1:1 In the third 1 year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar 2 of Babylon advanced against Jerusalem 3 and laid it under siege. 4 1:2 Now the Lord 5 delivered 6 King Jehoiakim of Judah into his power, 7 along with some of the vessels 8 of the temple of God. 9 He brought them to the land of Babylonia 10 to the temple of his god 11 and put 12 the vessels in the treasury of his god.
1:3 The king commanded 13 Ashpenaz, 14 who was in charge of his court officials, 15 to choose 16 some of the Israelites who were of royal and noble descent 17 – 1:4 young men in whom there was no physical defect and who were handsome, 18 well versed in all kinds of wisdom, well educated 19 and having keen insight, 20 and who were capable 21 of entering the king’s royal service 22 – and to teach them the literature and language 23 of the Babylonians. 24 1:5 So the king assigned them a daily ration 25 from his royal delicacies 26 and from the wine he himself drank. They were to be trained 27 for the next three years. At the end of that time they were to enter the king’s service. 28 1:6 As it turned out, 29 among these young men 30 were some from Judah: 31 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 32 1:7 But the overseer of the court officials renamed them. He gave 33 Daniel the name Belteshazzar, Hananiah he named Shadrach, Mishael he named Meshach, and Azariah he named Abednego. 34
1:8 But Daniel made up his mind 35 that he would not defile 36 himself with the royal delicacies or the royal wine. 37 He therefore asked the overseer of the court officials for permission not to defile himself. 1:9 Then God made the overseer of the court officials sympathetic to Daniel. 38 1:10 But he 39 responded to Daniel, “I fear my master the king. He is the one who has decided 40 your food and drink. What would happen if he saw that you looked malnourished in comparison to the other young men your age? 41 If that happened, 42 you would endanger my life 43 with the king!” 1:11 Daniel then spoke to the warden 44 whom the overseer of the court officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 1:12 “Please test your servants for ten days by providing us with some vegetables to eat and water to drink. 1:13 Then compare our appearance 45 with that of 46 the young men who are eating the royal delicacies; 47 deal with us 48 in light of what you see.” 1:14 So the warden 49 agreed to their proposal 50 and tested them for ten 51 days.
1:15 At the end of the ten days their appearance was better and their bodies were healthier 52 than all the young men who had been eating the royal delicacies. 1:16 So the warden removed the delicacies and the wine 53 from their diet 54 and gave them a diet of vegetables instead. 1:17 Now as for these four young men, God endowed them with knowledge and skill in all sorts of literature and wisdom – and Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.
1:18 When the time appointed by the king arrived, 55 the overseer of the court officials brought them into Nebuchadnezzar’s presence. 1:19 When the king spoke with them, he did not find among the entire group 56 anyone like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, or Azariah. So they entered the king’s service. 57 1:20 In every matter of wisdom and 58 insight the king asked them about, he found them to be ten times 59 better than any of the magicians and astrologers that were in his entire empire. 1:21 Now Daniel lived on until the first 60 year of Cyrus the king.
2:1 In the second year of his 61 reign Nebuchadnezzar had many dreams. 62 His mind 63 was disturbed and he suffered from insomnia. 64 2:2 The king issued an order 65 to summon the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and wise men 66 in order to explain his dreams to him. 67 So they came and awaited the king’s instructions. 68
2:3 The king told them, “I have had a dream, 69 and I 70 am anxious to understand the dream.” 2:4 The wise men replied to the king: [What follows is in Aramaic 71 ] “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will disclose its 72 interpretation.” 2:5 The king replied 73 to the wise men, “My decision is firm. 74 If you do not inform me of both the dream and its interpretation, you will be dismembered 75 and your homes reduced to rubble! 2:6 But if you can disclose the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts, a reward, and considerable honor. So disclose to me the dream and its interpretation!” 2:7 They again replied, “Let the king inform us 76 of the dream; then we will disclose its 77 interpretation.” 2:8 The king replied, “I know for sure that you are attempting to gain time, because you see that my decision is firm. 2:9 If you don’t inform me of the dream, there is only one thing that is going to happen to you. 78 For you have agreed among yourselves to report to me something false and deceitful 79 until such time as things might change. So tell me the dream, and I will have confidence 80 that you can disclose its interpretation.”
