\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Daniel}

{\MTB The Book of

\par }{\MT Daniel


\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

\VS{2}The Lord\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:2 }{\FT{The word translated “Lord” (mixed case) is “Adonai.”}}} gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into
his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God;\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 1:2 }{\FT{The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).}}} and he carried them
into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. He brought the vessels into the treasure house of his
god.


\par }{\PP \VS{3}The king spoke to Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, that he
should bring in some of the children of Israel, even of the royal offspring\FTNT{§}{{\FR 1:3 }{\FT{or, seed}}} and of the nobles:

\VS{4}youths in whom was no defect, but well-favored, skillful in all wisdom, endowed
with knowledge, understanding science, and who had the ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that
he should teach them the learning and the language of the Kasdim.

\VS{5}The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s delicacies and of
the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years, that at its end they should stand
before the king.


\par }{\PP \VS{6}Now among these of the children of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah.

\VS{7}The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar;
to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself
with the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of
the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

\VS{9}Now God made Daniel find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince
of the eunuchs.

\VS{10}The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has
appointed your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths who
are of your own age? Then you would endanger my head with the king.”


\par }{\PP \VS{11}Then Daniel said to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs
had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

\VS{12}“Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables
to eat and water to drink.

\VS{13}Then let our faces be examined before you, and the face of the youths who
eat of the king’s delicacies; and as you see, deal with your servants.”

\VS{14}So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.


\par }{\PP \VS{15}At the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer and they
were fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate of the king’s delicacies.

\VS{16}So the steward took away their delicacies and the wine that they were given
to drink, and gave them vegetables.


\par }{\PP \VS{17}Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill
in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.


\par }{\PP \VS{18}At the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing
them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

\VS{19}The king talked with them; and among them all was found no one like Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king.

\VS{20}In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired
of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.


\par }{\PP \VS{21}Daniel continued even to the first year of King Cyrus.



\par }\Chap{2}{\PP \VerseOne{1}In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar
dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him.

\VS{2}Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and
the Kasdim be called to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.

\VS{3}The king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to
know the dream.”


\par }{\PP \VS{4}Then the Kasdim spoke to the king in the Syrian language, “O king,
live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”


\par }{\PP \VS{5}The king answered the Kasdim, “The thing has gone from me. If you
don’t make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut in pieces, and your houses will
be made a dunghill.

\VS{6}But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts,
rewards, and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.”


\par }{\PP \VS{7}They answered the second time and said, “Let the king tell his
servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”


\par }{\PP \VS{8}The king answered, “I know of a certainty that you are trying to
gain time, because you see the thing has gone from me.

\VS{9}But if you don’t make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for
you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the situation changes. Therefore tell
me the dream, and I will know that you can show me its interpretation.”


\par }{\PP \VS{10}The Kasdians answered the king and said, “There is not a man
on the earth who can show the king’s matter, because no king, lord, or ruler has asked such a thing of
any magician, enchanter, or Chaldean.

\VS{11}It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show
it before the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”


\par }{\PP \VS{12}Because of this, the king was angry and very furious, and commanded
that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.

\VS{13}So the decree went out, and the wise men were to be slain. They sought Daniel
and his companions to be slain.


\par }{\PP \VS{14}Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch
the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.

\VS{15}He answered Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree so urgent from the
king?” Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

\VS{16}Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time,
and he would show the king the interpretation.


\par }{\PP \VS{17}Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

\VS{18}that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret,
that Daniel and his companions would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

\VS{19}Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel
blessed the God of heaven.

\VS{20}Daniel answered,

\par }{\Q “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever;

\par }{\QB for wisdom and might are his.


\par }{\Q \VS{21}He changes the times and the seasons.

\par }{\QB He removes kings and sets up kings.

\par }{\Q He gives wisdom to the wise,

\par }{\QB and knowledge to those who have understanding.


\par }{\Q \VS{22}He reveals the deep and secret things.

\par }{\QB He knows what is in the darkness,

\par }{\QB and the light dwells with him.


\par }{\Q \VS{23}I thank you and praise you,

\par }{\QB O God of my fathers,

\par }{\Q who have given me wisdom and might,

\par }{\QB and have now made known to me what we desired of you;

\par }{\QB for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”


\par }{\PP \VS{24}Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed
to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said this to him: “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon.
Bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation.”


\par }{\PP \VS{25}Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said
this to him: “I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah who will make known to the
king the interpretation.”


\par }{\PP \VS{26}The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you
able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”


\par }{\PP \VS{27}Daniel answered before the king, and said, “The secret which
the king has demanded can’t be shown to the king by wise men, enchanters, magicians, or soothsayers;

\VS{28}but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to
King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head on your bed
are these:


\par }{\PP \VS{29}“As for you, O king, your thoughts came on your bed, what should
happen hereafter; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you what will happen.

