¶ DANIEL. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's food, and of 6 Heb. of 2 the wine which he drank: so nourish- pulse." ing them three years, that at the end of them they might stand before the king. 7 Heb. that &c. 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse: 10 eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenances of the children that eat of the portion of the king's provision: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children who ate the portion of the king's provision. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their food, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse. 17¶ As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and s Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king communed 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 inquired of 6 Now among these were of the chil- we may eat, them, he found them ten times superior dren of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 7 To whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego. 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's food, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your provision and your drink: for why should he see your faces a more meager than the children who are of your 4 sort? then will ye make me endanger my head to the king. Daniel un8 or, he made derstand. Heb. wisdom of understanding. b c. 6. 38. & lived to see that glori- to all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. first year of king Cyrus. 21 And Daniel continued even to the CHAP. II. AND in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, with which his from him. spirit was troubled, and his sleep broke the return of his people from the Babylonian cap. though he 2 Then the king commanded to call tivity, died not the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to show then. So the king his dream. So they came and till is used, stood before the king. Ps. 110.1. & 112.8. 11 Then said Daniel to 5 Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over a c. 3. 9. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 3 And the king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. 4 Then the Chaldean's spoke to the king in Syriac, O king, live for ever: Before tell thy servants the dream, and we will CHRIST, show the interpretation. 603. b c. 3. 29. up kings; he giveth wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the dark 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known to me the dream, with the interpretation of it, ye 1 Chal. made ness, and the light dwelleth with him. shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. pieces. or, fees. c. 5. 17. 6 But if ye shall show the dream, and 2 the interpretation of it, ye shall receive of me gifts and 2 rewards and great honor therefore show me the dream, and 3 Chal. buy. the interpretation of it. turned. 7 They answered again and said, Let 4 Chal. rethe king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it. 8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would 3 gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. 5 or, chief marshal. Chal. chief of the executioners, or, slaugh termen. before God. 7 Chal. from 9 But if ye will not make known to me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation of it. 10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, there is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that hath asked such things of & 115. 18. any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is no other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. 12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 8 or, that they should not destroy Daniel, &c. © Ps. 113. 2. I have found. 9 Chal. that 10 Chal. chil dren of the captivity of Judah. mude 14 T Then Daniel 4 answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the 56 cap-11 Chal. hath tain of the king's guard, who had gone known. forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: 12 Chal. 15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made came up. the thing known to Daniel. 16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, 13 Chal. wast and that he would show the king the in- seeing. terpretation. 17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18 That they would desire mercies 70f the God of heaven concerning this se 23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known to me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known to us the king's matter. 24¶ Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus to him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation. 25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus to him, 9 I have found a man of the 10 captives of Judah, that will make known to the king the interpretation. 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation of it? 27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, cannot show to the king; 28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and 11 maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; 29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts 12 came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. 30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mayest know the thoughts of thy heart. 31 ¶ Thou, Ŏ king, 13 sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and its form was terrible. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his 14 thighs of brass, 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till a stone was cut out 15 without hands, which smote the image cret; 8 that Daniel and his companions 14 or, sides. upon his feet that were of iron and clay, should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. C 15 or, which and broke them to pieces. 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the 20 Daniel answered and said, Bless- was not in wind carried them away, that no place ed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his : 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth hands: as in ver. 45. was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 36 This is the dream; and we will 38 And wherever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into 17 Chal. this thy hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. 39 And after thee shall arise another with this. of the furnace. 26 Nebuchadnezzar seeing the miracle, blesseth God. NEBU [EBUCHADNEZZAR the king made an image of gold, whose hight was sixty cubits, and the breadth of it six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to convene the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasur kingdom inferior to thee, and another 18 Chal. their ers, the counselors, the sherifs, and all third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter's clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with the miry clay. days. d c. 4. 3. 34. & 6. 26. & Luke 1. 33. 19 Chal kingdom 42 And as the toes of the feet were 20 or, which part of iron, and part of clay, so the king-was not in dom shall be partly strong, and partly hand. 16 broken. 43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle 21 Chal.after themselves with the seed of men: but this. they shall not cleave 17 one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. d 44 And in 18 the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the 19 kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. e c. 4. 9. 1 Chal. with 2 Chal. they 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain, 20 with- command. out hands, and that it broke in pieces the íron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass 21 hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation of it sure. 46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors to him. 47 The king answered to Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldst reveal this secret. 48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts,15 and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. CHAP. III. 1 Nebuchadnezzar dedicateth a golden image 3 or, sing. 4 Chal. sym Chal. have the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sherifs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were assembled to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Thema herald cried 1 aloud, To you 2 it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, 34 dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up. 6 And whoever shall not fall down and worship shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image: 11 And whoever shall not fall down and worship, that he shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, 5 have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said to them, Is it 6 true, O Shadrach, Meshach, 6 or, of pur-and Abed-nego, do ye not serve my gods, pose, as Ex. nor worship the golden image which Í have set up? in Dura. 8 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed. 21. 14. have no Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 29 Therefore 17 I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak 18 any thing amiss against 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, OsChald. fill the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Nebuchadnezzar, we are not 7 careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it is so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. ed. 9 Chald. 10 or, man tles. 18 But if not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor 11 or, turworship the golden image which thou hast set up. bans. word. Abed-nego, shall be a 19 cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other god that can deliver after this sort. 30 Then the king 20 promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon. CHAP. IV. 1 Nebuchadnezzar confesseth God's kingdom, 4 maketh relation of his dream, which the magicians could not interpret. 8 Daniel heareth the dream: 19 He interpreteth it: 28 The story of the event. 13 or, spark. NEBUCHADNEZZAR 19 ¶ Then was Nebuchadnezzar 8 full 12 Chald. of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their 10 coats, their hose, and their 11 hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery fur nace. 22 Therefore because the king's 12 commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the 13 flame of the fire killed those men that 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. 14 or, gover. nors. 15 Chald. there is no them. 16 Chald. door. 17 Chald. a me. 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and 18 Chald. erspoke, and said to his 14 counselors, Did ror. we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and 15 they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the son of God. 26 ¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the 16 mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spoke, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth from the midst of the fire. the king, to all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied to you. 2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought towards me. 3 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. 4¶ I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace: 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the sooth-sayers: and I told the dream.before them; but they did not make known to me the interpretation of it. 8¶ But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation of it. 10 Thus were the visions of my head in my bed; 2 I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and its hight was great. 11 The tree grew, and was⚫ strong, and its hight reached to heaven, and the sight of it to the end of all the earth: " 12 Its leaves were fair, and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shade under it, and the fowls of heaven dwelt among its was seeing boughs, and all flesh was fed from it. 2 Chald. I 13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher and a hoПly one came down from heaven; 14 He cried 3 aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit let the beasts escape from under it, and the fowls from its branches. 15 Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him. 17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. 18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation of it, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee. 19 T Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation of it, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered, and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation of it to thy enemies. 20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose hight reached to the heaven, and the sight of it to all the earth; 21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit of it abundant, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of heaven had their habitation: 3 Chald. with might. c. 5. 21, &c. 4 or, an healing thy error. 22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is 5 or, upon. grown, and reacheth to heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. 23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times shall pass over him; 24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: dc. 7. 14. Micah 4. 7. Luke 1. 33. 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou shalt know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to Job 9. 12. whomsoever he will. Isa. 45. 9. 26 And whereas they commanded to kingdom shall be sure to thee, after that leave the stump of the tree roots; thy thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thy iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may 4 be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. 28 ¶ All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he. walked 5 in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30 The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? 31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom hath departed from thee. 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou shalt know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is dan everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say to him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and brightness returned to me; and my counselors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. |