Daniel:4-6

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* Nebuchadnezzar the king , unto all people , nations , and languages , that dwell in all the earth ; Peace be multiplied unto you . * I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me . * How great are his signs ! and how mighty are his wonders ! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom , and his dominion is from generation to generation . * I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house , and flourishing in my palace : * I saw a dream which made me afraid , and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me . * Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me , that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream . * Then came in the magicians , the astrologers , the Chaldeans , and the soothsayers : and I told the dream before them ; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof . * But at the last Daniel came in before me , whose name was Belteshazzar , 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 , * O Belteshazzar , master of the magicians , because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee , and no secret troubleth thee , tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen , and the interpretation thereof . * Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed ; I saw , and behold a tree in the midst of the earth , and the height thereof was great . * The tree grew , and was strong , and the height thereof reached unto heaven , and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth : * The leaves thereof were fair , and the fruit thereof much , and in it was meat for all : the beasts of the field had shadow under it , and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof , and all flesh was fed of it . * I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed , and , behold , a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven ; * 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 : * Nevertheless leave the stump of his 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 grass of the earth : * 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 . * 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 may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men , and giveth it to whomsoever he will , and setteth up over it the basest of men . * This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen . Now thou , O Belteshazzar , declare the interpretation thereof , forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation : but thou art able ; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee . * Then Daniel , whose name was Belteshazzar , was astonied for one hour , and his thoughts troubled him . The king spake , and said , Belteshazzar , let not the dream , or the interpretation thereof , trouble thee . Belteshazzar answered and said , My lord , the dream be to them that hate thee , and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies . * The tree that thou sawest , which grew , and was strong , whose height reached unto the heaven , and the sight thereof to all the earth ; * 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 : * It is thou , O king , that art grown and become strong : for thy greatness is grown , and reacheth unto heaven , and thy dominion to the end of the earth . * And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven , and saying , Hew the tree down , and destroy it ; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof 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 of the field , till seven times pass over him ; * This is the interpretation , O king , and this is the decree of the most High , which is come upon my lord the king : * That they shall drive thee from men , and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field , and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen , and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven , and seven times shall pass over thee , till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men , and giveth it to whomsoever he will . * And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots ; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee , after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule . * Wherefore , O king , let my counsel be acceptable unto thee , and break off thy sins by righteousness , and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor ; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity . * All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar . * At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon . * The king spake , and said , Is not this great Babylon , that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power , and for the honour of my majesty ? * While the word was in the king 's mouth , there fell a voice from heaven , saying , O king Nebuchadnezzar , to thee it is spoken ; The kingdom is departed from thee . * And they shall drive thee from men , and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field : they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen , and seven times shall pass over thee , until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men , and giveth it to whomsoever he will . * The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar : and he was driven from men , and did eat grass as oxen , and his body was wet with the dew of heaven , till his hairs were grown like eagles ' feathers , and his nails like birds ' claws . * And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven , and mine understanding returned unto me , and I blessed the most High , and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever , whose dominion is an everlasting dominion , and his kingdom is from generation to generation : * And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing : and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven , and among the inhabitants of the earth : and none can stay his hand , or say unto him , What doest thou ? * At the same time my reason returned unto me ; and for the glory of my kingdom , 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 . * Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven , all whose works are truth , and his ways judgment : and those that walk in pride he is able to abase . * Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords , and drank wine before the thousand . * Belshazzar , whiles he tasted the wine , commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem ; that the king , and his princes , his wives , and his concubines , might drink therein . * Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem ; and the king , and his princes , his wives , and his concubines , drank in them . * They drank wine , and praised the gods of gold , and of silver , of brass , of iron , of wood , and of stone . * In the same hour came forth fingers of a man 's hand , and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king 's palace : and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote . * Then the king 's countenance was changed , and his thoughts troubled him , so that the joints of his loins were loosed , and his knees smote one against another . * The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers , the Chaldeans , and the soothsayers . And the king spake , and said to the wise men of Babylon , Whosoever shall read this writing , and shew me the interpretation thereof , shall be clothed with scarlet , and have a chain of gold about his neck , and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom . * Then came in all the king 's wise men : but they could not read the writing , nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof . * Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled , and his countenance was changed in him , and his lords were astonied . * Now the queen , by reason of the words of the king and his lords , came into the banquet house : and the queen spake and said , O king , live for ever : let not thy thoughts trouble thee , nor let thy countenance be changed : * There is a man in thy kingdom , in whom is the spirit of the holy gods ; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom , like the wisdom of the gods , was found in him ; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father , the king , I say , thy father , made master of the magicians , astrologers , Chaldeans , and soothsayers ; * Forasmuch as an excellent spirit , and knowledge , and understanding , interpreting of dreams , and shewing