In the third year
of the reign
of Jehoiakim king
of Judah
came Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon
unto Jerusalem,
and besieged it.
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 the treasure house
of his god.
And the king
spake unto Ashpenaz
the master
of his eunuchs,
that he
should bring certain
of the children
of Israel,
and
of the king's seed,
and
of the princes;
Children in whom was
no blemish,
but well favoured,
and skilful
in all wisdom,
and cunning
in knowledge,
and understanding science,
and such as had ability
in them
to stand
in the king's palace,
and
whom
they might teach
the learning
and the tongue
of the Chaldeans.
And the king
appointed them
a daily provision
of the king's meat,
and of the wine
which he drank:
so nourishing them three years,
that at the end
thereof
they might stand
before the king.
Now among these
were of the children
of Judah, Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael,
and Azariah:
Unto whom
the prince
of the eunuchs
gave names:
for he
gave unto Daniel
the name
of Belteshazzar;
and to Hananiah,
of Shadrach;
and to Mishael,
of Meshach;
and to Azariah,
of Abednego.
But Daniel
purposed
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
requested
of the prince
of the eunuchs
that
he might not defile himself.
Now God
had brought Daniel
into favour
and tender
love
with the prince
of the eunuchs.
And
the prince
of the eunuchs
said unto Daniel,
I fear
my lord the king,
who hath appointed
your meat
and your drink:
for why
should
he see
your faces worse liking
than the children which
are of your sort?
then shall
ye make me
endanger my head
to the king.
Then said Daniel
to Melzar,
whom the prince
of the eunuchs
had set
over Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael,
and Azariah,
Prove thy servants,
I beseech thee,
ten days;
and let them
give us
pulse to eat,
and water
to drink.
Then let
our countenances
be looked upon
before thee,
and the countenance
of the children
that eat
of the portion
of the king's meat:
and as thou seest,
deal with thy servants.
So he
consented
to them
in this matter,
and proved them
ten days.
And
at the end
of ten days
their countenances
appeared
fairer
and fatter
in flesh
than all
the children
which did eat
the portion
of the king's meat.
Thus Melzar
took away
the portion
of their meat,
and the wine that
they should drink;
and gave them pulse.
As for these four children,
God gave them knowledge
and skill
in all learning
and wisdom:
and Daniel
had
understanding in all visions
and dreams.
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.
And the king
communed with them;
and among them all was found
none like Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael,
and Azariah:
therefore stood
they
before the king.
And
in all matters
of wisdom
and understanding,
that the king
enquired of them,
he found them
ten times
better
than all
the magicians
and astrologers
that
were in all
his realm.
And Daniel
continued even
unto the first year
of king Cyrus.
And
in the second year
of the reign
of Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams,
wherewith
his spirit
was troubled,
and his sleep brake
from him.
Then the king
commanded
to call the magicians,
and the astrologers,
and the sorcerers,
and the Chaldeans,
for to shew the king
his dreams.
So they
came and
stood
before the king.
And the king
said unto them,
I have dreamed
a dream,
and my spirit
was troubled
to know
the dream.
Then spake
the Chaldeans
to the king
in Syriack,
O king,
live for ever:
tell thy servants
the dream,
and
we will shew
the interpretation.
The king
answered
and said
to the Chaldeans,
The thing
is gone from me:
if ye
will not make
known unto me the dream,
with the interpretation
thereof,
ye shall be cut
in pieces,
and your houses
shall be made
a dunghill.
But
if ye
shew the dream,
and the interpretation
thereof,
ye shall receive
of me gifts
and rewards
and great honour:
therefore shew me
the dream,
and the interpretation
thereof.
They answered again
and said,
Let the king
tell
his servants the dream,
and we
will shew
the interpretation of it.
The king
answered
and said,
I know
of certainty
that ye
would gain
the time,
because
ye
see the thing
is gone from me.
But
if ye
will not make
known unto 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 shew me
the interpretation
thereof.
The Chaldeans
answered
before the king,
and said,
There
is not
a man
upon the earth
that can shew
the king's matter:
therefore there is
no king,
lord,
nor ruler,
that asked such things
at any magician,
or astrologer,
or Chaldean.
And it
is a rare thing
that the king
requireth,
and there is
none other
that can shew it
before the king,
except the gods,
whose dwelling
is not
with flesh.
For this cause
the king
was angry
and very furious,
and commanded
to destroy all
the wise men
of Babylon.
And the decree
went forth that
the wise men
should be slain;
and
they sought Daniel
and his fellows
to be slain.
Then Daniel
answered
with counsel
and wisdom
to Arioch
the captain
of the king's guard,
which was gone forth
to slay
the wise men
of Babylon:
He answered
and said
to Arioch
the king's captain,
Why is the decree so hasty
from the king?
Then Arioch
made the thing
known
to Daniel.
Then Daniel went in,
and desired
of the king
that
he would give him time,
and that
he would shew
the king
the interpretation.
Then Daniel
went to his house,
and made
the thing
known
to Hananiah, Mishael,
and Azariah,
his companions:
That they
would desire
mercies
of the God
of heaven
concerning
this secret;
that Daniel
and his fellows
should not perish
with the rest
of the wise men
of Babylon.
Then was
the secret
revealed
unto Daniel
in a night vision.
Then Daniel
blessed
the God
of heaven.
Daniel
answered
and said,
Blessed
be
the name
of God
for ever
and ever:
for wisdom
and might
are his:
And he
changeth
the times
and the seasons:
he removeth kings,
and setteth up kings:
he giveth wisdom
unto the wise,
and knowledge
to them
that know
understanding:
He revealeth
the deep
and secret things:
he knoweth what
is in the darkness,
and the light
dwelleth with him.
I thank thee,
and praise thee,
O thou God
of my fathers,
who hast given me wisdom
and might,
and hast made
known unto me now
what we
desired
of thee:
for thou
hast now made
known unto us the king's matter.
Therefore Daniel
went in
unto Arioch,
whom the king
had ordained
to destroy
the wise men
of Babylon:
he went
and said thus
unto him;
Destroy
not the wise men
of Babylon:
bring me in
before the king,
and
I will shew
unto the king
the interpretation.
Then Arioch
brought in Daniel
before the king
in haste,
and said thus
unto him,
I have found a man
of the captives
of Judah,
that will make
known
unto the king
the interpretation.
The king
answered
and said
to Daniel,
whose name
was Belteshazzar,
Art
thou able
to make known
unto me the dream
which I
have seen,
and the interpretation
thereof?
Daniel
answered
in the presence
of the king,
and said,
The secret
which the king
hath demanded
cannot the wise men,
the astrologers,
the magicians,
the soothsayers,
shew
unto the king;
But there is
a God in heaven
that revealeth secrets,
and 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;
As for thee,
O king,
thy thoughts
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.
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
mightest know
the thoughts
of thy heart.
Thou,
O king,
sawest,
and behold
a great image.
This great image,
whose brightness
was excellent,
stood before thee;
and the form
thereof was terrible.
