1In the third year of King Jehoiakim of Judah, after Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had arrived at Jerusalem, he began to besiege it. 2 And the Lord gave it into his hand along with Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, and a part of the holy vessels of the Lord. And he took them away to Babylon in the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he stored the vessels in the temple of his god. 3 And the king told Ashpenaz, his own chief eunuch, to bring him some of the sons of the leading men of Israel and some of the royal line and some of the nobles, 4 unblemished young men and handsome in appearance and well versed in all skills and wisdom and sound judgment and skilled in letters and language and prudent and clever and wise and having great ability and aptitude, so that they could function in the house of the king. 5 and to supply them a share from the house of the king each day and from the royal table and from the wine that the king drinks and to thoroughly educate them for three years and afterwards to make them stand before the king. 6 Now there were from among the race of the sons of Israel those who were from the tribe of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs assigned names to them: to Daniel, Belshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; and to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. 8 Now Daniel thought carefully in his conscience as to how he would not defile himself by the food provisions of the king and by the wine drinks, so he entreated the chief of the eunuchs in order that he would not disgrace himself. 9 Now the Lord had given Daniel favor and grace before the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And then the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord, the king, who ordered your food and your drink, lest he may see your faces deteriorating and weakened compared to those who are being nourished with you, young men of other nationalities, and so I will be put into grave danger with respect to my own life.” 11 And Daniel said to Ashpenaz, who had been appointed by the chief of the eunuchs over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Indeed, test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some edible vegetables and seeds from the land so that we may gulp them down and drink water. 13 And if our appearance should seem to turn away beside the other young men who are eating from the royal provisions, then deal with your servants just as you want.” 14 And so he dealt with them according to this manner and tested them for ten days. 15 And after these ten days their countenance appeared fair and healthy and the appearance of their flesh better than that of the other young men who were eating the royal provisions. 16 And so Ashpenaz proceeded to take away their provisions and their wine and gave them in place of it some edible vegetables and seeds. 17 And so the Lord gave to these young men knowledge and understanding and prudence and insight in every literature and language and skill, also to Daniel he gave understanding in all matters pertaining to a vision and also to dreams as well as in all aspects of wisdom. 18 And after these days, the king had commanded to bring them in, so they were brought in by the chief of the eunuchs to king Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And so the king conversed with them and there was not found among them wise men equal to Daniel and Hananiah and Mishael and Azariah, and they were placed beside the king. 20 And so in every topic, both in understanding and learning, concerning whatever he inquired about from them, the king found them more wise and skilled ten times beyond the sophists and the philosophers who were in his entire kingdom. And the king honored them and set them in place as administrators and proclaimed them to be wise and skilled beyond all his wise and skilled men in matters throughout all his land and throughout his kingdom.
2And Daniel was there until the first year of the kingdom of Cyrus, king of Persia. 2 Now in the second year of the dominion of Nebuchadnezzar, it happened that the king fell into visions and dreams. And he became troubled by his dream, and his sleep was taken from him. 2 And the king commanded to bring in the enchanters and the magicians and the sorcerers of the Chaldeans to declare to the king his dreams. And when they were present, they stood in the presence of the king. 3 Then the king said to them, “I have seen a dream and my spirit is stirred up. Therefore, I want to find out the dream.” 4 And the Chaldeans responded to the king in Aramaic, “Lord king, live for eternity! Reveal your dream to your servants, and we will indeed explain to you its interpretation.” 5 And responding, the king said to the Chaldeans, “The word has since turned away from me. If you do not reveal the dream accurately to me, and the interpretation of this dream you do not make clear to me, then you will be shamed, and your possessions will be confiscated for the king’s treasury. 6 But if you make clear to me the dream and the interpretation of this dream you clearly reveal, then you will receive gifts of all sorts and you will be honored by me. So make clear to me the dream and render a discerning judgment.” 7 But they replied a second time, saying, “O King, say to us the thing you saw, and your servants will render a discerning judgment concerning these things.” 8 Then the king said to them, “In truth I perceive that you are stalling for time, inasmuch as you have seen that the matter has gone forth from me. Just as I have declared, just so it will be. 9 If you do not reveal the dream accurately to me and the interpretation of this dream you do not make clear, you will incur death. You have together conspired to speak deceitful words to me until the situation is altered. Now therefore, if you declare to me the matter which I have seen during the night, then I will know that indeed you should make known the interpretation of this dream.” 10 Then the Chaldeans replied on the matter of the king, “No one from among human beings upon the earth will be able to relate to the king that which he has seen. Just as you, on your part, are asking; indeed, not any king or any ruler has inquired of any wise man or magician or Chaldean concerning such a matter as this. 11 Indeed, the thing which you are seeking, O King, is deep and heavy and astonishing. And there is no one who will demonstrate these things to the king except some angel of whom a dwelling place is not with any of humankind, for which reason it is not possible for this to happen as you imagine.” 12 Then the king, becoming gloomy and deeply depressed, commanded them to escort out all the wise men of Babylon. 13 And it was decreed to kill all the wise men, and Daniel and all those with him were sought out for the purpose of destroying them. 14 Then Daniel responded with counsel and advice, which he held to Arioches, to the chief of the king’s royal guard, whom he had commanded to go out to destroy the sophists of Babylon. 15 And he inquired of him, saying, “Ruler of the king, why is there such a harsh decree going forth from the king?” Then Arioches made known the command to Daniel. 16 But Daniel went in quickly to the king and respectfully entreated of him that some time be given to him from the king, and he would make everything clear before the king. 17 Then Daniel, after departing to his house, he informed Hananiah and Mishael and Azariah, his companions, about everything. 18 And he declared a fast and supplication, and that help be sought after from the Lord Most High concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and those with him would not be given over to destruction together with the wise men of Babylon. 19 At that time the mystery of the king was revealed clearly to Daniel in a vision in the same night. Then Daniel blessed the Lord Most High. And crying out, he said, 20 “The name of the great Lord will be blessed for eternity, because wisdom and greatness are his. 21 Indeed, he changes appointed times and durations of time, removing kings and establishing, giving to the wise wisdom and understanding to those having knowledge and skill. 22 He reveals deep things and obscure things and knows the things in the darkness, and the things in the light and beside him is a resting place. 23 And to you, O Lord of my fathers, I acknowledge and praise, because wisdom and prudence and insight you have given to me. And now, at this very time, you have clearly indicated to me whatever things I have entreated of you to make clear to the king concerning these things.” 24 So when Daniel had gone to Arioches, the man appointed by the king to kill all the sophists of Babylon, he said to him, “Do not destroy the sophists of Babylon! But lead me to the king, and I will make everything clear to the king.” 25 Then Arioches led Daniel with haste to the king and said to him, “I have found a wise man from the captives of the sons of Judah who will make everything clear to the king!” 26 And responding, the king said to Daniel, who is called Belshazzar in Chaldean, “Are you able to show and explain to me the dream that I saw and the interpretation of this?” 27 And Daniel, crying out before the king, said, “The mystery that the king has seen, its interpretation is not with the wise and learned and sorcerers and charmers and soothsayers. 28 But there exists a God in the heavens who reveals mysteries, who has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar things that must take place at the end of days, 29 and he who reveals mysteries showed to you things that are bound to take place. 30 But with respect to me, it is not because of any wisdom that resides in me beyond all humans that this mystery was made clear, but for the purpose of making it known to the king it was shown to me, the things you took up in your mind, for understanding. 31 Indeed you yourself, O king, saw and look, a single image, and that image was very great. And its appearance, being surpassing, stood before you, and the appearance of the image was fearful. 