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Daniel, &c. refuse the king's meat. DANIEL. Of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. derstanding science, and such as had abili- 20 And in all matters of wisdom and ty in them to stand in the king's palace, understanding, that the king inquired of and whom they might teach the learning them, he found them ten times better than and the tongue of the Chaldeans. all the magicians and astrologers that were

5 And the king appointed them a daily in all his realm. provision of the king's meat, and of the 21 And Daniel continued even unto the wine which he drank: so nourishing the first year of king Cyrus. three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

CHAP. II.

Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar

6 Now, among these were of the chil-AND in the second year of the reign of dren of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was and Azariah: troubled, and his sleep brake from him. 7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs 2 Then the king commanded to call the gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the magicians, and the astrologers, and the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; the king his dreams. So they came and and to Azariah, of Abed-nego. stood before the king.

8 ¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart 3 And the king said unto them, I have that he would not defile himself with the dreamed a dream, and my spirit was portion of the king's meat, nor with the troubled to know the dream. wine which he drank: therefore, he re- 4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king quested of the prince of the eunuchs that in Syriac, O king, live for ever: tell thy he might not defile himself. servants the dream, and we will shew the 9 Now God had brought Daniel into interpretation. favour and tender love with the prince of 5 The king answered and said to the the eunuchs. Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said ye will not make known unto me the unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye hath appointed your meat and your drink: shall be cut in pieces, and your houses for why should he see your faces worse shall be made a dunghill. liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: there11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom fore,shew me the dream, and the interprethe prince of the eunuchs had set over tation thereof.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 7 They answered again and said, Let 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, the king tell his servants the dream, and ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, we will shew the interpretation of it. and water to drink. 8 The king answered and said, I know 13 Then let our countenances be looked of certainty that ye would gain the time, upon before thee, and the countenance of because ye see the thing is gone from me. the children that eat of the portion of the 9 But,if ye will not make known unto king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with me the dream, there is but one decree for thy servants.

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

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

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

you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.

10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said,There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.

17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all 11 And it is a rare thing that the king learning and wisdom and Daniel had un-requireth, and there is none other that can derstanding in all visions and dreams. shew it before the king, except the gods, 18 Now at the end of the days that the whose dwelling is not with flesh. king had said he should bring them in, 12 For this cause the king was angry then the prince of the eunuchs brought and very furious, and commanded to dethem in before Nebuchadnezzar. stroy all the wise men of Babylon.]

19 And the king communed with them: and among them all was found one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore, stood they before the king.

13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

14 Then Daniel answered with coun

Dantel finds the dream,

CHAP. II.

sel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

and gives the interpretation. 29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that 15 He answered and said to Arioch the revealeth secrets maketh known to thee king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty what shall come to pass. from the king? Then Arioch made the 30 But as for me, this secret is not rething known to Daniel. vealed to me for any wisdom that I have 16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of more than any living, but for their sakes the king that he would give him time, and that shall make known the interpretation that he would shew the king the interpre- to the king, and that thou mightest know tation. the thoughts of thy heart.

17 Then Daniel went to his house and 31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold made the thing known to Hananiah, Mi- a great image. This great image, whose shael, and Azariah, his companions: brightness was excellent, stood before

18 That they would desire mercies of thee; and the form thereof was terrible. the God of heaven concerning this secret; 32 This image's head was of fine gold, that Daniel and his fellows should not per- his breast and his arms of silver, his belly ish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. and his thighs of brass,

19 Then was the secret revealed unto

33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron ·

Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel and part of clay. blessed the God of heaven.

34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut 20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed out without hands, which smote the image be the name of God for ever and ever: for upon his feet that were of iron and clay, wisdom and might are his: and brake them to pieces.

21 And he changeth the times and the 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, pieces together, and became like the chaff and knowledge to them that know under- of the summer threshing-floors; and the standing: wind carried them away, that no place 22 He revealeth the deep and secret was found for them and the stone that things: he knoweth what is in the dark-smote the image became a great mountain, ness, and the light dwelleth with him. and filled the whole earth.

