1Four Young Men Taken to Babylon
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
1In the third year that Jehoiakim was king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched to Jerusalem and laid siege to it.
2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
2The Lord handed Jehoiakim king of Judah over to him, along with some of the vessels from the house of God. He carried them off to the land of Shinar, to the temple of his god, and put the vessels in his god's treasury.
3And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;
3The king told Ashpenaz, the chief of his palace officials, to bring in some of the people of Israel, including members of the royal family and the nobility,
4Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
4young men with no physical defect, good-looking, gifted in every kind of wisdom, quick to learn, well informed, and fit to serve in the king's palace, so that they could be taught the writings and the language of the Chaldeans.
5And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
5The king assigned them a daily share of his own food and of the wine he drank. They were to be trained for three years, and at the end of that time they would enter the king's service.
6Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
6Among them were some from the tribe of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
7Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
7The chief official gave them new names. He named Daniel Belteshazzar, Hananiah Shadrach, Mishael Meshach, and Azariah Abednego.
8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
8But Daniel made up his mind that he would not make himself unclean with the king's food or with the wine the king drank, so he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.
9Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
9Now God had made the chief official feel kindness and real affection toward Daniel.
10And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
10But the chief official said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who decided what you should eat and drink. What if he sees you looking worse than the other young men your age? Then you would put my head at risk with the king."
11Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
11So Daniel spoke to Melzar, the guardian the chief official had placed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
12Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
12"Please put your servants to the test for ten days," he said. "Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
13Then compare how we look with how the young men who eat the king's food look, and treat your servants according to what you see."
14So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
14He agreed to what they asked and tested them for ten days.
15And 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.
15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better fed than all the young men who had been eating the king's food.
16Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
16So Melzar kept taking away the rich food and the wine they were supposed to drink, and gave them vegetables instead.
17As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
17To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every kind of learning and wisdom, and Daniel could also understand visions and dreams of every sort.
18Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
18When the time the king had set for bringing them in was over, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.
19And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
19The king talked with them, and out of the whole group none could match Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the king's service.
20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
20In every matter of wisdom and understanding the king asked them about, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in his entire kingdom.
21And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
21And Daniel stayed on there until the first year of King Cyrus.
2Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Statue
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
1In the second year of his reign Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit so much that he could not sleep.
2Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
2So the king ordered the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to be called in to tell him what he had dreamed. They came and stood before the king.
3And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
3The king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my spirit is troubled because I want to know what it was."
4Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
4The Chaldeans answered the king in Aramaic, "May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will explain what it means."
5The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
5The king replied to the Chaldeans, "This is my firm decision: if you do not tell me both the dream and its meaning, you will be cut into pieces and your houses will be turned into rubbish heaps.
6But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
6But if you tell me the dream and what it means, you will receive gifts, rewards, and great honor from me. So tell me the dream and its meaning."
7They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
7They answered a second time, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will explain what it means."
8The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
8The king answered, "I know for certain that you are trying to buy time, because you can see that my decision is firm.
9But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for 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.
9If you will not tell me the dream, there is only one sentence for all of you. You have agreed together to speak lies and nonsense to me until things change. So tell me the dream, and then I will know that you can also tell me what it means."
10The 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.
10The Chaldeans answered the king, "There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks. No king, however great or powerful, has ever demanded such a thing from any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.
11And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
11What the king is asking is too hard. No one can tell it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among human beings."
12For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
12At this the king flew into a furious rage and ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be put to death.
13And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
13The order went out that the wise men were to be killed, and men went looking for Daniel and his friends to kill them too.
14Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
14Then Daniel spoke with wisdom and good judgment to Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon.
15He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
15He asked Arioch, the king's officer, "Why has the king given such a harsh order?" Then Arioch explained the matter to Daniel.
16Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
16So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, so that he could tell the king what the dream meant.
17Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
17Then Daniel went home and explained the situation to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
18That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
18asking them to plead with the God of heaven for mercy about this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be put to death along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
19That night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and Daniel praised the God of heaven.
20Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
20Daniel said, "Praise the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to him.
21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
21He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
22He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
22He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in the darkness, and light lives with him.
23I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.
23I thank you and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and power. You have now shown me what we asked of you, for you have made the king's matter known to us."
24Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
24So Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, "Do not kill the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will tell the king what the dream means."
25Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
25Arioch hurried Daniel into the king's presence and said, "I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what the dream means."
26The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
26The king asked Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar, "Are you really able to tell me the dream I saw and what it means?"
27Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
27Daniel answered the king, "No wise man, astrologer, magician, or fortune-teller can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about.
28But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
28But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the days to come. This is your dream, the visions that passed through your mind as you lay in bed:
29As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
29As you lay there, O king, your thoughts turned to what would happen in the future, and the one who reveals mysteries has shown you what is going to happen.
30But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
30As for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me because I am wiser than anyone else alive, but so that the king may be told what it means and may understand the thoughts of his own heart.
31Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.
31You were looking, O king, and there before you stood a huge statue. It was enormous and dazzlingly bright, standing in front of you, and it was terrifying to look at.
32This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
32The head of the statue was made of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze,
33His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
33its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
34Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
34As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them to pieces.
35Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
35Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were all broken up together and became like chaff on a threshing floor in summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace, but the stone that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
36This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
36That was the dream. Now we will tell the king what it means.
37Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
37You, O king, are a king of kings, for the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory.
38And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
38Wherever human beings live, he has placed the wild animals and the birds of the sky in your hand and made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
39And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
39After you another kingdom will rise, not as great as yours, and then a third kingdom of bronze that will rule over the whole earth.
40And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
40Then there will be a fourth kingdom, as strong as iron. Just as iron shatters and crushes everything, so this kingdom, like iron that breaks everything, will crush and shatter all the others.
41And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
41And as you saw, the feet and toes were partly potter's clay and partly iron. That means the kingdom will be divided, though it will still have some of the strength of iron, since you saw the iron mixed with soft clay.
42And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
42As the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.
43And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
43And just as you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, the people will mix together through marriage, but they will not hold together, any more than iron mixes with clay.
44And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
44In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and it will not be handed over to any other people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will stand forever.
45Forasmuch 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.
45That is the meaning of the stone you saw cut out of the mountain without human hands, the one that smashed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold to pieces. The great God has shown the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is trustworthy."
46Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell facedown before Daniel and paid him honor, and he ordered that an offering and sweet incense be presented to him.
47The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
47The king said to Daniel, "Your God really is the God of gods and the Lord of kings, and the one who reveals mysteries, because you were able to reveal this mystery."
48Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
48Then the king promoted Daniel to a high position, gave him many splendid gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief over all the wise men of Babylon.
49Then 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.
49At Daniel's request the king put Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself stayed at the king's court.
3The Golden Image and the Fiery Furnace
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
1King Nebuchadnezzar made a statue of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
2Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
2Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather the princes, governors, captains, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up.
3Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
3So the princes, governors, captains, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces came together for the dedication of the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood in front of it.
4Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
4Then a herald called out loudly, "This is the command to you, peoples, nations, and people of every language:
5That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
5As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
6Anyone who does not fall down and worship will be thrown at once into a blazing furnace."
7Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
7So as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and people of every language fell down and worshiped the golden statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
8At that point some Chaldeans came forward and brought charges against the Jews.
9They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "May the king live forever!
10Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
10You, O king, issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, bagpipe, and every kind of music must fall down and worship the golden statue,
11And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
11and that anyone who does not fall down and worship is to be thrown into a blazing furnace.
12There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
12There are some Jews you have put in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have paid no attention to you. They do not serve your gods, and they do not worship the golden statue you set up."
13Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
13In a furious rage Nebuchadnezzar ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in, and the men were brought before the king.
14Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
14Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up?
15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
15Now, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, bagpipe, and every kind of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the statue I have made, very well. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown that very hour into a blazing furnace. And what god will be able to rescue you from my hands then?"
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves to you in this matter.
17If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
17If we are thrown in, the God we serve is able to save us from the blazing furnace, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
18But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up."
19Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the look on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual.
20And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
20He commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
21Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
21So the men were tied up, still wearing their robes, their trousers, their turbans, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the blazing furnace.
22Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
22Because the king's order was so urgent and the furnace so extremely hot, the flames killed the soldiers who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego up to it.
23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell, tied up, into the middle of the blazing furnace.
24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was stunned. He jumped to his feet and asked his advisers, "Didn't we throw three men, tied up, into the fire?" They answered the king, "That is true, O king."
