Old/New Testament
Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Image
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an (A)image of gold, the height of which was [a]sixty cubits and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the (B)province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the (C)satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they were standing before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then the herald loudly called out: “To you it is said, (D)O peoples, nations, and men of every tongue, 5 that at the time you (E)hear the sound of the horn, flute, [b]lyre, [c]trigon, [d]psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall [e]immediately be (F)cast into the midst of a (G)furnace of blazing fire.” 7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, [f]lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and men of every tongue fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
We Will Not Serve Your Gods
8 For this reason at that time certain (H)Chaldeans came near and [g](I)brought charges against the Jews. 9 They answered and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “(J)O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have (K)made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, [h]lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, is to (L)fall down and worship the golden image. 11 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have (M)appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, do not pay attention to you; they do not serve your gods and do not worship the golden image which you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in (N)rage and wrath said to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you are not serving (O)my gods and do not worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready, (P)at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, [i]lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, then you shall fall down and worship the image that I have made. But if you do not worship, you will [j]immediately be (Q)cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and (R)what god is there who can save you out of my hands?”
16 (S)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to respond to you with an answer concerning this matter. 17 [k]If it be so, our (T)God whom we serve is able to save us from the furnace of blazing fire; [l]and (U)He will save us out of your hand, O king. 18 (V)But if not, (W)let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Daniel’s Friends Delivered
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with (X)wrath, and the image of his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He answered and said to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he said to certain mighty men of valor who were in his military [m]host to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 Then these men were tied up in their [n](Y)trousers, their [o]coats, their caps, and their other clothes and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 For this reason, because the king’s word was [p](Z)urgent and the furnace had been heated to an extraordinary degree, the flame of the fire killed those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, (AA)fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and hurriedly stood up; he answered and said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast tied up into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “Certainly, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “Look! I see four men loosed and (AB)walking about in the midst of the fire [q]without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the (AC)gods!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he answered and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the (AD)Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (AE)came out of the midst of the fire. 27 Then the (AF)satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the (AG)fire had no power over [r]the bodies of these men, nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their [s](AH)trousers [t]damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the (AI)God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has (AJ)sent His angel and saved His servants who put their (AK)trust in Him, [u]violating the king’s word, and gave up their bodies so as (AL)not to serve and not to worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I (AM)make a decree that any people, nation, or tongue that says anything offensive against the God of (AN)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their (AO)houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is (AP)no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” 30 Then the king (AQ)caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to succeed in the province of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar Declares the Most High God
4 [v]Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples, nations, and men of every tongue that inhabit all the earth: “May your [w](AR)peace abound! 2 It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the (AS)Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are His (AT)signs,
And how strong are His wonders!
His (AU)kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And His [x]dominion is from generation to generation.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Tree
4 “[y]I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and (AV)flourishing in my palace. 5 I saw a (AW)dream, and it made me fearful; and these fantasies as I lay on my bed and the (AX)visions in my head kept alarming me. 6 So I gave a decree to (AY)bring into my presence all the wise men of Babylon, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the [z](AZ)magicians, the conjurers, the [aa]Chaldeans, and the diviners came in, and I said the dream [ab]to them, but they could not make its (BA)interpretation known to me. 8 But at last Daniel came in before me, whose name is (BB)Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and in whom is [ac](BC)a spirit of the holy gods; and I said the dream [ad]to him: 9 ‘O Belteshazzar, (BD)chief of the magicians, since I know that (BE)a spirit of the holy gods is in you, and (BF)no mystery is difficult for you, (BG)say to me the visions of my dream which I have seen, along with its interpretation.
10 ‘Now these were the (BH)visions in my head as I lay on my bed: I was looking, and behold, there was a (BI)tree in the midst of the [ae]earth, and its height was great.
11 The tree grew large and became strong,
And its height (BJ)reached to the sky,
And it was visible to the end of the whole earth.
12 Its foliage was (BK)beautiful and its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
The (BL)beasts of the field found (BM)shade under it,
And the (BN)birds of the sky inhabited its branches,
And all flesh fed itself from it.
13 ‘I was looking in the (BO)visions in my head as I lay on my bed, and behold, (BP)a [af]watcher, a (BQ)holy one, descended from heaven.
14 He called out loudly and said thus:
“(BR)Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit;
Let the (BS)beasts flee from under it
And the birds from its branches.
15 Yet (BT)leave the stump [ag]with its roots in the earth,
But with a band of iron and bronze around it
In the new grass of the field;
And let him be drenched with the dew of heaven,
And let [ah]him share with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
And let the heart of a beast be given to him,
And let (BU)seven [ai]periods of time pass over him.