32 Now the head of it was of fine gold, the chest and the arms of silver, and the belly and thighs were of bronze. 33 And the legs were of iron, and the feet, a part partly of iron and a part partly of clay. 34 You looked until a stone was cut out of a mountain without hands, and it struck the image upon its feet of iron and clay and pulverized them. 35 Then the iron and the earthen elements and the brass and the silver and the gold became pulverized pieces all at once, and they became as if they were fine pieces of chaff on a threshing floor. And the wind blew them so that nothing was left of them. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and struck the whole earth. 36 This is the dream; and now its judgment we will relate before the king. 37 “You, O king, are the king of kings, and to you the Lord of the heavens has given the authority and the kingdom and the might and the honor and the glory. 38 All the inhabited earth of humans and of the wild beasts and of the winged creatures of the heavens and of the fish of the sea he has put under your hand to exercise dominion over everything. You are the golden head. 39 Now after you will arise a kingdom inferior to you, and then a third kingdom, a bronze one that will exercise dominion over all the earth. 40 And a fourth kingdom, mighty as iron. Just as the iron overpowered everything, and as the iron destroyed every tree, so all the earth will be shaken. 41 And as you looked at its feet and its toes, a part partly of earthenware, a part partly of iron, another kingdom, made of two parts, will be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed up together with the clay of an earthen vessel. 42 And as for the toes of the feet, a certain part was iron and a certain part was of potter’s clay. And a certain part of the kingdom will be strong and a certain part will be broken. 43 And as you saw the iron mixed up together with the clay of an earthen vessel, they will be comingled into the offspring of humans, and they will not be comingled in harmony nor will they be favorably inclined toward one another, even just as the iron is not able to be mixed with the clay of an earthen vessel. 44 “And in the time of those kings, the God of the heavens will make another kingdom stand that will last into the eternities, and it will not be destroyed. And this kingdom, with respect to another people, will not be permitted, but it will strike and abolish these kingdoms. And this kingdom will stand firm for eternity. 45 Whereas you saw a stone cut out of a mountain without hands, and it crushed to powder the earthen elements, the iron, and the brass, and the silver, and the gold, so the great God has shown to the king the things that will happen during the last days. And accurate is the dream and reliable is the judgment of this.” 46 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king, falling upon the face of the ground, bowed before Daniel and ordered sacrifices and libations to be presented to him. 47 And the king cried out to Daniel, saying, “Your God is certainly a God of gods and Lord of kings, one who alone discloses hidden mysteries, because you were able to clearly make known this mystery.” 48 Then King Nebuchadnezzar, when he had extolled Daniel and presented great and many gifts, he established him over the administration of Babylon and appointed him as overseer and head of all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And Daniel entreated the king in order that they would set up over the administration of Babylon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And Daniel was in the royal court.
3In the eighteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, when he was governing cities and territories and even all the inhabitants on the earth, from India to Ethiopia, he constructed a golden image, its height was sixty cubits and its width was six cubits. And he set it up in the plain that encircles the territory of Babylon. 2 Now Nebuchadnezzar, king of kings and ruler of the whole inhabited world, sent to gather together all the peoples and tribes and tongues, satraps, commanders, regional governors and highest officials, administrators, and those in authority according to each territory and all those according to where they lived to come to the dedication of the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 Then the consuls, commanders, governors, those going before the great tyrants in authority, and all the rulers of territories gathered so as to come to the consecration of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had established. And those specified in writing stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had established. 4 And the herald made a proclamation to the peoples, “You are charged, O nations and territories, peoples and languages, 5 whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, pipe, and cithara, stringed instrument and lyre, psaltery, and every kind of musical instrument, you are to fall down and bow before the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar set up. 6 Now, anyone who does not fall down and bow, in that same hour they will cast him into the furnace that is aflame with fire!” 7 And at the appointed time, when the sound of the trumpet, pipe and also the lyre, stringed instrument, and also the harp and every sound of musical instruments was heard by all the peoples, having prostrated themselves, all the peoples, tribes, and languages did obeisance to the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up in front of them. 8 At that time, after coming forward, some Chaldeans accused the Judeans. 9 And taking up their case, they said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O lord the king, live for eternity! 10 You, O king, commanded and so ruled that any person who hears the sound of the trumpet, pipe, and also stringed instrument, the lyre, and harp, and every sound of musical instruments, must fall down and bow before the golden image. 11 And whoever does not fall down and bow will be thrown into the furnace aflame with fire. 12 Now there are certain men, Judeans whom you have placed over the territory of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, those people did not honor your command, and they did not serve your idol and they did not bow before your golden image that you set up.” 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, inflamed with rage, commanded them to lead in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then the people were led to the king. 14 And when King Nebuchadnezzar saw them, he said to them, “For what reason, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, did you not serve my gods nor bow before the golden image that I set up? 15 And now, if you are prepared, at the same time that you hear the trumpet, pipe, and also the lyre, stringed instrument, and harp and symphony and every sound of musical instruments, fall down to reverence the golden image that I have set up. But if not, then know that if you do not bow before it, immediately you will be thrown into the furnace aflame with fire, and what manner of god will rescue you from my hands?” 16 But responding, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said to the king, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to reply to you concerning this command. 17 There is indeed one God in the heavens, our Lord, whom we fear, and who is able to deliver us out of the burning of the fiery furnace and out of your hands, O king; he will rescue us. 18 And then it will be clear to you, O king, that we will neither engage your idol by bowing, nor are we going to bow before your golden image that you have set up!” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and the features of his face were altered upon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And he gave an order to ignite the furnace seven times beyond what it was accustomed to kindle it. 20 And he ordered strong men from those in his force, after binding their feet, to throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace aflame with fire. 21 Then those men were bound with their feet tied together, and having their sandals, and their headdresses upon their heads, along with their clothing, they were thrown into the burning furnace of fire. 22 And since the command of the king was so urgent, and the furnace was heated more than was usual by seven times, and the men who had been appointed and had bound them hand and foot and had brought them up to the furnace cast them into it. 23 Therefore, the flame going out from the furnace set on fire the men hindering those with Azariah and killed them. But they were preserved. 24 In this manner, therefore, Hananiah and Azariah and Mishael prayed, and they sang to the Lord when the king commanded them to be thrown into the furnace. 25 And standing still, Azariah prayed in this manner, and when he opened his mouth he acknowledged the Lord together with his companions in the middle of the blazing fire, the furnace having been ignited by the Chaldeans very much with fire, and they said, 26 “Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers, and to be praised, and glorious is your name into the eternities! 27 For you are righteous concerning all the things you have done to us, and all your works are true, and your paths are right, and all your judgments are truthful. 28 And you have carried out accurate judgments according to all the things you have brought upon us, and upon your holy city, the city of our fathers, Jerusalem, because in truth and in justice you have done all these things on account of our sins. 29 For we have sinned in every way, and acted lawlessly by moving away from you, and we have done grievous wrong in every way. 30 And we have not listened to the commandments of your law. Neither have we closely observed nor have we acted according to what you commanded to us, in order that it may go well for us. 31 And now, everything, whatsoever you have brought against us, and everything, whatsoever you have done to us, you have acted in truthful judgment. 