25He 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.
25He said, "Look! I see four men, untied, walking around in the fire, and they are not hurt at all. And the fourth one looks like the Son of God."
26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
26Then Nebuchadnezzar went to the door of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.
27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
27The princes, governors, captains, and the king's advisers crowded around and saw that the fire had had no power over the bodies of these men. Not a hair on their heads was singed, their robes were unharmed, and there was not even the smell of fire on them.
28Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted him. They defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
29Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
29So I now decree that any people, nation, or language group that says anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses turned into rubbish heaps, because there is no other god who can rescue like this."
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
4The Great Tree and the King's Madness
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
1King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and people of every language who live in all the earth: May your peace be great!
2I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
2It seemed good to me to tell you about the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
3How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
3How great are his signs, and how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his rule lasts from one generation to the next.
4I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house, living comfortably in my palace.
5I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
5Then I had a dream that frightened me. The thoughts that came to me as I lay in bed and the visions in my mind terrified me.
6Therefore 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.
6So I gave an order for all the wise men of Babylon to be brought before me, so that they could tell me what the dream meant.
7Then 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.
7The magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and fortune-tellers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant.
8But 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,
8At last Daniel came before me. He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him. I told him the dream and said,
9O 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.
9"Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too hard for you. Tell me the visions I saw in my dream, and what they mean.
10Thus 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.
10These were the visions I saw as I lay in bed: I looked, and there was a tree in the middle of the earth, and it was very tall.
11The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
11The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached to the sky, and it could be seen from the ends of the earth.
12The 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.
12Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit was plentiful, with food on it for everyone. The wild animals found shade beneath it, the birds of the sky nested in its branches, and every living creature was fed from it.
13I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
13As I lay in bed I saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
14He 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:
14He called out loudly, 'Cut down the tree and chop off its branches. Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from beneath it and the birds from its branches.
15Nevertheless 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:
15But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze, among the fresh grass of the field. Let it be soaked with the dew of heaven, and let it share the grass of the earth with the animals.
16Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
16Let its mind be changed from a human mind, and let it be given the mind of an animal, until seven periods of time pass over it.
17This 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.
17This sentence is decreed by the watchers; the decision is announced by the holy ones, so that everyone alive may know that the Most High rules over human kingdoms. He gives them to anyone he chooses and sets the lowliest of people over them.'
18This 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.
18This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, since none of the wise men in my kingdom can explain it to me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
19Then 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.
19Then Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was stunned for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning frighten you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you, and its meaning to your enemies!
20The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
20The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top reaching to the sky and visible to the whole earth,
21Whose 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:
21whose leaves were beautiful and whose fruit was plentiful, with food on it for everyone, under which the wild animals lived and in whose branches the birds of the sky made their homes,
22It 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.
22that tree is you, O king. You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your rule extends to the ends of the earth.
23And 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;
23And the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze, among the fresh grass of the field. Let it be soaked with the dew of heaven, and let it share the life of the wild animals until seven periods of time pass over it.'
24This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
24This is what it means, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king:
25That 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.
25You will be driven away from people, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be made to eat grass like an ox and be soaked with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you learn that the Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to anyone he chooses.
26And 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.
26And the command to leave the stump with its roots means that your kingdom will be given back to you once you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
27Wherefore, 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.
27So, O king, please accept my advice. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your wrongdoing by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps then your time of peace may be extended."
28All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
28All of this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
29Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.
30The 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?
30The king said, "Isn't this the great Babylon that I have built as my royal home, by my own mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"
31While 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.
31The words were still in the king's mouth when a voice came from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, this is what is decreed for you: The kingdom has been taken away from you.
32And 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.
32You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals. You will be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you learn that the Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to anyone he chooses."
33The 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.
33That very hour the sentence was carried out on Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from people and ate grass like an ox, and his body was soaked with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagle feathers and his nails became like the claws of birds.
34And 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:
34When that time was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven, and my sanity came back to me. I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is an everlasting rule, and his kingdom lasts from one generation to the next.
35And 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?
35All the people of the earth count as nothing before him. He does whatever he wants with the armies of heaven and with the people of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"
36At 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.
36At that same time my sanity returned to me, and my honor and splendor were given back to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and my nobles came looking for me, I was restored to my throne, and I became even greater than before.
