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[_LittleNipper]


Ezekiel 47:1-23

When He returned Ezekiel back to the temple’s entrance, Ezekiel noticed that water was flowing toward the east from under the temple’s threshold (the temple faced east). The water was running from under the temple’s facade southward, south of the altar.

He led Ezekiel out through the north gate and around the outside to the outer east gate, where the water flowed out under the facade on the south side.

With the measure in his hand, the Man went out toward the east. When he measured off 1500 feet, he made Ezekiel cross the water being ankle-deep.

He measured off another 1500 feet and had me cross the water being knee-deep. He measured off another 1500 feet and made me cross the water --- waist-high.

When he measured off another 1500 feet, it had become a river which Ezekiel couldn’t cross. The water was high, deep enough for swimming but too high to cross.

He said to Ezekiel, “Human, do you see?” Then he led me back to the edge of the river.

When Ezekiel went back, he saw very many trees on both banks of the river.

The Man told Ezekiel, “These waters go out to the eastern region, flow down the steep slopes, and go into the Dead Sea. When the flowing waters enter the sea, its water becomes fresh.

Wherever the river flows, every living thing that moves will thrive. There will be great schools of fish, because when these waters enter the sea, it will be fresh. Wherever the river flows, everything will live.

People will stand fishing beside it, from En-gedi to En-eglayim, and it will become a place for spreading nets. It will be like the Mediterranean Sea, having all kinds of fish inhabiting it.

Its marshes and swamps won’t be made fresh (they are salty),

but on both banks of the river will grow up all kinds of fruit trees. Their leaves won’t wither, and their fruitfulness be continuous. They will produce fruit in every month, because their water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for eating, their leaves for healing.”

The God Head proclaims: "These are the boundaries of the portions of land that will be distributed as an inheritance to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph will receive two portions.

What I swore to your ancestors, you will distribute as an inheritance equally. Your Inheritance.

This is the boundary of the land. The northern limit begins at the Mediterranean Sea and goes in the direction of Hethlon toward Lebo-hamath, Zedad,

Berothah, Sibraim (which is between the boundary of Damascus and the boundary of Hamath), and Hazer-hatticon (that is on the boundary of Hauran).

So the boundary from the Mediterranean Sea to Hazar-enon will run north of the boundary of Damascus, with the boundary of Hamath to the north. This is the northern edge.

For the eastern limit, you will measure continuously between Hauran and Damascus and between Gilead and the land of Israel, along the Jordan River as far as the Dead Sea. This is the eastern edge.

The southern limit runs from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh and from there along the border of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the southern edge.

The western limit, the Mediterranean Sea is the boundary up to Lebo-hamath. This is the western edge.

You will distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.

When you distribute the land as an inheritance, the immigrants who reside with you and raise families among you are considered full citizens along with the Israelites. They will receive an inheritance along with you among the tribes of Israel.

You will assign the immigrants’ inheritance with the tribe with whom they live. So says the God Head.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And he causeth me to turn back unto the opening of the house; and lo, water is coming forth from under the threshold of the house eastward, for the front of the house [is] eastward, and the water is coming down from beneath, from the right side of the house, from the south of the altar.

2 And he causeth me to go out the way of the gate northward, and causeth me to turn round the way without, unto the gate that [is] without, the way that is looking eastward, and lo, water is coming forth from the right side.

3 In the going out of the man eastward, and a line in his hand, then he measureth a thousand by the cubit, and he causeth me to pass over into water -- water to the ankles.

4 And he measureth a thousand, and causeth me to pass over into water -- water to the knees. And he measureth a thousand, and causeth me to pass over -- water to the loins.

5 And he measureth a thousand -- a stream that I am not able to pass over; for risen have the waters -- waters to swim in -- a stream that is not passed over.

6 And he saith unto me, `Hast thou seen, son of man?' and he leadeth me, and bringeth me back unto the edge of the stream.

7 In my turning back, then, lo, at the edge of the stream [are] very many trees, on this side and on that side.

8 And he saith unto me, `These waters are going forth unto the east circuit, and have gone down unto the desert, and have entered the sea; unto the sea they are brought forth, and the waters have been healed.

9 And it hath come to pass, every living creature that teemeth, whithersoever the streams come, doth live: and there hath been great abundance of fish, for these waters have come thither, and they are healed; and every thing whither the stream cometh hath lived.

10 And it hath come to pass, fishers do stand by it, from En-Gedi even unto En-Eglaim; a spreading place of nets they are; according to their own kind is their fish, as the fish of the great sea, very many.

11 Its miry and its marshy places -- they are not healed; to salt they have been given up.

12 And by the stream there cometh up on its edge, on this side and on that side, every [kind of] fruit-tree whose leaf fadeth not, and not consumed is its fruit, according to its months it yieldeth first-fruits, because its waters from the sanctuary are coming forth; and its fruits hath been for food, and its leaf for medicine.

13 `Thus said the Lord Jehovah: This [is] the border whereby ye inherit the land, according to the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph [hath] portions.

14 And ye have inherited it, one as well as another, in that I have lifted up My hand to give it to your fathers; and this land hath fallen to you in inheritance.

15 `And this [is] the border of the land at the north quarter; from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, at the coming in to Zedad:

16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, that [is] between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazar-Hatticon, that [is] at the coast of Havran.

17 And the border from the sea hath been Hazar-Enan, the border of Damascus, and Zaphon at the north, and the border of Hamath: and [this is] the north quarter.

18 `And the east quarter [is] from between Havran, and Damascus, and Gilead, and the land of Israel, [to] the Jordan; from the border over-against the eastern sea ye measure: and [this is] the east quarter.

19 `And the south quarter southward [is] from Tamar unto the waters of Meriboth-Kadesh, the stream unto the great sea: and [this is] the south quarter southward.

20 `And the west quarter [is] the great sea, from the border till over-against the coming in to Hamath: this [is] the west quarter.

21 `And ye have divided this land to you, according to the tribes of Israel;

22 and it hath come to pass, ye separate it for an inheritance to yourselves, and to the sojourners who are sojourning in your midst, who have begotten sons in your midst, and they have been to you as native, with the sons of Israel, with you they are separated for an inheritance in the midst of the tribes of Israel.

23 And it hath come to pass, in the tribe with which the sojourner sojourneth, there ye give his inheritance -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.

[_LittleNipper]

Ezekiel 48:1-35

These are the tribes’ names: Beginning at the north, along the Hethlon road from Lebo-hamath to Hazar-enon, the boundary of Damascus with Hamath to the north, from the eastern border to the western border: Dan, one segment.

Along the boundary of Dan from the eastern border to the western border: Asher, one segment.

Along the boundary of Asher from the eastern border to the western border: Naphtali, one segment.

Along the boundary of Naphtali from the eastern border to the western border: Manasseh, one segment.

Along the boundary of Manasseh from the eastern border to the western border: Ephraim, one segment .

Along the boundary of Ephraim from the eastern border to the western border: Reuben, one segment.

Along the boundary of Reuben from the eastern border to the western border: Judah, one segment.

Along the territory of Judah, from east to west, will be the offering you are to set aside, 25,000 [cubits] wide 8 miles, and in length equal to distance between the east and west boundaries of one of the segments, with the sanctuary inside it.

The offering you are to set aside for Lord is to be 8 miles long and three wide.

This holy offering will be for the priests; it will be 8 miles in length along its north and south sides and 3 miles wide along its west and east sides. The Lord's sanctuary will be inside it.

The portion set aside as holy will be for the priests who are descendants of Zadok that remained faithful to my commission and did not go astray when the people of Israel and Levites strayed.

It is to be an especially holy segment set apart for them and taken from the offering of the land, next to the border of the Levites.

Along the territory for the priests, the Levites are to have a total portion 8 miles long and 3 wide.

They may not sell, exchange or alienate any of this choice land; because it is holy, for the Lord.

The 5,000 [cubits, that is, 1 1/2miles that are left of the width is to be for the common use of the city, for housing and for open fields. The city will be inside it.

and will measure 4,500 cubits [just under 1 1/2 miles] square.

The city is to have outside it a border of land 440 feet wide on each side — north, south, east and west.

A strip next to the holy offering extending 3 miles to the east and three to the west is to be left. This area by the holy offering is to be used to grow food for those serving the city.

The people from all the tribes of Israel who serve in the city will farm it.

The entire offering will be 8 miles square, including the section for the city.

What remains will be for the prince — the land on the two sides of the holy offering and section for the city, that is, the portion eastward from the 8 miles of the offering’s eastern border to the land’s eastern border and the segment westward from the 8 miles of the offering’s western border to the land’s western border — this land adjacent to the tribal segments will be for the prince, with the holy offering and the sanctuary of the house inside it.

Thus the land belonging to the Levites and the section for the city will be inside that which belongs to the prince.

The territory belonging to the prince will be between the territory of Judah and the territory of Benjamin —

Bringing us to the rest of the tribes:

South of this special segment will be the land that belongs to the rest of Israel’s tribes. Each tribe will receive a section of land that runs from the eastern border of Israel west to the Mediterranean Sea. The tribes will receive their share of land in the following order, from north to south: Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad.