32 Now you have given us over into the hands of our enemies, lawless and hostile rebels, and to an unrighteous king, even to the most wicked king in all the earth. 33 And so now it is not permitted for us to open our mouth. Dishonor and disgrace has come to your servants, even those worshiping you. 34 Do not utterly give us over on account of your name, and do not turn from your covenant. 35 And do not remove your mercy from us on account of Abraham, the one loved by you, and on account of your servant Isaac and your holy one Israel. 36 Just as you told them, saying that you would multiply their seed as the stars of the heavens in abundance and as the sand along the shore of the sea. 37 For, O Master, we have been reduced more than any of the peoples, and we are humbled throughout the whole earth today because of our sins. 38 Now there is not at this time a ruler nor a prophet nor a leader nor a whole burnt offering nor any offering nor gifts nor an incense sacrifice nor a place to give an offering before you and thus to find mercy. 39 Yet, with a soul shattered and a spirit made low, we might be accepted, 40 just as though we came with whole burnt offerings of rams and bulls, and just as though we came with myriads of fat lambs. So may our sacrifice be before you today, also to atone behind you, since there is no shame for those who put confidence in you and completely follow you. 41 And now, we follow you earnestly with our whole heart, and we fear you, and we seek your face; 42 do not shame us! But have mercy with us according to your goodness and according to the abundance of your compassion. 43 And rescue us in accordance with your wonderful acts, and give honor to your name, O Lord. 44 And may they be shamed, all those who show forth against your servants their evil acts. And may they be discredited from having any power, and may their authority be shattered! 45 Let them know that you alone are the Lord God, and notable and glorious over the whole inhabited world.” 46 And those who threw them into the furnace, the servants of the king, those who were stoking the furnace, did not cease. And when they were casting the three at once, into the furnace, and as the furnace was blazing hot in accordance with its increased sevenfold heat, and when they cast them in, those casting them in were above them, but those who fed the fire were below them with naphtha and flax and pitch and brushwood. 47 Then the flame shot forth high above the furnace by over forty-nine cubits. 48 And so it broke out of control and burned those it reached from around the furnace from the Chaldeans. 49 But a divine being of the Lord descended at the same time to the ones around Azariah, into the furnace, and dispersed the flame of fire from the furnace. 50 Then he made the middle of the furnace like a moist wind gently whistling, so that it did not touch them at all; and the fire did not cause pain and did not trouble them. 51 And lifting up their voices, the three, as if out of one mouth, sang praises and extolled and praised and exalted God within the furnace, saying, 52 “Blessed are you, O Lord God of our fathers, and praiseworthy and to be exalted into the eternities. And blessed is your glorious name, holy and praiseworthy, and to be exalted exceedingly into all eternities. 53 Blessed are you within the temple of your holy glory, and to be highly exalted and wholly glorious into the eternities! 54 Blessed are you upon the throne of glory of your kingdom, and to be praised and exceedingly exalted into the eternities! 55 Blessed are you, the one who sees into the abyss, who sits upon the cherubim, and are to be praised and magnified into the eternities! 56 Blessed are you in the firmament of the heavens, and to be praised and magnified into the eternities! 57 Bless, O all works of the Lord, the Lord, praise and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 58 Bless, O angels of the Lord, the Lord; laud and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 59 Bless, O heavens, the Lord, laud and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 60 Bless, O waters and all above the heavens, the Lord; praise and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 61 Bless, O all the power and hosts of the Lord, the Lord; laud and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 62 Bless, O sun and the moon, the Lord; laud and exalt him exceedingly into the ages! 63 Bless, O stars of the heavens, the Lord; praise and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 64 Bless, O all storms and dew, the Lord; laud and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 65 Bless, O all winds, the Lord; praise and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 66 Bless, O fire and scorching heat, the Lord; laud and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 67 Bless, O shivering cold and cutting cold weather, the Lord; praise and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 68 Bless, O gentle dew and swirling snowstorm, the Lord; laud and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 69 Bless, the Lord, O frost and cold, laud and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 70 Bless, O hoar-frost and snow, the Lord; laud and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 71 Bless, O night time and day time, the Lord; sing a hymn and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 72 Bless, O light and darkness, the Lord; praise and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 73 Bless, O flashing lightning and stirring clouds, the Lord; laud and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 74 Bless, O earth, the Lord; sing forth and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 75 Bless, O mountain heights and high places of the hills, the Lord; laud and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 76 Bless, O everything that springs forth upon the earth, the Lord; sing a hymn and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 77 Bless, O rainstorms and running waters, the Lord; praise and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 78 Bless, O seas and rivers, the Lord; sing a hymn and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 79 Bless, O huge creatures of the sea and everything that moves in waters, the Lord; praise and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 80 Bless, O all the winged creatures of the heavens, the Lord; sing a hymn and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 81 Bless, O four-footed animals and beasts of the earth, the Lord; laud and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 82 Bless, O sons of humans, the Lord; laud and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 83 Bless, O Israel, the Lord; sing a hymn and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 84 Bless, O priests, the Lord; praise and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 85 Bless, O servants, the Lord; sing a hymn and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 86 Bless, O spirits and souls of the righteous, the Lord; praise and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 87 Bless, O holy and low ones in your heart, the Lord; sing a hymn and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! 88 Bless, O Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, the Lord; praise and exalt him exceedingly into the eternities! For he has taken us out of Hades, and has saved us from the hand of death, and has rescued us from the middle of the raging flame, and from the fire he delivered us! 89 Acknowledge and give thanks to the Lord, For he is good, for his mercy continues into the eternities! 90 Bless, all those who worship the Lord, God of the gods; sing a hymn and acknowledge him fully, for his mercy continues into the ages, even into the age of eternities!” 91 aThen it happened, when the king heard their singing and, standing by, he gazed at them alive, at that moment King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished, and he proceeded with haste and addressed his friends, “Did we not throw three men, having been bound, into the middle of the fire?” And they said to the king, “Truly, O king!” 92 And the king said, “Look, I see four unbound men walking about in the fire and no harm has come to them, and the outward appearance of the fourth is similar to an angel of a god!” 93 And the king, after having come to the door of the furnace blazing with fire, summoned them by name, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God of gods, come out from the fire!” So, therefore, the men came out from the middle of the fire. 94 And the highest officials, governors of regions, and influential heads of families and the closest friends of the king gathered together and looked closely at the people, because the fire had not touched their bodies, and their hair was not burned up, and their sandals were not affected, not even a scent of fire was on them. 95 And, continuing to respond, King Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed is the Lord of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent out his angel, and delivered his servants who hoped in him, for they set aside the command of the king and gave their bodies over for burning, so they would not serve or worship a god different from their own god. 96 And now, I render a judgment that any people and any nations and any languages who may blaspheme against the Lord, the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, will be dismembered, and his house will be confiscated, because there is no other god who is able to deliver in such a manner as this.” 97 In this way, therefore, the king granted authority to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and, having given over the entire region of the territory, he established them as chief administrators. 98 King Nebuchadnezzar, to all the peoples, tribes, and languages who dwell in all the land, May peace be multiplied to you. 99 The signs and wonders that God Most High did with me, it pleases me to announce to you 100 since they are great and mighty. His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his authority lasts from generation to generation.