\VS{30}But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have
more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that
you may know the thoughts of your heart.


\par }{\PP \VS{31}“You, O king, saw, and behold,\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:31 }{\FT{“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is
often used as an interjection.}}} a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness
was excellent, stood before you; and its appearance was terrifying.

\VS{32}As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver,
its belly and its thighs of bronze,

\VS{33}its legs of iron, its feet part of iron and part of clay.

\VS{34}You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on
its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.

\VS{35}Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken
in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away,
so that no place was found for them. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled
the whole earth.


\par }{\PP \VS{36}“This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before
the king.

\VS{37}You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom,
the power, the strength, and the glory.

\VS{38}Wherever the children of men dwell, he has given the animals of the field
and the birds of the sky into your hand, and has made you rule over them all. You are the head of gold.


\par }{\PP \VS{39}“After you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to you;
and another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.

\VS{40}The fourth kingdom will be strong as iron, because iron breaks in pieces and
subdues all things; and as iron that crushes all these, it will break in pieces and crush.

\VS{41}Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay and part of iron,
it will be a divided kingdom; but there will be in it of the strength of the iron, because you saw the
iron mixed with miry clay.

\VS{42}As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom
will be partly strong and partly brittle.

\VS{43}Whereas you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they will mingle themselves
with the seed of men; but they won’t cling to one another, even as iron does not mix with clay.


\par }{\PP \VS{44}“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom
which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in
pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever.

\VS{45}Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and
that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made
known to the king what will happen hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”


\par }{\PP \VS{46}Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel,
and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him.

\VS{47}The king answered to Daniel, and said, “Of a truth your God is the God of
gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.”


\par }{\PP \VS{48}Then the king made Daniel great and gave him many great gifts,
and made him rule over the whole province of Babylon and to be chief governor over all the wise men of
Babylon.

\VS{49}Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
over the affairs of the province of Babylon, but Daniel was in the king’s gate.



\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was
sixty cubits\FTNT{†}{{\FR 3:1 }{\FT{A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about
18 inches or 46 centimeters.}}} and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in
the province of Babylon.

\VS{2}Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the local governors, the
deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers
of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

\VS{3}Then the local governors, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers,
the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered together to the dedication
of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar
had set up.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}Then the herald cried aloud, “To you it is commanded, peoples,
nations, and languages,

\VS{5}that whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe,
and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set
up.

\VS{6}Whoever doesn’t fall down and worship shall be cast into the middle of a burning
fiery furnace the same hour.”


\par }{\PP \VS{7}Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of
the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the
languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}Therefore at that time certain Kasdim came near and brought accusation
against the Jews.

\VS{9}They answered Nebuchadnezzar the king, “O king, live for ever!

\VS{10}You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the
horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music shall fall down and worship the golden image;

\VS{11}and whoever doesn’t fall down and worship shall be cast into the middle of
a burning fiery furnace.

\VS{12}There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province
of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have not respected you. They don’t serve
your gods, and don’t worship the golden image which you have set up.”


\par }{\PP \VS{13}Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commanded that Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then these men were brought before the king.

\VS{14}Nebuchadnezzar answered them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
that you don’t serve my gods and you don’t worship the golden image which I have set up?

\VS{15}Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither,
lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, good; but
if you don’t worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. Who
is that god who will deliver you out of my hands?”


\par }{\PP \VS{16}Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar,
we have no need to answer you in this matter.

\VS{17}If it happens, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning
fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

\VS{18}But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods
or worship the golden image which you have set up.”


\par }{\PP \VS{19}Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the form of his appearance
was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He spoke, and commanded that they should heat the
furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.

\VS{20}He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

\VS{21}Then these men were bound in their pants, their tunics, and their mantles,
and their other clothes, and were cast into the middle of the burning fiery furnace.

\VS{22}Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent and the furnace exceedingly
hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

\VS{23}These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the
middle of the burning fiery furnace.


\par }{\PP \VS{24}Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste.
He spoke and said to his counselors, “Didn’t we cast three men bound into the middle of the fire?”

\par }{\PP They answered the king, “True, O king.”


\par }{\PP \VS{25}He answered, “Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle
of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 3:25 }{\FT{Or, the Son of God.}}}”


\par }{\PP \VS{26}Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery
furnace. He spoke and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, come
out, and come here!”

\par }{\PP Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the middle of the fire.

\VS{27}The local governors, the deputies, and the governors, and the king’s counselors,
being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies. The hair of their
head wasn’t singed. Their pants weren’t changed. The smell of fire wasn’t even on them.


