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Religions > Bible |
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"World English Bible Editors" |
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06 Jan 2004 02:07:30 AM |
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Daniel 4, World English Bible |
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Daniel, starting at chapter 4
{4:1} Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and
languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
{4:2} It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the
Most High God has worked toward me. {4:3} 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. {4:4} I,
Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
{4:5} I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed
and the visions of my head troubled me. {4:6} Therefore made I 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. {4:7} Then
came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the
soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make
known to me its interpretation. {4:8} But at the last Daniel came in
before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my
god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream
before him, [saying], {4:9} Belteshazzar, master of the magicians,
because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no
secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen,
and its interpretation. {4:10} Thus were the visions of my head on my
bed: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and its
height was great. {4:11} The tree grew, and was strong, and its height
reached to the sky, and its sight to the end of all the earth. {4:12}
The leaves of it were beautiful, and its fruit much, and in it was
food for all: the animals of the field had shadow under it, and the
birds of the sky lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
{4:13} I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a
watcher and a holy one came down from the sky. {4:14} He cried aloud,
and said thus, Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off
its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the animals get away from under
it, and the fowls from its branches. {4:15} 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
the sky: and let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the
earth: {4:16} let his heart be changed from man's, and let an animal's
heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him. {4:17} The
sentence 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 rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will, and
sets up over it the lowest of men. {4:18} This dream I, king
Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, Belteshazzar, declare the
interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to
make known to me the interpretation; but you are able; for the spirit
of the holy gods is in you. {4:19} Then Daniel, whose name was
Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled
him. The king answered, Belteshazzar, don't let the dream, or the
interpretation, trouble you. Belteshazzar answered, My lord, the dream
be to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries.
{4:20} The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height
reached to the sky, and its sight to all the earth; {4:21} whose
leaves were beautiful, and its fruit much, and in it was food for all;
under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the
birds of the sky had their habitation: {4:22} it is you, O king, that
are grown and become strong; for your greatness is grown, and reaches
to the sky, and your dominion to the end of the earth. {4:23} Whereas
the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the sky, and
saying, Cut down the tree, and destroy it; 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
the sky: and let his portion be with the animals of the field, until
seven times pass over him; {4:24} this is the interpretation, O king,
and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come on my lord the
king: {4:25} that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling
shall be with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat
grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven
times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in
the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will. {4:26} Whereas
they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your
kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the
heavens do rule. {4:27} Therefore, O king, let my counsel be
acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your
iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening
of your tranquility. {4:28} All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar.
{4:29} At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace
of Babylon. {4:30} The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon,
which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my
power and for the glory of my majesty? {4:31} While the word was in
the king's mouth, there fell a voice from the sky, [saying], O king
Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from you:
{4:32} and you shall be driven from men; and they dwelling shall be
with the animals of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as oxen;
and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High
rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will. {4:33}
The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar: and he was
driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the
dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles' [feathers], and
his nails like birds' [claws]. {4:34} 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 who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom from generation to generation. {4:35} All the
inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according
to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the
earth; and none can stay his hand, or tell him, What do you? {4:36} At
the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my
kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me; and my counselors
and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and
excellent greatness was added to me. {4:37} Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are
truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to
abase.
{5:1} Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his
lords, and drank wine before the thousand. {5:2} Belshazzar, while he
tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels
which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was
in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his
concubines, might drink from them. {5:3} Then they brought the golden
vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which
was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his
concubines, drank from them. {5:4} They drank wine, and praised the
gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
{5:5} In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and
wrote over against the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the
king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. {5:6}
Then the king's face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled
him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck
one against another. {5:7} The king cried aloud to bring in the
enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and
said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever shall read this writing, and
show me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple, and have a
chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the
kingdom. {5:8} Then came in all the king's wise men; but they could
not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.
{5:9} Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his face was
changed in him, and his lords were perplexed. {5:10} [Now] the queen
by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet
house: the queen spoke and said, O king, live forever; don't let your
thoughts trouble
you, nor let your face be changed. {5:11} There is a
man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in
the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the
wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar
your father, the king, [I say], your father, made him master of the
magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; {5:12} because an
excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of
dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were
found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let
Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. {5:13} Then was
Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel,
Are you that Daniel, who are of the children of the captivity of
Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah? {5:14} I have
heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light
and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. {5:15} Now
the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that
they should read this writing, and make known to me its
interpretation; but they could not show the interpretation of the
thing. {5:16} But I have heard of you, that you can give
interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if you can read the writing,
and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with
purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the
third ruler in the kingdom. {5:17} Then Daniel answered before the
king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another;
nevertheless I will read the writing to the king, and make known to
him the interpretation. {5:18} You king, the Most High God gave
Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and
majesty: {5:19} and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the
peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom
he would he killed, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would
he raised up, and whom he would he put down. {5:20} But when his heart
was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly,
he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from
him: {5:21} and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was
made like the animals', and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he
was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the
sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men,
and that he sets up over it whoever he will. {5:22} You his son,
Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,
{5:23} but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and
they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and
your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them;
and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron,
wood, and stone, which don't see, nor hear, nor know; and the God in
whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have not
glorified. {5:24} Then was the part of the hand sent from before him,
and this writing was inscribed. {5:25} This is the writing that was
inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. {5:26} This is the
interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and
brought it to an end; {5:27} TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances,
and are found wanting. {5:28} PERES; your kingdom is divided, and
given to the Medes and Persians. {5:29} Then commanded Belshazzar, and
they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his
neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the
third ruler in the kingdom. {5:30} In that night Belshazzar the
Chaldean King was slain. {5:31} Darius the Mede received the kingdom,
being about sixty-two years old.
{6:1} It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty
satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; {6:2} and over
them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps
might give account to them, and that the king should have no damage.
{6:3} Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the
satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought
to set him over the whole realm. {6:4} Then the presidents and the
satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the
kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, because he was
faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. {6:5}
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this
Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
{6:6} Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the
king, and said thus to him, King Darius, live forever. {6:7} All the
presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the
counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a
royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whoever shall ask
a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of you, O king, he
shall be cast into the den of lions. {6:8} Now, O king, establish the
interdict, and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to
the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn't alter. {6:9}
Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict. {6:10}
When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house
(now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he
kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks
before his God, as he did before. {6:11} Then these men assembled
together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his
God. {6:12} Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning
the king's interdict: Haven't you signed an interdict, that every man
who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, save to
you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered,
The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians,
which doesn't alter. {6:13} Then answered they and said before the
king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah,
doesn't regard you, O king, nor the interdict that you have signed,
but makes his petition three times a day. {6:14} Then the king, when
he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel
to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to
rescue him. {6:15} Then these men assembled together to the king, and
said to the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and
Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establishes may
be changed. {6:16} Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel,
and cast him into the den of lions. [Now] the king spoke and said to
Daniel, Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.
{6:17} A stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the
king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords;
that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. {6:18} Then the king
went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were
instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.
{6:19} Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in
haste to the den of lions. {6:20} When he came near to the den to
Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spoke and said to
Daniel, Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve
continually, able to deliver you from the lions? {6:21} Then said
Daniel to the king, O king, live forever. {6:22} My God has sent his
angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me;
because as before him innocence was found in me; and also before you,
O king, have I done no hurt. {6:23} Then was the king exceeding glad,
and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So
Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found on
him, because he had trusted in his God. {6:24} The king commanded, and
they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into
the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions
had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces, before
they came to the bottom of the den. {6:25} Then king Darius wrote to
all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you. {6:26} I make a decree, that in all the
dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel;
for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, His kingdom that
which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even to the
end. {6:27} He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in
heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the
lions. {6:28} So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in
the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
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