23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou 36 This is the dream; and we will tell God of my fathers, who hast given me wis- the interpretation thereof before the king. dom and might, and hast made known unto 37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: me now what we desired of thee: for thou for the God of heaven hath given thee a hast now made known unto us the king's kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men

matter.

24 ¶ Therefore, Daniel went in unto dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls Arioch, whom the king had ordained to of the heaven hath he given into thy destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went hand, and hath made thee ruler over them and said thus unto him; Destroy not the all. Thou art this head of gold. wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.

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

25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be him, I have found a man of the captives of strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh Judah, that will make known unto the king in pieces and subdueth all things: and as the interpretation. iron that breaketh all these, shall it break

26 The king answered and said to Dan-in pieces and bruise. iel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art 41 And whereas thou sawest the feet thou able to make known unto me the and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of dream which I have seen, and the inter- iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but pretation thereof? there shall be in it of the strength of the 27 Daniel answered in the presence of iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron the king, and said, The secret which the mixed with miry clay. king hath demanded cannot the wise men, 42 And as the toes of the feet were part the astrologers, the magicians, the sooth- of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom sayers, shew unto the king; shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 28 But,there is a God in heaven that re- 43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed vealeth secrets, and maketh known to the with miry clay, they shall mingle themking Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the selves with the seed of men: but they latter days. Thy dream, and the visions shall not cleave one to another, even að of thy head upon thy bed, are these; iron is not mixed with clay.

The golden image set up.

DANIEL. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,

44 And in the days of these kings shall people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of shall neverbe destroyed: and the kingdom music, all the people, the nations, and the shall not be left to other people, but it shall languages, fell down and worshipped the break in pieces and consume all these golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. king had set up.

45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

46 T Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.

deans came near, and accused the Jews.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chal-
buchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
9 They spake and said to the king Ne

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

worshippeth, that he should be cast into 11 And whoso falleth not down and 47 The king answered unto Daniel, and the midst of a burning fiery furnace. said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a hast set over the affairs of the province of 12 There are certain Jews whom thou God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedrevealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest nego; these men, O king, have not regarded reveal this secret. 48 Then the king made Daniel a great the golden image which thou hast set up. thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province and fury commanded to bring_Shadrach, 13 ¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage of Babylon, and chief of the governors Meshach, and Abed-nego. over all the wise men of Babylon. Then they brought these men before the king.

them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. CHAP. III. N JEBUCHADNEZZAR the king made an image of gold, whose height was ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, kinds of music, ye fall down and worship in the province of Babylon. the image which I have made; well: but

2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same to gather together the princes, the govern-hour into the midst of a burning fiery furors, and the captains, the judges, the trea-nace; and who is that God that shall desurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all liver you out of my hands? the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchad-answered and said to the king, O Nebu16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, nezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the princes, the governors, chadnezzar, we are not careful to answer captains, the judges, the treasurers, the and thee in this matter. counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers is able to deliver us from the burning fiery 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve of the provinces, were gathered together furnace, and he will deliver us out of thy unto the dedication of the image that Ne- hand, O king. buchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebu-O king, that we will not serve thy gods, 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, chadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald cried aloud, To you hast set up. nor worship the golden image which thou it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

19 ¶ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed

5 That at what time ye hear the sound against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedof the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, nego: therefore he spake, and commanded dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall that they should heat the furnace one seven down and worship the golden image that times more than it was wont to be heated. Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.

6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

7 Therefore, at that time, when all the

men that were in his army to bind Sha20 And he commanded the most mighty drach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to 21 Then these men were bound in their cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 660

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coats, their hosen, and their hats, and

their other garments, and were cast into my the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Nebuchadnezzar's dream.