Gad’s southern border is also the southern border of Israel. It will begin at the town of Tamar, then run southwest to the springs near Meribath-Kadesh. It will continue along the Egyptian Gorge and end at the Mediterranean Sea.

That’s how the land of Israel will be divided among the twelve tribes. I, the Lord God, have spoken.

The Lord said:

The city of Jerusalem will have 12 gates, 3 on each of the four sides of the city wall. These gates will be named after the twelve tribes of Israel.

The gates of Reuben, Judah, and Levi will be in the north.

Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan will be in the east.

Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun will be in the south.

Gad, Asher, and Naphtali will be in the west. Each side of the city wall will be 1 1/2 mile long,

and so the total length of the wall will be 6 miles. The new name of the city will be ANDONAI SHAMAH “The-Lord-Is-Here!”


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

And these [are] the names of the tribes: From the north end unto the side of the way of Hethlon, at the coming in to Hamath, Hazar-Enan, the border of Damascus northward, unto the side of Hamath, and they have been his -- side east and west, Dan one,

2 and by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, Asher one,

3 and by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, Naphtali one,

4 and by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, Manasseh one,

5 and by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, Ephraim one,

6 and by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, Reuben one,

7 and by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, Judah one,

8 and by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side is the heave-offering that ye lift up, five and twenty thousand broad and long, as one of the parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary hath been in its midst.

9 The heave-offering that ye lift up to Jehovah [is] five and twenty thousand long, and broad ten thousand.

10 And of these is the holy heave-offering for the priests, northward five and twenty thousand, and westward [in] breadth ten thousand, and eastward [in] breadth ten thousand, and southward [in] length five and twenty thousand: and the sanctuary of Jehovah hath been in its midst.

11 For the priests who are sanctified of the sons of Zadok, who have kept My charge, who erred not in the erring of the sons of Israel, as the Levites erred,

12 even the heave-offering hath been to them, out of the heave-offering of the land, most holy, by the border of the Levites.

13 `And [to] the Levites over-against the border of the priests [are] five and twenty thousand [in] length, and [in] breadth ten thousand, all the length [is] five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.

14 And they do not sell of it, nor exchange, nor cause to pass away the first-fruit of the land: for [it is] holy to Jehovah.

15 And the five thousand that is left in the breadth, on the front of the five and twenty thousand, is common -- for the city, for dwelling, and for suburb, and the city hath been in its midst.

16 And these [are] its measures: the north side five hundred, and four thousand, and the south side five hundred, and four thousand, and on the east side five hundred, and four thousand, and the west side five hundred, and four thousand.

17 And the suburb to the city hath been northward, fifty and two hundred, and southward, fifty and two hundred, and eastward, fifty and two hundred, and westward, fifty and two hundred.

18 `And the residue in length over-against the heave-offering of the holy [portion is] ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward, and it hath been over-against the heave-offering of the holy [portion], and its increase hath been for food to the servants of the city,

19 even [to] him who is serving the city, they serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.

20 All the heave-offering [is] five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand, square do ye lift up the heave-offering of the holy [portion] with the possession of the city.

21 `And the residue [is] for the prince, on this side and on that side of the heave-offering of the holy [portion], and of the possession of the city, on the front of the five and twenty thousand of the heave-offering unto the east border, and westward, on the front of the five and twenty thousand on the west border, over-against the portions of the prince; and the heave-offering of the holy [portion], and the sanctuary of the house, hath been in its midst.

22 And from the possession of the Levites, from the possession of the city, in the midst of that which is to the prince, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, there is to the prince.

23 `As to the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin one,

24 and by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon one,

25 and by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar one,

26 and by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun one,

27 and by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad one,

28 and by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border hath been from Tamar [to] the waters of Meriboth-Kadesh, the stream by the great sea.

29 This [is] the land that ye separate by inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these [are] their portions -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.

30 `And these [are] the outgoings of the city on the north side, five hundred, and four thousand measures.

31 And the gates of the city [are] according to the names of the tribes of Israel; three gates northward: the gate of Reuben one, the gate of Judah one, the gate of Levi one.

32 And on the east side five hundred, and four thousand, and three gates: the gate of Joseph one, the gate of Benjamin one, the gate of Dan one.

33 And the south side five hundred, and four thousand measures, and three gates: the gate of Simeon one, the gate of Issachar one, the gate of Zebulun one.

34 The west side five hundred, and four thousand, their gates three: the gate of Gad one, the gate of Asher one, the gate of Naphtali one.

35 Round about [is] eighteen thousand, and the renown of the city [is] from the day Jehovah [is] there.'

[_LittleNipper]

50 Bible People Confirmed in Authentic Inscriptions

For a timeline and better view of this chart, see pp. 46–47 of the March/April 2014 issue of BAR.


Egypt


Name

Who was He?

When He reigned or Flourished B.C.E.

Where in the Bible?



1

Shishak (= Shoshenq I)

pharaoh

945–924

1 Kings 11:40, etc.


2

So (= Osorkon IV)

pharaoh

730–715

2 Kings 17:4


3

Tirhakah (= Taharqa)

pharaoh

690–664

2 Kings 19:9, etc.


4

Necho II (= Neco II)

pharaoh

610–595

2 Chronicles 35:20, etc.


5

Hophra (= Apries)

pharaoh

589–570

Jeremiah 44:30


Moab


6

Mesha

king

early to mid-ninth century

2 Kings 3:4–27


Aram-Damascus


7

Hadadezer

king

early ninth century to 844/842

1 Kings 11:23, etc.


8

Ben-hadad, son of Hadadezer

king

844/842

2 Kings 6:24, etc.


9

Hazael

king

844/842–c. 800

1 Kings 19:15, etc.


10

Ben-hadad, son of Hazael

king

early eighth century

2 Kings 13:3, etc.


11

Rezin

king

mid-eighth century to 732

2 Kings 15:37, etc.


Northern Kingdom of Israel


12

Omri

king

884–873

1 Kings 16:16, etc.


13

Ahab

king

873–852

1 Kings 16:28, etc.


14

Jehu

king

842/841–815/814

1 Kings 19:16, etc.


15

Joash (= Jehoash)

king

805–790

2 Kings 13:9, etc.


16

Jeroboam II

king

790–750/749

2 Kings 13:13, etc.


17

Menahem

king

749–738

2 Kings 15:14, etc.


18

Pekah

king

750(?)–732/731

2 Kings 15:25, etc.


19

Hoshea

king

732/731–722

2 Kings 15:30, etc.


20

Sanballat “I”

governor of Samaria under Persian rule

c. mid-fifth century

Nehemiah 2:10, etc.


Southern Kingdom of Judah


21

David

king

c. 1010–970

1 Samuel 16:13, etc.


22

Uzziah (= Azariah)

king

788/787–736/735

2 Kings 14:21, etc.


23

Ahaz (= Jehoahaz)

king

742/741–726

2 Kings 15:38, etc.


24

Hezekiah

king

726–697/696

2 Kings 16:20, etc.


25

Manasseh

king

697/696–642/641

2 Kings 20:21, etc.


26

Hilkiah

high priest during Josiah’s reign

within 640/639–609

2 Kings 22:4, etc.


27

Shaphan

scribe during Josiah’s reign

within 640/639–609

2 Kings 22:3, etc.


28

Azariah

high priest during Josiah’s reign

within 640/639–609

1 Chronicles 5:39, etc.


29

Gemariah

official during Jehoiakim’s reign

within 609–598

Jeremiah 36:10, etc.


30

Jehoiachin (= Jeconiah = Coniah)

king

598–597

2 Kings 24:6, etc.


31

Shelemiah

father of Jehucal the royal official

late seventh century

Jeremiah 37:3, etc.


32

Jehucal (= Jucal)

official during Zedekiah’s reign

within 597–586

Jeremiah 37:3, etc.


33

Pashhur

father of Gedaliah the royal official

late seventh century

Jeremiah 38:1


34

Gedaliah

official during Zedekiah’s reign

within 597–586

Jeremiah 38:1


Assyria


35

Tiglath-pileser III (= Pul)

king

744–727

2 Kings 15:19, etc.


36

Shalmaneser V

king

726–722

2 Kings 17:3, etc.


37

Sargon II

king

721–705

Isaiah 20:1


38

Sennacherib

king

704–681

2 Kings 18:13, etc.


39

Adrammelech (= Ardamullissu = Arad-mullissu)

son and assassin of Sennacherib

early seventh century

2 Kings 19:37, etc.


40

Esarhaddon

king

680–669

2 Kings 19:37, etc.


Babylonia


41

Merodach-baladan II

king

721–710 and 703

2 Kings 20:12, etc.


42

Nebuchadnezzar II

king

604–562

2 Kings 24:1, etc.


43

Nebo-sarsekim

official of Nebuchadnezzar II

early sixth century

Jeremiah 39:3


44

Evil-merodach (= Awel Marduk = Amel Marduk)

king

561–560

2 Kings 25:27, etc.


45

Belshazzar

son and co-regent of Nabonidus

c. 543?–540

Daniel 5:1, etc.