This image's head
was of fine gold,
his breast
and his arms
of silver,
his belly
and his thighs
of brass,
His legs of iron,
his feet
part of iron
and part
of clay.
Thou sawest
till that
a stone
was cut out
without hands,
which smote
the image
upon his feet
that were of iron
and clay,
and brake them
to pieces.
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 threshingfloors;
and the wind
carried them away,
that no place
was found for them:
and the stone
that
smote
the image
became
a great mountain,
and filled
the whole earth.
This is the dream;
and we
will tell
the interpretation
thereof before the king.
Thou,
O king,
art a king
of kings:
for the God
of heaven
hath given thee
a kingdom,
power,
and strength,
and glory.
And wheresoever
the children
of men dwell,
the beasts
of the field and
the fowls
of the heaven
hath
he given
into thine hand,
and hath made thee ruler
over them all.
Thou art this head
of gold.
And after thee
shall arise
another kingdom inferior
to thee,
and
another third kingdom
of brass,
which shall bear
rule
over all the earth.
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.
And whereas
thou sawest
the feet
and toes,
part
of potters' 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 miry clay.
And
as the toes
of the feet
were part
of iron,
and part of clay,
so the kingdom
shall be partly strong,
and partly broken.
And whereas
thou sawest
iron
mixed
with miry clay,
they shall mingle themselves
with the seed
of men:
but
they shall not cleave one
to another,
even as
iron
is not mixed
with clay.
And in the days
of these kings
shall
the God
of heaven
set up
a kingdom,
which shall never be destroyed:
and the 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.
Forasmuch as thou
sawest
that the stone
was cut
out of the mountain
without hands,
and
that it brake
in pieces the iron,
the brass,
the clay,
the silver,
and the gold;
the great God
hath made
known
to the king what
shall come
to pass hereafter:
and the dream
is certain,
and the interpretation thereof sure.
Then the king Nebuchadnezzar
fell
upon his face,
and worshipped
Daniel,
and commanded that
they should offer
an oblation
and sweet odours
unto him.
The king
answered
unto 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 couldest reveal
this secret.
Then the king
made Daniel
a great man,
and gave him
many great gifts,
and made him ruler
over the whole province
of Babylon,
and chief
of the governors
over all
the wise men
of Babylon.
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.
Nebuchadnezzar the king
made
an image
of gold,
whose height
was threescore cubits,
and the breadth thereof six cubits:
he set it up
in the plain
of Dura,
in the province
of Babylon.
Then Nebuchadnezzar
the king
sent
to gather
together the princes,
the governors,
and the captains,
the judges,
the treasurers,
the counsellors,
the sheriffs,
and all
the rulers
of the provinces,
to come
to the dedication
of the image
which Nebuchadnezzar the king
had set up.
Then the princes,
the governors,
and captains,
the judges,
the treasurers,
the counsellors,
the sheriffs,
and all
the rulers
of the provinces,
were gathered together
unto the dedication
of the image
that Nebuchadnezzar the king
had set up;
and they
stood
before the image
that Nebuchadnezzar
had set up.
Then an herald
cried aloud,
To you
it is commanded,
O people,
nations,
and languages,
That at what
time
ye hear
the sound
of the cornet,
flute,
harp,
sackbut,
psaltery,
dulcimer,
and all kinds
of musick,
ye fall down
and worship the golden
image
that Nebuchadnezzar the king
hath set up:
And
whoso
falleth not
down and worshippeth
shall
the same hour
be cast
into the midst
of a burning fiery furnace.
Therefore at that time,
when all
the people heard
the sound
of the cornet,
flute,
harp,
sackbut,
psaltery,
and all kinds
of musick,
all the people,
the nations,
and the languages,
fell down
and worshipped
the golden
image that Nebuchadnezzar
the king
had set up.
Wherefore at that time
certain Chaldeans
came near,
and accused
the Jews.
They spake
and said
to the king Nebuchadnezzar,
O king,
live for ever.
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 musick,
shall fall down
and worship
the golden image:
And
whoso
falleth not
down and worshippeth,
that he
should be cast into the midst
of a burning fiery furnace.
There are certain Jews whom
thou hast set over the affairs
of the province
of Babylon, Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego;
these men,
O king,
have not regarded thee:
they serve not
thy gods,
nor worship
the golden image which
thou hast set up.
Then Nebuchadnezzar
in his rage
and fury commanded
to bring
Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego.
Then they
brought
these men
before the king.
Nebuchadnezzar
spake
and
said unto them,
Is it true,
O Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego,
do not
ye serve my gods,
nor worship
the golden image
which I
have set up?
Now
if ye
be ready
that at what
time
ye hear
the sound
of the cornet,
flute,
harp,
sackbut,
psaltery,
and dulcimer,
and all kinds
of musick,
ye fall down
and worship
the image
which I
have made;
well:
but
if ye
worship not,
ye shall be cast
the same hour
into the midst
of a burning fiery furnace;
and
who is that God
that shall deliver you
out of my hands?
Shadrach,
Meshach,
and Abednego,
answered
and said
to the king,
O Nebuchadnezzar,
we are not careful
to answer thee
in this matter.
If it
be so,
our God whom
we serve
is able
to deliver us
from the burning fiery furnace,
and
he will deliver us
out of thine hand,
O king.
But if not,
be it
known unto thee,
O king,
that we
will not serve
thy gods,
nor worship
the golden image which
thou hast set up.
Then was Nebuchadnezzar
full of fury,
and
the form
of his visage
was changed
against Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego:
therefore he spake,
and commanded that
they should heat
the furnace one seven
times more than
it was wont
to be heated.
And
he commanded
the most mighty men
that were in his army
to bind
Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego,
and to cast them
into the burning fiery furnace.
Then these men
were bound
in their coats,
their hosen,
and their hats,
and their other garments,
and were cast
into the midst
of the burning fiery furnace.
Therefore because
the king's commandment
was urgent,
and the furnace
exceeding hot,
the flames
of the fire
slew those men that
took up
Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego.
And these three men,
Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego,
fell down
bound into the midst
of the burning fiery furnace.
Then Nebuchadnezzar
the king
was astonied,
and rose up
in haste,
and spake,
and said
unto his counsellors,
Did not
we cast
three men
bound
into the midst
of the fire?
They answered
and said
unto the king,
True,
O king.
He answered
and said,
Lo,
I see four men loose,
walking
in the midst
of the fire,
and they
have
no hurt;
and
the form
of the fourth
is like
the Son
of God.
Then Nebuchadnezzar
came near
to the mouth
of the burning fiery furnace,
and spake,
and said,
Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego,
ye servants
of the most high God,
come forth,
and come hither.
Then Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego,
came forth
of the midst
of the fire.
And the princes,
governors,
and captains,
and the king's counsellors,
being gathered together,
saw these men,
upon whose bodies
the fire
had no power,
nor was an hair
of their head singed,
neither were
their coats changed,
nor the smell
of fire
had passed on them.
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake,
and said,
Blessed
be the God
of Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego,
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.
