²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed,^[a] and yet he liked to listen to him.^(A)

²⁶ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet.”^(A)

¹⁶ And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy.

⁵ Though Herod^[a] wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet.^(A)

³² To them you are like a singer of love songs,^[a] one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; they hear what you say, but they will not do it.

³⁵ He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.^(A)

¹⁸ And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him, for they were afraid of him because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.^(A)

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered in the presence of the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, or give your rewards to someone else! Nevertheless I will read the writing to the king and let him know the interpretation.^(A)

²⁷ Therefore, O king, may my counsel be acceptable to you: atone for^[a] your sins with righteousness and your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed, so that your prosperity may be prolonged.”^(A)

¹⁸ “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are unable to tell me the interpretation. You are able, however, for you are endowed with a spirit of the holy gods.”^[a](A)