\par }{\PP \VS{28}Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have
changed the king’s word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god
except their own God.

\VS{29}Therefore I make a decree that every people, nation, and language which speak
anything evil 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 who is able to deliver like this.”


\par }{\PP \VS{30}Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the
province of Babylon.



\par }\Chap{4}{\PI \VerseOne{1}Nebuchadnezzar the king,

\par }{\PI to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth:

\par }{\PI Peace be multiplied to you.


\par }{\PI \VS{2}It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders
that the Most High God has worked toward me.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}How great are his signs!

\par }{\QB How mighty are his wonders!

\par }{\Q His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

\par }{\QB His dominion is from generation to generation.


\par }{\PI \VS{4}I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing
in my palace.

\VS{5}I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed and the visions
of my head troubled me.

\VS{6}Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me,
that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

\VS{7}Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Kasdim, and the soothsayers came in;
and I told them the dream, but they didn’t make known to me its interpretation.

\VS{8}But at 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. I told the dream before him, saying,


\par }{\PI \VS{9}“Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know
that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream
that I have seen, and its interpretation.

\VS{10}These were the visions of my head on my bed: I saw, and behold, a tree in
the middle of the earth; and its height was great.

\VS{11}The tree grew and was strong. Its height reached to the sky and its sight
to the end of all the earth.

\VS{12}Its leaves were beautiful, and it had much fruit, and in it was food for all.
The animals of the field had shade under it, and the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and all flesh
was fed from it.


\par }{\PI \VS{13}“I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold,
a holy watcher came down from the sky.

\VS{14}He cried aloud and said this: ‘Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches!
Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Let the animals get away from under it and the birds from
its branches.

\VS{15}Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of
iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of the sky. Let his
portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth.

\VS{16}Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let an animal’s heart be given to
him. Then let seven times pass over him.


\par }{\PI \VS{17}“ ‘The sentence 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 rules
in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.’


\par }{\PI \VS{18}“This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and
you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to
make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”


\par }{\PI \VS{19}Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken
mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream
or the interpretation, trouble you.”

\par }{\PI Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and
its interpretation to your adversaries.

\VS{20}The tree that you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to
the sky and its sight to all the earth;

\VS{21}whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit plentiful, and in it was food for
all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their
habitation—

\VS{22}it is you, O king, that have grown and become strong; for your greatness has
grown, and reaches to the sky, and your dominion to the end of the earth.


\par }{\PI \VS{23}“Whereas the king saw a holy watcher coming down from
the sky and saying, ‘Cut down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the
earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the
dew of the sky. Let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him.’


\par }{\PI \VS{24}“This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the
decree of the Most High, which has come on my lord the king:

\VS{25}You will be driven from men and your dwelling shall be with the animals of
the field. You will be made to eat grass as oxen, and will be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times
shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever
he will.

\VS{26}Whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your
kingdom shall be sure to you after you know that Heaven rules.

\VS{27}Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your
sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening
of your tranquility.”


\par }{\PI \VS{28}All this came on the King Nebuchadnezzar.

\VS{29}At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon.

\VS{30}The king spoke and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for
the royal dwelling place by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”


\par }{\PI \VS{31}While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came
from the sky, saying, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: ‘The kingdom has departed from you.

\VS{32}You shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals
of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen. Seven times shall pass over you, until you know
that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.’ ”


\par }{\PI \VS{33}This was fulfilled the same hour on Nebuchadnezzar.
He was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; and his body was wet with the dew of the sky until his
hair had grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.


\par }{\PI \VS{34}At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up
my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and
honored him who lives forever,

\par }{\Q for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

\par }{\QB and his kingdom from generation to generation.


\par }{\Q \VS{35}All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;

\par }{\QB and he does according to his will in the army of heaven,

\par }{\QB and among the inhabitants of the earth;

\par }{\Q and no one can stop his hand,

\par }{\QB or ask him, “What are you doing?”


\par }{\PI \VS{36}At the same time my understanding returned to me;
and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me. My counselors and my lords
sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me.

\VS{37}Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for
all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.



\par }\Chap{5}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords,
and drank wine before the thousand.

\VS{2}Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded that the golden and silver vessels
which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem be brought to him,
that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them.

\VS{3}Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of God’s
house which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them.

\VS{4}They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of bronze, of
iron, of wood, and of stone.


\par }{\PP \VS{5}In the same hour, the fingers of a man’s hand came out and wrote
near the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace. The king saw the part of the hand
that wrote.

\VS{6}Then the king’s face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and
the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Kasdim, and
the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and shows
me its interpretation shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall
be the third ruler in the kingdom.”