4In the eighteenth year of the dominion of Nebuchadnezzar, he said, “I was prospering peacefully in my house, and I was flourishing upon my throne. 2 I saw a dream and became concerned, and fearful dread fell upon me. 7 I was sleeping upon my bed, and look, a high tree was growing upon the earth, and its appearance was huge, and there was not another tree like it. 8 And its appearance was great. Its crown draws near to the heavens, and the top of it up to the clouds, filling the things under the heavens. The sun and the moon were dwelling in it, and they shined on all the earth. 9 The branches of it were long, about thirty stadia, and under it all the beasts of the earth found shade, and in it the winged creatures of the heavens nested; its fruit was abundant and healthy, and it provided for all living things. 10 I was observing in my sleep and look, an angel was sent forth with authority from the heavens, 11 and he shouted out and said concerning it, “Cut it down and destroy it, for it is commanded by the Most High to root out and render it useless.” 12 And thus he ordered, “Root it out, but let one root remain from it in the earth so that it might feed on grass just like cattle with the beasts of the earth in the mountainous regions, 13 and let his body be changed by the dew of the heavens for the worst, and for seven years let him feed along with them, 14 until he realizes that the Lord of the heavens has authority over all things, all in the heavens and all upon the earth, and whatsoever he wants to do he does in them. 14 a It was chopped down in front of me in one day, and its destruction was in one hour of the day. And its branches were given to every wind, and it was dragged and thrown down. And he ate the grass of the earth. And he was given over to the prison, and he was bound by them in shackles and in bronze handcuffs.” I was very astonished at these things, and my sleep departed from my eyes. 15 Then after I arose in the early morning from my bed, I summoned Daniel, overseer of the wise men and the leader of those who render judgments concerning dreams. And I described the dream in detail to him, and he clearly set forth to me the whole significance of it. 16 And Daniel was greatly amazed and the real meaning of the thing alarmed him. And, alarmed, with trembling taking him, and his appearance altered, and with a disturbed head, and for a time astonished, he answered me with a humble voice, “O king, may this dream come against those who hate you, and the interpretation of it come against your enemies! 17 The tree planted in the earth, whose appearance was great, you are the tree, O king. 18 And all the winged creatures of the heavens that were nesting in it; the might of the earth and of the nations and the tongues of all unto the ends of the earth and all the territories now serve you. 19 And the exalted growth of that tree and its reaching toward the heavens and the top of it touching the clouds: You, O king, have been exalted above all humans who are on the entire face of the earth. You have lifted up your heart by arrogance and prosperity toward the holy one and his angels. Your works have appeared, as you have devastated the house of the living God because of the sins of the holy people. 20 And the vision that you saw, that an angel in a strong voice was sent from the Lord, and that he ordered to remove the tree and to cut it down: the judgment of the great God will come against you. 21 And the Most High and his angels are pursuing against you. 22 They will lead you away under guard and into a desolate place they will send you away. 23 And the root of the tree that was permitted to remain given that it was not rooted out indicates that the place of your throne will be maintained for you during a time and a season. Look, they are ready for you and they will whip you and they will administer judgments against you. The Lord dwells in the heavens and his authority extends throughout the whole earth. 24 Entreat him concerning your sins and atone for all your injustices, showing mercy, so that goodness may be granted to you, and that you may continue to be upon the throne of your kingdom for many days, and that you will not perish. Love doing these things, for my word is true, and your duration will be completed in full.” 25 And at the completion of these assertions, Nebuchadnezzar, as he heard the judgment of the dream, he held those matters in his mind. 26 Now after twelve months, the king was walking around upon the walls of the city with all its splendor and walking through its towers, 27 and speaking out he asserted, “This is the great Babylon that I myself have built, and it will be called my royal house by my strong might for the honoring of my splendor.” 28 While the word was still in the mouth of the king, and upon the completion of his statement, he heard a voice that came from the heavens, “Concerning you it is asserted, O King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom of Babylon is taken away from you and is given to another person, to a scorned person in your house. Look, I am setting him up over your kingdom, and he will receive your authority and your honor and your delightful luxuries, so that you may know that the God of the heavens holds authority among the dominion of humans, and to whomever he may wish he gives it, as far as the sun rising another king will be cheerful in your house, and he will exercise the might of your splendor and your strength and your authority. 29 And the holy angels will pursue you over seven years, and during that time you will not appear at all, neither will you converse with any person; they will feed you grass just like an ox, and the tender green herbs and grass of the land will be your food. Look, in place of your splendor, they will bind you with chains. Another will possess both your house of soft delicacies and your kingdom. 30 And in good time everything will be fulfilled concerning you, O Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and there will not be left over from any of all these things even one thing that is not done.” 30 a “I, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was bound fast for seven years. They fed me grass like an ox, and from the tender grass of the earth I ate, and after seven years I gave my soul to prayer, and I presented a petition about my sin before the face of the Lord, the God of the heavens, and concerning my ignorance of the God of gods, the great one, I prayed. 30 b And my hair became like the wings of an eagle, my nails like a lion. My flesh and my heart were changed. I walked around naked with the beasts of the earth. I saw a dream and suspicions of me took hold and in time sleep took hold of me, and a great drowsiness fell upon me. 30 c And at the completion of the seven years, my time of recovery came, and my sins and acts of my ignorance were brought to an end before the God of the heavens, and I prayed concerning my sins against the great God of gods. And look, an angel addressed me from the heavens, saying, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, serve the holy God of the heavens and give honor to the Most High, for the royal dwelling of your nation is being given back to you. 33 At that time my kingdom was restored to me, and my honor was given back to me. 34 I confess and give thanks to the Most High, and I praise the one who created the the heavens and the earth and the seas and the rivers and everything in them. I acknowledge and I praise him, for he alone is God of gods and Lord of lords and King of kings, for he alone produces signs and wonders and alters the appointed times and seasons and durations of time, and removes the dominion of kings and establishes other kings in place of them. 34a From now on, I will serve him, and from the fear of him trembling has taken hold of me, and I praise all the holy ones. For the gods of the nations do not have in themselves power to turn away the kingdom of one king to another king, and to kill, and to make alive, and to make signs and wonders, great and fearful, and to change immensely great matters just as the God of the heavens did with me. And he changed concerning me great matters, all the days of my kingdom, concerning my soul. I will offer fragrant sacrifices to the Most High, to the Lord, and what is acceptable before him I will do, and my people, nation and my territories, those under my authority. And as many as have spoken to the God of the heavens, and as many as might be caught speaking anything, these I will condemn to death.” 34b And King Nebuchadnezzar wrote a circular letter to all the nations and territories and languages in every place, all who are living in all the territories, generations and generations. “Praise the Lord, the God of the heavens. And bring to him sacrifices and offerings gloriously. I, the king of kings, confess openly, and thank him gloriously, because he has done thus with me. In the same day he seated me upon my throne, and of my authority and my kingdom among my people I prevailed, and my greatness was restored to me. 34c I, King Nebuchadnezzar, to all the nations and all the territories and all those who dwell in them, peace to you be multiplied in all times. And now, I will show you the things that the great God has done with me. And it seemed good to me to show you and your wise men that God exists, and to show you his great wonders. His kingdom is a kingdom for eternity, his authority from generations to generations.” And he sent letters about everything that happened to him in his rule to all the nations, those being under his rule. 35 King Belshazzar made a great reception in the day of the dedication of his palace. He invited two thousand men. On that day Belshazzar, excited from the wine and boasting, praised all the gods of the nations that are molten and carved in his place. But to God, the Most High, he did not give praise. On the same night fingers like a human came out and wrote upon the wall of his house upon the plaster opposite the lamps, “Mene Phares thekel.” Now the explanation of these words is: “Mene”: “He has been counted”; “Phares”: “He has been removed”; “Thekel”: “He has established.”