Therefore I
make
a decree,
That every people,
nation,
and language,
which speak
any thing amiss
against the God
of Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego,
shall be cut
in pieces,
and their houses
shall be made
a dunghill:
because
there is
no other God
that can deliver
after this sort.
Then the king
promoted Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego,
in the province
of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar the king,
unto all people,
nations,
and languages,
that dwell
in all the earth;
Peace be multiplied
unto you.
I thought it good
to shew the signs
and wonders
that the high God
hath wrought toward me.
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.
I Nebuchadnezzar
was at rest
in mine house,
and flourishing
in my palace:
I saw
a dream which
made me afraid,
and the thoughts
upon my bed
and the visions
of my head
troubled me.
Therefore made
I a decree
to bring in all
the wise men
of Babylon
before me,
that they
might make
known
unto me the interpretation
of the dream.
Then came
in the magicians,
the astrologers,
the Chaldeans,
and the soothsayers:
and I
told
the dream
before them;
but
they did not make
known
unto me the interpretation
thereof.
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
before him
I told the dream,
saying,
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
thereof.
Thus
were
the visions
of mine
head in my bed;
I saw,
and behold
a tree
in the midst
of the earth,
and the height
thereof was great.
The tree grew,
and was strong,
and the height
thereof reached
unto heaven,
and the sight
thereof to the end
of all the earth:
The leaves
thereof were fair,
and the fruit thereof much,
and in it
was meat for all:
the beasts
of the field
had shadow
under it,
and the fowls
of the heaven
dwelt
in the boughs
thereof,
and all flesh
was fed of it.
I saw in the visions
of my head
upon my bed,
and,
behold,
a watcher
and an holy one
came down
from heaven;
He cried aloud,
and said thus,
Hew
down the tree,
and cut off
his branches,
shake
off his leaves,
and scatter
his fruit:
let the beasts
get away from
under it,
and the fowls
from his branches:
Nevertheless
leave the stump
of his 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
his portion
be with the beasts
in the grass
of the earth:
Let his heart
be changed
from man's,
and let
a beast's heart
be given unto him;
and let
seven times
pass over him.
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.
This dream
I king Nebuchadnezzar
have seen.
Now thou,
O Belteshazzar,
declare
the interpretation
thereof,
forasmuch
as all the wise men
of my kingdom
are not able
to make
known unto me the interpretation:
but
thou art able;
for the spirit
of the holy gods
is in thee.
Then Daniel,
whose name
was Belteshazzar,
was astonied
for one hour,
and his thoughts
troubled him.
The king spake,
and said,
Belteshazzar,
let not the dream,
or the interpretation
thereof,
trouble thee.
Belteshazzar
answered
and said,
My lord,
the dream
be to them
that hate thee,
and the interpretation
thereof to thine enemies.
The tree
that thou sawest,
which grew,
and was strong,
whose height
reached
unto the heaven,
and the sight
thereof to all the earth;
Whose leaves
were fair,
and the fruit thereof much,
and in it
was meat for all;
under which the beasts
of the field dwelt,
and upon whose branches
the fowls
of the heaven
had their habitation:
It is thou,
O king,
that art
grown
and become strong:
for thy greatness
is grown,
and reacheth unto heaven,
and thy dominion
to the end
of the earth.
And whereas
the king
saw a watcher
and an holy one
coming down
from heaven,
and saying,
Hew the tree down,
and destroy it;
yet leave
the stump
of the roots
thereof 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
his portion
be with the beasts
of the field,
till seven times
pass over him;
This is the interpretation,
O king,
and this
is the decree
of the most High,
which is come upon
my lord the king:
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
know
that the most High
ruleth in the kingdom
of men,
and giveth
it to whomsoever
he will.
And whereas
they commanded
to leave
the stump
of the tree roots;
thy kingdom
shall be sure
unto thee,
after that thou
shalt have known
that the heavens
do rule.
Wherefore,
O king,
let my counsel
be acceptable
unto thee,
and break off thy
sins
by righteousness,
and thine iniquities
by shewing mercy
to the poor;
if it
may be
a lengthening
of thy tranquillity.
All this
came upon
the king Nebuchadnezzar.
At the end
of twelve months
he walked
in the palace
of the kingdom
of Babylon.
The king spake,
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 honour
of my majesty?
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
is departed
from thee.
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
know
that the most High
ruleth in the kingdom
of men,
and giveth
it to whomsoever
he will.
The same hour
was
the thing
fulfilled
upon Nebuchadnezzar:
and
he was driven
from men,
and did eat 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.
And
at the end
of the days I Nebuchadnezzar
lifted
up mine
eyes unto heaven,
and mine
understanding returned unto me,
and
I blessed
the most High,
and
I praised
and honoured him
that
liveth for ever,
whose dominion
is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom
is from generation to generation:
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 unto him,
What doest thou?
At the same time
my reason returned
unto me;
and for the glory
of my kingdom,
mine
honour
and brightness
returned unto me;
and my counsellors
and my lords
sought unto me;
and
I was established
in my kingdom,
and excellent majesty
was added unto me.
Now I Nebuchadnezzar
praise
and extol
and honour
the King
of heaven,
all whose works
are truth,
and his ways judgment:
and
those that walk
in pride
he is able
to abase.
Belshazzar the king
made
a great feast
to a thousand
of his lords,
and drank wine
before the thousand.
Belshazzar,
whiles
he tasted
the wine,
commanded
to bring
the golden
and silver vessels
which his father
Nebuchadnezzar
had taken
out of the temple
which was in Jerusalem;
that the king,
and his princes,
his wives,
and his concubines,
might drink
therein.
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 princes,
his wives,
and his concubines,
drank in them.
They drank wine,
and praised
the gods of gold,
and of silver,
of brass,
of iron,
of wood,
and of stone.
In the same hour
came
forth fingers
of a man's hand,
and wrote over
against the candlestick
upon the plaister
of the wall
of the king's palace:
and the king
saw the part
of the hand that wrote.
Then the king's countenance
was changed,
and his thoughts
troubled him,
so that the joints
of his loins
were loosed,
and his knees
smote one
against another.
The king
cried aloud
to bring in the astrologers,
the Chaldeans,
and the soothsayers.
And the king spake,
and said
to the wise men
of Babylon,
Whosoever
shall read
this writing,
and
shew me
the interpretation
thereof,
shall be clothed
with scarlet,
and have
a chain
of gold
about his neck,
and shall be
the third ruler
in the kingdom.
Then came
in all the king's wise men:
but
they could not read
the writing,
nor make
known
to the king
the interpretation
thereof.
Then was
king Belshazzar
greatly troubled,
and his countenance
was changed in him,
and his lords
were astonied.