2:10 The wise men replied to the king, “There is no man on earth who is able to disclose the king’s secret, 81 for no king, regardless of his position and power, has ever requested such a thing from any magician, astrologer, or wise man. 2:11 What the king is asking is too difficult, and no one exists who can disclose it to the king, except for the gods – but they don’t live among mortals!” 82
2:12 Because of this the king got furiously angry 83 and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 2:13 So a decree went out, and the wise men were about 84 to be executed. They also sought 85 Daniel and his friends so that they could be executed.
2:14 Then Daniel spoke with prudent counsel 86 to Arioch, who was in charge of the king’s executioners and who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon. 2:15 He inquired of Arioch the king’s deputy, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” 87 Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter. 2:16 So Daniel went in and 88 requested the king to grant him time, that he might disclose the interpretation to the king. 2:17 Then Daniel went to his home and informed his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter. 2:18 He asked them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery so that he 89 and his friends would not be destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 2:19 Then in a night vision the mystery was revealed to Daniel. So Daniel praised 90 the God of heaven, 2:20 saying, 91
“Let the name of God 92 be praised 93 forever and ever,
for wisdom and power belong to him.
2:21 He changes times and seasons,
deposing some kings
and establishing others. 94
He gives wisdom to the wise;
he imparts knowledge to those with understanding; 95
2:22 he reveals deep and hidden things.
He knows what is in the darkness,
and light resides with him.
2:23 O God of my fathers, I acknowledge and glorify you,
for you have bestowed wisdom and power on me.
Now you have enabled me to understand what I 96 requested from you.
For you have enabled me to understand the king’s dilemma.” 97
2:24 Then Daniel went in to see 98 Arioch (whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon). He came 99 and said to him, “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon! Escort me 100 to the king, and I will disclose the interpretation to him!” 101
2:25 So Arioch quickly ushered Daniel into the king’s presence, saying to him, “I 102 have found a man from the captives of Judah who can make known the interpretation to the king.” 2:26 The king then asked Daniel (whose name was also Belteshazzar), “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I saw, as well as its interpretation?” 2:27 Daniel replied to the king, “The mystery that the king is asking about is such that no wise men, astrologers, magicians, or diviners can possibly disclose it to the king. 2:28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, 103 and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the times to come. 104 The dream and the visions you had while lying on your bed 105 are as follows.
2:29 “As for you, O king, while you were in your bed your thoughts turned to future things. 106 The revealer of mysteries has made known to you what will take place. 2:30 As for me, this mystery was revealed to me not because I possess more wisdom 107 than any other living person, but so that the king may understand 108 the interpretation and comprehend the thoughts of your mind. 109
2:31 “You, O king, were watching as a great statue – one 110 of impressive size and extraordinary brightness – was standing before you. Its appearance caused alarm. 2:32 As for that statue, its head was of fine gold, its chest and arms were of silver, its belly and thighs were of bronze. 2:33 Its legs were of iron; its feet were partly of iron and partly of clay. 111 2:34 You were watching as 112 a stone was cut out, 113 but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces. 2:35 Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were broken in pieces without distinction 114 and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors that the wind carries away. Not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain that filled the entire earth. 2:36 This was the dream. Now we 115 will set forth before the king its interpretation.
2:37 “You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has granted you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor. 2:38 Wherever human beings, 116 wild animals, 117 and birds of the sky live – he has given them into your power. 118 He has given you authority over them all. You are the head of gold. 2:39 Now after you another kingdom 119 will arise, one inferior to yours. Then a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule in all the earth. 2:40 Then there will be a fourth kingdom, one strong like iron. Just like iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything, and as iron breaks in pieces 120 all of these metals, 121 so it will break in pieces and crush the others. 122 2:41 In that you were seeing feet and toes 123 partly of wet clay 124 and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom. Some of the strength of iron will be in it, for you saw iron mixed with wet clay. 125 2:42 In that the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, the latter stages of this kingdom will be partly strong and partly fragile. 2:43 And 126 in that you saw iron mixed with wet clay, so people will be mixed 127 with one another 128 without adhering to one another, just as 129 iron does not mix with clay. 2:44 In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever. 2:45 You saw that a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands; it smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to the king what will occur in the future. 130 The dream is certain, and its interpretation is reliable.”