5King Belshazzar held a great feast for his comrades. 2 And so he drank wine, and his heart became arrogant, and he said to bring in the golden vessels and the silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had brought from Jerusalem, and to pour wine into them for his friends. 3 And they were brought, and they proceeded to drink from them. 4 And then they honored idols made by their human hands, but indeed, they did not honor the God of eternity, the one who held the life-force of their breath. 5 At that same moment fingers came forth, as if from the hand of a humans, and they wrote upon the wall of his house, upon the plaster opposite the source of light, in the presence of the king, Belshazzar, and he saw the hand as it wrote. 6 And then his appearance altered, and fear and dread alarmed him. Therefore, the king acted quickly, and he arose and looked closely at the writing, and with his court friends surrounding, he proceeded to boast arrogantly. 7 And the king shouted out with a loud voice to call in the enchanters and sorcerers and Chaldeans and soothsayers so that they could declare the interpretation of the writing. And they came in upon the spectacle to look at the writing, but they were not able to decipher the interpretation of the writing for the king. Then the king published an order, saying, “Any man who shows the interpretation of the writing, I will dress him with purple, and I will place on him a golden armlet and it will be given to him to have authority over a third part of the kingdom.” 8 And when the enchanters and sorcerers and soothsayers came in, then not one was able to explain the interpretation of the writing. 9 Then the king summoned the queen concerning the wonder and informed her about how great it was and that no person was able to explain to the king the interpretation of the writing. 10 Then the queen reminded him about Daniel, who was from the captives of Judah. 11 And then she said to the king, “This person was skilled and wise and excelled all the wise men of Babylon. 12 And there is a holy spirit in him, and in the days of your father, the king, he set forth clearly interpretations of difficult things for Nebuchadnezzar, your father.” 13 Then Daniel was led into the king and speaking out, the king said to him, 16 “O Daniel, should you be able to show me the interpretation of the writing, then I will dress you with purple and I will place a golden armlet on you and you will hold the authority of a third part of my kingdom.” 17 Then Daniel stood before the writing, and he read it, and so he answered the king, “This is the writing: it is numbered; it has been counted; it is lifted up. So, having written, the hand set down, and this is the interpretation of them. 23 O king, you held a banquet for your chief friends, and you preceeded to drink wine, and the vessels of the house of the living God were brought to you, and you drank from them, you and your nobles, and you praised all the idols made by the hands of humans, but you did not honor the living God, who holds your breath in his hand, and he gave to you your kingdom, yet you did not honor him nor did you praise him. 26 This is the interpretation of the writing: the duration of your kingdom is numbered; your kingdom is now ceased. 27 It has been cut short and finished. 28 He is giving your kingdom to the Medes and to the Persians.” 29 Then King Belshazzar dressed Daniel with purple and placed a golden armlet upon him and gave him authority over a third part of his kingdom. 30 aThen the interpretation came upon King Belshazzar, and the kingdom was taken from the Chaldeans and was given over to the Medes and the Persians. 31 Then Ahasuerus, the one from among the Medes, received the dominion.
6Then Darius, full of days and glorious in old age, also set up one hundred and twenty-seven satraps over his entire kingdom. 2 And he set over them three men as their overseers, and Daniel was one of the three men 3 over all who had authority in the kingdom. And Daniel was clothed with purple, and he was great and highly esteemed before King Darius. He was highly esteemed and skilled and wise, and a holy spirit was in him, and he was prosperous in the business of the king that he was performing. At that time, the king was resolving to set Daniel over all of his kingdom, and the two men whom he had set up with him, and also the one hundred and twentyseven satraps. 4 And when the king was resolving to set Daniel over his entire kingdom, then they planned a plan and resolution among themselves, the two young leaders with one another, saying that since no sin nor error of ignorance could they find against Daniel, concerning which they could accuse him to the king, 5 then they said, “Come now, let us establish a decree concerning ourselves that any person will not be able to offer a petition and will not be able to seek a request from any god during thirty days except from King Darius. But if he will not, he will die.” They did this in order that they might weaken Daniel before the king, and he would be thrown into the den of lions, for they knew that Daniel prayed and entreated the Lord, his God, three times a day. 6 Then those people came forward and said before the king, 7 “We have established a decree and a statute that any person who prays a prayer or presents any petition at all from any god during thirty days except from King Darius, they will be thrown into the den of lions.” 9 And so King Darius established and confirmed it. 10 But when Daniel learned of the decree that he had established, he went over to his window and opened it; it was in the upper part of his house toward Jerusalem. And then he bowed his face three times a day, just as he used to do previously, and he implored his God. 11 And they observed Daniel, and then seized him as he was praying three times during the day each day. 12 Then these people met with the king and said, “O King Darius, did you not establish a decree that any person could not pray a prayer nor shall he present a request from any god during thirty days except from you, O king, and if he does not, he will be thrown into the den of lions?” And the king responded and said to them, “Your assertion is accurate and the decree stands.” 12 a And they said to him, “We urge you to swear by the decree of the Medes and the Persians that you will not alter the command nor respect the face and that you will not diminish anything of what was proclaimed, and you will punish the person who did not abide by this decree.” And he said, “Thus I will do, just as you say, and this has been established for me.” 13 Then they said, “Look! We discovered Daniel, your friend, praying and beseeching the face of his God three times during the day.” 14 Then, grieved, the king said to throw Daniel into the den of lions according to the decree that he had established concerning him. Then the king was very much grieved over Daniel and tried to help him by delivering him, until the setting of the sun, from the hands of the satraps. 15 But indeed, he was not able to deliver him from them. 16 And crying out, King Darius addressed Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continuously three times during the day, he will rescue you out of the hand of the lions until morning. Be courageous!” 17 At that time Daniel was thrown into the den of lions. And a stone was brought and placed into the entrance of the pit, and the king sealed it by the seal-ring of the king himself, and by the rings of his leading men, so that Daniel would not be lifted up or the king pull him up from the pit. 18 Then the king returned to his palace, and he passed the night fasting, and he was grieved concerning Daniel. At that time the God of Daniel, giving his attention to the situation, closed the mouths of the lions, and they did not harm Daniel. 19 And then King Darius rose up in the early morning and took with himself the satraps. And proceeding up, he stood over the mouth of the den of the lions. 20 Then the king summoned Daniel with a loud voice as he wept and proceeded to say, “O Daniel, are you alive, and has your God, whom you serve continuously, saved you from the lions, so that they have not damaged you?” 21 Then Daniel heard the loud cry and said, 22 “O king, I am still living. And indeed, God has saved me from the lions, because righteousness in me was found before him, and indeed before you, O king. Neither an error of ignorance nor sin was found in me, but you listened to deceptive humans, and you threw me into the den of the lions to destruction.” 23 Then all the powers assembled and looked at Daniel, that the lions did not harm him. 24 Then the two people who had testified against Daniel, they and their wives and their children, were thrown to the lions, and the lions slew them and crushed their bones. 25 Then Darius wrote to all the peoples and languages and territories who were living in all his land, saying, 26 “All persons who are in my kingdom, let them reverence and serve the God of Daniel, for he alone is God, who abides and lives unto generations of generations, into eternity. 27 I myself, Darius, will reverence and serve him all my days, for the idols made by hands are not able to deliver as the God of Daniel has delivered Daniel. 28 “And King Darius was added to his family, and Daniel was established over the kingdom of Darius, and Cyrus the Persian received his kingdom.”