Now the queen
by reason
of the words
of the king
and his lords
came
into the banquet house:
and the queen
spake
and said,
O king,
live for ever:
let not
thy thoughts
trouble thee,
nor let
thy countenance
be changed:
There is a man
in thy kingdom,
in whom is
the spirit
of the holy gods;
and in the days of thy
father
light
and understanding
and wisdom,
like the wisdom
of the gods,
was found in him;
whom
the king Nebuchadnezzar
thy father,
the king,
I say,
thy father,
made master
of the magicians,
astrologers,
Chaldeans,
and soothsayers;
Forasmuch
as an excellent spirit,
and knowledge,
and understanding,
interpreting
of dreams,
and shewing
of hard sentences,
and dissolving
of doubts,
were found
in the same Daniel,
whom the king
named Belteshazzar:
now let Daniel
be called,
and
he will shew
the interpretation.
Then was
Daniel
brought in
before the king.
And the king
spake
and said
unto Daniel,
Art
thou that Daniel,
which art
of the children
of the captivity
of Judah,
whom
the king my father
brought out of Jewry?
I have even heard
of thee,
that the spirit
of the gods
is in thee,
and that light
and understanding
and excellent wisdom
is found
in thee.
And
now the wise men,
the astrologers,
have been brought in
before me,
that they
should read
this writing,
and make
known
unto me the interpretation
thereof:
but
they could not shew
the interpretation
of the thing:
And
I have heard
of thee,
that thou canst
make interpretations,
and dissolve doubts:
now
if thou canst read
the writing,
and make
known
to me the interpretation
thereof,
thou shalt be clothed
with scarlet,
and have
a chain
of gold
about thy neck,
and shalt be
the third ruler
in the kingdom.
Then Daniel
answered
and said
before the king,
Let thy gifts
be to thyself,
and give
thy rewards
to another;
yet I
will read
the writing
unto the king,
and make
known
to him the interpretation.
O thou king,
the most high God
gave Nebuchadnezzar thy
father a kingdom,
and majesty,
and glory,
and honour:
And
for the majesty
that
he gave him,
all people,
nations,
and languages,
trembled
and feared
before him:
whom
he would
he slew;
and whom
he would
he kept alive;
and whom
he would
he set up;
and whom
he would
he put down.
But
when his heart
was lifted up,
and his mind
hardened
in pride,
he was deposed
from his kingly throne,
and they
took
his glory
from him:
And
he was driven
from the sons
of men;
and his heart
was made like
the beasts,
and his dwelling
was with the wild asses:
they
fed him
with grass like oxen,
and his body
was wet
with the dew
of heaven;
till he
knew
that the most high God
ruled
in the kingdom
of men,
and that
he appointeth over it
whomsoever he will.
And thou
his son,
O Belshazzar,
hast not humbled
thine heart,
though thou
knewest all this;
But hast lifted
up thyself
against the Lord
of heaven;
and
they have brought
the vessels
of his house
before thee,
and thou,
and thy lords,
thy wives,
and thy concubines,
have drunk wine
in them;
and
thou hast praised
the gods
of silver,
and gold,
of brass,
iron,
wood,
and stone,
which see not,
nor hear,
nor know:
and the God
in whose hand
thy breath is,
and whose are all
thy ways,
hast
thou not glorified:
Then was
the part
of the hand
sent from him;
and this
writing
was written.
And this
is the writing
that was written,
MENE, MENE,
TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
This is the interpretation
of the thing:
MENE;
God hath numbered
thy kingdom,
and finished it.
TEKEL;
Thou art
weighed
in the balances,
and art found wanting.
PERES;
Thy kingdom
is divided,
and given
to the Medes
and Persians.
Then commanded
Belshazzar,
and
they clothed Daniel
with scarlet,
and put
a chain
of gold
about his neck,
and made
a proclamation
concerning him,
that he
should be
the third ruler
in the kingdom.
In that night
was Belshazzar
the king
of the Chaldeans slain.
And Darius
the Median
took the kingdom,
being
about threescore
and two years old.
It pleased Darius
to set
over the kingdom
an hundred
and twenty princes,
which should be
over the whole kingdom;
And over these
three presidents;
of whom Daniel
was first:
that the princes
might give accounts
unto them,
and the king
should have no damage.
Then this Daniel
was preferred above
the presidents
and princes,
because
an excellent spirit
was in him;
and the king
thought to
set him
over the whole realm.
Then the presidents
and princes
sought
to find
occasion
against Daniel
concerning
the kingdom;
but
they could find none occasion
nor fault;
forasmuch as he
was faithful,
neither was there any error
or fault
found in him.
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.
Then these presidents
and princes
assembled together
to the king,
and said thus
unto him, King Darius,
live for ever.
All the presidents
of the kingdom,
the governors,
and the princes,
the counsellors,
and the captains,
have consulted together
to establish
a royal statute,
and to make
a firm decree,
that whosoever
shall ask a petition
of any God
or man
for thirty days,
save of thee,
O king,
he shall be cast
into the den
of lions.
Now,
O king,
establish
the decree,
and sign
the writing,
that it
be not changed,
according to the law
of the Medes
and Persians,
which altereth not.
Wherefore king Darius
signed the writing
and the decree.
Now
when Daniel
knew
that the writing
was signed,
he went into his house;
and his windows
being
open
in his chamber
toward Jerusalem,
he kneeled
upon his knees three
times a day,
and prayed,
and gave
thanks
before his God,
as he
did aforetime.
Then these men assembled,
and found
Daniel
praying
and making supplication
before his God.
Then
they came near,
and spake before the king
concerning the king's decree;
Hast
thou not signed
a decree,
that every man
that shall ask
a petition
of any God
or man
within thirty days,
save of thee,
O king,
shall be cast
into the den
of lions?
The king
answered
and said,
The thing
is true,
according to the law
of the Medes
and Persians,
which altereth not.
Then answered
they
and said
before the king,
That Daniel,
which is of the children
of the captivity
of Judah,
regardeth not thee,
O king,
nor the decree
that thou
hast signed,
but maketh
his petition three
times a day.
Then the king,
when
he heard
these words,
was sore
displeased
with himself,
and set
his heart
on Daniel
to deliver him:
and he
laboured
till the going down
of the sun
to deliver him.
Then these men
assembled
unto the king,
and said
unto the king,
Know,
O king,
that the law
of the Medes
and Persians is,
That no
decree
nor statute
which the king
establisheth may be changed.
Then the king commanded,
and
they brought
Daniel,
and cast him
into the den
of lions.
Now the king
spake
and said
unto Daniel,
Thy God whom
thou servest continually,
he will deliver thee.
And a stone
was brought,
and laid
upon the mouth
of the den;
and the king
sealed it
with his own signet,
and
with the signet
of his lords;
that the purpose
might not be changed concerning
Daniel.
Then the king
went to his palace,
and passed
the night fasting:
neither were
instruments
of musick
brought
before him:
and his sleep
went from him.
Then the king
arose very early
in the morning,
and went in haste
unto the den
of lions.
And
when he
came
to the den,
he cried
with a lamentable voice
unto Daniel:
and the king
spake
and said
to Daniel, O Daniel,
servant of the living God,
is thy God,
whom
thou servest continually,
able to deliver thee
from the lions?
Then said Daniel
unto the king,
O king,
live for ever.