\par }{\PP \VS{8}Then all the king’s wise men came in; but they could not read the
writing, and couldn’t make known to the king the interpretation.

\VS{9}Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, and his face was changed in him,
and his lords were perplexed.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}The queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came
into the banquet house. The queen spoke and said, “O king, live forever; don’t let your thoughts trouble
you, nor let your face be changed.

\VS{11}There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and
in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found
in him. The king, Nebuchadnezzar, your father—yes, the king, your father—made him master of the magicians,
enchanters, Kasdim, and soothsayers,

\VS{12}because an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting of dreams,
showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named
Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”


\par }{\PP \VS{13}Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and
said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father
brought out of Judah?

\VS{14}I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you and that light,
understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you.

\VS{15}Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they
should read this writing, and make known to me its interpretation; but they could not show the interpretation
of the thing.

\VS{16}But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and dissolve doubts.
Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple,
and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”


\par }{\PP \VS{17}Then Daniel answered before the king, “Let your gifts be to yourself,
and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king, and make known to
him the interpretation.


\par }{\PP \VS{18}“To you, king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father
the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty.

\VS{19}Because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages
trembled and feared before him. He killed whom he wanted to, and he kept alive whom he wanted to. He raised
up whom he wanted to, and he put down whom he wanted to.

\VS{20}But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt
proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.

\VS{21}He was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals’,
and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with
the dew of the sky, until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets
up over it whomever he will.


\par }{\PP \VS{22}“You, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though
you knew all this,

\VS{23}but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought
the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk
wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which
don’t see, or hear, or know; and you have not glorified the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose
are all your ways.

\VS{24}Then the part of the hand was sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}“This is the writing that was inscribed: ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL,
UPHARSIN.’


\par }{\PP \VS{26}“This is the interpretation of the thing:

\par }{\MM MENE: God has counted your kingdom, and brought it to an end.


\par }{\MM \VS{27}TEKEL: you are weighed in the balances, and are found
wanting.


\par }{\MM \VS{28}PERES: your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes
and Persians.”


\par }{\PP \VS{29}Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel with purple,
and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third
ruler in the kingdom.


\par }{\PP \VS{30}In that night Belshazzar the Kasdian King was slain.

\VS{31}Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.



\par }\Chap{6}{\PP \VerseOne{1}It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty local
governors, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;

\VS{2}and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, that these local governors
might give account to them, and that the king should suffer no loss.

\VS{3}Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the local governors,
because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}Then the presidents and the local governors sought to find occasion
against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion or fault, because he was faithful.
There wasn’t any error or fault found in him.

\VS{5}Then these men said, “We won’t find any occasion against this Daniel, unless
we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”


\par }{\PP \VS{6}Then these presidents and local governors assembled together to
the king, and said this to him, “King Darius, live forever!

\VS{7}All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the local governors, the
counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a strong
decree, that whoever asks a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall
be cast into the den of lions.

\VS{8}Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, that it not be changed,
according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter.”

\VS{9}Therefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his
house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times
a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.

\VS{11}Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication
before his God.

\VS{12}Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree:
“Haven’t you signed a decree that every man who makes a petition to any god or man within thirty days,
except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”

\par }{\PP The king answered, “This thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which
doesn’t alter.”


\par }{\PP \VS{13}Then they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who
is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn’t respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have
signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

\VS{14}Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his
heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him.


\par }{\PP \VS{15}Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the
king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute which the
king establishes may be changed.”


\par }{\PP \VS{16}Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him
into the den of lions. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you serve continually, he will
deliver you.”


\par }{\PP \VS{17}A stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the
king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning
Daniel.

\VS{18}Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. No musical
instruments were brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.


\par }{\PP \VS{19}Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste
to the den of lions.

\VS{20}When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a troubled voice. The
king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually,
able to deliver you from the lions?”


\par }{\PP \VS{21}Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!

\VS{22}My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not
hurt me, because innocence was found in me before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”


\par }{\PP \VS{23}Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that they should
take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on
him, because he had trusted in his God.


\par }{\PP \VS{24}The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused
Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions
mauled them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they came to the bottom of the den.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages
who dwell in all the earth:

\par }{\PI “Peace be multiplied to you.


\par }{\PI \VS{26}“I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom
men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.

\par }{\Q “For he is the living God,

\par }{\QB and steadfast forever.

\par }{\Q His kingdom is that which will not be destroyed.

\par }{\QB His dominion will be even to the end.


\par }{\Q \VS{27}He delivers and rescues.

\par }{\QB He works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth,

\par }{\QB who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”


\par }{\PP \VS{28}So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign
of Cyrus the Persian.



