The Book Of Daniel

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, came Nebuchad-nezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem and besieged it.

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand; with part of the vessels of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into his god's treasury.

3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, of the king's seed, and of the princes:

4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and instruct in all wisdom, and well seen in knowledge, and able to utter knowledge, and such as were able to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning, and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

5 And the king appointed them provision every day of a portion of the king's meat, and and of the wine, which he drank, so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof, they might stand before the king.

6 Now among these were certain of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

7 Unto whom the chief of the eunuchs gave other names: for he called Daniel, Belteshazzar, and Hananiah, Shadrach, and Mishael, Meshach, and Azariah, Abednego.

8 But Daniel had determined in his heart, that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he required the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

9 (Now God had brought Daniel into favor, and tender love with the chief of the eunuchs)

10 And the chief of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: therefore if he see your faces worse liking than the other children, which are of your sort, then shall you make me lose mine head unto the king.

11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days, and let them give us pulse to 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 meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

14 So he consented to them in this matter, an proved them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days, their countenances appeared fairer, and in better liking than all the children, which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.

17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge, and understand in all learning and wisdom: also he gave Daniel understand of all visions and dreams.

18 Now when the time was expired, that the king had appointed to bring them in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them before Nebuchad-nezzar.

19 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.

20 And in all matters of wisdom, and understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the enchanters and astrologians, that were in all his realm.

21 And Daniel was unto the first year of king Cyrus.

Daniel Chapter 2

1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchad-nezzar, Nebuchad-nezzar dreamed dreams wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep was upon him.

2 Then the king commanded to call the enchanters, and the astrologians and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans for to show the king his dreams: so they came and stood before the king.

3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in the Aramite's language, O king, live forever: show thy servants thy dream, and we shall show the interpretation.

5 And the king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me. If ye will not make me understand the dream with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be drawn in pieces, and your houses shall be made a jakes.

6 But if ye declare the dream and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards, and great honor: therefore show me the dream and the interpretation of it.

7 They answered again, and said, Let the king show his servants the dream, and we will declare the interpretation thereof.

8 Then the king answered, and said, I know certainly that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.

9 But if ye will not declare me the dream, there is but one judgment for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words, to speak before me till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, that I may know, if ye can declare me the interpretation thereof.

10 Then the Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is no man upon earth that can declare the king's matter: yea, there is neither king nor prince nor lord that asked such things at an enchanter or astrologian or Chaldean.

11 For it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can declare it before the king, except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh.

12 For this cause the king was angry and in great fury, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

13 And when sentence was given, the wise men were slain: and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be put to death.

14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the king's chief steward, which was gone forth to put to death the wise men of Babylon.

15 Yea, he answered and said unto Arioch the king's captain, Why is the sentence so hasty from the king? Then Arioch declared the thing to Daniel.

16 So Daniel went and desired the king that he would give him leisure and that he would show the king the interpretation thereof.

17 The Daniel went to his house and showed the matter to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah his companions,

18 That they should beseech the God of heaven for grace in this secret, that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a vision by night: therefore Daniel praised the God of heaven.

20 And Daniel answered and said, The name of God be praised forever and ever: for wisdom and strength are his,

21 And he changeth the times and seasons: he taketh away kings: he setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and understanding to those that understand.

22 He discovereth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, that thou hast given me wisdom and strength, and hast showed me now the thing that we desired of thee: for thou hast declared unto us the king's matter.

24 Therefore Daniel went 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, but bring me before the king, and I will declare unto the king the interpretation.

25 Then Arioch brought Daniel before the king in all haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the children of Judah that were brought captives, that will declare unto the king the interpretation.

26 Then answered the king, and said unto Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to show me the dream, which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded, can neither the wise, the astrologians, the enchanter, nor the soothsayers declare unto the king.

28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and showeth the king Nebuchad-nezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the things which thou hast seen in thine head upon thy bed, is this.

29 O King, when thou wast in thy bed, thoughts came into thy mind, what should come to pass hereafter, and he that revealeth secrets, telleth thee, what shall come.

30 As for me, this secret is not showed me for any wisdom that I have, more than any other living, but only to show the king the interpretation, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thine heart.

31 O king, thou sawest, and behold, there was a great image: this great image whose glory was so excellent, stood before thee, and the form thereof was terrible.

32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,

33 His legs of iron, and his feet were part of iron, and part of clay.

34Thou beheldest it till a stone was cut without hands, which smote the image upon his feet, that were of iron and clay, and break them to pieces.

35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver and the gold broken all together, and became like the chaff of the summer flowers, 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.

