In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And 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.
And 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; Children 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. And 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. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah: Unto 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 Abed-nego.
But 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. Now
God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the
eunuchs. And 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. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom
the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us
pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then 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. So he consented to
them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days
their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children
which did eat the portion of the king's meat. Thus Melzar took away the
portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them
pulse.
As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning
and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now 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. And the king
communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And 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. And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar
dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from
him. Then 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. And the king said unto them, I have
dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. Then
spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy
servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. The 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. But 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.
They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and
we will shew the interpretation of it. The king answered and said, I know of
certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from
me. But 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.
The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon
the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor
ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And
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. For
this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy
all the wise men of Babylon. And the decree went forth that the wise men
should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
Then 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: He
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. Then Daniel
went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he
would shew the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and
made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
That 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.
Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel
blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name
of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And 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: He
revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness,
and the light dwelleth with him. I 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.
Therefore 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. Then 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. The 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?
Daniel 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; But 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;
As 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. But 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.
Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose
brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was
terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver,
his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part
of clay. Thou 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.
Then 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.
This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a
kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And 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. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and
another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And
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. And 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. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay,
so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And 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. And 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. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut
out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the
brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to
the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the
interpretation thereof sure.
Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel,
and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto
him. The 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. Then 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. Then
Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,
over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the
king.
Nebuchadnezzar 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. Then 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. Then 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. Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people,
nations, and languages, That 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:
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast
into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore 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.
Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. Thou,
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: And whoso falleth not down
and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery
furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the
province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king,
have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden
image which thou hast set up.
Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image
which I have set up? Now 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?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O
Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If 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. But 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.
Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was
changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and
commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it
was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were
in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into
the burning fiery furnace. Then 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. Therefore 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 Abed-nego. And these three men,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the
burning fiery furnace. Then 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. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the
midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the
Son of God.
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace,
and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the
most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And 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.
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego, 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. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language,
which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill:
because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. Then the king
promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell
in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the
signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are
his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: I
saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the
visions of my head troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the
wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the
interpretation of the dream. Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the
Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they
did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar,
according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods:
and before him I told the dream, saying, O Belteshazzar, master of the
magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no
secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and
the interpretation thereof. Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I
saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was
great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto
heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: The leaves thereof
were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of
the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the
boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of my head
upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from
heaven; He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his
branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away
from under it, and the fowls from his branches: Nevertheless leave the stump
of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender
grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion
be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: Let his heart be changed from
man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass
over him. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by
the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the
most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will,
and setteth up over it the basest of men. This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar
have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof,
forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known
unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is
in thee.
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and
his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the
dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered
and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the
interpretation thereof to thine enemies. The tree that thou sawest, which
grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight
thereof to all the earth; Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much,
and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon
whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: It is thou, O
king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and
reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. And
whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven,
and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the
roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender
grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion
be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; This is the
interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come
upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling
shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as
oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall
pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of
men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And whereas they commanded to
leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after
that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. Wherefore, O king, let
my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness,
and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening
of thy tranquillity.
All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he
walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is
not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the
might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in
the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king
Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts
of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall
pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of
men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing
fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat
grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs
were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto
heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most
High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is
an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth
according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the
earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the
same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom,
mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my
lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent
majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and
honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment:
and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank
wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine,
commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father
Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that
the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of
the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his
wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the
gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against
the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king
saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's countenance was
changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were
loosed, and his knees smote one against another. The king cried aloud to
bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king
spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this
writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet,
and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the
kingdom. Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the
writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. Then was
king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him,
and his lords were astonied.
Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into
the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let
not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: There is a
man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of
thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods,
was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say,
thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and
soothsayers; Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and
understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and
dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named
Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto
Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah,
whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? I have even heard of thee,
that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and
excellent wisdom is found in thee. And now the wise men, the astrologers,
have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make
known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the
interpretation of the thing: And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make
interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and
make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with
scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in
the kingdom.
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and
give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and
make known to him the interpretation. O thou king, the most high God gave
Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages,
trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he
would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he
put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride,
he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the
beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like
oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the
most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it
whomsoever he will. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine
heart, though thou knewest all this; But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord
of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and
thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them;
and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and
stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy
breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: Then was the
part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This
is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom,
and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found
wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and
Persians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet,
and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning
him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the
Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes,
which should be over the whole kingdom; And over these three presidents; of
whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and
the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred above the
presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king
thought to set him over the whole realm.
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel
concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault;
forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in
him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel,
except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said
thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom,
the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have
consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree,
that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of
thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the
decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of
the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed
the writing and the decree.
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house;
and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled
upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his
God, as he did aforetime.
Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making
supplication before his God. Then they came near, and spake before the king
concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man
that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O
king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The
thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth
not. Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the
children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree
that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. Then the
king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set
his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the
sun to deliver him. Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto
the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no
decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. Then the
king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.
Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest
continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the
mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the
signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were
instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the
den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice
unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the
living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee
from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God
hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt
me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before
thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad for him,
and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel
was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him,
because he believed in his God.
And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused
Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and
their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones
in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in
all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every
dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for
he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall
not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth
and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who
hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in
the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions
of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the
matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the
four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts
came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The 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. And 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. After 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. After 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. I 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.
I 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. A 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. I 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. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken
away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. I 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. And
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.
I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of
my head troubled me. I 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. These great beasts, which are four, are four
kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall
take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Then 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; And 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. I
beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against
them; Until 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.
Thus 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. And 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. And 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. But the
judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to
destroy it unto the end. And 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. Hitherto 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.
In 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. And 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. Then 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. I 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. And 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.
And 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. And 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.
Therefore 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. And 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. And 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. Yea, 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. And 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.
Then 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? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and
three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
And 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. And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and
said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So 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. Now 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. And 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. The ram which thou sawest having
two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of
Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that
being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out
of the nation, but not in his power. And 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. And 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. And
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. And 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. And 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.
In 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; In 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.
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications,
with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
And 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; We have sinned,
and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled,
even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Neither 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. O
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. O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our
princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. To the Lord
our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against
him; Neither 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. Yea, 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. And 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. As 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. Therefore 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. And 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.
O 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. Now 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. O 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. O 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.
And 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; Yea, 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. And he
informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to
give thee skill and understanding. At 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. Seventy
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. Know 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. And 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. And 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.
In 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. In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I 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. And in the four and
twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which
is Hiddekel; Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man
clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His 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. And 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. Therefore
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. Yet 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.
And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon
the palms of my hands. And 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. Then 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. But 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. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall
befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. And
when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground,
and I became dumb. And, 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. For 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. Then there came again and touched
me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, And 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. Then 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. But 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.
Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to
strengthen him. And 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. And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion,
and do according to his will. And 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.
And 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. And 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. But 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: And 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. So the king of
the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. But
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. And 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. And 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. For 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. And 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. So 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. But 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. He 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. After 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. Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he
shall stumble and fall, and not be found. Then 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.
And 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. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown
from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall
come up, and shall become strong with a small people. He 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. And 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. Yea,
they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall
overflow: and many shall fall down slain. And 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. Then 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. At the time appointed he shall
return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as
the latter.
For 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. And 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. And 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. And 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. Now when they shall fall, they shall be
holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And
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. And 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. Neither shall he
regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god:
for he shall magnify himself above all. But 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. Thus 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. And 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. He 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. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries:
and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But 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. But 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. And 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.
And 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.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And 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. But 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.
Then 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.
And 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? And 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. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall
be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are
closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many 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. And 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.
Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and
five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest,
and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.