My God
hath sent
his angel,
and hath shut
the lions' mouths,
that they
have not hurt me:
forasmuch
as before him
innocency
was found in me;
and also before thee,
O king,
have
I done no hurt.
Then was
the king exceedingly glad
for him,
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 upon him,
because
he believed
in his God.
And the king commanded,
and they
brought
those men
which 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 brake all
their bones
in pieces
or ever
they came
at the bottom
of the den.
Then king Darius
wrote unto all people,
nations,
and languages,
that dwell
in all the earth;
Peace
be multiplied
unto you.
I make a decree,
That in every dominion
of my kingdom men
tremble
and fear
before the God
of Daniel:
for he
is the living God,
and stedfast for ever,
and his kingdom that which
shall not be destroyed,
and his dominion
shall be even
unto the end.
He delivereth
and rescueth,
and
he worketh
signs
and wonders in heaven
and in earth,
who hath delivered Daniel
from the power
of the lions.
So this Daniel
prospered
in the reign
of Darius,
and in the reign
of Cyrus the Persian.
In the first year
of Belshazzar king
of Babylon Daniel
had a dream
and visions
of his head
upon his bed:
then
he wrote the dream,
and told
the sum
of the matters.
Daniel
spake
and said,
I saw
in my vision
by night,
and,
behold,
the four
winds
of the heaven
strove
upon the great sea.
And four great beasts
came up
from the sea,
diverse one
from another.
The first was like
a lion,
and had
eagle's wings:
I beheld till
the wings
thereof were plucked,
and it
was lifted up
from the earth,
and made
stand
upon the feet
as a man,
and a man's heart
was given to it.
And behold
another beast,
a second,
like to a bear,
and it
raised
up itself
on one side,
and it
had three ribs
in the mouth
of it
between the teeth of it:
and
they said thus
unto it,
Arise,
devour much flesh.
After this
I beheld,
and lo another,
like a leopard,
which had
upon the back of it
four wings
of a fowl;
the beast
had also
four heads;
and dominion
was given to it.
After this
I saw
in the night visions,
and behold
a fourth beast,
dreadful
and terrible,
and strong exceedingly;
and it
had great iron teeth:
it devoured
and brake
in pieces,
and stamped
the residue
with the feet of it:
and it
was diverse
from all
the beasts
that were before it;
and it
had ten horns.
I considered
the horns,
and,
behold,
there came up
among them another little horn,
before whom there were three
of the first horns
plucked up
by the roots:
and,
behold,
in this horn
were eyes like
the eyes of man,
and a mouth
speaking great things.
I beheld till
the thrones
were cast down,
and the Ancient
of days
did sit,
whose garment
was white
as snow,
and the hair
of his head like
the pure wool:
his throne
was like
the fiery flame,
and his wheels
as burning fire.
A fiery stream
issued
and came forth from
before him:
thousand thousands
ministered unto him,
and ten thousand
times ten thousand
stood
before him:
the judgment
was set,
and the books
were opened.
I beheld
then
because
of the voice
of the great words
which the horn spake:
I beheld even till
the beast
was slain,
and his body destroyed,
and given
to the burning flame.
As concerning the rest
of the beasts,
they
had their dominion taken away:
yet their lives
were prolonged
for a season
and time.
I saw
in the night visions,
and,
behold,
one like the Son
of man
came
with the clouds
of heaven,
and came
to the Ancient
of days,
and they
brought
him near
before him.
And there was given him
dominion,
and glory,
and a kingdom,
that all people,
nations,
and languages,
should serve him:
his dominion
is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom that which
shall not be destroyed.
I Daniel
was grieved
in my spirit
in the midst
of my body,
and the visions
of my head
troubled me.
I came near
unto one
of them that stood by,
and asked him
the truth of all this.
So he
told me,
and made me
know the interpretation
of the things.
These great beasts,
which are four,
are four kings,
which shall arise
out of the earth.
But the saints
of the most High
shall take
the kingdom,
and possess
the kingdom
for ever,
even for ever
and ever.
Then I
would know
the truth
of the fourth beast,
which was diverse
from all the others,
exceeding dreadful,
whose teeth
were of iron,
and his nails
of brass;
which devoured,
brake in pieces,
and stamped
the residue
with his feet;
And
of the ten horns
that were in his head,
and of the other
which came up,
and
before whom three fell;
even of that
horn
that had eyes,
and a mouth
that spake very great things,
whose look
was more stout
than his fellows.
I beheld,
and the same horn
made
war with the saints,
and
prevailed against them;
Until the Ancient
of days came,
and judgment
was given
to the saints
of the most High;
and the time
came
that the saints
possessed
the kingdom.
Thus
he said,
The fourth beast
shall be
the fourth kingdom
upon earth,
which shall be diverse
from all kingdoms,
and shall devour
the whole earth,
and shall tread it down,
and break it
in pieces.
And
the ten horns
out of this kingdom
are ten kings
that shall arise:
and another
shall rise
after them;
and
he shall be diverse
from the first,
and
he shall subdue
three kings.
And
he shall speak great words
against the most High,
and shall wear out
the saints
of the most High,
and think
to change
times
and laws:
and
they shall be given
into his hand
until a time
and times
and the dividing
of time.
But the judgment
shall sit,
and
they shall take away
his dominion,
to consume
and
to destroy it
unto the end.
And the kingdom
and dominion,
and the greatness
of the kingdom
under the whole heaven,
shall be given
to the people
of the saints
of the most High,
whose kingdom
is an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions
shall serve and obey him.
Hitherto is
the end
of the matter.
As for me Daniel,
my cogitations much
troubled me,
and my countenance
changed in me:
but I
kept
the matter
in my heart.
In the third year
of the reign
of king
Belshazzar a vision
appeared unto me,
even unto me Daniel,
after that which
appeared unto me
at the first.
And I
saw
in a vision;
and it
came
to pass,
when I saw,
that I
was at Shushan
in the palace,
which is in the province
of Elam;
and I
saw
in a vision,
and
I was by the river
of Ulai.
Then I
lifted
up mine eyes,
and saw,
and,
behold,
there stood
before the river
a ram which
had two horns:
and the two horns
were high;
but one
was higher
than the other,
and the higher
came up last.
I saw
the ram
pushing westward,
and northward,
and southward;
so that
no beasts
might stand
before him,
neither was there
any that
could deliver
out of his hand;
but
he did according to
his will,
and became great.
And as I
was considering,
behold,
an he goat
came
from the west
on the face
of the whole earth,
and touched not
the ground:
and the goat
had
a notable horn
between his eyes.
And he
came
to the ram
that had
two horns,
which I
had seen
standing before the river,
and ran unto him
in the fury
of his power.
And
I saw him
come
close
unto the ram,
and he
was moved
with choler
against him,
and smote the ram,
and brake
his two horns:
and there was
no power
in the ram
to stand
before him,
but he cast
him down
to the ground,
and
stamped upon him:
and there was none
that could deliver
the ram
out of his hand.