36 This is the dream, and we will declare before the king the interpretation thereof.

37 O king, thou art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

38 And in all places where 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.

39 And after thee shall rise another kingdom, inferior to thee, of silver, and another third kingdom shall be of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: for as iron breaketh in pieces, and subdueth all things, and as iron bruiseth all these things, so shall it break in pieces, and bruise all.

41 Where as 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, as thou sawest the iron mixed with the clay, and earth.

42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so shall the kingdom be partly strong, and partly broken.

43 And where as thou sawest iron mixed with clay and earth, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not join one with another, as iron cannot be mixed with clay.

44 And in the days of these kings, shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and this kingdom shall not be given to another people, but it shall break, and destroy all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

45 Where as thou sawest, that the stone was cut of the mountain without hands, and that it break in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold: so the great God hath showed the king, what shall come to pass hereafter, and the dream is true, and the interpretation thereof is sure.

46 Then the king Nebuchad-nezzar fell upon his face, and bowed himself unto Daniel, and commanded that they should offer meat offerings, and sweet odors unto him.

47 Also the king answered unto Daniel, and said, I know of a truth that your God is a God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and the revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest open this secret.

48 So the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many and great gifts. He made him governor over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the rulers, and above all the wise men of Babylon.

49 Then Daniel made request to the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the charge of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

Daniel Chapter 3

1 Nebuchad-nezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was three score cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

2 Then Nebuchad-nezzar the king sent forth to gather together the nobles, the princes and the dukes, the judges, the receivers, the counselors, the officers, and all the governors of the provinces, that they should come to the dedication of the image, which Nebuchad-nezzar the king had set up.

3 So the nobles, princes and dukes, the judges, the receivers, the counselors, the officers, and all the governors of the provinces were assembled unto the dedicating of the image, that Nebuchad-nezzar the king had set up: and they stood before the image, which Nebuchad-nezzar had set up.

4 Then an herald cried aloud, Be it known to you, O people, nations, and languages,

5 That when ye hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all instruments of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image, that Nebuchad-nezzar the king hath set up,

6 And whosoever falleth not down and worshipeth, shall the same hour be cast into the midst of an hot fiery furnace.

7 Therefore as soon as all the people heard the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all instruments of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down, and worshiped the golden image, that Nebuchad-nezzar the king had set up.

8 By reason whereof at that same time came men of the Chaldeans, and grievously accused the Jews.

9 For they spake and said to the king Nebuchad-nezzar, O king, live forever.

10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all instruments of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image,

11 And whosoever falleth not down, and worshipeth, that he should be cast into the midst of an hot fiery furnace.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the charge of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: these men, O king, have not regarded thy commandment, neither will they serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image, that thou hast set up.

13 Then Nebuchad-nezzar in his anger and wrath commanded that they should bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: so these men were brought before the king.

14 And Nebuchad-nezzar spake, and said unto them, What disorder? Will not you, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego serve my god, nor worship the golden image, that I have set up?

15 Now therefore are ye ready when ye hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all instruments of music, to fall down, and worship the image, which I have made? For if ye worship it not, ye shall be cast immediately into the midst of an hot fiery furnace: for who is that God, that can deliver you out of mine hands?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchad-nezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 Behold, our God whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the hot fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image, which thou hast set up.

19 Then was Nebuchad-nezzar full of rage, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he charged and commanded that they should heat the furnace at once seven times more than it was wont to be heat.

20 And he charged the most valiant men of war that were in his army, to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the hot fiery furnace.

21 So these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their cloaks, with their other garments, and cast into the midst of the hot fiery furnace.

22 Therefore, because the king's commandment was straight, that the furnace should be exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that brought forth Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

23 And these three men Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego fell down bound into the midst of the hot fiery furnace.

24 Then Nebuchad-nezzar the king was astonied and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? Who answered and said unto the king, It is true, O king.

25 And he answered, and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

26 Then the king Nebuchad-nezzar came near to the mouth of the hot fiery furnace, and spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the servants of the high God go forth and come hither: so Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came forth of the midst of the fire.

27 Then the nobles, princes and dukes, and the king's counselors came together to see these men, because the fire had no power over their bodies: for not an hair of their head was burned, neither was their coats changed, nor any smell of fire came upon them.

28 Wherefore Nebuchad-nezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants, that put their trust in him, and have changed the king's commandment, and yielded their bodies rather than they would serve or worship any god, save their own God.

