Beginning
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, to Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand with part of the vessels of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar, to the house of his god. And he brought the vessels into his god’s treasury.
3 And the king spoke to Ashpenaz, the master of his Eunuchs, and told him to bring some of the children of Israel, some of the king’s seed, and some of the princes;
4 Children in whom there was no blemish, but were well favored; and who were instructed in all wisdom, and well-versed in knowledge; and able to utter knowledge; and such as were able to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed provisions for them every day from a portion of the king’s meat, and from the wine which he drank, thus nourishing them for three years. That at the end thereof, they might still stand before the king.
6 Now among these were some of the children of Judah - Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,
7 To whom the chief of the Eunuchs gave other names. For he called Daniel, “Belteshazzar”, and Hananiah, “Shadrach”, and Mishael, “Meshach”, and Azariah, “Abednego”.
8 But Daniel had determined in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he required the chief of the Eunuchs not to defile himself.
9 (Now God had brought Daniel into favor and compassion with 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 meat and your drink. For if he sees your faces looking worse than other youths of your age, then you shall make me lose my head to the king.”
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, 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 faces be looked upon before you, and the faces of those who eat of the portion of the king’s meat. And as you see fit, deal with your servants.”
14 So he consented to them in this matter, an watched them for ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer, and looked better, than all the others who ate the king’s meat.
16 Thus, Melzar took away their meat, and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge, and understanding in all learning, and wisdom. Also, he gave Daniel understanding of all visions and dreams.
18 Now when the time had come for the king to bring them in, the chief of the Eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king spoke with them. And among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore, they stood before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the enchanters and astrologers in his realm.
21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
2 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams which troubled his spirit, and broke his sleep.
2 Then the king commanded to call the enchanters, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to interpret the king’s dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream. And my spirit was troubled to know the dream.”
4 Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in the Aramite’s language, “O king, live forever. Show your servants your dream, and we shall show the interpretation.”
5 And the king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The thing is spoken. If you will not make me understand the dream, with the interpretation thereof, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.
6 “But, if you declare the dream and the interpretation thereof, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore, show me the dream and the interpretation of it.”
7 They answered again, and said, “Let the king show his servants the dream, and we will declare the interpretation thereof.”
8 Then the king answered, and said, “I know certainly that you would like more time, because you see the thing is spoken.
9 “But if you will not declare to me the dream, there is but one judgment for you. For you have prepared lying and corrupt words, to speak before me till the time changes. Therefore, tell me the dream, that I may know if you can declare to me the interpretation thereof.”
10 Then the Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is no man upon earth who can declare the king’s matter. Yea, there is neither king nor prince nor lord who asked such things of an enchanter, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
11 For it is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can declare it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 For this reason, the king was angry and in a great fury, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babel.
13 And when sentence was given, the wise men were killed. And they sought Daniel and his friends, to be put to death.
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch, the king’s chief steward, who had gone forth to put to death the wise men of Babel.
15 “Yea,” he answered and said to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the sentence so severe from the king?” Then Arioch explained it to Daniel.
16 So Daniel went and asked the king if he would give him time to show the king the interpretation thereof.
17 Then Daniel went to his house and shared the matter with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
18 in order that they should ask the God of heaven for grace in this secret, so that Daniel and his friends should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babel.
19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision by night. Therefore, Daniel praised the God of heaven.
20 And Daniel answered and said, “The Name of God be praised forever and ever. For wisdom and strength are his.
21 “And he changes the times and seasons. He takes away kings. He sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and understanding to those who understand.
22 “He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23 “I thank you and praise you, O God of my fathers, that you have given me wisdom and strength, and have shown me now the thing that we desired of you. For you have declared to us the king’s matter.”
24 Therefore, Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babel. He went and said to him, “Do not destroy the wise men of Babel. But bring me before the king, and I will declare to the king the interpretation.”
25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said, “I have found a man of the children of Judah, who were brought as captives, and who will declare to the king the interpretation.”
26 Then answered the king, and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to show me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?”
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, can neither the wise, nor the astrologers, nor the enchanters, nor the soothsayers declare to the king.
28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and shows the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the things which you have seen in your head upon your bed, is this:
29 “O king, when you were in your bed, thoughts came into your mind, showing what should come to pass hereafter. And he who reveals secrets, tells you what shall come.
30 “As for me, this secret is not shown to me because I have more wisdom than any other living, but only to show the king the interpretation, that you might know the thoughts of your heart.
31 “O king, you saw, and behold, there was a great image. This great image, whose glory was so excellent, stood before you. And the form, therefore, was terrible.
32 “This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
33 “His legs of iron. And his feet were part iron and part clay.
34 “You beheld it till a stone was cut without hands, which struck the image upon his feet, made of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces.