2:46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed down with his face to the ground 131 and paid homage to Daniel. He gave orders to offer sacrifice and incense to him. 2:47 The king replied to Daniel, “Certainly your God is a God of gods and Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery!” 2:48 Then the king elevated Daniel to high position and bestowed on him many marvelous gifts. He granted him authority over the entire province of Babylon and made him the main prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 2:49 And at Daniel’s request, the king 132 appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the administration of the province of Babylon. Daniel himself served in the king’s court. 133
3:1 134 King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden 135 statue made. 136 It was ninety feet 137 tall and nine feet 138 wide. He erected it on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 3:2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent out a summons to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, 139 and all the other authorities of the province to attend the dedication of the statue that he 140 had erected. 3:3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other provincial authorities assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. They were standing in front of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had erected. 141
3:4 Then the herald 142 made a loud 143 proclamation: “To you, O peoples, nations, and language groups, the following command is given: 144 3:5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, 145 trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must 146 bow down and pay homage to the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has erected. 3:6 Whoever does not bow down and pay homage will immediately 147 be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire!” 3:7 Therefore when they all 148 heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, 149 and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and language groups began bowing down and paying homage to the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected.
3:8 Now 150 at that time certain 151 Chaldeans came forward and brought malicious accusations against 152 the Jews. 3:9 They said 153 to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 154 3:10 You have issued an edict, O king, that everyone must bow down and pay homage to the golden statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music. 3:11 And whoever does not bow down and pay homage must be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 3:12 But there are Jewish men whom you appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – and these men 155 have not shown proper respect to you, O king. They don’t serve your gods and they don’t pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”
3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in a fit of rage 156 demanded that they bring 157 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego before him. So they brought them 158 before the king. 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t serve my gods and that you don’t pay homage to the golden statue that I erected? 3:15 Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must bow down and pay homage to the statue that I had made. If you don’t pay homage to it, you will immediately be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. Now, who is that god who can rescue you from my power?” 159 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, 160 “We do not need to give you a reply 161 concerning this. 3:17 If 162 our God whom we are serving exists, 163 he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. 3:18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”
3:19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and his disposition changed 164 toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders 165 to heat the furnace seven times hotter than it was normally heated. 3:20 He ordered strong 166 soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 3:21 So those men were tied up while still wearing their cloaks, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, 167 and were thrown into the furnace 168 of blazing fire. 3:22 But since the king’s command was so urgent, and the furnace was so excessively hot, the men who escorted 169 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were killed 170 by the leaping flames. 171 3:23 But those three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the furnace 172 of blazing fire while still securely bound. 173
3:24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was startled and quickly got up. He said to his ministers, “Wasn’t it three men that we tied up and threw 174 into 175 the fire?” They replied to the king, “For sure, O king.” 3:25 He answered, “But I see four men, untied and walking around in the midst of the fire! No harm has come to them! And the appearance of the fourth is like that of a god!” 176 3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire. He called out, 177 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out! Come here!”
Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged from the fire. 178 3:27 Once the satraps, prefects, governors, and ministers of the king had gathered around, they saw that those men were physically 179 unharmed by the fire. 180 The hair of their heads was not singed, nor were their trousers damaged. Not even the smell of fire was to be found on them!
3:28 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, 181 “Praised be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent forth his angel 182 and has rescued his servants who trusted in him, ignoring 183 the edict of the king and giving up their bodies rather than 184 serve or pay homage to any god other than their God! 3:29 I hereby decree 185 that any people, nation, or language group that blasphemes 186 the god of Shadrach, Meshach, or Abednego will be dismembered and his home reduced to rubble! For there exists no other god who can deliver in this way.” 3:30 Then Nebuchadnezzar 187 promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
4:1 (3:31) 188 “King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and language groups that live in all the land: Peace and prosperity! 189 4:2 I am delighted to tell you about the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me.