\par }\Chap{7}{\PP \VerseOne{1}In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream
and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.


\par }{\PP \VS{2}Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night, and, behold,
the four winds of the sky broke out on the great sea.

\VS{3}Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}“The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched until
its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet as a man. A
man’s heart was given to it.


\par }{\PP \VS{5}“Behold, there was another animal, a second, like a bear. It was
raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. They said this to it: ‘Arise!
Devour much flesh!’


\par }{\PP \VS{6}“After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had
on its back four wings of a bird. The animal also had four heads; and dominion was given to it.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}“After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was
a fourth animal, awesome, powerful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke
in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the animals that were before
it. It had ten horns.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}“I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another
horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in
this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking arrogantly.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}“I watched until thrones were placed,

\par }{\QB and one who was Ancient of Days sat.

\par }{\Q His clothing was white as snow,

\par }{\QB and the hair of his head like pure wool.

\par }{\Q His throne was fiery flames,

\par }{\QB and its wheels burning fire.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}A fiery stream issued and came out from before him.

\par }{\QB Thousands of thousands ministered to him.

\par }{\QB Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

\par }{\Q The judgment was set.

\par }{\QB The books were opened.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}“I watched at that time because of the voice of the arrogant
words which the horn spoke. I watched even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it
was given to be burned with fire.

\VS{12}As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives
were prolonged for a season and a time.


\par }{\PP \VS{13}“I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the
clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him
near before him.

\VS{14}Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations,
and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and
his kingdom one that will not be destroyed.


\par }{\PP \VS{15}“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved within my body, and
the visions of my head troubled me.

\VS{16}I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning
all this.

\par }{\PP “So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

\VS{17}‘These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who will arise out of
the earth.

\VS{18}But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and possess the
kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’


\par }{\PP \VS{19}“Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal,
which was different from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of
bronze; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;

\VS{20}and concerning the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which
came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogantly,
whose look was more stout than its fellows.

\VS{21}I saw, and the same horn made war with the holy ones, and prevailed against
them,

\VS{22}until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the holy ones of
the Most High, and the time came that the holy ones possessed the kingdom.


\par }{\PP \VS{23}“So he said, ‘The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on earth,
which will be different from all the kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, and will tread it down
and break it in pieces.

\VS{24}As for the ten horns, ten kings will arise out of this kingdom. Another will
arise after them; and he will be different from the former, and he will put down three kings.

\VS{25}He will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the holy ones
of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand until
a time and times and half a time.


\par }{\PP \VS{26}“ ‘But the judgment will be set, and they will take away his dominion,
to consume and to destroy it to the end.

\VS{27}The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the
whole sky, will be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’


\par }{\PP \VS{28}“Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts
troubled me greatly, and my face was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.”



\par }\Chap{8}{\PP \VerseOne{1}In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared
to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.

\VS{2}I saw the vision. Now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa,
which is in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.

\VS{3}Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram which had two horns stood
before the river. The two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.

\VS{4}I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward. No animals could stand
before him. There wasn’t any who could deliver out of his hand, but he did according to his will, and
magnified himself.


\par }{\PP \VS{5}As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west over
the surface of the whole earth, and didn’t touch the ground. The goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

\VS{6}He came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river,
and ran on him in the fury of his power.

\VS{7}I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and
struck the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast
him down to the ground and trampled on him. There was no one who could deliver the ram out of his hand.

\VS{8}The male goat magnified himself exceedingly. When he was strong, the great horn
was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of the sky.


\par }{\PP \VS{9}Out of one of them came out a little horn which grew exceedingly
great—toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land.

\VS{10}It grew great, even to the army of the sky; and it cast down some of the army
and of the stars to the ground and trampled on them.

\VS{11}Yes, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the army; and it took away
from him the continual burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

\VS{12}The army was given over to it together with the continual burnt offering through
disobedience. It cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered.


\par }{\PP \VS{13}Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to
that certain one who spoke, “How long will the vision about the continual burnt offering, and the disobedience
that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the army to be trodden under foot be?”


\par }{\PP \VS{14}He said to me, “To two thousand and three hundred evenings and
mornings. Then the sanctuary will be cleansed.”


\par }{\PP \VS{15}When I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand
it. Then behold, there stood before me someone with the appearance of a man.

\VS{16}I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called and said,
“Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”


\par }{\PP \VS{17}So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened,
and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, for the vision belongs to the time of
the end.”


\par }{\PP \VS{18}Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with
my face toward the ground; but he touched me and set me upright.


\par }{\PP \VS{19}He said, “Behold, I will make you know what will be in the latter
time of the indignation, for it belongs to the appointed time of the end.