37Now 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.
37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to bring low.
5Belshazzar's Feast and the Writing on the Wall
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
1King Belshazzar held a huge banquet for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine in front of all thousand of them.
2Belshazzar, 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.
2While he was enjoying the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver cups that his father Nebuchadnezzar had carried off from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines could drink from them.
3Then 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.
3So they brought in the gold cups that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.
4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
4As they drank the wine, they praised their gods made of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5In 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.
5At that very moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the palace wall, across from the lampstand, and the king watched the part of the hand as it wrote.
6Then 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.
6Then the king's face went pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His hips went weak, and his knees knocked together.
7The 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.
7The king shouted for the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the fortune-tellers to be brought in. He said to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in purple, will wear a gold chain around his neck, and will be made the third-highest ruler in the kingdom."
8Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
8Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.
9Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
9At that King Belshazzar became even more frightened; his face grew paler still, and his nobles were left bewildered.
10Now 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:
10Because of the words of the king and his nobles, the queen came into the banquet hall. "May the king live forever!" she said. "Do not let your thoughts frighten you, and do not let your face go pale.
11There 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;
11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In your father's day he was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father, yes, your father the king, made him chief over the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and fortune-tellers,
12Forasmuch 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.
12because this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, was found to have an outstanding spirit, along with knowledge and understanding, the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and untangle hard problems. So send for Daniel, and he will tell you what it means."
13Then 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?
13So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to him, "Are you the Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought here from Judah?
14I 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.
14I have heard about you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, understanding, and remarkable wisdom.
15And 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:
15Just now the wise men and the astrologers were brought in to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain the matter.
16And 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.
16But I have heard that you can give interpretations and untangle hard problems. Now, if you can read the writing and tell me what it means, you will be dressed in purple, wear a gold chain around your neck, and be made the third-highest ruler in the kingdom."
17Then 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.
17Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts and give your rewards to someone else. Still, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
18O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
18O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, along with greatness, glory, and honor.
19And 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.
19Because of the greatness God gave him, people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whomever he wished and spared whomever he wished; he raised up whomever he wished and brought down whomever he wished.
20But 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:
20But when his heart became proud and his spirit grew hard with arrogance, he was removed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him.
21And 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.
21He was driven away from human society, and his mind was made like an animal's. He lived with the wild donkeys and was fed grass like an ox, and his body was soaked with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of people and appoints over them whomever he chooses.
22And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
22But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all of this.
23But 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:
23Instead you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the cups from his house brought in, and you and your nobles, your wives, and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which cannot see or hear or know anything. But the God who holds your very breath in his hand and controls every path you take, you have not honored.
24Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
24That is why the hand was sent from him, and this writing was written.
25And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
25And this is the writing that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
26This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
26This is what it means. MENE: God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.
27TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
27TEKEL: You have been weighed on the scales and found to be too light.
28PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
28PERES: Your kingdom has been divided and handed over to the Medes and Persians."
29Then 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.
29Then Belshazzar gave the order, and they dressed Daniel in purple, put a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed that he was now the third-highest ruler in the kingdom.
30In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
30That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was killed.
31And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
31And Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at about sixty-two years of age.
6Daniel in the Den of Lions
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
1Darius decided to appoint a hundred and twenty governors over the kingdom, to be in charge throughout the whole realm,
2And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
2and over them three administrators, of whom Daniel was the first. The governors reported to these three so that the king would suffer no loss.
3Then 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.
3Daniel soon stood out above the other administrators and the governors, because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to put him in charge of the entire kingdom.
4Then 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.
4So the administrators and governors tried to find something to accuse Daniel of in his handling of the kingdom's affairs, but they could find no grounds and no fault, because he was trustworthy, and no carelessness or wrongdoing could be found in him.
5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
5Finally these men said, "We will never find anything to charge this Daniel with, unless we find it in connection with the law of his God."
6Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
6So these administrators and governors went together to the king and said to him, "King Darius, may you live forever!
7All 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.
7All the administrators of the kingdom, the prefects, governors, counselors, and officials have agreed together that the king should issue a royal statute and enforce a firm decree: for thirty days, anyone who prays to any god or human being except you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den.
8Now, 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.