4:3 “How great are his signs!
How mighty are his wonders!
His kingdom will last forever, 190
and his authority continues from one generation to the next.”
4:4 (4:1) 191 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was relaxing in my home, 192 living luxuriously 193 in my palace. 4:5 I saw a dream that 194 frightened me badly. The things I imagined while lying on my bed – these visions of my mind – were terrifying me. 4:6 So I issued an order 195 for all the wise men of Babylon to be brought 196 before me so that they could make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 4:7 When the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners entered, I recounted the dream for them. But they were unable to make known its interpretation to me. 4:8 Later Daniel entered (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, 197 and in whom there is a spirit of the holy gods). I recounted the dream for him as well, 4:9 saying, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, in whom I know there to be a spirit of the holy gods and whom no mystery baffles, consider 198 my dream that I saw and set forth its interpretation! 4:10 Here are the visions of my mind 199 while I was on my bed.
While I was watching,
there was a tree in the middle of the land. 200
It was enormously tall. 201
4:11 The tree grew large and strong.
Its top reached far into the sky;
it could be seen 202 from the borders of all the land. 203
4:12 Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful;
on it there was food enough for all.
Under it the wild animals 204 used to seek shade,
and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest.
All creatures 205 used to feed themselves from it.
4:13 While I was watching in my mind’s visions 206 on my bed,
a holy sentinel 207 came down from heaven.
4:14 He called out loudly 208 as follows: 209
‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches!
Strip off its foliage
and scatter its fruit!
Let the animals flee from under it
and the birds from its branches!
4:15 But leave its taproot 210 in the ground,
with a band of iron and bronze around it 211
surrounded by the grass of the field.
Let it become damp with the dew of the sky,
and let it live with 212 the animals in the grass of the land.
4:16 Let his mind 213 be altered from that of a human being,
and let an animal’s mind be given to him,
and let seven periods of time 214 go by for 215 him.
4:17 This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels;
this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones,
so that 216 those who are alive may understand
that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms, 217
and he bestows them on whomever he wishes.
He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’
4:18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its 218 interpretation, for none of the wise men in 219 my kingdom are able to make known to me the interpretation. But you can do so, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
4:19 Then Daniel (whose name is also Belteshazzar) was upset for a brief time; 220 his thoughts were alarming him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream and its interpretation alarm you.” But Belteshazzar replied, “Sir, 221 if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries! 4:20 The tree that you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky, and which could be seen 222 in all the land, 4:21 whose foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful, and from which there was food available for all, under whose branches wild animals 223 used to live, and in whose branches birds of the sky used to nest – 4:22 it is you, 224 O king! For you have become great and strong. Your greatness is such that it reaches to heaven, and your authority to the ends of the earth. 4:23 As for the king seeing a holy sentinel coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its taproot in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, surrounded by the grass of the field. Let it become damp with the dew of the sky, and let it live with the wild animals, until seven periods of time go by for him’ – 4:24 this is the interpretation, O king! It is the decision of the Most High that this has happened to my lord the king. 4:25 You will be driven 225 from human society, 226 and you will live 227 with the wild animals. You will be fed 228 grass like oxen, 229 and you will become damp with the dew of the sky. Seven periods of time will pass by for you, before 230 you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes. 4:26 They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven 231 rules. 4:27 Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged.” 232
4:28 Now all of this happened 233 to King Nebuchadnezzar. 4:29 After twelve months, he happened to be walking around on the battlements 234 of the royal palace of Babylon. 4:30 The king uttered these words: “Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence 235 by my own mighty strength 236 and for my majestic honor?” 4:31 While these words were still on the king’s lips, 237 a voice came down from heaven: “It is hereby announced to you, 238 King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingdom has been removed from you! 4:32 You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before 239 you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.”
4:33 Now in that very moment 240 this pronouncement about 241 Nebuchadnezzar came true. 242 He was driven from human society, he ate grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until his hair became long like an eagle’s feathers, and his nails like a bird’s claws. 243
4:34 But at the end of the appointed time 244 I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up 245 toward heaven, and my sanity returned to me.
I extolled the Most High,
and I praised and glorified the one who lives forever.