35 “Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver and the gold broken all together. And they became like the chaff of the summer flowers. And the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
36 “This is the dream, and we will declare before the king the interpretation thereof.
37 “O king, you are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
38 “And in all places where the children of men dwell, he has given into your hand the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, and has made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold.
39 “And after you shall rise another kingdom, inferior to you, of silver. And another, third kingdom shall be of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
40 “And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron. For as iron breaks in pieces, and subdues all things, and as iron bruises all these things, so shall it break in pieces, and bruise all.
41 “Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay, and partly of iron: the kingdom shall be divided. But there shall be in it the strength of the iron, as you saw the iron mixed with the clay and earth.
42 “And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron, and partly of clay, so shall the kingdom be partly strong and partly broken.
43 “And just as you saw iron mixed with clay and earth, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men. But they shall not join one with another, as iron cannot be mixed with clay.
44 “And in the days of these kings, the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. And this kingdom shall not be given to another people. But it shall break and destroy all these kingdoms. And it shall stand forever.
45 “Just as you saw that the stone was cut from the mountain without hands. And that it broke in pieces the iron, and the brass, and the clay, and the silver, and the gold. So the great God has shown the king what shall come to pass hereafter. And the dream is true. And the interpretation thereof is sure.”
46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and bowed himself to Daniel, and commanded that they should offer meat offerings and sweet odors to him.
47 Also, the king answered Daniel, and said, “I know truly that your God is a God of gods; and the Lord of kings; and the revealer of secrets; because I see you can open this secret.”
48 So the king made Daniel a great man; and gave him many and great gifts. He made him governor over the whole province of Babel, and chief of the rulers; and above all the wise men of Babel.
49 Then Daniel made a request of the king, that he may set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in charge of the province of Babel, while Daniel remained in the gate of the king.
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was 60 cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babel.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to gather together the nobles, the princes and the dukes; the judges, the receivers, the counselors, the officers, and all the governors of the provinces, that they should come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3 So the nobles, princes, and dukes; the judges, the receivers, the counselors, the officers, and all the governors of the provinces were assembled for the dedicating of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. And they stood before the image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then a herald cried aloud, “Be it known to you, O people, nations, and languages,
5 That when you hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all instruments of music, you shall fall down, and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.
6 “And whoever does not fall down and worship, shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a hot fiery furnace!”
7 Therefore as soon as all the people heard the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all instruments of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down, and worshipped the golden image, that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 By reason whereof, at that same time came men of the Chaldeans, and grievously accused the Jews.
9 For they spoke and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever.
10 “You, O king, have made a decree that every man who shall hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all instruments of music, shall fall down, and worship the golden image.
11 “And whoever does not fall down, and worship, that he should be cast into the midst of a hot fiery furnace.
12 “There are certain Jews whom you have set over the charge of the province of Babel: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not regarded your commandment. Nor will they serve your gods, nor worship the golden image that you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his anger and wrath, commanded that they should bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king.
14 And Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said to them, “What is this? Will not you, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, serve my god, and worship the golden image that I have set up?
15 “Now, therefore, you should be ready when you hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all instruments of music, to fall down, and worship the image which I have made. “For if you do not worship it, you shall immediately be cast into the midst of a hot fiery furnace. For who is that God, that can deliver you out of my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not hesitant to answer you in this matter.
17 “Behold, our God whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the hot fiery furnace. And he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18 “But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of rage. And his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Therefore, he commanded that they should heat the furnace to seven times hotter than it was normally heated.
20 And he charged the most valiant men of war, who were in his army, to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the hot fiery furnace.
21 So these men were bound in their coats, their hats, and their cloaks, with their other garments, and cast into the midst of the hot fiery furnace.
22 Therefore, because the king’s commandment was urgent, that the furnace should be exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who brought forth Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the hot fiery furnace.
24 Then, Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished; and rose up quickly, and spoke; and said to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men, bound, into the midst of the fire?” Who answered, and said to him, “It is true, O king.”
25 And he answered, and said, “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt, and the appearance of the fourth is like the son of God.
26 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the hot fiery furnace, and spoke, and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the servants of the high God, come out and come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came forth from the midst of the fire.
27 Then the nobles, princes, and dukes, and the king’s counselors came together to see these men, because the fire had no power over their bodies. For not a hair of their head was burnt, nor their clothing, nor was any smell of fire upon them.
28 So, Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his Angel, and delivered his servants, who put their trust in him; and have changed the king’s commandment, and offered their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
29 “Therefore, I make a decree that every people, nation, and language, which speaks any blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be torn in pieces, and their houses shall be laid waste, because there is no god that can deliver like this.”
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babel.
31 Nebuchadnezzar, king to all people, nations and languages, who dwell in all the world, Peace be multiplied to you.
32 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders, that the high God has wrought toward me.
33 How great are his signs, and how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. And his dominion is from generation to generation.
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