\VS{20}The ram which you saw, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media
and Persia.

\VS{21}The rough male goat is the king of Greece. The great horn that is between
his eyes is the first king.

\VS{22}As for that which was broken, in the place where four stood up, four kingdoms
will stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.


\par }{\PP \VS{23}“In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors
have come to the full, a king of fierce face, and understanding riddles, will stand up.

\VS{24}His power will be mighty, but not by his own power. He will destroy awesomely,
and will prosper in what he does. He will destroy the mighty ones and the holy people.

\VS{25}Through his policy he will cause deceit to prosper in his hand. He will magnify
himself in his heart, and he will destroy many in their security. He will also stand up against the prince
of princes, but he will be broken without human hands.


\par }{\PP \VS{26}“The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told
is true; but seal up the vision, for it belongs to many days to come.”


\par }{\PP \VS{27}I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick for some days. Then I rose up
and did the king’s business. I wondered at the vision, but no one understood it.



\par }\Chap{9}{\PP \VerseOne{1}In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the offspring
of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Kasdim—

\VS{2}in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number
of the years about which the LORD’s\FTNT{†}{{\FR 9:2 }{\FT{When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name.
}}} word came to Jeremiah the prophet for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even
seventy years.

\VS{3}I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting
and sackcloth and ashes.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said,

\par }{\PI “Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness
with those who love him and keep his commandments,

\VS{5}we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have
rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances.

\VS{6}We haven’t listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to
our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.


\par }{\PI \VS{7}“Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion
of face, as it is today; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel,
who are near and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their
trespass that they have trespassed against you.

\VS{8}Lord, to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to
our fathers, because we have sinned against you.

\VS{9}To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against
him.

\VS{10}We haven’t obeyed the LORD our God’s voice, to walk in his laws, which he
set before us by his servants the prophets.

\VS{11}Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, turning aside, that they should
not obey your voice.

\par }{\PI “Therefore the curse and the oath written in the Torah of Moses the servant of
God has been poured out on us, for we have sinned against him.

\VS{12}He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our judges
who judged us, by bringing on us a great evil; for under the whole sky, such has not been done as has
been done to Jerusalem.

\VS{13}As it is written in the Torah of Moses, all this evil has come on us. Yet
we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, that we should turn from our iniquities and have
discernment in your truth.

\VS{14}Therefore the LORD has watched over the evil, and brought it on us; for the
LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he does, and we have not obeyed his voice.


\par }{\PI \VS{15}“Now, Lord our God, who has brought your people out
of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have gotten yourself renown, as it is today, we have sinned.
We have done wickedly.

\VS{16}Lord, according to all your righteousness, please let your anger and your
wrath be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; because for our sins and for the iniquities
of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a reproach to all who are around us.


\par }{\PI \VS{17}“Now therefore, our God, listen to the prayer of your
servant and to his petitions, and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary that is desolate, for the
Lord’s sake.

\VS{18}My God, turn your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and
the city which is called by your name; for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness,
but for your great mercies’ sake.

\VS{19}Lord, hear. Lord, forgive. Lord, listen and do. Don’t defer, for your own
sake, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\PP \VS{20}While I was speaking, 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—

\VS{21}yes, while I was speaking in prayer—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 offering.

\VS{22}He instructed me and talked with me, and said, “Daniel, I have now come to
give you wisdom and understanding.

\VS{23}At the beginning of your petitions the commandment went out, and I have come
to tell you, for you are greatly beloved. Therefore consider the matter and understand the vision.


\par }{\PP \VS{24}“Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city,
to finish disobedience, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting
righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}“Know therefore and discern that from the going out of the commandment
to restore and build Jerusalem to the Anointed One,\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 9:25 }{\FT{“Anointed One” can also be translated “Messiah” (same as “Messiah”).}}} the prince, will
be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times.

\VS{26}After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One\FTNT{§}{{\FR 9:26 }{\FT{“Anointed One” can also be translated “Messiah” (same as “Messiah”).}}} will be cut off,
and will have nothing. The people of the prince who come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its
end will be with a flood, and war will be even to the end. Desolations are determined.

\VS{27}He will make a firm covenant with many for one week. In the middle of the
week he will cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease. On the wing of abominations will come one
who makes desolate; and even to the decreed full end, wrath will be poured out on the desolate.”



\par }\Chap{10}{\PP \VerseOne{1}In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed
to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the message was true, even a great warfare. He understood
the message, and had understanding of the vision.


\par }{\PP \VS{2}In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks.