For his authority is an everlasting authority,
and his kingdom extends from one generation to the next.
4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. 246
He does as he wishes with the army of heaven
and with those who inhabit the earth.
No one slaps 247 his hand
and says to him, ‘What have you done?’
4:36 At that time my sanity returned to me. I was restored 248 to the honor of my kingdom, and my splendor returned to me. My ministers and my nobles were seeking me out, and I was reinstated 249 over my kingdom. I became even greater than before. 4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all his deeds are right and his ways are just. He is able to bring down those who live 250 in pride.
5:1 King Belshazzar 251 prepared a great banquet 252 for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in front of 253 them all. 254 5:2 While under the influence 255 of the wine, Belshazzar issued an order to bring in the gold and silver vessels – the ones that Nebuchadnezzar his father 256 had confiscated 257 from the temple in Jerusalem 258 – so that the king and his nobles, together with his wives and his concubines, could drink from them. 259 5:3 So they brought the gold and silver 260 vessels that had been confiscated from the temple, the house of God 261 in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, together with his wives and concubines, drank from them. 5:4 As they drank wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5:5 At that very moment the fingers of a human hand appeared 262 and wrote on the plaster of the royal palace wall, opposite the lampstand. 263 The king was watching the back 264 of the hand that was writing. 5:6 Then all the color drained from the king’s face 265 and he became alarmed. 266 The joints of his hips gave way, 267 and his knees began knocking together. 5:7 The king called out loudly 268 to summon 269 the astrologers, wise men, and diviners. The king proclaimed 270 to the wise men of Babylon that anyone who could read this inscription and disclose its interpretation would be clothed in purple 271 and have a golden collar 272 placed on his neck and be third ruler in the kingdom.
5:8 So all the king’s wise men came in, but they were unable to read the writing or to make known its 273 interpretation to the king. 5:9 Then King Belshazzar was very terrified, and he was visibly shaken. 274 His nobles were completely dumbfounded.
5:10 Due to the noise 275 caused by the king and his nobles, the queen mother 276 then entered the banquet room. She 277 said, “O king, live forever! Don’t be alarmed! Don’t be shaken! 5:11 There is a man in your kingdom who has within him a spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, he proved to have 278 insight, discernment, and wisdom like that 279 of the gods. 280 King Nebuchadnezzar your father appointed him chief of the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners. 281 5:12 Thus there was found in this man Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar, an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and skill to interpret 282 dreams, solve riddles, and decipher knotty problems. 283 Now summon 284 Daniel, and he will disclose the interpretation.”
5:13 So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? 5:14 I have heard about you, how there is a spirit of the gods in you, and how you have 285 insight, discernment, and extraordinary wisdom. 5:15 Now the wise men and 286 astrologers were brought before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation. But they were unable to disclose the interpretation of the message. 5:16 However, I have heard 287 that you are able to provide interpretations and to decipher knotty problems. Now if you are able to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, you will wear purple and have a golden collar around your neck and be third 288 ruler in the kingdom.”
5:17 But Daniel replied to the king, “Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else! However, I will read the writing for the king and make known its 289 interpretation. 5:18 As for you, O king, the most high God bestowed on your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty. 290 5:19 Due to the greatness that he bestowed on him, all peoples, nations, and language groups were trembling with fear 291 before him. He killed whom he wished, he spared 292 whom he wished, he exalted whom he wished, and he brought low whom he wished. 5:20 And when his mind 293 became arrogant 294 and his spirit filled with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and his honor was removed from him. 5:21 He was driven from human society, his mind 295 was changed to that of an animal, he lived 296 with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until he came to understand that the most high God rules over human kingdoms, and he appoints over them whomever he wishes.
5:22 “But you, his son 297 Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, 298 although you knew all this. 5:23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You brought before you the vessels from his temple, and you and your nobles, together with your wives and concubines, drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone – gods 299 that cannot see or hear or comprehend! But you have not glorified the God who has in his control 300 your very breath and all your ways! 5:24 Therefore the palm of a hand was sent from him, and this writing was inscribed.