Therefore the he goat
waxed very great:
and
when
he was strong,
the great horn
was broken;
and for it
came
up four notable
ones toward the four
winds
of heaven.
And out of one
of them came
forth a little horn,
which waxed
exceeding great,
toward the south,
and
toward the east,
and
toward the pleasant land.
And it
waxed great,
even to the host
of heaven;
and it
cast
down some of the host
and of the stars
to the ground,
and
stamped upon them.
Yea,
he magnified himself even
to the prince
of the host,
and by him the daily sacrifice
was taken away,
and
the place
of the sanctuary
was cast down.
And an host
was given him
against the daily sacrifice
by reason
of transgression,
and it
cast
down the truth
to the ground;
and it practised,
and prospered.
Then I
heard
one saint speaking,
and another
saint
said
unto that
certain saint
which spake,
How long
shall be
the vision
concerning
the daily sacrifice,
and the transgression
of desolation,
to give
both the sanctuary
and the host
to be trodden
under foot?
And
he said unto me,
Unto two thousand
and three hundred days;
then shall
the sanctuary
be cleansed.
And it
came
to pass,
when I,
even I Daniel,
had seen
the vision,
and sought
for the meaning,
then,
behold,
there stood
before me
as the appearance
of a man.
And I
heard
a man's voice
between the banks
of Ulai,
which called,
and said,
Gabriel,
make this man
to understand the vision.
So he
came
near where
I stood:
and when he came,
I was afraid,
and fell
upon my face:
but
he said unto me,
Understand,
O son of man:
for at the time
of the end
shall be
the vision.
Now as he was speaking
with me,
I was in a deep sleep
on my face
toward the ground:
but
he touched me,
and set me upright.
And he said,
Behold,
I will make
thee know
what shall be
in the last end
of the indignation:
for at the time
appointed
the end
shall be.
The ram which
thou sawest
having
two horns
are the kings
of Media and Persia.
And the rough goat
is the king
of Grecia:
and the great horn
that is
between his eyes
is the first king.
Now
that being broken,
whereas four
stood up for it,
four kingdoms
shall stand up
out of the nation,
but not in his power.
And
in the latter time
of their kingdom,
when the transgressors
are come
to the full,
a king
of fierce countenance,
and understanding dark sentences,
shall stand up.
And his power
shall be mighty,
but not by his own power:
and
he shall destroy wonderfully,
and shall prosper,
and practise,
and shall destroy
the mighty
and the holy people.
And
through his policy also
he shall cause
craft
to prosper
in his hand;
and
he shall magnify himself
in his heart,
and by peace
shall destroy many:
he shall also stand up
against the Prince
of princes;
but
he shall be broken
without hand.
And the vision
of the evening
and the morning which
was told
is true:
wherefore shut
thou
up the vision;
for it
shall be for many days.
And I Daniel fainted,
and was sick certain days;
afterward
I rose up,
and did the king's business;
and
I was astonished
at the vision,
but none understood it.
In the first year
of Darius
the son
of Ahasuerus,
of the seed
of the Medes,
which was made king
over the realm
of the Chaldeans;
In the first year
of his reign
I Daniel
understood
by books
the number
of the years,
whereof
the word
of the LORD
came
to Jeremiah the prophet,
that he
would accomplish seventy years
in the desolations
of Jerusalem.
And I set
my face
unto the Lord God,
to seek
by prayer
and supplications,
with fasting,
and sackcloth,
and ashes:
And I
prayed
unto the LORD my God,
and made my confession,
and said,
O Lord,
the great
and dreadful God,
keeping the covenant
and mercy
to them that love him,
and to them
that keep
his commandments;
We have sinned,
and have committed
iniquity,
and have done wickedly,
and have rebelled,
even by departing
from thy precepts
and from thy judgments:
Neither have
we hearkened
unto thy servants the prophets,
which spake in thy
name
to our kings,
our princes,
and our fathers,
and
to all the people
of the land.
O LORD,
righteousness
belongeth
unto thee,
but unto us confusion of faces,
as at this day;
to the men
of Judah,
and
to the inhabitants
of Jerusalem,
and
unto all Israel,
that are near,
and that
are
far off,
through all the countries
whither
thou hast driven them,
because
of their trespass
that
they have trespassed
against thee.
O Lord,
to us
belongeth confusion
of face,
to our kings,
to our princes,
and
to our fathers,
because
we have sinned
against thee.
To the Lord
our God
belong mercies
and forgivenesses,
though we
have rebelled against him;
Neither have
we obeyed
the voice
of the LORD our God,
to walk
in his laws,
which he set
before us
by his servants the prophets.
Yea,
all Israel
have transgressed
thy law,
even by departing,
that they
might not obey
thy voice;
therefore the curse
is poured upon us,
and the oath
that is written
in the law
of Moses
the servant
of God,
because
we have sinned against him.
And
he hath confirmed
his words,
which he
spake against us,
and
against our judges
that judged us,
by bringing
upon us a great evil:
for under the whole heaven
hath not been done as
hath been done
upon Jerusalem.
As it is written
in the law
of Moses,
all this evil
is come upon us:
yet made
we not
our prayer
before the LORD our God,
that we
might turn
from our iniquities,
and understand
thy truth.
Therefore hath
the LORD
watched
upon the evil,
and brought it
upon us:
for the LORD
our God
is righteous
in all his works
which he doeth:
for we
obeyed not
his voice.
And now,
O Lord our God,
that hast brought
thy people forth
out of the land
of Egypt
with a mighty hand,
and hast gotten
thee renown,
as at this day;
we have sinned,
we have done wickedly.
O LORD,
according to all
thy righteousness,
I beseech thee,
let thine
anger
and thy fury
be turned away
from thy city Jerusalem,
thy holy mountain:
because
for our sins,
and
for the iniquities
of our fathers,
Jerusalem
and thy people
are become
a reproach to all
that are about us.
Now therefore,
O our God,
hear the prayer
of thy servant,
and his supplications,
and cause thy
face
to shine
upon thy sanctuary
that is desolate,
for the Lord's sake.
O my God,
incline thine ear,
and hear;
open thine eyes,
and behold
our desolations,
and the city
which is called
by thy name:
for we
do not present
our supplications
before thee
for our righteousnesses,
but for thy great mercies.
O Lord,
hear;
O Lord,
forgive;
O Lord,
hearken and do;
defer not,
for thine own sake,
O my God:
for thy city
and thy people
are called by thy name.
And whiles
I was speaking,
and praying,
and confessing
my sin and the sin
of my people Israel,
and presenting
my supplication
before the LORD my God
for the holy mountain
of my God;
Yea,
whiles
I was speaking
in prayer,
even the man Gabriel,
whom
I had seen
in the vision
at the beginning,
being caused
to fly swiftly,
touched me
about the time
of the evening oblation.
And
he informed me,
and
talked with me,
and said,
O Daniel,
I am now come forth
to give thee skill
and understanding.
At the beginning
of thy supplications
the commandment
came forth,
and I
am come
to shew thee;
for thou art greatly beloved:
therefore understand
the matter,
and consider
the vision.