Persia


46

Cyrus II (= Cyrus the Great)

king

559–530

2 Chronicles 36:22, etc.


47

Darius I (= Darius the Great)

king

520–486

Ezra 4:5, etc.


48

Xerxes I (= Ahasuerus)

king

486–465

Esther 1:1, etc.


49

Artaxerxes I Longimanus

king

465-425/424

Ezra 4:7, etc.


50

Darius II Nothus

king

425/424-405/404

Nehemiah 12:22

[_LittleNipper]

Daniel 1:1-21

In the 3rd year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and attacked Jerusalem.

The Lord handed King Jehoiakim of Judah and some accessories from God’s temple over to Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar took these accessories to the temple of his god in Babylon and put them in that temple treasury.

Nebuchadnezzar told Ashpenaz, the chief-of-staff, to bring along some of the Israelites, the royal family, and the nobility.

They were to be young men who were healthy, handsome, knowledgeable in all subjects, well-informed, intelligent, and able to serve in the king’s palace. They were to be taught the language and literature of the Babylonians.

The king arranged for them to receive a daily allowance of the king’s rich food and wine. They were to be trained for 3 years. After that, they were to serve the king.

Among these young men were some Judeans named: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

The chief-of-staff gave them Babylonian names: To Daniel he bestowed the name Belteshazzar. To Hananiah the name Shadrach. To Mishael the name Meshach. And to Azariah the name Abednego.

Daniel made up his mind not to harm himself by eating the king’s rich food and drinking the king’s wine. So he asked the chief-of-staff for permission not to harm himself in this way.

God caused the chief-of-staff to be kind and compassionate toward Daniel.

The chief-of-staff told Daniel, “I’m afraid of the king. The king determined what you should eat and drink. If he sees that you look worse than the other young men your age, he would have my head cut off.”

The chief-of-staff put a supervisor in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Daniel said to the supervisor,

“Please perform an experiment for 10 days. Give us only vegetables to eat and water to drink.

Then compare us to the young men who are eating the king’s rich food. Decide how to treat us on the basis of how we appear.”

This supervisor listened to them about this matter and tested them for 10 days.

After 10 days they looked healthier and stronger than the young men who had been eating the king’s rich food.

So the supervisor removed the king’s rich food and wine and gave them vegetables.

God gave these four men knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to understand all kinds of literature. Daniel could also understand all kinds of visions and dreams.

At the end of the 3 year training period, the chief-of-staff brought all the young men to Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar interviewed them and found no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah among the lot. So these four men served the king.

Whenever the king asked them about things that required wisdom and insight, he found that they knew ten times more than all the historians and psychics in his whole kingdom.

Daniel served the royal palace until the 1st year of King Cyrus of Persia


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, come hath Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and layeth siege against it;

2 and the Lord giveth into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the house of God, and he bringeth them in [to] the land of Shinar, [to] the house of his god, and the vessels he hath brought in [to] the treasure-house of his god.

3 And the king saith, to Ashpenaz master of his eunuchs, to bring in out of the sons of Israel, (even of the royal seed, and of the chiefs,)

4 lads in whom there is no blemish, and of good appearance, and skilful in all wisdom, and possessing knowledge, and teaching thought, and who have ability to stand in the palace of the king, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

5 And the king doth appoint for them a rate, day by day, of the king's portion of food, and of the wine of his drinking, so as to nourish them three years, that at the end thereof they may stand before the king.

6 And there are among them out of the sons of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

7 and the chief of the eunuchs setteth names on them, and he setteth on Daniel, Belteshazzar; and on Hananiah, Shadrach; and on Mishael, Meshach; and on Azariah, Abed-Nego.

8 And Daniel purposeth in his heart that he will not pollute himself with the king's portion of food, and with the wine of his drinking, and he seeketh of the chief of the eunuchs that he may not pollute himself.

9 And God giveth Daniel for kindness and for mercies before the chief of the eunuchs;

10 and the chief of the eunuchs saith to Daniel, `I am fearing my lord the king, who hath appointed your food and your drink, for why doth he see your faces sadder than [those of] the lads which [are] of your circle? then ye have made my head indebted to the king,'

11 And Daniel saith unto the Meltzar, whom the chief of the eunuchs hath appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 `Try, I pray thee, thy servants, ten days; and they give to us of the vegetables, and we eat, and water, and we drink;

13 and our appearance is seen before thee, and the appearance of the lads who are eating the king's portion of food, and as thou seest -- deal with thy servants.'

14 And he hearkeneth to them, to this word, and trieth them ten days:

15 and at the end of ten days their appearance hath appeared better and fatter in flesh then any of the lads who are eating the king's portion of food.

16 And the Meltzar is taking away their portion of food, and the wine of their drink, and is giving to them vegetables.

17 As to these four lads, God hath given to them knowledge and understanding in every [kind of] literature, and wisdom; and Daniel hath given instruction about every [kind of] vision and dreams.

18 And at the end of the days that the king had said to bring them in, bring them in doth the chief of the eunuchs before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 And the king speaketh with them, and there hath none been found among them all like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and they stand before the king;

20 and [in] any matter of wisdom [and] understanding that the king hath sought of them, he findeth them ten hands above all the scribes, the enchanters, who [are] in all his kingdom.

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

[_LittleNipper]

Daniel 2:1-49

During the 2nd year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had such disconcerting nightmares that he could not sleep.

So he called in his counselors, advisors, magicians, and wise men,

and said, “I'm upset by this dream that I cannot comprehend, and I want you to explain it.”

They answered in Aramaic, “Your Majesty, we wish you to live eternally! We are your servants. Tell us your dream, and we will explain its meaning.”

But the king replied, “No! I have decided that if you don’t tell me both the dream and its meaning, you will be chopped to pieces and your houses will be torn down.

However, if you do tell me both the dream and its meaning, you will be greatly rewarded and highly honored. Now tell me the dream and explain its meaning.”

“Your Majesty,” they said, “if you will only tell us your dream, we will interpret it for you.”

The king replied, “You’re stalling for time,

because you know what’s going to happen if you don’t come up with the answer. You’ve decided to make up some lies, hoping I might change my mind. Now tell me the dream, and that will prove that you can interpret it.”

His advisors explained, “Your Majesty, you're expecting the impossible! No king, not even the most famous and powerful, has ever ordered his advisors, magicians, or wise men to do this.

It can’t be done, except by the gods, and they don’t live on earth.”

The king was so enraged that he gave orders for every wise man in Babylon to be executed, including Daniel and his three friends.

Arioch was the king’s official in charge of carrying out these executions. He was about to have it carried out, when Daniel very wisely went to him

and asked, “Why did the king give such a cruel order?” After Arioch explained what had happened,

Daniel ran and said to the king, “If you will just give me some time, I’ll explain your dream.”

Daniel returned home and told his 3 comrades.

Then he said, “Pray that the God who rules from heaven will be merciful and explain this mystery, so that we and the others won’t be executed.”

By a vision one night, Daniel was shown the dream and its meaning. Then he praised the God who rules from heaven:

“Our God, your name will be praised eternally. You are all-mighty, and you know everything.

You control human events—you give rulers their abilities and take them away and you are the source of wisdom and knowledge.

You explain deep mysteries, because even the dark is light to you.

You are the God who was worshiped by my ancestors. Now I thank you and praise you for making me wise and telling me the king’s dream, including its meaning.”

Daniel Interprets the Dream

Daniel returned to Arioch, the official in charge of executing the wise men. Daniel said, “Don’t kill those men! Take me to the king, and I will explain the meaning of his dream.”

Arioch hurried Daniel to the king and announced, “Your Majesty, I have heared that one of the men brought from Judah can explain your dream.”

The king asked Daniel, “Can you tell me my dream and what it means?”

Daniel answered: Your Majesty, not even the smartest person in all the world can do what you are demanding.

But the God who rules from heaven can explain mysteries. And while you were sleeping, He revealed to you the future.

However, you must understand that these mysteries weren’t explained to me because I am smarter than everyone else. Instead, it was done so that you would understand what you have observed.

Your Majesty, what you saw standing in front of you was a huge and awesome statue, gleaming.

Its head was made of gold, its chest and arms silver, and from its waist down to its knees, it was bronze.

From there to its ankles it was iron, and its feet were a mixture of iron and clay.

As you watched, a stone was cut from a mountain—but not by human hands. This stone landed on the feet, completely smashing the iron and clay.

Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were crushed and blown away without a trace, like husks of wheat at threshing time. But the stone developed into a fantastic mountain that covered all the entire earth.

This was the dream, and now I'll explain its meaning.

Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings, and God has highly honored you with power

over all humans, animals, and birds. You are the head of gold.

After you pass on, another kingdom will take over, but it won’t be as strong. Then it will be followed by a kingdom of bronze that will rule the whole world.

Next, a kingdom of iron will come to power, crushing and shattering everything.