17 This edict is by the resolution of the watchers,
And the decision is a command of the holy ones,
In order that the living may (BV)know
That the Most High is the powerful ruler over the kingdom of mankind
And (BW)gives it to whom He wishes
And sets up over it the (BX)lowliest of men.”
18 This is the dream which I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, say to me its interpretation, inasmuch as none of the (BY)wise men of my kingdom is able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for a (BZ)spirit of the holy gods is in you.’
Daniel Interprets the Dream
19 “Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while as his (CA)thoughts were alarming him. The king answered and said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not (CB)let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.’ Belteshazzar answered and said, ‘(CC)My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to (CD)your adversaries! 20 The (CE)tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth, 21 and whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field inhabited, and in whose branches the birds of the sky dwelt— 22 it is (CF)you, O king; for you have become great and grown strong, and your greatness has become even greater and reached to the sky and your [aj](CG)dominion to the end of the earth. 23 But in that the king saw a watcher, a holy one, descending from heaven and saying, “(CH)Chop down the tree and destroy it; yet leave the stump [ak]with its roots in the earth, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field, and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let [al]him share with the beasts of the field until (CI)seven [am]periods of time pass over him,” 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the resolution of the Most High, which has (CJ)reached my lord the king: 25 that you be (CK)driven away from mankind and your place of habitation be with the beasts of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven [an]periods of time will pass over you, until you know that the (CL)Most High is the powerful ruler over the kingdom of mankind and (CM)gives it to whomever He wishes. 26 And in that they said to (CN)leave the stump [ao]with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will endure for you after you know that it is (CO)Heaven that rules with power. 27 Therefore, O king, may my (CP)advice seem good to you: [ap](CQ)break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by (CR)showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a (CS)prolonging of your prosperity.’
The Dream Is Accomplished
28 “All this (CT)reached Nebuchadnezzar the king. 29 (CU)At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king answered and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the (CV)great, which I myself have built as a royal house by the strength of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ 31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice [aq]came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is said: the kingdom has been removed from you, 32 and (CW)you will be driven away from mankind, and your place of habitation will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and (CX)seven [ar]periods of time will pass over you until you know that the (CY)Most High is the powerful ruler over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whomever He wishes.’ 33 Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was accomplished; and he was (CZ)driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
34 “But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes toward heaven, and my knowledge returned to me, and I blessed the (DA)Most High and praised and honored (DB)Him who lives forever;
For His [as]dominion is an (DC)everlasting [at]dominion,
And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 (DD)And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
But (DE)He does according to His will in the host of heaven
And among the inhabitants of earth;
And (DF)no one can strike against His hand
Or say to Him, ‘(DG)What have You done?’
36 At that time my (DH)knowledge returned to me. And my majesty and (DI)splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my high officials and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my kingdom, and extraordinary (DJ)greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of (DK)heaven, for (DL)all His works are [au]true and His ways [av]just, and He is able to humble those who (DM)walk in pride.”
Overcoming the World
5 (A)Everyone who believes that Jesus is the [a]Christ has been [b](B)born of God, and everyone who loves the [c]One who gives new birth (C)loves also the one who has been [d]born of Him. 2 (D)By this we know that (E)we love the children of God, when we love God and do His commandments. 3 For (F)this is the love of God, that we (G)keep His commandments; and (H)His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everything that has been [e](I)born of God (J)overcomes the world; and this is the overcoming that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who (K)believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the One who came (L)by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not [f]with the water only, but [g]with the water and [h]with the blood. It is (M)the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are (N)three that bear witness: 8 [i]the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are [j]in agreement. 9 (O)If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for the witness of God is this, that (P)He has borne witness about His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God (Q)has this witness in himself. The one who does not believe God has (R)made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness which God has borne witness about His Son. 11 And the witness is this, that God gave us (S)eternal life, and (T)this life is in His Son. 12 (U)He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have that life.
That You May Know
13 (V)These things I have written to you who (W)believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have (X)eternal life. 14 And this is (Y)the confidence which we have [k]before Him, that, (Z)if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, (AA)we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
16 If anyone sees his brother [l]committing a sin not leading to death, (AB)he shall ask and [m]God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. (AC)There is a sin leading to death; (AD)I do not say that he should make request for this. 17 (AE)All unrighteousness is sin, and (AF)there is a sin not leading to death.
18 (AG)We know that (AH)no one who has been [n]born of God sins; but He who was [o]begotten of God (AI)keeps him, and (AJ)the evil one does not (AK)touch him. 19 (AL)We know that (AM)we are of God, and that (AN)the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And (AO)we know that (AP)the Son of God has come, and has (AQ)given us understanding so that we may know (AR)Him who is true; and we (AS)are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. (AT)This is the true God and (AU)eternal life.
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