7In the first year of the reign of King Belshazzar over the territory of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream in his head while lying upon his bed. At that time Daniel wrote down the vision that he saw in a summary report, saying, 2 “Upon my bed I saw in a vision while sleeping at night, and look, four winds of the heavens blew against the great sea. 3 And, indeed, four wild beasts arose out of the sea, each one differing from the other. 4 The first one was like a lioness, but it had feathers just like an eagle. I continued watching until its feathers were plucked and it was lifted up from the earth, and upon human feet it was made to stand, and a human heart was given to it. 5 And indeed, look, after it another wild beast having the likeness of a bear, and upon one side it was made to stand, and three ribs were in its mouth in the middle of its teeth. And in this manner he said, ‘Arise, devour much flesh! 6 “And then after this, as I continued watching, another wild beast, it was just like a leopard, and it had four wings that were stretched out above it, and the beast had four heads. 7 And after these things, as I continued to gaze into the vision during the night, a fourth wild beast, it was terrible, and the fearful dread of it was shocking in its might. It had great iron teeth, and it was devouring and smashing everything around itself with its feet, trampling down, behaving differently from all the wild beasts before it. And it had ten horns. 8 And indeed, many counsels were being given among its horns and look, a different horn sprang up between them, a small one among its horns, and three of the previous horns dried up on account of it. And look, eyes just like human eyes were in this horn, and a mouth speaking great boastful things, and it began to make war against the holy ones. 9 “I continued to watch until when thrones were set up and the ancient of days was seated, who had a robe just like snow, and the hair of his head was like pure white wool. His throne was like a flame of fire, his wheels a burning fire. 10 A river of fire was drawing, and there proceeded down according to the face of him a river of fire. Thousands of thousands were attending to him, and innumerable myriads attended to him, and a judgment seat was set, and the books were opened. 11 At that time I continued to consider the sound of the arrogant assertions that the horn was uttering, and, as I was looking, the beast was viciously killed and its body destroyed, and it was given over to burning by fire. 12 And he took away their authority from all those around it, and a duration of existence was granted to them, for a time and a season. 13 I continued to watch in a vision of the night, and look, upon the clouds of the heavens, a being like a son of man came, and the ancient of days was present, and his attendants were present with him. 14 Authority and royal honor was granted to him, and all the peoples of the earth according to races, and all honor will be directed to him, and his authority is an eternal authority that will not be removed, and his kingdom is one that will not perish. 15 “And I, Daniel, was in anguish by the things in the vision during the night. My thoughts were stirring me. 16 I went forward to one of those attendants standing by, and the clear meaning I sought from him about all of these things. And responding, he spoke to me and clearly showed me the significance of the things. 17 These great wild beasts are four kingdoms that will perish from the earth. 18 And it will succeed to the kingdom, the holy ones of the Most High and possess the kingdom until the eternity of eternities! 19 “Then I wanted to learn accurately about the fourth beast that was utterly destroying everything, and was exceedingly terrifying, and look, its teeth were iron and its claws bronze, and these were tearing apart everything all around it, and it was walking with its feet. 20 And about the ten horns upon its head and concerning the one other that grew up and on account of it, three others fell away, and the horn that had eyes and a mouth uttering great boastful things, and its appearance was greatly different from the others. 21 And, as I continued to watch, that horn brought war against the holy ones and put them to flight. 22 This continued until the ancient of days came and rendered judgment for the saints of the Most High. And the appointed time arrived, and the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 And it was explained to me about that fourth beast. There will be a fourth kingdom upon the earth that will spread across the whole earth, and he will eat the whole earth and stir it up and demolish it. 24 And the ten horns from that kingdom are ten kings who will be established, and another king will be established after these. And he will excel in and spread evil beyond the former kings, and he will bring low three kings. 25 And he will even speak words against the Most High, and he will wear out the holy ones of the Most High, and he will attempt to alter set times and customs, and all of these things will be given over into his hands during a period of time and of times and of half a time. 26 Then the judgment will be established, and they will abolish his authority, and they will resolve to declare him defiled, and to utterly destroy him completely forever. 27 Then the kingdom and the authority and the majesty of them, and the dominion of all under the kingdoms of the heavens, he gave to the holy people of the Most High to rule an eternal kingdom. And all authority will be placed under him, and they will obey him until the overthrow of the word. 28 I myself, Daniel, with very much astonishment, was overcome, and my emotional condition was in turmoil within me, and I held the matter in my heart.” A Vision of a Ram and a He-goat
8In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared, which I, Daniel, saw after I saw the previous one. 2 Then I saw in the vision of my dream. When I was in the city Susa, which is in the territory of the Elamites, and I saw in a vision while I was still by the Gate of Elam, 3 when I looked up, I saw a large ram standing before the gate, and it had horns, and the horns were high, and one was higher than the other one, and the higher one was going up. 4 And after these things I saw the ram as it pushed toward the east and toward the north and toward the west and the south. And all the wild beasts did not stand behind it, and there was no one to deliver them from its hands. And it continued to do as it wanted, and it was highly exalted. 5 And I was giving my attention to this, and look, a hegoat from among the goats began to come from the west over the face of the earth, and there was on the he-goat one notable horn between its eyes. 6 Then it came up to the ram that had the horns, which I had seen standing by the gate, and it ran toward it with fierce anger. 7 And I saw it approach against the ram, and it was enraged against it, and it struck the ram and shattered its two horns, and no longer was there any strength left in the ram to stand up against the he-goat. And it smote it upon the earth and crushed it, and there was no one to deliver the ram from the he-goat. 8 Then the he-goat from among the goats prevailed very much, and when it had grown powerful, its great horn was broken, and four different horns came up after it toward the four winds of the heavens. 9 Then out of one of them sprang up a strong horn, and it exercised power and struck to the south and to the east and to the north. 10 And it was exalted up to the stars of the heavens, and it was thrown down upon the earth among the stars, and some of them were trampled down 11 until the commander-in-chief will rescue the captives. And on account of him the landmarks from eternity were thrown down, and the place of them and their sacrifice was taken away. And he put it to the ground upon the earth, and they prospered and succeeded, and the holy place will be made desolate. 12 And the sinful acts came to fruition against the sacrifice, and righteousness was thrown to the ground, and he proceeded to act, and he prospered. 13 And I was listening as another holy being was speaking, and another holy person said to the certain person who was speaking, “How long will the vision take place, and the sacrifice taken away, and the sinful rebellion to desolation that has caused a surrender, and the holy things be given over to desolation to be profaned?” 14 And he said to him, “During two thousand and three hundred days, evenings and mornings, and then the holy place will be cleansed.” 15 And it happened, while I, Daniel, was watching, I was trying to concentrate on the vision, and look, there stood before me, as it were, an appearance of a human. 16 And I heard a human voice between the Ulai, and he summoned and said to Gabriel, “Instruct that man concerning the vision!” And crying out the human said, “The prophetic vision is in response to this command.” 17 And he came and stood close by where I was standing. And while he was coming, I became bewildered and fell to my face. And he said to me, “Understand thoroughly, son of man, for this vision is yet for the duration of an appointed time.” 18 And as he was speaking with me, I fell asleep with my face to the ground, and when he touched me, he raised me upon that place. 19 And he said to me, “Look, I am announcing to you the things that will happen at the time of the end of the destructive wrath against the sons of your people. There remains yet for a period of an appointed time for the conclusion of these things. 20 The ram that you saw that had the horns represents the king of the Medes and of the Persians. 21 And the he-goat from the goats is the king of the Greeks, and the great horn between his eyes, he is the first king. 22 And when these have been shattered, after him will have arisen four horns. These are four kings from his nations who will arise, but not with their power. 23 And at the time of the end of their dominion, when their sins have been completed, there will arise a bold-faced king with his mind set on riddles. 24 And his might will be established, but not by his strength, and he will effect terrible destruction. And he will succeed and act and despoil mighty men, even the land of the holy people. 25 And his thoughts are against the holy ones, and he will succeed with deception in his hands, and his heart will be lifted up, and through deception he will get rid of many. And he will stand for the destruction of men, and he will act against the assembly of his hand. But he will be stripped. 26 The vision concerning the evening and the morning was found in truth. And now, shut up the vision, for it is yet for many days.” 27 I, Daniel, was weakened for many days. And after I arose, I began to busy myself again with royal business. Yet I was faint because of the vision, and there was no one who understood it.