29 Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak any blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, shall be drawn in pieces, and their houses shall be made a jakes, because there is no god that can deliver after this sort. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

31 Nebuchad-nezzar king unto all people, nations and languages, that dwell in all the world, Peace be multiplied unto you:

32 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

33 How great are his signs, and how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

Daniel Chapter 4

1 I Nebuchad-nezzar being at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace,

2 Saw a dream, which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed, and the visions of mine head troubled me.

3 Therefore made I a decree, that they should bring all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might declare unto me the interpretation of the dream.

4 So came the enchanters, the astrologians, the Chaldeans and the soothsayers, to whom I told the dream, but they could not show me the interpretation thereof,

5 Till at the last Daniel came before me, (whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, which hath the spirit of the holy gods in him) and before him I told the dream, saying,

6 O Belteshazzar, chief of the enchanters, 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.

7 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed. And behold, I saw a tree in the midst of the earth and the height thereof was great:

8 A great tree and strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the ends of all the earth.

9 The boughs thereof were fair and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: it made a shadow under it for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh fed of it.

10 I saw in the visions of mine head upon my bed, and behold, a watchman and an holy one came down from heaven,

11 And cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and break off his branches: shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit, that the beasts may flee from under it, and the fowls from his branches.

12 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, and with a band of iron and brass bind it among the grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts among the grass of the field.

13 Let his heart be changed from man's nature, and let a beast's heart be given unto him, and let seven times be passed over him.

14 The sentence is according to the decree of the watchmen, and according to the word of the holy ones: the demand was answered, to the intent that living men may know, that the Most High hath power over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and appointeth over it the most abject among men.

15 This is the dream, that I king Nebuchad-nezzar have seen: therefore thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof: for all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to show me the interpretation: but thou art able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

16 Then Daniel (whose name was Belteshazzar) held his peace by the space of one hour, and his thoughts troubled him, and the king spake and said, Belteshazzar, let neither the dream, nor 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.

17 The tree that thou sawest, which was great and mighty, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof through all the world,

18 Whose leaves were fair and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all, under the which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven did sit,

19 It is thou, O king, that art great and mighty: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the ends of the earth.

20 Where as the king saw a watchman, and an holy one, that came down from heaven, and said, Hew down the tree and destroy it, yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, and with a band of iron and brass bind it among the 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,

21 This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king,

22 That 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 the 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 beareth rule over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

23 Where as they said, that one should leave the stump of the tree roots, thy kingdom shall remain unto thee: after that, thou shalt know, that the heavens have the rule.

24 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by mercy toward the poor: lo, let there be an healing of thine error.

25 All these things shall come upon the king Nebuchad-nezzar.

26 At the end of twelve months, he walked in the royal palace of Babylon.

27 And 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 honor of my majesty?

28 While the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came down from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchad-nezzar, to thee be it spoken, Thy kingdom is departed from thee,

29 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 the oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou knowest, that the Most High beareth rule over the kingdom of men, and giveth it unto whomsoever he will.

30 The very same hour was this thing fulfilled upon Nebuchad-nezzar, and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as the oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown as eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

31 And at the end of these days I Nebuchad-nezzar lift up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding was restored unto me, and I gave thanks unto the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.

32 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and according to his will he worketh in the army of heaven, and in the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, nor say unto him, What doest thou?

33 At the same time was mine understanding restored unto me, and I returned to the honor of my kingdom: my glory and my beauty was restored unto me, and my counselors and my princes sought unto me, and I was established in my kingdom, and my glory was augmented toward me.

34 Now therefore I Nebuchad-nezzar praise and extol and magnify the King of heaven, whose works are all truth, and his ways judgment, and those that walk in pride, he is able to abase.

Daniel Chapter 5

1 King Belshazzar made a great feast to a thousand of his princes, and drank wine before the thousand.

2 And Belshazzar whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring him the golden and silver vessels, which his father Nebuchad-nezzar had brought from the temple in Jerusalem, that the king and his princes, his wives, and his concubines might drink therein.

3 Then were brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the Lord's house at Jerusalem, and the king and his princes, his wives and his concubines drank in them.

4 They drunk wine and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood and of stone.

5 At the same hour appeared fingers of a man's hand, which wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, and the king saw the palm of the hand that wrote.

6 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 the other.

7 Wherefore the king cried loud, that they should bring the astrologians, the Chaldeans and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever can read this writing, and declare me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, and shall have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

8 Then came all the king's wise men, but they could neither read the writing, nor show the king the interpretation.

9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his princes were astonied.

10 Now the queen by reason of the talk of the king, and his princes came into the banquet house, and the queen spake, and said, O king, live forever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed.