This fourth kingdom will be divided — being both strong and brittle, just as you observed that the feet and toes were a mixture of iron and clay.

This kingdom will be the result of a treaty between kingdoms, but it will crumble, just as iron and clay don’t hold together.

During the time of those kings, the God who rules from heaven will set up an eternal kingdom that will never collapse. It will be like the stone that was separated from the mountain, but not by human hands ---- the stone that smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. Your Majesty, in your dream the great God has told you what is going to happen, and you can trust this interpretation.

King Nebuchadnezzar bowed low to the ground and paid homage to Daniel. Then he gave orders for incense to be burned and a sacrifice of grain to be offered in honor of Daniel.

The king said, “Now I know that your God is far beyond all other gods and kings, because He gave you the power to explain this mystery.”

The king then presented Daniel with many gifts; he promoted him to governor of Babylon Province and put him in charge of the other wise men.

At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to high positions in Babylon Province, and he let Daniel remain as a palace official.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, dreamed hath Nebuchadnezzar dreams, and his spirit doth move itself, and his sleep hath been against him;

2 and the king saith to call for scribes, and for enchanters, and for sorcerers, and for Chaldeans, to declare to the king his dreams. And they come in and stand before the king;

3 and the king saith to them, `A dream I have dreamed, and moved is my spirit to know the dream.'

4 And the Chaldeans speak to the king [in] Aramaean, `O king, to the ages live, tell the dream to thy servants, and the interpretation we do shew.'

5 The king hath answered and said to the Chaldeans, `The thing from me is gone; if ye do not cause me to know the dream and its interpretation, pieces ye are made, and your houses are made dunghills;

6 and if the dream and its interpretation ye do shew, gifts, and fee, and great glory ye receive from before me, therefore the dream and its interpretation shew ye me.'

7 They have answered a second time, and are saying, `Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and the interpretation we do shew.

8 The king hath answered and said, `Of a truth I know that time ye are gaining, because that ye have seen that the thing is gone from me,

9 [so] that, if the dream ye do not cause me to know -- one is your sentence, seeing a word lying and corrupt ye have prepared to speak before me, till that the time is changed, therefore the dream tell ye to me, then do I know that its interpretation ye do shew me.'

10 The Chaldeans have answered before the king, and are saying, `There is not a man on the earth who is able to shew the king's matter; therefore, no king, chief, and ruler, hath asked such a thing as this of any scribe, and enchanter, and Chaldean;

11 and the thing that the king is asking [is] precious, and others are there not that do shew it before the king, save the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.'

12 Therefore the king hath been angry and very wroth, and hath said to destroy all the wise men of Babylon;

13 And the sentence hath gone forth, and the wise men are being slain, and they have sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.

14 Then Daniel hath replied [with] counsel and discretion to Arioch chief of the executioners of the king, who hath gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon.

15 He hath answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, `Wherefore [is] the sentence so urgent from before the king?' Then Arioch hath made the thing known to Daniel,

16 and Daniel hath gone up, and sought of the king that he would give him time to shew the interpretation to the king.

17 Then Daniel to his house hath gone, and to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, he hath made the thing known,

18 and to seek mercies from before the God of the heavens concerning this secret, that they destroy not Daniel and his companions with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 Then to Daniel, in a vision of the night, the secret hath been revealed. Then hath Daniel blessed the God of the heavens.

20 Daniel hath answered and said, `Let the name of God be blessed from age even unto age, for wisdom and might -- for they are His.

21 And He is changing times and seasons, He is causing kings to pass away, and He is raising up kings; He is giving wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those possessing understanding.

22 He is revealing deep and hidden things; He hath known what [is] in darkness, and light with Him hath dwelt.

23 Thee, O God of my fathers, I am thanking and praising, for wisdom and might Thou hast given to me; and now, Thou hast caused me to know that which we have sought from Thee, for the king's matter Thou hast caused us to know.'

24 Therefore Daniel hath gone up unto Arioch, whom the king hath appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he hath gone, and thus hath said to him, `The wise men of Babylon thou dost not destroy, bring me up before the king, and the interpretation to the king I do shew.'

25 Then Arioch in haste hath brought up Daniel before the king, and thus hath said to him -- `I have found a man of the sons of the Removed of Judah, who the interpretation to the king doth make known.'

26 The king hath answered and said to Daniel, whose name [is] Belteshazzar, `Art thou able to cause me to know the dream that I have seen, and its interpretation?'

27 Daniel hath answered before the king and said, `The secret that the king is asking, the wise men, the enchanters, the scribes, the soothsayers, are not able to shew to the king;

28 but there is a God in the heavens, a revealer of secrets, and He hath made known to king Nebuchadnezzar that which [is] to be in the latter end of the days. `Thy dream and the visions of thy head on thy bed are these:

29 Thou, O king, thy thoughts on thy bed have come up [concerning] that which [is] to be after this, and the Revealer of secrets hath caused thee to know that which [is] to be.

30 As to me -- not for [any] wisdom that is in me above any living hath this secret been revealed to me; but for the intent that the interpretation to the king they make known, and the thoughts of thy heart thou dost know.

31 `Thou, O king, wast looking, and lo, a certain great image. This image [is] mighty, and its brightness excellent; it is standing over-against thee, and its appearance [is] terrible.

32 This image! its head [is] of good gold, its breasts and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of brass;

33 its legs of iron, its feet, part of them of iron, and part of them of clay.

34 Thou wast looking till that a stone hath been cut out without hands, and it hath smitten the image on its feet, that [are] of iron and of clay, and it hath broken them small;

35 then broken small together have been the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, and they have been as chaff from the summer threshing-floor, and carried them away hath the wind, and no place hath been found for them: and the stone that smote the image hath become a great mountain, and hath filled all the land.

36 This [is] the dream, and its interpretation we do tell before the king.

37 `Thou, O king, art a king of kings, for the God of the heavens a kingdom, strength, and might, and glory, hath given to thee;

38 and whithersoever sons of men are dwelling, the beast of the field, and the fowl of the heavens, He hath given into thy hand, and hath caused thee to rule over them all; thou [art] this head of gold.

39 And after thee doth rise up another kingdom lower than those, and another third kingdom of brass, that doth rule overall the earth.

40 And the fourth kingdom is strong as iron, because that iron is breaking small, and making feeble, all [things], even as iron that is breaking all these, it beateth small and breaketh.

41 As to that which thou hast seen: the feet and toes, part of them potter's clay, and part of them iron, the kingdom is divided: and some of the standing of the iron [is] to be in it, because that thou hast seen the iron mixed with miry clay.

42 As to the toes of the feet, part of them iron, and part of them clay: some part of the kingdom is strong, and some part of it is brittle.

43 Because thou hast seen iron mixed with miry clay, they are mixing themselves with the seed of men: and they are not adhering one with another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

44 `And in the days of these kings raise up doth the God of the heavens a kingdom that is not destroyed -- to the age, and its kingdom to another people is not left: it beateth small and endeth all these kingdoms, and it standeth to the age.

45 Because that thou hast seen that out of the mountain cut hath been a stone without hands, and it hath beaten small the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king that which [is] to be after this; and the dream [is] true, and its interpretation stedfast.

46 Then hath king Nebuchadnezzar fallen on his face, and to Daniel he hath done obeisance, and present, and sweet things, he hath said to pour out to him.

47 The king hath answered 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, since thou hast been able to reveal this secret.'

48 Then the king hath made Daniel great, and many great gifts he hath given to him, and hath caused him to rule over all the province of Babylon, and chief of the perfects over all the wise men of Babylon.

49 And Daniel hath sought from the king, and he hath appointed over the work of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and Daniel [is] in the gate of the king.

[_LittleNipper]

Daniel 3:1-30

King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet high and nine feet wide complete. And positioned it upon the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

He then gathered the leaders: governors, assistant governors, commanders of the soldiers, counselors to the king, treasurers, justices, magistrates, and all other officials of his kingdom. He wanted them to come to the special service to dedicate of the statue he had erected.

So they all came for the dedication and stood in front of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected.

Then the herald proclaimed loudly, “People, nations, and those of every language, this is what you are commanded to do:

When you hear the sound of the horns, flutes, lyres, zithers, harps, pipes, and all the other musical instruments, you must fall down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar erected.

Anyone who doesn’t fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

Now people, nations, and those who spoke every language were present. When they heard the sound of all the musical instruments, they fell down and worshiped the gold statue King Nebuchadnezzar erected.

Then some Babylonians came up to the king and denounced the men of Judah.

They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Oh king, live forever!

Oh king, you commanded that everyone who heard the horns, lyres, zithers, harps, pipes, and all the other musical instruments would have to fall down and worship the gold statue.

Anyone who wouldn’t do so was to be thrown into a blazing furnace.

Oh king, there are some men of Judah whom you made officers in province of Babylon that did not pay attention to your decree. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They do not serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you erected.”

Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and called for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When they were brought to the king,

Nebuchadnezzar said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods nor worship the gold statue I erected?