9In the first year of Darius, son of Xerxes, from the race of the Medes, who ruled over the kingdom of the Chaldeans, 2 in the first year of his kingdom, I, Daniel, searched and perceived in the documents the number of years during which would take place the command concerning the land to the prophet Jeremiah to accomplish the fulfillment of the disgrace of Jerusalem, seventy years. 3 So I set my face toward the Lord God to seek in prayer and compassion with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the Lord God and made confession and said, “Look, O Lord, you are the great and mighty God, and the fearful one who watches over your covenant and shows compassion to those who love you and to those who keep your commands. 5 We have sinned, we have behaved unjustly, we have acted impiously, and we have turned away, and we have transgressed your commandments and your judgments. 6 And we did not obey your servants, the prophets, with regard to the things they spoke in your name to our kings and to our leaders and to our fathers and to every nation upon the earth. 7 And to you, O Lord, is righteousness, but ours is the shame of our face on this day, to the people of Judah, and to those abiding in Jerusalem, and to all the people of Israel, to the one who is nearby and to the one who is far away among all the territories to which you have scattered them for their sin by which they have trespassed against you. 8 O Master, ours is the shame of our face, and our kings and our leaders and our fathers, for we have wronged you. 9 To the Lord is righteousness and mercy, for we have turned away from you. 10 And we did not obey the voice of the Lord, our God, to follow your law that you presented before Moses and before us, through your servants, the prophets. 11 And all Israel forsook your law and turned away from listening to your voice. And there came upon us the curse and the oath written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, because we sinned against it. 12 And he established for us his commandments concerning everything he spoke to us, and to our judges with respect to the things you have judged us by bringing upon us great destructive acts of such a kind that had not occurred under the heavens the way they have occurred in Jerusalem. 13 According to the things written in the covenant of Moses, every destructive evil has come upon us, and we did not seek the face of the Lord, our God, so as to turn away from our sins and to understand and seek after your righteousness, O Lord. 14 And the Lord God was watchful concerning these evil judgments and has brought this upon us, for righteous is the Lord, our God, with respect to everything, whatever it is, that he does, and we did not obey his voice. 15 “And now, O Master, O Lord, our God, who led out your people from Egypt with your arm lifted high, and you have acted on behalf of your own name this very day; but we have sinned, we have gone amiss. 16 O Master, according to your righteousness let your anger be turned back and your wrath away from your city, Jerusalem, your holy mountain, for by our sins and by the ignorant errors of our fathers Jerusalem and your people, O Lord, have become a reproach among all those around us. 17 And now listen, O Master, to the plea of your servant and to my prayers and let your face look upon your holy mountain that is desolate for the sake of your servants, O Master. 18 Turn your ears, O Lord, and hear me, open your eyes and look at our desolation and the desolation of your city, upon which your name is placed over it. For it is not with respect to our righteousness that we are making entreaty in our prayers before you, but on the basis of your compassion. O Lord, be gracious. 19 O Lord, listen and act, and do not tarry for your own sake, O Master, for your name is placed upon your city, Zion, and upon your people, Israel.” 20 And as I was talking, praying and confessing my sins and the sins of my people, Israel, and entreating with prayers before the Lord, my God, and on behalf of the holy mountain of our God, 21 while I was speaking in my prayer, then look, the man whom I had seen in my first sleep, Gabriel, was swiftly coming on. He drew near to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 And he approached and spoke with me and said, “Daniel, I have now come forth to impart understanding to you. 23 At the beginning of your entreaty an order went forth from the Lord, and I have come to show you, for you are one who has received mercy, so understand and grasp the decree given. 24 Seventy sevens have been decreed upon your people and upon the city, Zion, to complete the sin and to deal with the unjust offenses and to wipe away the injustices and to fully understand the vision and to establish eternal righteousness and to complete the visions and the prophet and to be cheerful in the holy of holies. 25 And you will know and understand and be cheerful, and you will find commands to respond, and you will build Jerusalem, the city, for the Lord. 26 And after seven and seventy and sixty-two, an anointed one will be removed, and will not be. And a kingdom from among the nations will despoil the city and the holy place along with the anointed one, and his end will come with destructive anger at the time of the consummation. There will be war upon war. 27 And the covenant will be made strong for many, and it will recover again, and it will be built up in breadth and length. And at the end of the appointed times, and after seventy-seven times and sixty-two years during the set time of the consummation of war, then the desolation will be taken away when the covenant prevails for many weeks. And at the completion of the week, sacrifice and drink-offering will be taken away, and upon the holy place there will be an abomination of desolation until the consummation. And a determined final destruction will be rendered upon the one making desolate.”
10In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, an oracle was shown to Daniel, who was called by the name Belshazzar. And the vision was true. And the oracle and its great complexity will be understood. And as to the oracle, I perceived it in a vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was in the process of mourning for three weeks. 3 I did not eat pleasant tasting bread; neither meat nor wine entered into my mouth. I did not anoint myself with oil until I had completed three weeks of days. 4 And it happened on the twenty-fourth day of the first month that I was on the bank of the great river, which is the Tigris. 5 And I raised my eyes and looked, and look, there was a person clothed in fine linen and girded with fine linen on his loins and there was light from the middle of him. 6 And his mouth was like the sea, and his face was like an appearance of gleaming light, and his eyes were like torches of fire, and his arms and feet were like gleaming bronze, and the sound of his talking was like the sound of a roaring crowd. 7 And I, Daniel, saw this great vision, but the people who were with me did not see this vision. And great fear fell over them, and they fled in haste. 8 And I was left alone, and I saw this great vision, and there was not left in me any strength. And look, my spirit turned in me, into a state of distress, and I had no strength. 9 And I did not hear the sound of his talking, for I had fallen upon my face to the land. 10 And look, a hand came forward to me and raised me up on my knees and on the soles of my feet. 11 And he said to me, “Daniel, a man who has received mercy, you are to understand the decrees that I am declaring to you. Now stand in your place, for I am sent to you.” And as he spoke with me concerning this oracle, I stood trembling. 12 And he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your face to examine and to understand and to make yourself low before your Lord God, your petition was heard, and I have come because of your petition. 13 Now the commander of the king of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days, and look, Michael, one of the commanders of the first order, came to help me. And I left him there with the commander of the king of Persia.” 14 And he said to me, “I have come to show you what will come upon your people during the last days, for there is still time for days.” 15 And as he spoke with me these things, I directed my face toward the land and was silent. 16 And look, as it were the likeness of the hand of a human touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and talked and said to the one standing before me, “Lord, indeed, when the vision was turned back upon my side against me, there was not even any strength upon me. 17 And how will it be possible for the servant to speak with his Lord, and I have become faint, and no strength is in me, nor any spirit?” 18 And he continued and touched me, the one like the appearance of a human, and he strengthened me. 19 And he said to me, “Human, you are one having received mercy. Do not fear, be in good health, act like a man, and be strong!” And as he spoke with me, I became strong and said, “Let my Lord speak, for he has strengthened me.” 20 And he said to me, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I will return to content with the commander of the king of Persia, and I will go forth, and look, the commander of the Greeks will come in. 21 However, I will show you the first things listed in the register of truth, and there was no one who was helping me against those beings, except Michael, the angel.”