\VS{3}I ate no pleasant food. No meat or wine came into my mouth. I didn’t anoint
myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}In the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side
of the great river, which is Hiddekel,\FTNT{†}{{\FR 10:4 }{\FT{or, Tigris River}}}

\VS{5}I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man clothed in linen,
whose waist was adorned with pure gold of Uphaz.

\VS{6}His body also was like beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning,
and his eyes as flaming torches. His arms and his feet were like burnished bronze. The voice of his words
was like the voice of a multitude.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me
didn’t see the vision, but a great quaking fell on them, and they fled to hide themselves.

\VS{8}So I was left alone and saw this great vision. No strength remained in me;
for my face grew deathly pale, and I retained no strength.

\VS{9}Yet I heard the voice of his words. When I heard the voice of his words, then
I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.


\par }{\PP \VS{10}Behold, a hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on the
palms of my hands.

\VS{11}He said to me, “Daniel, you greatly beloved man, understand the words that
I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have been sent to you, now.” When he had spoken this word to
me, I stood trembling.


\par }{\PP \VS{12}Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel; for from the first
day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard.
I have come for your words’ sake.

\VS{13}But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but,
behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me because I remained there with the kings of
Persia.

\VS{14}Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in
the latter days, for the vision is yet for many days.”


\par }{\PP \VS{15}When he had spoken these words to me, I set my face toward the
ground and was mute.

\VS{16}Behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened
my mouth, and spoke and said to him who stood before me, “My lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows
have overtaken me, and I retain no strength.

\VS{17}For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? For as for
me, immediately there remained no strength in me. There was no breath left in me.”


\par }{\PP \VS{18}Then one like the appearance of a man touched me again, and
he strengthened me.

\VS{19}He said, “Greatly beloved man, don’t be afraid. Peace be to you. Be strong.
Yes, be strong.”

\par }{\PP When he spoke to me, I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened
me.”


\par }{\PP \VS{20}Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will
return to fight with the prince of Persia. When I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come.

\VS{21}But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth. There
is no one who holds with me against these but Michael your prince.



\par }\Chap{11}{\PP \VerseOne{1}“As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to
confirm and strengthen him.


\par }{\PP \VS{2}“Now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings will
stand up in Persia. The fourth will be far richer than all of them. When he has grown strong through his
riches, he will stir up all against the realm of Greece.

\VS{3}A mighty king will stand up, who will rule with great dominion, and do according
to his will.

\VS{4}When he stands up, his kingdom will be broken and will be divided toward the
four winds of the sky, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for
his kingdom will be plucked up, even for others besides these.


\par }{\PP \VS{5}“The king of the south will be strong. One of his princes will
become stronger than him, and have dominion. His dominion will be a great dominion.

\VS{6}At the end of years they will join themselves together; and the daughter of
the king of the south will come to the king of the north to make an agreement, but she will not retain
the strength of her arm. He will also not stand, nor will his arm; but she will be given up, with those
who brought her, and he who became the father of her, and he who strengthened her in those times.


\par }{\PP \VS{7}“But out of a shoot from her roots one will stand up in his place,
who will come to the army and will enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and will deal against
them and will prevail.

\VS{8}He will also carry their gods with their molten images, and with their goodly
vessels of silver and of gold, captive into Egypt. He will refrain some years from the king of the north.

\VS{9}He will come into the realm of the king of the south, but he will return into
his own land.

\VS{10}His sons will wage war, and will assemble a multitude of great forces which
will come on, and overflow, and pass through. They will return and wage war, even to his fortress.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}“The king of the south will be moved with anger and will come
out and fight with him, even with the king of the north. He will send out a great multitude, and the multitude
will be given into his hand.

\VS{12}The multitude will be carried off, and his heart will be exalted. He will
cast down tens of thousands, but he won’t prevail.

\VS{13}The king of the north will return, and will send out a multitude greater
than the former. He will come on at the end of the times, even of years, with a great army and with abundant
supplies.


\par }{\PP \VS{14}“In those times many will stand up against the king of the south.
Also the children of the violent among your people will lift themselves up to establish the vision, but
they will fall.

\VS{15}So the king of the north will come and cast up a mound, and take a well-fortified
city. The forces of the south won’t stand, neither will his select troops, neither will there be any strength
to stand.

\VS{16}But he who comes against him will do according to his own will, and no one
will stand before him. He will stand in the glorious land, and destruction will be in his hand.

\VS{17}He will set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and
with him equitable conditions. He will perform them. He will give him the daughter of women, to destroy
the kingdom, but she will not stand, and won’t be for him.

\VS{18}After this he will turn his face to the islands, and will take many, but
a prince will cause the reproach offered by him to cease. Yes, moreover, he will cause his reproach to
turn on him.

\VS{19}Then he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he
will stumble and fall, and won’t be found.