In a moment you will again hear the orchestra of musical instruments. If you fall down and worship the statue I made, that will be acceptable. But if you do not worship it, you will immediately be thrown into the blazing furnace. What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, saying, “Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves to you.

If you toss us into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from the furnace. He will save us from your power, Oh king.

But even if God does not save us, we want you, Oh king, to know this: We will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have erected.”

Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and his very appearance became distorted. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual.

Then he commanded some of the muscular soldiers in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and toss them into the blazing furnace.

So ·Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace while still wearing their robes, trousers, turbans, and other accessories.

The king’s command was urgent, and the furnace was made so hot that the flames killed the muscular soldiers who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace.

Firmly tied, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the blazing furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was so astounded that he jumped to his feet. He asked the men who advised him, “Didn’t we tie up only three men and throw them into the fire?”

They answered, "Yes, Oh king.”

The king said, “Look! I see 4 men walking around in the fire. They are not tied up, and they are not incinerated. The fourth man appears to be divine.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, come out! Servants of the Most High God, come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.

When they came out, the governors, assistant governors, commanders of the soldiers, and royal counselors crowded around them and saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies. Their hair was not singed, their robes were not burned, and they didn’t even smell smokey!

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Their God has sent His messenger and rescued his servants from the fire! These three men trusted their God and defied my command. They were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god other than their own God.

So I now make this decree: Anyone from any nation or language who says anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and have his house reduced to a pile of stones. No other god can save His people like this.”

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king hath made an image of gold, its height sixty cubits, its breadth six cubits; he hath raised it up in the valley of Dura, in the province of Babylon;

2 and Nebuchadnezzar the king hath sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the honourable judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the province, to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up.

3 Then are gathered the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the honourable judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the province, to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up: and they are standing before the image that Nebuchadnezzar hath raised up.

4 And a crier is calling mightily: `To you they are saying: O peoples, nations, and languages!

5 at the time that ye hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, the symphony, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and do obeisance to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up:

6 and whoso doth not fall down and do obeisance, in that hour he is cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.'

7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples are hearing the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and all kinds of music, falling down are all the peoples, nations and languages, doing obeisance to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up.

8 Therefore at that time drawn near have certain Chaldeans, and accused the Jews;

9 they have answered, yea, they are saying to Nebuchadnezzar the king, `O king, to the ages live!

10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree that every man who doth hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and the symphony, and all kinds of music, doth fall down and do obeisance to the golden image;

11 and whoso doth not fall down and do obeisance, is cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast appointed over the work of the province of Babylon -- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, these men have not made of thee, O king, [any] regard; thy gods they are not serving, and to the golden image thou hast raised up -- are not making obeisance.'

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in anger and fury, hath said to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Then these men have been brought in before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar hath answered and said to them, `Is [it] a laid plan, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego -- my gods ye are not serving, and to the golden image that I have raised up ye are not doing obeisance?

15 Now, lo, ye are ready, so that at the time that ye hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and the symphony, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and do obeisance to the image that I have made! -- and lo, ye do no obeisance -- in that hour ye are cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; who is that God who doth deliver you out of my hands?'

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego have answered, yea, they are saying to the king Nebuchadnezzar, `We have no need concerning this matter to answer thee.

17 Lo, it is; our God whom we are serving, is able to deliver us from a burning fiery furnace; and from thy hand, O king, He doth deliver.

18 And lo -- not! be it known to thee, O king, that thy gods we are not serving, and to the golden image thou hast raised up we do no obeisance.'

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar hath been full of fury, and the expression of his face hath been changed concerning Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; he answered and said to heat the furnace seven times above that which it is seen to be heated;

20 and to certain mighty men who [are] in his force he hath said to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, to cast into the burning fiery furnace.

21 Then these men have been bound in their coats, their tunics, and their turbans, and their clothing, and have been cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

22 Therefore, because that the word of the king is urgent, and the furnace heated exceedingly, those men who have taken up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego -- killed them hath the spark of the fire.

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, have fallen down in the midst of the burning fiery furnace -- bound.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king hath been astonished, and hath risen in haste; he hath answered and said to his counsellors, `Have we not cast three men into the midst of the fire -- bound?' They have answered and are saying to the king, `Certainly, O king.'

25 He answered and hath said, `Lo, I am seeing four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the appearance of the fourth [is] like to a son of the gods.'

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar hath drawn near to the gate of the burning fiery furnace; he hath answered and said, `Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of God Most High come forth, yea, come;' then come forth do Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, from the midst of the fire;

27 and gathered together, the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, and the counsellors of the king, are seeing these men, that the fire hath no power over their bodies, and the hair of their head hath not been singed, and their coats have not changed, and the smell of fire hath not passed on them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar hath answered and hath said, `Blessed [is] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who hath sent His messenger, and hath delivered His servants who trusted on Him, and the word of the king changed, and gave up their bodies that they might not serve nor do obeisance to any god except to their own God.

29 And by me a decree is made, that any people, nation, and language, that doth speak erroneously concerning the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, pieces he is made, and its house is made a dunghill, because that there is no other god who is able thus to deliver.'

30 Then the king hath caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, to prosper in the province of Babylon

[_LittleNipper]

Daniel 4:1-37

“King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and language groups that live in all the land: Peace and prosperity!

I am happy to reveal the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me.

How awesome are His signs! How mighty are his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, and his authority continues from generation to generation.

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was relaxing in my palace, living luxuriously.

I saw a dream that shook me badly. The things I envisioned while lying on my bed were terrified me.

So I issued an order for all the wise men of Babylon to be brought to me so that they could make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

When the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners entered, I recounted the dream for them. But they were unable to discern its interpretation to me.

Later Daniel entered (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom rests a spirit of the holy gods). I recounted the dream for him also,

saying, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, in whom I know rests a spirit of the holy gods and whom no mystery baffles, consider my dream that I saw and set forth its interpretation!

Here are the visions of my mind while I laid on my bed.

I was watching and observed a tree in the middle of the land. It was stupendously tall.

The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached far into the sky; it could be seen from everywhere in the land.

Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for everyone. Under it the wild animals sought shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky nested. All creatures used to feed themselves from it.

While I was watching in my mind’s eye upon my bed, a holy sentinel descended from heaven.

He declared loudly as follows: ‘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!

However, leave its taproot in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it surrounded by the grass of the field. Let it get damp with the dew of the sky, and let it live with the animals in the plants of the land.

Let his mind be altered from that of a human, and let an animal’s thoughts be given to him, and let seven seasons pass for him.

This announcement is by the declaration from the sentinels; this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones, so that those who live may understand that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms, and He bestows them upon whomever he wishes. He places over them even the lowliest of human beings.’

“This is the vision that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, provide its interpretation, for none of the wise men in my kingdom are able to make known to me the interpretation. But you can do so, for a spirit of the holy gods rests in you.”

Daniel/Belteshazzar was unsettled for a moment; his thoughts were alarming him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream and its interpretation concern you.” But Belteshazzar replied, “Sir, if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation was meant to your adversaries!

The tree that you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky, and which could be seen throughout the land, whose leaves were attractive and its fruit plentiful, and from which there was food available to all, under whose branches wild animals used to live, and in whose branches birds of the sky used to nest— is you, O king! For you have become great and strong. Your greatness is such that it extends heavenward, and your authority to the ends of the earth.

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 pass him’—

this is the interpretation, Oh king! It is the decision of the Most High that this has happened to my lord the king.

You will be an outcast of society, and you will survive among wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and you will become damp with the dew of the sky. Seven periods will pass by for you, before you understand that the Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever He wants.

They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven rules.

Therefore, Oh king, may my advice please you. Discontinue your sins by doing what is correct, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged.”

Now this is what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

After 12 months, he happened to be strolling around on the battlements of the royal palace of Babylon.

The king said these words: “Is this not great the Babylon that I have erected for a royal residence by my own mighty power and for my majestic honor?”

While these words were still on the king’s lips, a voice came down from heaven: “It is hereby announced to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingdom has been taken from you!

You will be driven from human society, and you will live among wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven seasons will pass before you understand that the Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever He decides.”

At that moment this pronouncement about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven from society, he ate grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until all his hair became long like an eagle’s feathers, and his nails like a bird’s claws.

But at the end of the appointed time I, Nebuchadnezzar, peered heavenward, and my sanity returned.

I was enthusiastic regarding the Most High, and I praised and glorified the Eternal One. For His authority is forever and always, and his kingdom extends from one generation to another.

Everyone of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He wants with the army of heaven and with those who inhabit the earth. No one slaps His hand and says to Him, ‘How dare You!’

At that moment my sanity returned to me. I was restored to the position of my kingdom, and my splendor was handed back to me. My ministers and my nobles were seeking me out, and I was reinstated over my kingdom. I became even greater than before.

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His deeds are correct and his actions are just. He is able to bring down those who live pridefully.

[It would seem that Nebuchadnezzar became a saved individual.]


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 `Nebuchadnezzar the king to all peoples, nations, and languages, who are dwelling in all the earth: Your peace be great!