11And in the first year of King Cyrus, he spoke to me to strengthen me and to make me act valiantly. 2 “And now I have come to impart the truth to you. Look, three kings have arisen in Persia, and a fourth will arise, with great wealth beyond all, and by his power, by means of his riches he will rise up against every king of the Greeks. 3 And a powerful king will be raised, and he will exercise power over an extensive empire, and he will act just as he wishes. 4 And when he has arisen, his kingdom will be shattered and divided up toward the four winds of the heavens, not according to his strength, nor according to his powerful dominion that he exercised, for his kingdom will be removed and he will teach others these things. 5 And he will strengthen the kingdom of Egypt, but one of the rulers will overpower him, and his dynasty will rule with a great dynasty. 6 And toward the end of those years he will lead them, and the king of Egypt will come into the northern kingdom to enact covenants. And he will not prevail, for his strength will not stand firm. And his strength will grow weak along with the strength of those accompanying him, but he will endure for some time. 7 “And a shoot from his root will arise in place of himself. And a king of the north will come with his power in his strength, and he will bring about tumult, and he will prevail. 8 And their gods he will overturn along with their molten images and their hosts along with the objects of their desires, the silver and the gold. They will carry them into captivity away into Egypt, and there will be a year of relief for the king of the north. 9 Then the king of Egypt will enter into the kingdom for some days, and he will return to his land. 10 And his son at that time will become provoked, and he will bring together the collection of a mighty multitude, and he will enter against it, laying it waste. He will pass through and return, and he will become exceedingly provoked. 11 Then the king of Egypt will become angry, and he will go out and make war with the king of the north, and he will establish a great crowd and the gathering will be given over into the hands of his enemy. 12 Then the multitude will be taken away, and his heart will be lifted up, and he will trouble many, but there shall not at all be a reason to fear. 13 And the king of the north will return, and he will bring together a greater multitude from the city than the previous one. Toward the end of an appointed period of time, then he will enter into it against him with a great army and with great resources. 14 “Then in those appointed times, intentions will be directed against the king of Egypt. And he shall rebuild the things that are fallen of your people, and there will be a rising up for the purpose of causing the prophecy to stand, but they will stumble. 15 Then the king of the north will attack, and he shall return with his armed force, and he will take the fortified city, and the forces of the king of Egypt will be stopped along with his military leaders. And there will not be to him any strength for opposing him. 16 And the one who comes on against him will act according to his will, and there will not be anyone who opposes him, and he will stand in the territory, and he will bring to completion all of these things by his hands. 17 Then he will set his face to attack his work with force, and he will execute agreements with him, and he will give to him a daughter for the purpose of destroying it. But he will not consent, so it will not come about. 18 Then he will set his face toward the sea, and he will take many. And he will return wrath for their disgrace, by an oath, according to his disgrace. 19 He shall turn his face for the purpose of gaining control over his territory, but he will stumble and perish, and he will no longer be a factor. 20 “And a shoot of royalty will stand up from his root for an uprising, a man who beats down the honor of a king. But in the latter days he will be crushed, but not in rage nor in battle. 21 And there will stand up in his place a contemptible man, and royal honor will not be accorded him, and he will come in unexpectedly, and the king will prevail by distribution of his land. 22 And he will firmly shatter the shattered forces before him. 23 And he will act with deception after a covenant and a people have come together with him, and overcome a strong nation by a very small people. 24 Suddenly he will lay waste a city, and he will act concerning things which his fathers did not act, nor the fathers of his fathers, he will give plunder and spoils and material goods to them, and he will set his mind against the fortified city, but his plans and intrigues will come to nothing. 25 Then his might and his heart will be aroused against the king of Egypt by a huge army, and the king of Egypt will be provoked into battle with a very exceedingly strong army, but he will not prevail, for a sound plan will be devised against him. 26 Then his solicitors will consume him, and they shall turn him back, and they will pass by, and he will lay waste, but many wounded men will fall. 27 “Then the two kings will dine alone together, and they will eat at the same table. And they will speak deceptively to each other, but they will not prosper any farther, for there is yet a consummation for an appointed time. 28 Then he will return to his territory with great wealth, and his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will act, and he will return to his country 29 at an appointed time. And he will go into Egypt, but as it was the first time, so also this last time will not be. 30 And the Romans will thrust him out and arrogantly rebuke him. And he will return, and be made angry against the holy covenant, and he will act and turn around, and he will set his mind upon them because they had forsaken the holy covenant. 31 Then forces from him will stand up and pollute the revered holy places, and they will take away the sacrifice, and they will set up an abomination that causes desolation. 32 And because of sins against the covenant they will defile by a hardened people, but the people who know these things will prevail and will act. 33 And those who are discerning from among the people will act with understanding for many, but they will come against a sword, and they will continue in it, and in captivity and by plundering during a period of time they will be defiled. 34 And whenever they are broken they will gather a little strength. And there will be many gathered to them near a city, and many as it were in flattery. 35 And from those who understand they shall take care for themselves, for cleansing themselves, and for them to be chosen, and for being cleansed until an appointed time of the consummation, for there is yet an appointed time for a season. 36 “And the king will act according to his will, and he will be provoked to anger, and he will be exalted above every god, and against the God of gods. He will utter excessive arrogance, and he will prosper along his way until the appointed wrath is accomplished for him, for a conclusion is coming. 37 And he will have no concern for the gods of his fathers, and he will have no care with any desire of a woman, because he will be exalted in every way possible, and powerful nations will be under him. 38 He will move in its place, even a god whom his fathers did not know he will honor with gold and silver and precious stone and with desirable costly objects. 39 He will act concerning cities, and for a powerful stronghold. He will come with a strange god whom he acknowledges. He will increase his influence and it will gain dominion over him greatly, and the territory he will divide up as a gift. 40 “And during the time of the consummation, the king of Egypt will engage in fierce horned combat with him, and the king of the north will be furious with him, using chariots and many horses and using many ships. And he will enter into the territory of Egypt. 41 And he will come on into my territory. Many will be entrapped, but these will be saved from his hand: Edom and Moab and the chief sons of Ammon. 42 And he will send his hand among the lands, and in the territory of Egypt there will be no one in it who is delivered. 43 And he will exercise power over the place of gold and the place of silver and over all the desired wealth of Egypt. And Put and Ethiopia will be among his multitude. 44 And a report will trouble him from the east and north, and he will leave in a fierce rage and with a sword to destroy and kill many. 45 And he will set up his tent at that time between the seas and the favored holy mountain. And the time of his end will come, and there will be no one who helps him.
12“And toward that territory, Michael, the great angel who stands over the sons of your people, will go by. That will be a day of affliction, of a kind that never was from when there were nations until that day. And in that day all the people, whoever may be found inscribed in the document, will be lifted up. 2 And many of those sleeping in the breadth of the earth will arise, some unto eternal life, but some unto reproach, and some to dispersion and eternal disgrace. 3 And those who are prudent will shine like the luminaries of the heavens, and those who learn and master my words, like the stars of the heavens for the eternity of eternity. 4 But you, Daniel, keep secret the decree, and seal up the document until the time of the end, while the masses rage on and the earth is filled with injustice.” 5 And I, Daniel, looked, and look, two others were standing, one on one side of the river and one on the other side. 6 And I said to the one clothed with fine linen above the river, “When, therefore, will be the conclusion of the things you have said to me, of those astonishing things and the purification of these things?” 7 And I heard the one clothed with fine linen, who was above the waters of the one river, “Until an appointed time of the end.” And he raised his right hand and his left hand toward the heavens and he swore by the God who lives for eternity, “The completion of the hands of the release of the holy people is for an appointed season and set times and half a time, and all these things will be consummated.” 8 And I heard, but I did not understand concerning this appointed season. So I said, “Lord, what is the meaning of this matter, and about whom are these puzzling assertions?” 9 And he said to me, “Depart, Daniel, for the divine decrees are hidden and sealed up until many should be tested and sanctified. 10 And the sinners will continue to sin, and all the sinners will fail to understand, but those who are discerning will give heed. 11 From when the sacrifice is taken away, during all that time, and when the abomination causing desolation was prepared to be set up, one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is the one who stands fast and gathers one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 And you, go! Rest yourself, for there are yet days and hours into the fulfillment of the consummation. And he should give you rest, and you will arise in your glory at the consummation of days.”