of hard sentences , and dissolving of doubts , were found in the same Daniel , whom the king named Belteshazzar : now let Daniel be called , and he will shew the interpretation . * Then was Daniel brought in before the king . And the king spake and said unto Daniel , Art thou that Daniel , which art of the children of the captivity of Judah , whom the king my father brought out of Jewry ? * I have even heard of thee , that the spirit of the gods is in thee , and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee . * And now the wise men , the astrologers , have been brought in before me , that they should read this writing , and make known unto me the interpretation thereof : but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing : * And I have heard of thee , that thou canst make interpretations , and dissolve doubts : now if thou canst read the writing , and make known to me the interpretation thereof , thou shalt be clothed with scarlet , and have a chain of gold about thy neck , and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom . * Then Daniel answered and said before the king , Let thy gifts be to thyself , and give thy rewards to another ; yet I will read the writing unto the king , and make known to him the interpretation . * O thou king , the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom , and majesty , and glory , and honour : * And for the majesty that he gave him , all people , nations , and languages , trembled and feared before him : whom he would he slew ; and whom he would he kept alive ; and whom he would he set up ; and whom he would he put down . * But when his heart was lifted up , and his mind hardened in pride , he was deposed from his kingly throne , and they took his glory from him : * And he was driven from the sons of men ; and his heart was made like the beasts , and his dwelling was with the wild asses : they fed him with grass like oxen , and his body was wet with the dew of heaven ; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men , and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will . * And thou his son , O Belshazzar , hast not humbled thine heart , though thou knewest all this ; * But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven ; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee , and thou , and thy lords , thy wives , and thy concubines , have drunk wine in them ; and thou hast praised the gods of silver , and gold , of brass , iron , wood , and stone , which see not , nor hear , nor know : and the God in whose hand thy breath is , and whose are all thy ways , hast thou not glorified : * Then was the part of the hand sent from him ; and this writing was written . * And this is the writing that was written , MENE , MENE , TEKEL , UPHARSIN . * This is the interpretation of the thing : MENE ; God hath numbered thy kingdom , and finished it . * TEKEL ; Thou art weighed in the balances , and art found wanting . * PERES ; Thy kingdom is divided , and given to the Medes and Persians . * Then commanded Belshazzar , and they clothed Daniel with scarlet , and put a chain of gold about his neck , and made a proclamation concerning him , that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom . * In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain . * And Darius the Median took the kingdom , being about threescore and two years old . * It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes , which should be over the whole kingdom ; * And over these three presidents ; of whom Daniel was first : that the princes might give accounts unto them , and the king should have no damage . * Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes , because an excellent spirit was in him ; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm . * Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom ; but they could find none occasion nor fault ; forasmuch as he was faithful , neither was there any error or fault found in him . * Then said these men , We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel , except we find it against him concerning the law of his God . * Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king , and said thus unto him , King Darius , live for ever . * All the presidents of the kingdom , the governors , and the princes , the counsellors , and the captains , have consulted together to establish a royal statute , and to make a firm decree , that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days , save of thee , O king , he shall be cast into the den of lions . * Now , O king , establish the decree , and sign the writing , that it be not changed , according to the law of the Medes and Persians , which altereth not . * Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree . * Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed , he went into his house ; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem , he kneeled upon his knees three times a day , and prayed , and gave thanks before his God , as he did aforetime . * Then these men assembled , and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God . * Then they came near , and spake before the king concerning the king 's decree ; Hast thou not signed a decree , that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days , save of thee , O king , shall be cast into the den of lions ? The king answered and said , The thing is true , according to the law of the Medes and Persians , which altereth not . * Then answered they and said before the king , That Daniel , which is of the children of the captivity of Judah , regardeth not thee , O king , nor the decree that thou hast signed , but maketh his petition three times a day . * Then the king , when he heard these words , was sore displeased with himself , and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him : and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him . * Then these men assembled unto the king , and said unto the king , Know , O king , that the law of the Medes and Persians is , That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed . * Then the king commanded , and they brought Daniel , and cast him into the den of lions . Now the king spake and said unto Daniel , Thy God whom thou servest continually , he will deliver thee . * And a stone was brought , and laid upon the mouth of the den ; and the king sealed it with his own signet , and with the signet of his lords ; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel . * Then the king went to his palace , and passed the night fasting : neither were instruments of musick brought before him : and his sleep went from him . * Then the king arose very early in the morning , and went in haste unto the den of lions . * And when he came to the den , he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel : and the king spake and said to Daniel , O Daniel , servant of the living God , is thy God , whom thou servest continually , able to deliver thee from the lions ? * Then said Daniel unto the king , O king , live for ever . * My God hath sent his angel , and hath shut the lions ' mouths , that they have not hurt me : forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me ; and also before thee , O king , have I done no hurt . * Then was the king exceeding glad for him , and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den . So Daniel was taken up out of the den , and no manner of hurt was found upon him , because he believed in his God . * And the king commanded , and they brought those men which had accused Daniel , and they cast them into the den of lions , them , their children , and their wives ; and the lions had the mastery of them , and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den . * Then king Darius wrote unto all people , nations , and languages , that dwell in all the earth ; Peace be multiplied unto you . * I make a decree , That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel : for he is the living God , and stedfast for ever , and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed , and his dominion shall be even unto the end . * He delivereth and rescueth , and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth , who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions . * So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius , and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian . * In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed : then he wrote the dream , and told the sum of the matters .

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