2 The signs and wonders that God Most High hath done with me, it is good before me to shew.

3 His signs how great! and His wonders how mighty! His kingdom [is] a kingdom age-during, and His rule [is] with generation and generation.

4 `I, Nebuchadnezzar, have been at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace:

5 a dream I have seen, and it maketh me afraid, and the conceptions on my bed, and the visions of my head, do trouble me.

6 And by me a decree is made, to cause all the wise men of Babylon to come up before me, that the interpretation of the dream they may cause me to know.

7 Then coming up are the scribes, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and the dream I have told before them, and its interpretation they are not making known to me.

8 And at last come up before me hath Daniel, whose name [is] Belteshazzar -- according to the name of my god -- and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods, and the dream before him I have told:

9 `O Belteshazzar, master of the scribes, as I have known that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee, and no secret doth press thee, the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation, tell.

10 As to the visions of my head on my bed, I was looking, and lo, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height [is] great:

11 become great hath the tree, yea, strong, and its height doth reach to the heavens, and its vision to the end of the whole land;

12 its leaves [are] fair, and its budding great, and food for all [is] in it: under it take shade doth the beast of the field, and in its boughs dwell do the birds of the heavens, and of it fed are all flesh.

13 `I was looking, in the visions of my head on my bed, and lo, a sifter, even a holy one, from the heavens is coming down.

14 He is calling mightily, and thus hath said, Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its budding, move away let the beast from under it, and the birds from off its branches;

15 but the stump of its roots leave in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and with the dew of the heavens is it wet, and with the beasts [is] his portion in the herb of the earth;

16 his heart from man's is changed, and the heart of a beast is given to him, and seven times pass over him;

17 by the decree of the sifters [is] the sentence, and by the saying of the holy ones the requirement, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and to whom He willeth He giveth it, and the lowest of men He doth raise up over it.

18 `This dream I have seen, I king Nebuchadnezzar; and thou, O Belteshazzar, the interpretation tell, because that all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to cause me to know the interpretation, and thou [art] able, for the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee.

19 `Then Daniel, whose name [is] Belteshazzar, hath been astonished about one hour, and his thoughts do trouble him; the king hath answered and said, O Belteshazzar, let not the dream and its interpretation trouble thee. Belteshazzar hath answered and said, My lord, the dream -- to those hating thee, and its interpretation -- to thine enemies!

20 The tree that thou hast seen, that hath become great and strong, and its height doth reach to the heavens, and its vision to all the land,

21 and its leaves [are] fair, and its budding great, and food for all [is] in it, under it dwell doth the beast of the field, and on its boughs sit do the birds of the heavens.

22 `Thou it [is], O king, for thou hast become great and mighty, and thy greatness hath become great, and hath reached to the heavens, and thy dominion to the end of the earth;

23 and that which the king hath seen -- a sifter, even a holy one, coming down from the heavens, and he hath said, Cut down the tree, and destroy it; but the stump of its roots leave in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and with the dew of the heavens it is wet, and with the beast of the field [is] his portion, till that seven times pass over him.

24 `This [is] the interpretation, O king, and the decree of the Most High it [is] that hath come against my lord the king:

25 and they are driving thee away from men, and with the beast of the field is thy dwelling, and the herb as oxen they do cause thee to eat, and by the dew of the heavens they are wetting thee, and seven times do pass over thee, till that thou knowest that the Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and to whom He willeth He giveth it.

26 And that which they said -- to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom for thee abideth, after that thou knowest that the heavens are ruling.

27 `Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and thy sins by righteousness break off, and thy perversity by pitying the poor, lo, it is a lengthening of thine ease.

28 `All -- hath come on Nebuchadnezzar the king.

29 `At the end of twelve months, on the palace of the kingdom of Babylon he hath been walking;

30 the king hath answered and said, Is not this that great Babylon that I have built, for the house of the kingdom, in the might of my strength, and for the glory of mine honour?

31 `While the word is [in] the king's mouth a voice from the heavens hath fallen: To thee they are saying: O Nebuchadnezzar the king, the kingdom hath passed from thee,

32 and from men they are driving thee away, and with the beast of the field [is] thy dwelling, the herb as oxen they do cause thee to eat, and seven times do pass over thee, till that thou knowest that the Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and to whom He willeth He giveth it.

33 `In that hour the thing hath been fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar, and from men he is driven, and the herb as oxen he eateth, and by the dew of the heavens his body is wet, till that his hair as eagles' hath become great, and his nails as birds.'

34 `And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, mine eyes to the heavens have lifted up, and mine understanding unto me returneth, and the Most High I have blessed, and the Age-during Living One I have praised and honoured, whose dominion [is] a dominion age-during, and His kingdom with generation and generation;

35 and all who are dwelling on the earth as nothing are reckoned, and according to his will He is doing among the forces of the heavens and those dwelling on the earth, and there is none that doth clap with his hand, and saith to Him, What hast Thou done?

36 `At that time my understanding doth return unto me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honour and my brightness doth return unto me, and to me my counsellors and my great men do seek, and over my kingdom I have been made right, and abundant greatness hath been added to me.

37 `Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, am praising and exalting and honouring the King of the heavens, for all His works [are] truth, and His paths judgment, and those walking in pride He is able to humble.'

[_LittleNipper]

Daniel 5:1-31

One evening, King Belshazzar gave a stupendous banquet for a 1000 of his highest officials --- drinking wine with them.

He got drunk and ordered his servants to fetch the gold and silver cups his father Nebuchadnezzar had removed from the temple in Jerusalem. Belshazzar wanted the cups, so that he and all his wives and officials could use them.

When the gold cups were distributed, everyone at the banquet drank from them -- praising their idols fabricated of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

Suddenly a human hand was observed writing on the plastered wall of the palace. The hand appeared just behind the lampstand, and the king could see it writing.

He was so frightened that his face paled, his knees shook, and his legs wobbled.

The king summoned his advisors, who claimed they could talk with the spirits of the dead and read the meaning of the heavens. He told them, “The man who can read this writing and tell me what it means will become the 3rd most powerful man in my kingdom. He will wear robes of royal purple and a gold chain around his neck.”

All of King Belshazzar’s highest officials arrived, but not one of them could decipher the writing or tell what it meant,

They were completely puzzled. Now the king was even more shook-up than ever before, and his face turned ghostlike.

When the queen heard the king and his officials talking, she entered and said,

"Your Majesty, live an eternity! Don’t fear or look so drained.

In your kingdom there is a man who has been given special powers by the holy gods. When your father Nebuchadnezzar was king, this man was known to be as smart, intelligent, and understanding as the gods themselves. Your father put him in charge of all who claimed they could talk with the spirits or understand the meanings in the stars or tell about the future.

He also changed the man’s name from Daniel to Belteshazzar. Not only is he wise and intelligent, but he can decipher dreams and riddles and solve difficult problems. Send for Daniel, and he will tell you the meaning of the writing.

Daniel was brought, and the king said,

"So you are Daniel, one of the captives my father brought out of Judah!

I was told that the gods have given you special abilities and that you are intelligent and very wise.

Neither my advisors nor the men who talk with the spirits of the dead could read this writing or tell me it meaning.

But I have been told that you understand everything and that you can solve difficult problems. Now then, if you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will become the 3rd most powerful man in my kingdom. You will wear royal purple robes and have a gold chain around your neck."

Daniel answered,

"Your Majesty, I will read the writing and tell you what it means. But you may keep your gifts or hand them to someone else.

Sir, the Most High God made your father a great and powerful man and brought him much honor and glory.

God did such great things for him that people of all nations and races trembled in fear.

Your father had the power of life or death over everyone, and he could honor or destroy anyone he chose.

But when he became proud and stubborn, his glorious kingdom was taken from him.

His mind became like that of an animal, and he was forced to stay away from people and live with wild donkeys. Your father ate grass like an ox, and he slept outside where his body was soaked with dew. He was forced to do this until he learned that the Most High God rules all kingdoms on earth and selected the kings.

King Belshazzar, you heared all of this, but you still refused to honor the Lord who rules from heaven.

Instead, you turned against Him and ordered the cups from His temple to be brought here, so that you and your wives and officials could drink wine from them. You praised idols made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, even though they cannot see, hear or think. You refused to worship the God who provides breath and exercises power in everything you do.

That’s why He sent the hand to write this message on the wall.

The words written there are mene, which means “numbered,”
tekel, which means “weighed,” and
parsin,[b] which means “divided.”
God has numbered the days of your kingdom and has brought it to a close. He has weighed you on his balance scales, and you fall short of what it takes to rule. So God has divided your kingdom between the Medes and the Persians.

Belshazzar gave a command for Daniel to be made the 3rd most powerful man in his kingdom and to be given a purple robe and a gold chain.

That same night, the king was killed.

Then Darius the Mede at age 62, took over his kingdom.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Belshazzar the king hath made a great feast to a thousand of his great men, and before the thousand he is drinking wine;

2 Belshazzar hath said -- while tasting the wine -- to bring in the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple that [is] in Jerusalem, that drink with them may the king, and his great men, his wives, and his concubines.