8Now, O king, issue the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed, in keeping with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."
9Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
9So King Darius signed the document and the decree.
10Now 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.
10When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went home. The windows of his upstairs room were open toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had always done.
11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
11Then these men came together and found Daniel praying and pleading with his God.
12Then 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.
12So they went to the king and spoke to him about his decree. "Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "That is right, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."
13Then 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.
13Then they said to the king, "Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you signed. He still prays three times a day."
14Then 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.
14When the king heard this, he was deeply upset with himself and set his mind on rescuing Daniel. He worked until sunset trying to save him.
15Then 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.
15But the men came together again before the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that under the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or statute the king issues can be changed."
16Then 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.
16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you."
17And 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.
17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and the rings of his nobles, so that nothing about Daniel's situation could be changed.
18Then 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.
18Then the king went back to his palace and spent the night without eating. No entertainment was brought to him, and he could not sleep.
19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
19At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions' den.
20And 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?
20As he came near the den, he called out to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve so faithfully, been able to rescue you from the lions?"
21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
21Daniel answered the king, "O king, may you live forever!
22My 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.
22My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. And I have done nothing wrong against you either, O king."
23Then 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.
23The king was overjoyed and ordered Daniel to be lifted out of the den. So Daniel was lifted out, and not a scratch was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24And 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.
24Then, at the king's command, the men who had accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions' den, along with their children and their wives. Before they even reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
25Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the whole earth: "May your peace increase!
26I 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.
26I decree that in every part of my kingdom people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he endures forever; his kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will last to the end.
27He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
27He rescues and saves; he performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He is the one who rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."
28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
7The Four Beasts and the Ancient of Days
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1In 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.
1In the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, with visions passing through his mind as he lay in bed. He wrote the dream down, giving the main points of what he saw.
2Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
2Daniel said, "In my vision at night I looked, and I saw the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea.
3And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
3Four huge beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others.
4The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
4The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. As I watched, its wings were torn off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and it was given a human heart.
5And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
5Then I saw a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up and eat your fill of flesh.'
6After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
6After that I looked, and there was another beast, like a leopard, with four bird's wings on its back. This beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
7After that, in my visions at night, I saw a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and enormously strong. It had huge iron teeth; it devoured and crushed its victims and trampled whatever was left under its feet. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.
8I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
8While I was thinking about the horns, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that spoke boastful words.
9I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
9As I watched, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was blazing flames, and its wheels were burning fire.
10A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
10A river of fire flowed out from before him. Thousands upon thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court sat down to judge, and the books were opened.
11I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
11I kept watching because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I watched until the beast was killed and its body destroyed and thrown into the burning fire.
12As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
12As for the other beasts, their authority was taken away, but they were allowed to live for a limited time and season.
13I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
13In my visions at night I looked, and I saw one like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
14He was given authority, glory, and a kingdom, so that people of every nation and language should serve him. His authority is an everlasting authority that will never pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
15I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
15I, Daniel, was deeply disturbed in my spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind frightened me.
16I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
16I went up to one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me and explained to me what these things meant:
17These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
17'These four great beasts are four kings who will rise up out of the earth.
18But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
18But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.'
19Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
19Then I wanted to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and so terribly frightening, with its iron teeth and bronze claws, the beast that devoured and crushed its victims and trampled whatever was left under its feet.
20And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
20I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth speaking boastful words, and that looked more imposing than the others.
21I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
21As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and was defeating them,
22Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
22until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came for the holy people to take possession of the kingdom.
23Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
23He told me, 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms; it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.
24And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
24The ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king will rise, different from the earlier ones, and he will bring down three kings.
25And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
25He will speak against the Most High and wear down the holy people of the Most High, and he will try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.
26But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
26But the court will sit in judgment, and his authority will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.
27And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
27Then the kingdom, the authority, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. Their kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey him.'
28Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
28This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself."
8The Ram, the Goat, and the Little Horn
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
1In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me earlier.
2And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.
2In the vision I saw myself in the fortress city of Susa, in the province of Elam. In the vision I was standing beside the Ulai River.
3Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
3I looked up and saw a ram standing beside the river. It had two horns, both of them long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one grew up last.
4I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
4I watched the ram charging to the west, the north, and the south. No animal could stand against it, and no one could rescue anything from its power. It did as it pleased and became great.