Seventy weeks
are determined
upon thy people
and upon thy holy city,
to finish
the transgression,
and
to make an end
of sins,
and
to make reconciliation
for iniquity,
and to bring in
everlasting righteousness,
and
to seal
up the vision
and prophecy,
and to anoint
the most Holy.
Know therefore
and understand,
that from the going forth
of the commandment
to restore
and
to build
Jerusalem
unto the Messiah
the Prince
shall be
seven weeks,
and threescore
and two weeks:
the street
shall be built again,
and the wall,
even in troublous times.
And
after threescore
and two weeks
shall
Messiah be cut off,
but not for himself:
and the people
of the prince
that shall come
shall destroy
the city
and the sanctuary;
and the end
thereof shall be
with a flood,
and unto the end
of the war desolations
are determined.
And
he shall confirm
the covenant
with many
for one week:
and in the midst
of the week
he shall cause
the sacrifice
and the oblation
to cease,
and for the overspreading
of abominations
he shall make
it desolate,
even until
the consummation,
and that
determined
shall be poured
upon the desolate.
In the third year
of Cyrus king
of Persia
a thing
was revealed
unto Daniel,
whose name
was called
Belteshazzar;
and the thing
was true,
but the time
appointed
was long:
and
he understood
the thing,
and had
understanding of the vision.
In those
days I Daniel
was mourning
three full weeks.
I ate no pleasant bread,
neither came flesh
nor wine
in my mouth,
neither did
I anoint myself
at all,
till three whole weeks
were fulfilled.
And
in the four
and twentieth day
of the first month,
as I
was by the side
of the great river,
which is Hiddekel;
Then I
lifted
up mine eyes,
and looked,
and behold
a certain man
clothed
in linen,
whose loins
were girded
with fine gold
of Uphaz:
His body
also was like
the beryl,
and his face
as the appearance
of lightning,
and his eyes
as lamps of fire,
and his arms
and his feet like
in colour
to polished brass,
and the voice
of his words like
the voice
of a multitude.
And I Daniel alone
saw the vision:
for the men
that
were with me saw not
the vision;
but a great quaking
fell upon them,
so that
they fled
to hide themselves.
Therefore I
was left alone,
and saw
this great vision,
and there remained no strength
in me:
for my comeliness
was turned in me
into corruption,
and
I retained
no strength.
Yet heard
I the voice
of his words:
and
when I
heard
the voice
of his words,
then was
I in a deep sleep
on my face,
and my face
toward the ground.
And,
behold,
an hand
touched me,
which set me
upon my knees
and upon the palms
of my hands.
And
he said unto me,
O Daniel,
a man greatly beloved,
understand
the words that
I speak
unto thee,
and stand upright:
for unto thee
am I now sent.
And
when
he had spoken
this word
unto me,
I stood trembling.
Then said
he unto me,
Fear not,
Daniel:
for from the first day
that thou
didst set
thine heart
to understand,
and
to chasten thyself
before thy God,
thy words
were heard,
and I
am come for thy words.
But the prince
of the kingdom
of Persia
withstood me one
and twenty days:
but,
lo,
Michael,
one
of the chief princes,
came to help me;
and
I remained there
with the kings
of Persia.
Now I
am come
to make
thee understand
what shall befall
thy people
in the latter days:
for yet
the vision
is for many days.
And
when
he had spoken such words
unto me,
I set
my face
toward the ground,
and
I became dumb.
And,
behold,
one like the similitude
of the sons
of men
touched my lips:
then
I opened
my mouth,
and spake,
and said
unto him that
stood
before me,
O my lord,
by the vision my
sorrows
are turned upon me,
and
I have retained
no strength.
For how can
the servant
of this
my lord talk
with this my lord?
for as for me,
straightway there remained
no strength
in me,
neither
is there
breath
left in me.
Then there came again
and touched me one like
the appearance
of a man,
and
he strengthened me,
And said,
O man greatly beloved,
fear not:
peace
be
unto thee,
be strong,
yea,
be strong.
And
when
he had spoken unto me,
I was strengthened,
and said,
Let my lord speak;
for thou
hast strengthened me.
Then said he,
Knowest
thou wherefore
I come
unto thee?
and now will
I return
to fight
with the prince
of Persia:
and
when
I am gone forth,
lo,
the prince
of Grecia
shall come.
But I
will shew
thee that
which is noted in the scripture
of truth:
and there is none
that holdeth with me
in these things,
but Michael
your prince.
Also I
in the first year
of Darius the Mede,
even I,
stood to confirm
and
to strengthen him.
And now will
I shew thee
the truth.
Behold,
there shall stand up yet
three kings
in Persia;
and the fourth
shall be far richer than
they all:
and
by his strength
through his riches
he shall stir
up all against the realm
of Grecia.
And a mighty king
shall stand up,
that shall rule
with great dominion,
and do according to
his will.
And
when
he shall stand up,
his kingdom
shall be broken,
and shall be divided toward
the four
winds of heaven;
and
not to his posterity,
nor
according to his dominion
which he ruled:
for his kingdom
shall be plucked up,
even for others
beside those.
And
the king
of the south
shall be strong,
and one
of his princes;
and
he shall be strong above him,
and have
dominion;
his dominion
shall be
a great dominion.
And in the end
of years
they
shall join themselves together;
for the king's daughter
of the south
shall come
to the king
of the north
to make an agreement:
but
she shall not retain
the power
of the arm;
neither shall
he stand,
nor his arm:
but
she shall be given up,
and
they
that brought her,
and
he that
begat her,
and
he that
strengthened her
in these times.
But
out of a branch
of her roots
shall one stand up
in his estate,
which shall come
with an army,
and shall enter
into the fortress
of the king
of the north,
and
shall deal against them,
and shall prevail:
And shall also carry captives
into Egypt their gods,
with their princes,
and
with their precious vessels
of silver
and of gold;
and
he shall continue more years
than the king
of the north.
So the king
of the south
shall come
into his kingdom,
and shall return
into his own land.
But his sons
shall be stirred up,
and shall assemble
a multitude
of great forces:
and one
shall certainly come,
and overflow,
and pass through:
then shall
he return,
and
be stirred up,
even to his fortress.
And
the king
of the south
shall be moved
with choler,
and shall come
forth and
fight with him,
even with the king
of the north:
and
he shall set forth
a great multitude;
but the multitude
shall be given
into his hand.
And
when
he hath taken away
the multitude,
his heart
shall be lifted up;
and he
shall cast
down many ten thousands:
but
he shall not be strengthened
by it.
For the king
of the north
shall return,
and shall set forth
a multitude greater than
the former,
and shall certainly come
after certain years
with a great army
and with much riches.
And
in those times
there shall
many stand up
against the king
of the south:
also the robbers
of thy people
shall exalt themselves
to establish
the vision;
but
they shall fall.
So the king
of the north
shall come,
and cast
up a mount,
and take
the most fenced cities:
and the arms
of the south
shall not withstand,
neither
his chosen people,
neither shall there be
any strength
to withstand.