3 Then they have brought in the vessels of gold that had been taken out of the temple of the house of God that [is] in Jerusalem, and drunk with them have the king and his great men, his wives and his concubines;

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

5 In that hour come forth have fingers of a man's hand, and they are writing over-against the candlestick, on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king is seeing the extremity of the hand that is writing;

6 then the king's countenance hath changed, and his thoughts do trouble him, and the joints of his loins are loosed, and his knees are smiting one against another.

7 Call doth the king mightily, to bring up the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. Answered hath the king, and said to the wise men of Babylon, that, `Any man who doth read this writing, and its interpretation doth shew me, purple he putteth on, and a bracelet of gold [is] on his neck, and third in the kingdom he doth rule.'

8 Then coming up are all the wise men of the king, and they are not able to read the writing, and the interpretation to make known to the king;

9 then the king Belshazzar is greatly troubled, and his countenance is changing in him, and his great men are perplexed.

10 The queen, on account of the words of the king and his great men, to the banquet-house hath come up. Answered hath the queen, and said, `O king, to the ages live; let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor 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 -- as the wisdom of the gods -- was found in him; and king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, chief of the scribes, enchanters, Chaldeans, soothsayers, established him -- thy father, O king --

12 because that an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of enigmas, and loosing of knots was found in him, in Daniel, whose name the king made Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and the interpretation he doth show.'

13 Then Daniel hath been caused to come up before the king; answered hath the king, and said to Daniel, `Thou art that Daniel who [art] of the sons of the Removed of Judah, whom the king my father brought in out of Judah?

14 And I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods [is] in thee, and light, and understanding, and excellent wisdom have been found in thee.

15 `And now, caused to come up before me have been the wise men, the enchanters, that this writing they may read, and its interpretation to cause me to know: and they are not able to shew the interpretation of the thing:

16 and I -- I have heard of thee, that thou art able to give interpretations, and to loose knots: now, lo -- thou art able to read the writing, and its interpretation to cause me to know -- purple thou dost put on, and a bracelet of gold [is] on thy neck, and third in the kingdom thou dost rule.'

17 Then hath Daniel answered and said before the king, `Thy gifts be to thyself, and thy fee to another give; nevertheless, the writing I do read to the king, and the interpretation I cause him to know;

18 thou, O king, God Most High, a kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and honour, gave to Nebuchadnezzar thy father:

19 and because of the greatness that He gave to him, all peoples, nations, and languages were trembling and fearing before him: whom he willed he was slaying, and whom he willed he was keeping alive, and whom he willed he was raising up, and whom he willed he was making low;

20 and when his heart was high, and his spirit was strong to act proudly, he hath been caused to come down from the throne of his kingdom, and his glory they have caused to pass away from him,

21 and from the sons of men he is driven, and his heart with the beasts hath been like, and with the wild asses [is] his dwelling; the herb like oxen they cause him to eat, and by the dew of the heavens is his body wet, till that he hath known that God Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and whom He willeth He raiseth up over it.

22 `And thou, his son, Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though all this thou hast known;

23 and against the Lord of the heavens thou hast lifted up thyself; and the vessels of His house they have brought in before thee, and thou, and thy great men, thy wives, and thy concubines, are drinking wine with them, and gods of silver, and of gold, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone, that are not seeing, nor hearing, nor knowing, thou hast praised: and the God in whose hand [is] thy breath, and all thy ways, Him thou hast not honoured.

24 `Then from before Him sent is the extremity of the hand, and the writing is noted down;

25 and this [is] the writing that is noted down: Numbered, Numbered, Weighed, and Divided.

26 This [is] the interpretation of the thing: Numbered -- God hath numbered thy kingdom, and hath finished it.

27 Weighed -- Thou art weighed in the balances, and hast been found lacking.

28 Divided -- Divided is thy kingdom, and it hath been given to the Medes and Persians.'

29 Then hath Belshazzar said, and they have clothed Daniel with purple, and a bracelet of gold [is] on his neck, and they have proclaimed concerning him that he is the third ruler in the kingdom.

30 In that night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans is slain,

31 and Darius the Mede hath received the kingdom, when a son of sixty and two years.

[_LittleNipper]

Daniel 6:1-28

Darius decided to set over the kingdom 120 officials, so that they would be over the entire kingdom,

and directing them 3 presidents, of whom Daniel was first, so that the officials might give accounts to them and the king not be interrupted.

Daniel was preferred above the presidents and officials because an excellent spirit possessed him, and the king thought to set him over the entire realm.

Then the other presidents and officials sought to find some issue against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no issue or fault because he was faithful. There was not any error or fault found in him.

Then these men reasoned, “We shall not find any problem against this Daniel, unless we find it against him regarding the law of his God.”

These presidents and officials assembled together to the king, and said to him: “King Darius, be eternal!

All the presidents of the kingdom, governors, officials, counselors, and the captains have reasoned together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever shall appeal to any god or man for 30 days, save of you, Dear king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

Now, Dear king, establish the decree and sign the decree, that it not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be altered.”

So King Darius signed this decree.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house. And his windows being open in his appartment toward Jerusalem, he kneeled on his knees 3 times a daily, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he had been doing all along.

These men assembled and found Daniel praying and begging his God.

Then they came near and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree, that every man who asks a petition of any god or man within 30 days, save of you, Dear king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “This is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be altered.”

Then they replied and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is of the sons of the captivity of Judah, does not regard you, Dear king, or the decree that you signed, but makes petitions 3 times a day.”

The king, when he heard these words, was terribly displeased with himself and set his heart to save Daniel and deliver him working all night.

Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, Dear king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you always serve, He will deliver you.”

A stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own seal and those of his lords so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting, and no instruments of music were brought before him. And he remained sleepless.

The king arose very early in the morning and ran to the den of lions.

When he came to the den, he cried out sorrowfully to Daniel. And the king cried and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you serve continually been able to save you from the lions?”

Daniel answered the king, “Dear king, live eternally!

My God sent His angel and has shut the lions’ mouths so that they have not hurt me, because innocence was found in me before Him; and also before you, Dear king, I have done no harm.”

The king was thrilled for him and commanded that they remove Daniel from out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of harm was found upon him, because he trusted in God.

The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they tossed them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives. And the lions grabbed them and broke all their bones in pieces before they even reached to the bottom of the den.

Then King Darius wrote:

To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied unto you.

“I make a decree that in every area of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before Daniel's God.


“For He is the existing God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and His dominion shall remain forever.

He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has saved Daniel from the might of the lions.”

So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 It hath been good before Darius, and he hath established over the kingdom satraps -- a hundred and twenty -- that they may be throughout the whole kingdom,

2 and higher than they three presidents, of whom Daniel [is] first, that these satraps may give to them an account, and the king have no loss.

3 Then this Daniel hath been overseer over the presidents and satraps, because that an excellent spirit [is] in him, and the king hath thought to establish him over the whole kingdom.

4 Then the presidents and satraps have been seeking to find a cause of complaint against Daniel concerning the kingdom, and any cause of complaint and corruption they are not able to find, because that he [is] faithful, and any error and corruption have not been found in him.

5 Then these men are saying, `We do not find against this Daniel any cause of complaint, except we have found [it] against him in the law of his God.'

6 Then these presidents and satraps have assembled near the king, and thus they are saying to him: `O king Darius, to the ages live!

7 Taken counsel have all the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satraps, the counsellors, and the governors, to establish a royal statute, and to strengthen an interdict, that any who seeketh a petition from any god and man until thirty days, save of thee, O king, is cast into a den of lions.

8 Now, O king, thou dost establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it is not to be changed, as a law of Media and Persia, that doth not pass away.'

9 Therefore king Darius hath signed the writing and interdict.

10 And Daniel, when he hath known that the writing is signed, hath gone up to his house, and the window being opened for him, in his upper chamber, over-against Jerusalem, three times in a day he is kneeling on his knees, and praying, and confessing before his God, because that he was doing [it] before this.

11 Then these men have assembled, and found Daniel praying and entreating grace before his God;

12 then they have come near, yea, they are saying before the king concerning the king's interdict: `Hast thou not signed an interdict, that any man who seeketh from any god and man until thirty days, save of thee, O king, is cast into a den of lions?' Answered hath the king, and said, `The thing [is] certain as a law of Media and Persia, that doth not pass away.'

13 Then they have answered, yea, they are saying before the king, that, `Daniel, who [is] of the sons of the Removed of Judah, hath not placed on thee, O king, [any] regard, nor on the interdict that thou hast signed, and three times in a day he is seeking his petition.'

14 Then the king, when he hath heard the matter, is greatly displeased at himself, and on Daniel he hath set the heart to deliver him, and till the going up of the sun he was arranging to deliver him.

15 Then these men have assembled near the king, and are saying to the king, `know, O king, that the law of Media and Persia [is]: That any interdict and statute that the king doth establish is not to be changed.'