5And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
5While I was thinking about this, a male goat came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground, and the goat had a prominent horn between its eyes.
6And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
6It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing by the river and rushed at it in a furious rage.
7And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
7I saw it reach the ram; it was filled with anger against it and struck the ram, shattering both its horns. The ram had no strength to stand against it. The goat knocked it to the ground and trampled it, and no one could rescue the ram from its power.
8Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
8Then the goat became very great, but at the height of its strength the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up, pointing toward the four winds of heaven.
9And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
9Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew enormously toward the south, toward the east, and toward the beautiful land.
10And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
10It grew until it reached the host of heaven, and it threw some of the host and some of the stars down to the ground and trampled them.
11Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
11It even set itself up as equal to the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was thrown down.
12And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
12Because of rebellion, an army was given over to it, along with the daily sacrifice. It threw truth to the ground, and whatever it did, it succeeded.
13Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
13Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who was speaking, "How long will this vision last, the vision about the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that brings ruin, and the handing over of the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?"
14And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
14He said to me, "For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary will be made clean."
15And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
15While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, someone who looked like a man suddenly stood before me.
16And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
16And I heard a man's voice from between the banks of the Ulai calling, "Gabriel, explain the vision to this man."
17So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
17So he came near to where I stood, and as he approached, I was terrified and fell face down. But he said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the vision is about the time of the end."
18Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
18While he was speaking to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and stood me on my feet.
19And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
19He said, "Listen, I will tell you what will happen in the final period of wrath, because the end will come at the appointed time.
20The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
20The two-horned ram you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.
21And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
21The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king.
22Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
22As for the horn that was broken and the four that rose up in its place, four kingdoms will rise from that nation, but they will not have his power.
23And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
23In the final period of their rule, when the rebels have reached the full measure of their sin, a fierce-looking king who understands dark riddles will rise up.
24And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
24His power will be great, but not by his own strength. He will cause astonishing destruction and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
25By his cunning he will make deceit prosper under his hand, and he will think of himself as great. He will destroy many while they feel secure, and he will even rise up against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken, but not by human hands.
26And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
26The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been told to you is true. But seal up the vision, because it concerns the distant future."
27And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
27I, Daniel, was worn out and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went back to the king's business. But I was deeply shaken by the vision, and no one could explain it.
9Daniel's Prayer and the Seventy Weeks
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
1In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus, a Mede by descent, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans,
2In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
2in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem would lie in ruins for seventy years.
3And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
3So I turned to the Lord God and sought him in prayer and pleading, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
4And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
4I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands,
5We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
5we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and your laws.
6Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
6We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, and all the people of the land.
7O LORD, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
7O LORD, you are in the right, but today we are covered with shame, the people of Judah, the citizens of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far, in every country where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.
8O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
8O Lord, we and our kings, our princes, and our ancestors are covered with shame, because we have sinned against you.
9To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
9The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.
10Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
10We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God or followed the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.
11Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
11All Israel has broken your law and turned away, refusing to obey your voice. So the curse and the oath written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against him.
12And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
12He has carried out the words he spoke against us and against our rulers who governed us by bringing on us a terrible disaster. Under all of heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.
13As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
13Just as it is written in the law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and paying attention to your truth.
14Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
14So the LORD kept the disaster ready and brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does, and we have not obeyed his voice.
15And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
15And now, O Lord our God, you who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and made a name for yourself that lasts to this day, we have sinned; we have done wrong.
16O LORD, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
16O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, I beg you, turn your anger and your fury away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. Because of our sins and the wrongs of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have become an object of scorn to everyone around us.
17Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
17So now, our God, hear the prayer and the pleading of your servant. For your own sake, Lord, let your face shine on your sanctuary that lies in ruins.
18O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
18My God, turn your ear and listen; open your eyes and see our ruins and the city that bears your name. We are not bringing our requests before you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.
19O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
19O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your name."
20And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
20While I was still speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and bringing my request before the LORD my God for his holy mountain,
21Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
21yes, while I was still praying, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight at about the time of the evening sacrifice.
22And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
22He explained things to me and talked with me, saying, "Daniel, I have come now to give you insight and understanding.