4T I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in house, and flourishing in my palace: 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, 22 Therefore because the king's com- and the thoughts upon my bed and the mandment was urgent, and the furnace ex-visions of my head troubled me. ceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew 6 Therefore made I a decree to bring those men that took up Shadrach, Me-in all the wise men of Babylon before me shach, and Abed-nego. that they might make known unto me the

23 And these three men, Shadrach, interpretation of the dream. Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound 7 Then came in the magicians, the into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the sooth24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was sayers: and I told the dream before them; astonished,and rose up in haste, and spake, but they did not make known unto me the and said unto his counsellors, Did not we interpretation thereof. cast three men bound into the midst of the 8 But at the last Daniel came in befire? They answered and said unto the fore me, whose name was Belteshazzar, king, True, O king. according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

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

9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the 26 ¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, thee, tell me the visions of my dream that and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most 10 Thus were the visions of my head high God, come forth, and come hither. in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, the midst of the earth, and the height came forth of the midst of the fire. thereof was great.

27 And the princes, governors, and cap- 11 The tree grew, and was strong, and tains, and the king's counsellors, being the height thereof reached unto heaven, gathered together, saw these men, upon and the sight thereof to the end of all the whose bodies the fire had no power, nor earth:

was a hair of their head singed, neither 12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the were their coats changed, nor the smell fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for of fire had passed on them. all: the beasts of the field bad shadow

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and under it, and the fowls of the heaven said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Me-dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh shach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his was fed of it. angel, and delivered his servants that 13 I saw in the visions of my head upon trusted in him, and have changed the my bed, and behold, a watcher and a king's word, and yielded their bodies, holy one came down from heaven; that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches.

29 Therefore, I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall 15 Nevertheless, leave the stump of his be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other god that can deliver after this sort.

roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province grass of the earth. of Babylon.

CHAP. IV. N [EBUCHADNEZZAR the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living I thought it good to shew the signs may know that the Most High ruleth in and wonders that the high God hath the kingdom of men, and giveth it to wrought toward me. whomsoever he will, and setteth up over

3 How great are his signs! and how it the basest of men. mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is 18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, is from generation to generation. declare the interpretation thereof, foras

Daniel interprets the dream.

DANIEL.

Belshazzar's impious feast. much as all the wise men of my kingdom mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, sayare not able to make known unto me the ing, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is interpretation but thou art able; for the spoken; The kingdom is departed from spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

thee:

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for one hour, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and his thoughts troubled him. The king of the field: they shall make thee to eat spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass dream, or the interpretation thereof,trouble over thee, until thou know that the lost thee. Beiteshazzar answered, and said, High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and My lord, the dream be to them that hate giveth it to whomsoever he will. thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfill20 The tree that thou sawest, which driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, ed upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was grew, and was strong, whose height reach- and his body was wet with the dew of heaed unto the heaven, and the sight thereof ven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' to all the earth;

21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

feathers, and his nails like birds' clares. chadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto bea34 And at the end of the days I Nebuven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I 22 It is thou, O king, that art grown ever, whose dominion is an everlasting praised and honoured him that liveth for and become strong for thy greatness is dominion, and his kingdom is from genegrown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy ration to generation: dominion to the end of the earth.

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth

23 And whereas the king saw a watcher are reputed as nothing: and he doeth acand a holy one coming down from heaven, cording to his will in the army of heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and de- and among the inhabitants of the earth: stroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots and none can stay his hand, or say unto thereof in the earth, even with a band of him, What doest thou? iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

unto me: and for the glory of my king36 At the same time my reason returned dom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

BELSHA a thousand of his lords, and
CHAP. V.
ELSHAZZAR the king made a great
drank wine before the thousand.

25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts extol and honour the King of heaven, all 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and of the field, and they shall make thee to whose works are truth, and his ways judgeat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee ment: and those that walk in pride he is with the dew of heaven, and seven times able to abase.. shall pass over thee, till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou commanded to bring the golden and silver 2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, shalt have known that the heavens do rule. vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar 27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel had taken out of the temple which was in be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities his wives, and his concubines might drink by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may therein. be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

that were taken out of the temple of the 3 Then they brought the golden vessels and the king, and his princes, his wives, house of God which was at Jerusalem; and his concubines, drank in them.

30 The king spake, and said, Is not this gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, 4 They drank wine, and praised the great Babylon, that I have built for the of wood, and of stone. power, and for the honour of my majesty? of a man's hand, and wrote over against 5 In the same hour came forth fingers 31 While the word was in the king's, the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall

house of the kingdom by the might of my

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