5:25 “This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, 301 TEQEL, and PHARSIN. 302 5:26 This is the interpretation of the words: 303 As for mene 304 – God has numbered your kingdom’s days and brought it to an end. 5:27 As for teqel – you are weighed on the balances and found to be lacking. 5:28 As for peres 305 – your kingdom is divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”
5:29 Then, on Belshazzar’s orders, 306 Daniel was clothed in purple, a golden collar was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed third ruler in the kingdom. 5:30 And in that very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, 307 was killed. 308 5:31 (6:1) 309 So Darius the Mede took control of the kingdom when he was about sixty-two years old.
6:1 It seemed like a good idea to Darius 310 to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps 311 who would be in charge of the entire kingdom. 6:2 Over them would be three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountable 312 to them, so that the king’s interests might not incur damage. 6:3 Now this Daniel was distinguishing himself above the other supervisors and the satraps, for he had an extraordinary spirit. In fact, the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom. 6:4 Consequently the supervisors and satraps were trying to find 313 some pretext against Daniel in connection with administrative matters. 314 But they were unable to find any such damaging evidence, 315 because he was trustworthy and guilty of no negligence or corruption. 316 6:5 So these men concluded, 317 “We won’t find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is 318 in connection with the law of his God.”
6:6 So these supervisors and satraps came by collusion 319 to the king and said 320 to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 6:7 To all the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors it seemed like a good idea for a royal edict to be issued and an interdict to be enforced. For the next thirty days anyone who prays 321 to any god or human other than you, O king, should be thrown into a den of lions. 6:8 Now let the king issue a written interdict 322 so that it cannot be altered, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed. 323 6:9 So King Darius issued the written interdict.
6:10 When Daniel realized 324 that a written decree had been issued, he entered his home, where the windows 325 in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem. 326 Three 327 times daily he was 328 kneeling 329 and offering prayers and thanks to his God just as he had been accustomed to do previously. 6:11 Then those officials who had gone to the king 330 came by collusion and found Daniel praying and asking for help before his God. 6:12 So they approached the king and said to him, 331 “Did you not issue an edict to the effect that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than to you, O king, would be thrown into a den of lions?” The king replied, “That is correct, 332 according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.” 6:13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the captives 333 from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the edict that you issued. Three times daily he offers his prayer.” 334
6:14 When the king heard this, 335 he was very upset and began thinking about 336 how he might rescue Daniel. Until late afternoon 337 he was struggling to find a way to rescue him. 6:15 Then those men came by collusion to the king and 338 said to him, 339 “Recall, 340 O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or decree that the king issues can be changed.” 6:16 So the king gave the order, 341 and Daniel was brought and thrown into a den 342 of lions. The king consoled 343 Daniel by saying, “Your God whom you continually serve will rescue you!” 6:17 Then a stone was brought and placed over the opening 344 to the den. The king sealed 345 it with his signet ring and with those 346 of his nobles so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel. 6:18 Then the king departed to his palace. But he spent the night without eating, and no diversions 347 were brought to him. He was unable to sleep. 348
6:19 In the morning, at the earliest sign of daylight, the king got up and rushed to the lions’ den. 6:20 As he approached the den, he called out to Daniel in a worried voice, 349 “Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God whom you continually serve able to rescue you from the lions?”
6:21 Then Daniel spoke to 350 the king, “O king, live forever! 6:22 My God sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths so that they have not harmed me, because I was found to be innocent before him. Nor have I done any harm to you, O king.”
6:23 Then the king was delighted and gave an order to haul Daniel up from the den. So Daniel was hauled up out of the den. He had no injury of any kind, because he had trusted in his God. 6:24 The king gave another order, 351 and those men who had maliciously accused 352 Daniel were brought and thrown 353 into the lions’ den – they, their children, and their wives. 354 They did not even reach the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
6:25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and language groups who were living in all the land: “Peace and prosperity! 355 6:26 I have issued an edict that throughout all the dominion of my kingdom people are to revere and fear the God of Daniel.
“For he is the living God;
he endures forever.
His kingdom will not be destroyed;
his authority is forever. 356
6:27 He rescues and delivers
and performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel from the power 357 of the lions!”
6:28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and 358 the reign of Cyrus the Persian.