”(BH)
17 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts and give your rewards to someone else;(BI) however, I will read the inscription for the king and make the interpretation known to him. 18 Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty,(BJ) greatness, glory, and majesty to your predecessor Nebuchadnezzar.(BK) 19 Because of the greatness he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages(BL) were terrified and fearful of him. He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted. 20 But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant,(BM) he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him.(BN) 21 He was driven away from people,(BO) his mind was like an animal’s, he lived with the wild donkeys,(BP) he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over human kingdoms and sets anyone he wants over them.(BQ)
22 “But you his successor, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart,(BR) even though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of the heavens. The vessels from his house were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them,(BS) you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand.(BT) But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in his hand and who controls the whole course of your life.[q](BU) 24 Therefore, he sent the hand, and this writing was inscribed.
The Inscription’s Interpretation
25 “This is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. 26 This is the interpretation of the message:
‘Mene’[r] means that God has numbered[s] the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.(BV)
27 ‘Tekel’[t] means that you have been weighed[u] on the balance and found deficient.
28 ‘Peres’[v][w] means that your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”[x]
29 Then Belshazzar gave an order, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck,(BW) and issued a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 That very night Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was killed, 31 and Darius the Mede(BX) received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.
The Plot against Daniel
6 Darius decided[y] to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, 2 and over them three administrators, including Daniel.(BY) These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded.(BZ) 3 Daniel[z] distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit,(CA) so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.(CB) 4 The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel(CC) regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption,(CD) for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”(CE)
6 So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever.(CF) 7 All the administrators of the kingdom(CG)—the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors—have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that, for thirty days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den.(CH) 8 Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict(CI) and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.”(CJ) 9 So King Darius signed the written edict.(CK)
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem,(CL) and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God,(CM) just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found(CN) Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12 So they approached the king(CO) and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for thirty days any person who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?”
The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands[aa] and is irrevocable.”(CP)
13 Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you,(CQ) the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.” 14 As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel(CR) and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.
15 Then these men went together to the king and said to him, “You know, Your Majesty, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.”(CS)
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.(CT) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you continually serve,(CU) rescue you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den.(CV) The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting.(CW) No diversions[ab] were brought to him, and he could not sleep.(CX)
Daniel Released
19 At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said,[ac] “has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you(CY) from the lions?”
21 Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. 22 My God sent his angel(CZ) and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.”
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. When Daniel was brought up from the den, he was found to be unharmed, for he trusted in his God.(DA) 24 The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel[ad](DB) were brought and thrown into the lions’ den—they, their children, and their wives.(DC) They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
Darius Honors God
25 Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live on the whole earth: “May your prosperity abound.(DD) 26 I issue a decree(DE) that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel:(DF)
For he is the living God,
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will never be destroyed,(DG)
and his dominion has no end.
27 He rescues and delivers;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth,(DH)
for he has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
28 So Daniel prospered(DI) during the reign of Darius and[ae] the reign of Cyrus the Persian.(DJ)
Footnotes
- 4:11 Lit of all the
- 4:13 = an angel
- 4:16 Lit animal as seven times pass over him
- 4:16 Perhaps seven years
- 4:26 Lit enduring
- 4:26 = God
- 5:2 Or When he tasted
- 5:2 Or father, or grandfather
- 5:3 Theod, Vg add and silver
- 5:5 Lit part of the hand
- 5:5–6 Lit writing, 6 the king’s brightness changed
- 5:6 Or that the joints of his hips gave way; lit that the knots of his loins were untied
- 5:9 Lit his brightness changed on him
- 5:10 Perhaps the queen mother
- 5:10 Lit your brightness change
- 5:12 Lit and untie knots; also in v. 16
- 5:23 Lit and all your ways belong to him
- 5:26 Or a mina
- 5:26 The Aramaic word for numbered sounds like mene.
- 5:27 Or a shekel
- 5:27 The Aramaic word for weighed sounds like tekel.
- 5:28 Or half a shekel
- 5:28 In Aramaic, the word peres is the sg form of “parsin” in v. 25.
- 5:28 The Aramaic word for divided and Persians sounds like peres.
- 6:1 Lit It was pleasing before Darius
- 6:3 Lit Now this Daniel
- 6:12 Lit the word is certain
- 6:18 Aramaic obscure
- 6:20 Lit said to Daniel
- 6:24 Lit had eaten his pieces
- 6:28 Or Darius, even
John 18
Christian Standard Bible
Jesus Betrayed
18 After(A) Jesus had said these things, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Judas,(B) who betrayed(C) him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas took a company of soldiers and some officials[a] from the chief priests and the Pharisees(D) and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
4 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him,(E) went out and said to them, “Who is it that you’re seeking?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.
“I am he,”(F) Jesus told them.
Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with them. 6 When Jesus told them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.
7 Then he asked them again, “Who is it that you’re seeking?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8 “I told you I am he,” Jesus replied. “So if you’re looking for me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill(G) the words he had said: “I have not lost one of those you have given me.”(H)
10 Then Simon(I) Peter,(J) who had a sword,(K) drew it, struck the high priest’s(L) servant, and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 At that, Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword away! Am I not to drink the cup(M) the Father has given me?”
Jesus Arrested and Taken to Annas
12 Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13 First they led him to Annas,(N) since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,(O) who was high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better for one man to die for the people.(P)
Peter Denies Jesus
15 Simon Peter(Q) was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16 But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.
17 Then the servant girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?”
“I am not,” he said. 18 Now the servants and the officials had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.
Jesus before Annas
19 The high priest(R) questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.
20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the synagogue(S) and in the temple,(T) where all the Jews gather, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret. 21 Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”
22 When he had said these things, one of the officials standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”
23 “If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence[b] about the wrong; but if rightly,(U) why do you hit me?” 24 Then(V) Annas(W) sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter Denies Jesus Twice More
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it and said, “I am not.”
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Peter denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.(X)
Jesus before Pilate
28 Then(Y) they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters.(Z) It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover.
29 So Pilate(AA) came out to them and said, “What charge(AB) do you bring against this man?”
30 They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal,[c] we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate told them, “You take him and judge him according to your law.”
“It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. 32 They said this so that Jesus’s words might be fulfilled indicating what kind of death he was going to die.(AC)
33 Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (AD)
34 Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about me?”
35 “I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
36 “My kingdom(AE) is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world,(AF) my servants(AG) would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is,[d] my kingdom is not from here.”(AH)
37 “You are a king then?” Pilate asked.
“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world(AI) for this: to testify(AJ) to the truth.(AK) Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
38 “What is truth?” said Pilate.
Jesus or Barabbas
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds(AL) for charging him. 39 You(AM) have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”
40 They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (AN) Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.[e](AO)
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