\par }{\PP \VS{20}“Then one who will cause a tax collector to pass through the
kingdom to maintain its glory will stand up in his place; but within few days he shall be destroyed, not
in anger, and not in battle.


\par }{\PP \VS{21}“In his place a contemptible person will stand up, to whom they
had not given the honor of the kingdom; but he will come in time of security, and will obtain the kingdom
by flatteries.

\VS{22}The overwhelming forces will be overwhelmed from before him, and will be
broken. Yes, also the prince of the covenant.

\VS{23}After the treaty made with him he will work deceitfully; for he will come
up and will become strong with few people.

\VS{24}In time of security he will come even on the fattest places of the province.
He will do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers. He will scatter among them
prey, plunder, and wealth. Yes, he will devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}“He will stir up his power and his courage against the king
of the south with a great army; and the king of the south will wage war in battle with an exceedingly
great and mighty army, but he won’t stand; for they will devise plans against him.

\VS{26}Yes, those who eat of his delicacies will destroy him, and his army will
be swept away. Many will fall down slain.

\VS{27}As for both these kings, their hearts will be to do evil, and they will speak
lies at one table; but it won’t prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time.

\VS{28}Then he will return into his land with great wealth. His heart will be against
the holy covenant. He will take action, and return to his own land.


\par }{\PP \VS{29}“He will return at the appointed time and come into the south;
but it won’t be in the latter time as it was in the former.

\VS{30}For ships of Kittim will come against him. Therefore he will be grieved,
and will return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and will take action. He will even return,
and have regard to those who forsake the holy covenant.


\par }{\PP \VS{31}“Forces from him will profane the sanctuary, even the fortress,
and will take away the continual burnt offering. Then they will set up the abomination that makes desolate.

\VS{32}He will corrupt those who do wickedly against the covenant by flatteries;
but the people who know their God will be strong and take action.


\par }{\PP \VS{33}“Those who are wise among the people will instruct many; yet
they will fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder, many days.

\VS{34}Now when they fall, they will be helped with a little help; but many will
join themselves to them with flatteries.

\VS{35}Some of those who are wise will fall—to refine them, and to purify, and to
make them white, even to the time of the end, because it is yet for the time appointed.


\par }{\PP \VS{36}“The king will do according to his will. He will exalt himself
and magnify himself above every god, and will speak marvelous things against the God of gods. He will
prosper until the indignation is accomplished, for that which is determined will be done.

\VS{37}He won’t regard the gods of his fathers, or the desire of women, or regard
any god; for he will magnify himself above all.

\VS{38}But in their place, he will honor the god of fortresses. He will honor a
god whom his fathers didn’t know with gold, silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things.

\VS{39}He will deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god.
He will increase with glory whoever acknowledges him. He will cause them to rule over many, and will divide
the land for a price.


\par }{\PP \VS{40}“At the time of the end the king of the south will contend with
him; and the king of the north will come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, with horsemen, and
with many ships. He will enter into the countries, and will overflow and pass through.

\VS{41}He will enter also into the glorious land, and many countries will be overthrown;
but these will be delivered out of his hand: Edom, Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

\VS{42}He will also stretch out his hand on the countries. The land of Egypt won’t
escape.

\VS{43}But he will have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over
all the precious things of Egypt. The Libyans and the Ethiopians will follow his steps.

\VS{44}But news out of the east and out of the north will trouble him; and he will
go out with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many.

\VS{45}He will plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy
mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.



\par }\Chap{12}{\PP \VerseOne{1}“At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who stands
for the children of your people; and there will be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was
a nation even to that same time. At that time your people will be delivered, everyone who is found written
in the book.

\VS{2}Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting
life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

\VS{3}Those who are wise will shine as the brightness of the expanse. Those who turn
many to righteousness will shine as the stars forever and ever.

\VS{4}But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the
end. Many will run back and forth, and knowledge will be increased.”


\par }{\PP \VS{5}Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on the
river bank on this side, and the other on the river bank on that side.

\VS{6}One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river,
“How long will it be to the end of these wonders?”


\par }{\PP \VS{7}I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of
the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever
that it will be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have finished breaking in pieces the power
of the holy people, all these things will be finished.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}I heard, but I didn’t understand. Then I said, “My lord, what
will be the outcome of these things?”


\par }{\PP \VS{9}He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed
until the time of the end.

\VS{10}Many will purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined, but
the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.


\par }{\PP \VS{11}“From the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away
and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there will be one thousand two hundred ninety days.

\VS{12}Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five
days.


\par }{\PP \VS{13}“But go your way until the end; for you will rest, and will
stand in your inheritance at the end of the days.”


\par }