11 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 Nebuchad-nezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made chief of the enchanters, astrologians, Chaldeans, and soothsayers,

12 Because a more excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding (for he did expound dreams, and declare hard sentences, and dissolved doubts) were found in him, even in Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will declare the interpretation.

13 Then was Daniel brought 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 my father the king brought out of Jewry?

14 Now I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

15 Now therefore, wise men and astrologians have been brought before me, that they should read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof: but they could not declare the interpretation of the thing.

16 Then heard I of thee, that thou couldest show interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and shalt have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, Keep thy rewards to thyself, and give thy gifts to another: yet I will read the writing unto the king, and show him the interpretation.

18 O king, hear thou, The Most High God gave unto Nebuchad-nezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and honor and glory.

19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages trembled, and feared before him: he put to death whom he would: he smote whom he would: whom he would he set up, and whom he would he put down.

20 But when his heart was puffed up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his honor from him.

21 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 the heaven, till he knew, that the Most High God bear rule over the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it, whomsoever he pleaseth.

22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all these things,

23 But hast lift thyself up against the Lord of heaven, and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou and thy princes, 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 neither see, neither hear, nor understand: and the God in whose hand thy breath is and all thy ways, him hast thou not glorified.

24 Then was the palm of the hand sent from him, and hath written this writing.

25 And this is the writing that he hath written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL UPHARSIN.

26 This is the interpretation of the thing, MENE, God hath numbered thy kingdom, and hath finished it.

27 TEKEL, thou art weighed in the balance, and art found too light.

28 PERES, thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

29 Then at the commandment of Belshazzar they clothed Daniel with purple, 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.

30 The same night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

31 And Darius of the Medes took the kingdom, being threescore and two year old.

Daniel Chapter 6

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty governors, which should be over the whole kingdom,

2 And over these, three rulers (of whom Daniel was one) that the governors might give account unto them, and the king should have no damage.

3 Now this Daniel was preferred above the rulers and governors, because the spirit was excellent in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4 Wherefore the rulers and governors sought an occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom: but they could find none occasion nor fault: for he was so faithful that there was no blame nor fault found in him.

5 Then said these men, We shall not find an occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

6 Therefore the rulers and these governors went together to the king, and said thus unto him, king Darius, live forever.

7 All the rulers of thy kingdom, the officers and governors, the counselors, and dukes have consulted together to make a decree for the king and to establish a statute, 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.

8 Now, O king, confirm the decree, and seal the writing, that it be not changed according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

9 Wherefore king Darius sealed the writing and the decree.

10 Now when Daniel understood that he had sealed the writing, he went into his house, and his window being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed and praised his God, as he did afore time.

11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying, and making supplication unto his God.

12 So they came and, spake unto the king concerning the king's decree, Hast thou not sealed the decree, that every man that shall make a request to any god or man within thirty days, save to 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.

13 Then answered they, and said unto the king, This Daniel which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree, that thou hast sealed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

14 When the king heard these words, he was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel, to deliver him: and he labored till the sun went down, to deliver him.

15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Understand, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree nor statute which the king confirmeth, may be altered.

16 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 always servest, even he will deliver thee.

17 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 princes, that the purpose might not be changed, concerning Daniel.

18 Then the king went unto his palace, and remained fasting, neither were the instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him.

19 Then the king arose early in the morning, and went in all haste unto the den of lions.

20 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, the servant of the living God, is not thy God (whom thou always servest) able to deliver thee from the lions?

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live forever.

22 My God hath sent his angel and hath shut the lion's mouths, that they have not hurt me: for my justice was found out before him: and unto thee, O king, I have done no hurt.

23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel out of the den: so Daniel was brought out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

24 And by the commandment of the king these men which had accused Daniel, were brought, and were cast into the den of lions, even they, their children, and their wives: and the lions had the mastery of them, and break all their bones a pieces, or ever they came at the ground of the den.

25 Afterward king Darius wrote, unto all people, nations and languages, that dwell in all the world: Peace be multiplied unto you.

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 remaineth forever: and his kingdom shall not perish, and his dominion shall be everlasting.

27 He rescueth and delivereth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus of Persia.

Daniel Chapter 7

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream, and there were visions in his head, upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and declared the sum of the matter.

2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea:

3 And four great beasts came up from the sea one diverse from another.

4 The first was as a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld, till the wings thereof were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and set upon his feet as a man, and a man's heart was given him.

5 And behold, another beast which was the second, was like a bear and stood upon the one side: and he had three ribs in his mouth between his teeth, and they said thus unto him, Arise and devour much flesh.

6 After this I beheld, and lo, there was another like a leopard, which had upon his back four wings of a fowl: the beast had also four heads, and dominion was given him.