16 Then the king hath said, and they have brought Daniel, and have cast [him] into a den of lions. The king hath answered and said to Daniel, `Thy God, whom thou art serving continually, Himself doth deliver thee.'

17 And a stone hath been brought and placed at the mouth of the den, and the king hath sealed it with his signet, and with the signet of his great men, that the purpose be not changed concerning Daniel.

18 Then hath the king gone to his palace, and he hath passed the night fasting, and dahavan have not been brought up before him, and his sleep hath fled [from] off him.

19 Then doth the king rise in the early morning, at the light, and in haste to the den of lions he hath gone;

20 and at his coming near to the den, to Daniel, with a grieved voice, he crieth. The king hath answered and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, thy God, whom thou art serving continually, is He able to deliver thee from the lions?'

21 Then Daniel hath spoken with the king: `O king, to the ages live:

22 my God hath sent His messenger, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not injured me: because that before Him purity hath been found in me; and also before thee, O king, injury I have not done.'

23 Then was the king very glad for him, and he hath commanded Daniel to be taken up out of the den, and Daniel hath been taken up out of the den, and no injury hath been found in him, because he hath believed in his God.

24 And the king hath said, and they have brought those men who had accused Daniel, and to the den of lions they have cast them, they, their sons, and their wives; and they have not come to the lower part of the den till that the lions have power over them, and all their bones they have broken small.

25 Then Darius the king hath written to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who are dwelling in all the land: `Your peace be great!

26 From before me is made a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom they are trembling and fearing before the God of Daniel, for He [is] the living God, and abiding to the ages, and His kingdom that which [is] not destroyed, and His dominion [is] unto the end.

27 A deliverer, and rescuer, and doer of signs and wonders in the heavens and in earth [is] He who hath delivered Daniel from the paw of the lions.'

28 And this Daniel hath prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian

[_LittleNipper]

Daniel 7:1-28

During the first year Belshazzar was king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions in his mind while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the whole of it.

Daniel spoke and said: I saw in my vision at night the four winds of the heaven exerting turbulence upon the Mediterranean Sea.

Four great beasts came up from the sea, varying from each other.

The 1st was like a lion but had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were removed and it was lifted from the earth and made to stand on the feet as a human, and a man’s heart was given to it.

A 2nd beast came into view, a second, like a bear, and it reared up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they told it, “Go eat much flesh.”

After this I observed another, like a leopard, but having on its back 4 chicken wings and four heads. And control was given to it.

After this I saw during these visions at night a 4th beast, grim, horrific, and exceptionally strong. And it had large iron teeth. It devoured and chewed to pieces, and trampled the remainder with its feet. And it contrasted from the others beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns.

I regarded the horns, when there grew among them another little horn before whom three of the original horns were extracted by the roots. And there, within this horn, were eyes like human eyes, and a mouth speaking great things.

I watched while thrones were thrown down and the Ancient of Days was seated, whose gown was white as snow, and the hair on His head like clean wool. His throne was like gleaming flame, with wheels as burning fire.

A fiery stream gushed forth and poured from before Him. A thousand thousands attended Him; and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The judgment was scheduled, and the books were opened.

Then I paid attention because of the sound of the grand words which the horn was speaking. I watched fully until the beast was killed, and his body destroyed --- incinerated.

As for the other beasts, they had their domination taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

I saw in the night visions, and there was one like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.

There was given to Him domination, glory, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His domination is eternal, and shall not pass away, and His kingdom shall not be destroyed.

I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit to my heart, and these visions of my head troubled me.

I approached one of those who were standing close and asked him the truth of all this.

So he told me and explained to me the interpretation of these things.

“These 4 great beasts, represent four kings which shall arise from the earth.

But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, and always.”

Then I desired to know the truth of the 4th beast, which was different from all the others, being awful, whose teeth were of iron and with nails of bronze, and which eat, broke in pieces, and trampled the rest with its feet;

and of the 10 horns that were upon its head, and of the other which grew out, and before whom 3 were extracted --- that horn which had eyes and a mouth that spoke pridefully, whose appearance was grander than its fellows.

I observed, and that same horn was warring with the saints and prevailing against them

until the Ancient of Days arrived, and judgment was passed favoring the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

So he stated: “The 4th beast represents the 4th kingdom upon earth, which shall be different from all kingdoms, and shall consume the entire earth and shall roll over it and smash it to pieces.

The ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise; and another shall come after them, and he shall be different from the first, and he shall overcome 3 kings.

He shall speak words against God and shall wear down the saints of God and plan to corrupt times and law. And they shall be handed over for 3 1/2 years.

“But the court shall sit in judgment, and they shall take away his domination, to consume and to destroy it forever.

Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people --- saints of the God, whose kingdom is a continuous kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”

Upon this point the matter ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me much, and my countenance changed; but I concealed the matter in my heart.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel hath seen a dream, and the visions of his head on his bed, then the dream he hath written, the chief of the things he hath said.

2 Answered hath Daniel and said, `I was seeing in my vision by night, and lo, the four winds of the heavens are coming forth to the great sea;

3 and four great beasts are coming up from the sea, diverse one from another.

4 The first [is] like a lion, and it hath an eagle's wings. I was seeing till that its wings have been plucked, and it hath been lifted up from the earth, and on feet as a man it hath been caused to stand, and a heart of man is given to it.

5 And lo, another beast, a second, like to a bear, and to the same authority it hath been raised, and three ribs [are] in its mouth, between its teeth, and thus they are saying to it, Rise, consume much flesh.

6 `After this I was seeing, and lo, another like a leopard, and it hath four wings of a fowl on its back, and four heads hath the beast, and dominion is given to it.

7 `After this I was seeing in the visions of the night, and lo, a fourth beast, terrible and fearful, and exceedingly strong; and it hath iron teeth very great, it hath consumed, yea, it doth break small, and the remnant with its feet it hath trampled; and it [is] diverse from all the beasts that [are] before it; and it hath ten horns.

8 `I was considering about the horns, and lo, another horn, a little one, hath come up between them, and three of the first horns have been eradicated from before it, and lo, eyes as the eyes of man [are] in this horn, and a mouth speaking great things.

9 `I was seeing till that thrones have been thrown down, and the Ancient of Days is seated, His garment as snow [is] white, and the hair of his head [is] as pure wool, His throne flames of fire, its wheels burning fire.

10 A flood of fire is proceeding and coming forth from before Him, a thousand thousands do serve Him, and a myriad of myriads before Him do rise up, the Judge is seated, and the books have been opened.

11 `I was seeing, then, because of the voice of the great words that the horn is speaking, I was seeing till that the beast is slain, and his body hath been destroyed, and given to the burning fire;

12 and the rest of the beasts have caused their dominion to pass away, and a prolongation in life is given to them, till a season and a time.

13 `I was seeing in the visions of the night, and lo, with the clouds of the heavens as a son of man was [one] coming, and unto the Ancient of Days he hath come, and before Him they have brought him near.

14 And to him is given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, and all peoples, nations, and languages do serve him, his dominion [is] a dominion age-during, that passeth not away, and his kingdom that which is not destroyed.

15 `Pierced hath been my spirit -- I, Daniel -- in the midst of the sheath, and the visions of my head trouble me;

16 I have drawn near unto one of those standing, and the certainty I seek from him of all this; and he hath said to me, yea, the interpretation of the things he hath caused me to know:

17 `These great beasts, that [are] four, [are] four kings, they rise up from the earth;

18 and receive the kingdom do the saints of the Most High, and they strengthen the kingdom unto the age, even unto the age of the ages.

19 `Then I wished for certainty concerning the fourth beast, that was diverse from them all, fearful exceedingly; its teeth of iron, and its nails of brass, it hath devoured, it doth break small, and the remnant with its feet it hath trampled;

20 and concerning the ten horns that [are] in its heads, and of the other that came up, and before which three have fallen, even of that horn that hath eyes, and a mouth speaking great things, and whose appearance [is] great above its companions.

21 `I was seeing, and this horn is making war with the saints, and hath prevailed over them,

22 till that the Ancient of Days hath come, and judgment is given to the saints of the Most High, and the time hath come, and the saints have strengthened the kingdom.

23 `Thus he said: The fourth beast is the fourth kingdom in the earth, that is diverse from all kingdoms, and it consumeth all the earth, and treadeth it down, and breaketh it small.

24 And the ten horns out of the kingdom [are] ten kings, they rise, and another doth rise after them, and it is diverse from the former, and three kings it humbleth;

25 and words as an adversary of the Most High it doth speak, and the saints of the Most High it doth wear out, and it hopeth to change seasons and law; and they are given into its hand, till a time, and times, and a division of a time.

26 `And the Judge is seated, and its dominion they cause to pass away, to cut off, and to destroy -- unto the end;

27 and the kingdom, and the dominion, even the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heavens, is given to the people -- the saints of the Most High, His kingdom [is] a kingdom age-during, and all dominions do serve and obey Him.

28 `Hitherto [is] the end of the matter. I, Daniel, greatly do my thoughts trouble me, and my countenance is changed on me, and the matter in my heart I have kept.