23At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
23As soon as you began to pray, a command went out, and I have come to tell you about it, because you are greatly loved. So think carefully about the message and understand the vision.
24Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
24Seventy weeks have been set apart for your people and your holy city, to bring rebellion to an end, to put a stop to sins, to make atonement for wrongdoing, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and the prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.
25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
25Know, then, and understand this: from the time the command goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. The streets and the wall will be rebuilt, even in troubled times.
26And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
26After the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off, though not for himself. Then the people of the ruler who is coming will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and war and ruin have been decreed until the end.
27And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
27He will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to the sacrifices and the offerings. Because of the spread of abominations he will make it desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolate one."
10The Man Clothed in Linen
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar. The message was true, and it concerned a great struggle far in the future. He understood the message and had insight into the vision.
2In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
2In those days I, Daniel, was in mourning for three full weeks.
3I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
3I ate no rich food, no meat or wine touched my lips, and I did not put oil on myself at all until the three whole weeks were over.
4And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris.
5Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
5I looked up, and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
6His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
6His body gleamed like beryl, his face flashed like lightning, his eyes were like burning torches, his arms and legs shone like polished bronze, and his voice sounded like the roar of a crowd.
7And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
7I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision. The men with me did not see it, but such terror fell on them that they ran off to hide.
8Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
8So I was left by myself, and as I saw this great vision my strength drained away. My face turned deathly pale, and I had no power left in me.
9Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
9Still I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened to them I fell into a deep sleep, face down on the ground.
10And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
10Then a hand touched me and lifted me, trembling, onto my hands and knees.
11And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
11He said to me, "Daniel, you are a man greatly loved. Pay attention to the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." When he had said this to me, I stood up, still shaking.
12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
12Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. From the very first day you set your heart on understanding and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come because of them.
13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
13"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood against me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I had been held there with the kings of Persia.
14Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
14"Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the days to come, for the vision concerns a time still far off."
15And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
15While he was saying these things to me, I bowed my face toward the ground and could not speak.
16And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
16Then one who looked like a human being touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to the one standing in front of me, "My lord, because of the vision I am overcome with anguish, and I have no strength left.
17For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
17"How can I, my lord's servant, talk with someone like you, my lord? My strength is gone, and there is hardly any breath left in me."
18Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
18Then the one who looked like a man touched me again and gave me strength.
19And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
19He said, "Do not be afraid, you who are greatly loved. Peace be with you. Be strong; yes, be strong." As he spoke to me I was strengthened, and I said, "Let my lord speak, for you have given me strength."
20Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
20Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I must go back to fight the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come.
21But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
21"But first I will tell you what is written in the book of truth. No one stands with me against these powers except Michael, your prince.
11The Kings of the North and the South
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
1"And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I myself took my stand to support and protect him.
2And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.
2"Now I will tell you the truth. Three more kings will rise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When his wealth has made him strong, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.
3And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.
3"Then a mighty king will rise, who will rule with great power and do whatever he pleases.
4And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.
4"But as soon as he has risen, his kingdom will be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it keep the power he had, for his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others instead of them.
5And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.
5"The king of the south will grow strong, but one of his princes will become stronger than he is and will rule, and his rule will be very great.
6And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.
6"After some years they will join forces. The daughter of the king of the south will go to the king of the north to seal an agreement, but she will not keep her hold on power, and neither he nor his power will last. She will be handed over, along with those who brought her, the one who fathered her, and the one who supported her in those times.
7But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
7"But a shoot from her own roots will rise up in his place. He will come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the north, take action against them, and win.
8And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.
8"He will even carry their gods off to Egypt as captives, together with their princes and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and he will outlast the king of the north by some years.
9So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.
9"Then the king of the south will march into his kingdom, but he will return to his own land.
10But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.
10"But his sons will be stirred up for war and gather a huge army. One of them will surely come, sweep through like a flood, and pass on; then he will return and carry the fight all the way to the fortress.
11And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.
11"Then the king of the south will be filled with rage and will march out to fight the king of the north, who will raise a huge army; but that army will be handed over to his enemy.
12And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.
12"When the army is carried off, the king of the south will grow proud and will cut down many tens of thousands, yet he will not stay strong.
13For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.
13"For the king of the north will return with an army larger than the first, and after some years he will come with a huge force and great supplies.
14And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.