But he
that cometh
against him shall do according to
his own will,
and none
shall stand
before him:
and
he shall stand
in the glorious land,
which by his hand
shall be consumed.
He shall also set
his face
to enter
with the strength
of his whole kingdom,
and upright
ones with him;
thus
shall
he do:
and
he shall give him
the daughter
of women,
corrupting her:
but
she shall not stand
on his side,
neither be for him.
After this
shall
he turn
his face
unto the isles,
and shall take many:
but a prince
for his own
behalf
shall cause
the reproach offered
by him to cease;
without his own reproach
he shall cause it
to turn upon him.
Then
he shall turn
his face
toward the fort
of his own land:
but
he shall stumble
and fall,
and not be found.
Then shall stand up
in his estate a raiser
of taxes
in the glory
of the kingdom:
but within few days
he shall be destroyed,
neither in anger,
nor in battle.
And in his estate
shall stand up
a vile person,
to whom
they shall not give
the honour
of the kingdom:
but
he shall come in peaceably,
and obtain
the kingdom
by flatteries.
And with the arms
of a flood
shall
they be overflown from
before him,
and shall be broken;
yea,
also the prince
of the covenant.
And
after the league
made with him he
shall work deceitfully:
for he shall come up,
and shall become strong
with a small people.
He shall enter peaceably
even upon the fattest places
of the province;
and
he shall do
that which his fathers
have not done,
nor his fathers' fathers;
he shall scatter
among them the prey,
and spoil,
and riches:
yea,
and
he shall forecast
his devices
against the strong holds,
even for a time.
And he
shall stir
up his power
and his courage
against the king
of the south
with a great army;
and
the king
of the south
shall be stirred
up to battle
with a very great
and mighty army;
but
he shall not stand:
for they
shall forecast devices
against him.
Yea,
they that feed
of the portion
of his meat
shall destroy him,
and his army
shall overflow:
and many
shall fall down slain.
And both of these
kings' hearts
shall be
to do mischief,
and
they shall speak
lies
at one table;
but it
shall not prosper:
for yet
the end
shall be
at the time appointed.
Then shall
he return
into his land
with great riches;
and his heart
shall be
against the holy covenant;
and
he shall do exploits,
and return
to his own land.
At the time appointed
he shall return,
and come toward
the south;
but it
shall not be
as the former,
or as the latter.
For the ships
of Chittim
shall come against him:
therefore he
shall be grieved,
and return,
and have indignation
against the holy covenant:
so shall
he do;
he shall even return,
and have
intelligence
with them that
forsake the holy covenant.
And arms
shall stand
on his part,
and
they shall pollute
the sanctuary
of strength,
and shall take away
the daily sacrifice,
and
they shall place
the abomination
that maketh desolate.
And such as do wickedly
against the covenant
shall
he corrupt
by flatteries:
but the people that
do know their God
shall be strong,
and do exploits.
And
they that
understand
among the people
shall instruct many:
yet
they shall fall
by the sword,
and by flame,
by captivity,
and by spoil,
many days.
Now
when
they shall fall,
they shall be holpen
with a little help:
but many
shall cleave
to them
with flatteries.
And some of them
of understanding
shall fall,
to try them,
and to purge,
and
to make them white,
even to the time
of the end:
because
it is yet
for a time appointed.
And the king
shall do according to
his will;
and
he shall exalt himself,
and magnify himself
above every god,
and shall speak
marvellous things
against the God
of gods,
and shall prosper till
the indignation
be accomplished:
for that that is determined
shall be done.
Neither shall
he regard
the God
of his fathers,
nor the desire
of women,
nor regard
any god:
for he
shall magnify himself
above all.
But in his estate
shall
he honour
the God
of forces:
and a god whom
his fathers
knew
not shall
he honour
with gold,
and silver,
and
with precious stones,
and pleasant things.
Thus
shall
he do
in the most strong holds
with a strange god,
whom
he shall acknowledge
and increase
with glory:
and
he shall cause them
to rule
over many,
and shall divide
the land
for gain.
And at the time
of the end
shall the king
of the south push
at him:
and
the king
of the north
shall come
against him like a whirlwind,
with chariots,
and
with horsemen,
and
with many ships;
and
he shall enter
into the countries,
and shall overflow
and pass over.
He shall enter also
into the glorious land,
and many countries
shall be overthrown:
but these
shall escape
out of his hand,
even Edom,
and Moab,
and the chief
of the children
of Ammon.
He shall stretch forth his hand
also upon the countries:
and
the land
of Egypt
shall not escape.
But
he shall have
power
over the treasures
of gold
and of silver,
and
over all
the precious things
of Egypt:
and the Libyans
and the Ethiopians
shall be
at his steps.
But tidings
out of the east
and out of the north
shall trouble him:
therefore he
shall go forth
with great fury
to destroy,
and utterly
to make away many.
And
he shall plant
the tabernacles
of his palace
between the seas
in the glorious holy mountain;
yet he
shall come
to his end,
and none
shall help him.
And at that time
shall
Michael stand up,
the great prince which
standeth for the children
of thy people:
and there shall be
a time
of trouble,
such as never was
since there was
a nation
even to that same time:
and at that time
thy people
shall be delivered,
every one
that shall be found
written
in the book.
And many
of them that sleep
in the dust
of the earth
shall awake,
some
to everlasting life,
and some
to shame
and everlasting contempt.
And
they that
be wise
shall shine
as the brightness
of the firmament;
and
they that turn many
to righteousness
as the stars
for ever and ever.
But thou,
O Daniel,
shut
up the words,
and seal
the book,
even to the time
of the end:
many shall run
to and fro,
and knowledge
shall be increased.
Then I Daniel looked,
and,
behold,
there stood other two,
the one
on this side
of the bank
of the river,
and the other
on that side
of the bank
of the river.
And one
said
to the man
clothed in linen,
which was upon the waters
of the river,
How long
shall
it be
to the end
of these wonders?
And
I heard
the man
clothed in linen,
which was upon the waters
of the river,
when he
held up
his right hand
and his left hand
unto heaven,
and sware by him that
liveth for ever
that it
shall be
for a time,
times,
and an half;
and
when
he shall have accomplished
to scatter the power
of the holy people,
all these things
shall be finished.
And I heard,
but
I understood not:
then said I,
O my Lord,
what shall be
the end
of these things?
And he said,
Go thy way,
Daniel:
for the words
are closed
up and sealed
till the time
of the end.
Many shall be purified,
and made white,
and tried;
but the wicked
shall do wickedly:
and none of the wicked
shall understand;
but the wise
shall understand.
And
from the time
that the daily sacrifice
shall be taken away,
and the abomination
that maketh desolate set up,
there shall be
a thousand two hundred
and ninety days.
Blessed
is
he that waiteth,
and cometh to
the thousand three hundred
and five
and thirty days.
But go
thou thy way till
the end be:
for thou
shalt rest,
and stand
in thy lot
at the end
of the days.