7 After this I saw in the visions by night, and behold, the fourth beast was fearful and terrible and very strong. It had great iron teeth: it devoured and break in pieces and stamped the residue under his feet: and it was unlike to the beasts that were before it: for it had ten horns.

8 As I considered the horns, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked away: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking presumptuous things.

9 I beheld, till the thrones were set up, 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.

10 A fiery stream issued, and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand thousands stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books opened.

11 Then I beheld, because of the voice of the presumptuous words, which the horn spake: I beheld, even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning fire.

12 As concerning the other beasts, they had taken away their dominion: yet their lives were prolonged for a certain time and season.

13 As I beheld in visions by night, behold, one like the son of man came in the clouds of heaven, and approached unto the Ancient of days, and they brought him before him.

14 And he gave him dominion, and honor, and a kingdom that all people, nations and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall never be taken away: and his kingdom shall never be destroyed.

15 I Daniel was troubled in my spirit, in the midst of my body, and the visions of mine head made me afraid.

16 Therefore I came unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this: so he told me, and showed me the interpretation of these things.

17 These great beasts which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth,

18 And they shall take the kingdom of the saints of the Most High, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.

19 After this, I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was so unlike to all the others, very fearful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass: which devoured, break in pieces, and stamped the residue under his feet.

20 Also to know of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, before whom three fell, and of the horn that had eyes, and of the mouth that spake presumptuous things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

21 I beheld, and the same horn made battle against the saints, yea, and prevailed against them,

22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High: and the time approached, that the saints possessed the kingdom.

23 Then he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom in the earth, which shall be unlike to all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down and break it in pieces.

24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall rise: and another shall rise after them, and he shall be unlike to the first, and he shall subdue three kings,

25 And shall speak words against the Most High, and shall consume the saints of the Most High, and think that he may change times and laws, and they shall be given into his hand, until a time, and times and the dividing of time.

26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it unto the end.

27 And the kingdom, and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the holy people of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all powers shall serve and obey him.

28 Even this is the end of the matter, I Daniel had many cogitations which troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in mine heart.

Daniel Chapter 8

1 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.

2 And I saw in a vision, and when I saw it, I was in the palace of Shushan, which is in the province of Elam, and in a vision me thought I was by the river of Ulai.

3 Then I looked up and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram, which had two horns: and these two horns were high: but one was higher than another, and the highest came up last.

4 I saw the ram pushing against the west, and against the north, and against the south: so that no beasts might stand before him, nor could deliver out of his hand, but he did what he listed, and became great.

5 And as I considered, behold, a goat came from the west over the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and this goat had an horn that appeared between his eyes.

6 And he came unto the ram that had the two horns, whom I had seen standing by the river, and ran unto him in his fierce rage.

7 And I saw him come unto the ram, and being moved against him, he smote the ram, and break his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand against 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 power.

8 Therefore the goat waxed exceeding great, and when he was at the strongest, his great horn was broken: and for it came up four that appeared toward the four winds of the heaven.

9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed very great toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

10 Yea, it grew up unto the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host, and of the stars to the ground, and trode upon them,

11 And extolled himself against the prince of the host from whom the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

12 And a time shall be given him over the daily sacrifice for the iniquity: and it shall cast down the truth to the ground, and thus shall it do, and prosper.

13 Then I heard one of the saints speaking, and one of the saints spake unto a certain one, saying, How long shall endure the vision of the daily sacrifice, and the iniquity of the desolation to tread both the sanctuary and the army under foot?

14 And he answered me, Unto the evening and the morning, two thousand and three hundred: then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

15 Now when I Daniel had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, behold, there stood before me like the similitude of a man.

16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

17 So he came 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 in the last time shall be the vision.

18 Now as he was speaking unto me, I being asleep fell on my face to the ground: but he touched me, and set me up in my place.

19 And he said, Behold, I will show thee what shall be in the last wrath: for in the end of the time appointed it shall come.

20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns, are the kings of the Medes and Persians.

21 And the goat is the king of Grecia, and the great horn that is between his eyes, is the first king.

22 And that that is broken, and four stood up for it, are four kingdoms, which shall stand up of that nation, but not in his strength.

23 And in the end of their kingdom, when the rebellious shall be consumed, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

24 And his power shall be mighty, but not in his strength: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty, and the holy people.

25 And through his policy also, he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand, and he shall extol 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 down without hand.

26 And the vision of the evening and the morning, which is declared, is true: therefore seal thou up the vision, for it shall be after many days.

27 And I Daniel was stricken and sick certain days: but when I rose up, I did the king’s business, and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.