14"In those times many will rise against the king of the south. Violent men among your own people will also rise up to fulfill the vision, but they will fail.
15So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.
15"Then the king of the north will come, build siege ramps, and capture a well-fortified city. The forces of the south will not be able to resist, not even their best troops, for they will have no strength to hold out.
16But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
16"The invader will do as he pleases, and no one will be able to stand against him. He will set himself up in the glorious land, with the power to destroy it.
17He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.
17"He will also set out to come with the full strength of his kingdom, and honest men will be with him. This is what he will do: he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to bring him down, but she will not take his side or support him.
18After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.
18"Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and capture many of them, but a commander will put an end to the insult he has offered; without being insulted himself, he will turn it back on him.
19Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
19"After that he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall and be seen no more.
20Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
20"In his place will rise a man who sends out a tax collector to keep up the splendor of the kingdom, but within a few days he will be destroyed, though not in anger or in battle.
21And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
21"In his place a despised man will rise, one to whom the royal honor has not been given. He will come in when people feel secure and will seize the kingdom through smooth talk.
22And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
22"Overwhelming forces will be swept away before him and shattered, and so will the prince of the covenant.
23And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
23"After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; he will rise to power with only a small following.
24He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.
24"When people feel safe, he will invade the richest parts of the province and do what neither his fathers nor his forefathers ever did. He will hand out plunder, loot, and wealth among his followers, and he will plot against fortified cities, but only for a time.
25And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
25"He will rouse his strength and his courage against the king of the south with a large army, and the king of the south will go to war with a very large and powerful army. But he will not be able to hold out, because plots will be laid against him.
26Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
26"Those who eat from his own table will bring him down; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle.
27And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
27"These two kings, their hearts set on doing harm, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but it will do no good, for the end will still come at the appointed time.
28Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
28"The king of the north will go home with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own land.
29At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
29"At the appointed time he will invade the south again, but this time things will not turn out as they did before.
30For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
30"Ships from Kittim will come against him, and he will lose heart. He will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will take action, and on his return he will show favor to those who abandon the holy covenant.
31And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
31"His armed forces will rise up and defile the temple fortress. They will do away with the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination that causes desolation.
32And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
32"With smooth words he will corrupt those who break the covenant, but the people who know their God will stand firm and take action.
33And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
33"The wise among the people will teach many, yet for a time they will fall by the sword and by fire, by captivity and by plunder.
34Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
34"When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many will join them who are not sincere.
35And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
35"Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
36And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
36"The king will do whatever he pleases. He will exalt himself and make himself greater than every god, and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods. He will succeed until the time of wrath is complete, for what has been decided must take place.
37Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
37"He will have no regard for the gods of his fathers, or for the one desired by women, or for any god at all, for he will make himself greater than them all.
38But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
38"Instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god his fathers never knew, and he will honor it with gold, silver, precious stones, and costly gifts.
39Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
39"He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of this foreign god. He will heap honor on those who acknowledge him, make them rulers over many people, and divide up the land as a reward.
40And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
40"At the time of the end the king of the south will attack him, and the king of the north will storm out against him like a whirlwind with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.
41He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
41"He will also invade the glorious land, and many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab, and the leaders of Ammon will escape from his hand.
42He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
42"He will reach out his hand against country after country, and even the land of Egypt will not escape.
43But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
43"He will take control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Ethiopians will follow at his heels.
44But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
44"But news from the east and from the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and wipe out many.
45And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
45"He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the glorious holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
12The Time of the End
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
1"At that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has never happened from the time nations first existed until then. But at that time your people will be rescued, everyone whose name is found written in the book.
2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
2"Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will wake up, some to everlasting life and others to shame and everlasting disgrace.
3And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
3"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.
4But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
4"But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase."
5Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
5Then I, Daniel, looked, and there stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the other bank.
6And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
6One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be until the end of these wonders?"
7And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
7I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by the one who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.
8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
8I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, how will all this end?"
9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
9He answered, "Go on your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.
10Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
10"Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will keep on doing wrong. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.
11And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
11"From the time the daily sacrifice is done away with and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be one thousand two hundred ninety days.
12Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
12"Blessed is the one who waits and reaches the end of the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days.
13But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
13"As for you, go on your way until the end comes. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to take your appointed place."