Daniel in the Den of Lions

       It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his GOD."
       So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed." So King Darius put the decree in writing.
       Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his GOD, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking GOD for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?"
       The king answered, "The decree stands--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."
       Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day." When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
       Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."
       So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your GOD, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"
       A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
       At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of THE LIVING GOD, has your GOD, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"
       Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! My GOD sent HIS angel, and HE shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in HIS sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."
       The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his GOD.
       At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
       Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land:

       "May you prosper greatly!

       "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence THE GOD OF DANIEL.

       "For HE is THE LIVING GOD
          and HE endures forever;
       HIS kingdom will not be destroyed,
          HIS dominion will never end.
       HE rescues and HE saves;
          HE performs signs and wonders
          in the heavens and on the earth.
       HE has rescued Daniel
          from the power of the lions."

       So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.


The Book of Daniel: chapter 6

The Writing on the Wall

       King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of GOD in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
       Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.
       The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers and diviners to be brought and said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
       Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.
       The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. "O king, live forever!" she said. "Don't be alarmed! Don't look so pale! There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father--your father the king, I say--appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."
       So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
       Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
       "O king, THE MOST HIGH GOD gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. Because of the high position HE gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that THE MOST HIGH GOD is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone HE wishes.
       "But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against THE LORD OF HEAVEN. You had the goblets from HIS temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor THE GOD who holds in HIS hand your life and all your ways. Therefore HE sent the hand that wrote the inscription.
       "This is the inscription that was written:

                            MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN

       "This is what these words mean:

       Mene: GOD has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
       Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
       Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

       Then at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
       That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.


The Book of Daniel: chapter 5

The Dream Is Fulfilled

       All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"
       The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that THE MOST HIGH is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone HE wishes."
       Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

       At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised THE MOST HIGH; I honored and glorified HIM who lives forever.

       HIS dominion is an eternal dominion;
          HIS kingdom endures from generation to generation.
       All the peoples of the earth
          are regarded as nothing.
       HE does as HE pleases
          with the powers of heaven
          and the peoples of the earth.
       No one can hold back HIS hand
          or say to HIM: "What have YOU done?"

       At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisors and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify THE KING OF HEAVEN, because everything HE does is right and all HIS ways are just. And those who walk in pride HE is able to humble.


The Book of Daniel: chapter 4, verses 28 - 37

Daniel Interprets the Dream

       Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you."
       Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air--you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.
       "You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.'
       "This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree THE MOST HIGH has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that THE MOST HIGH is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone HE wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."


The Book of Daniel: chapter 4, verses 19 - 27

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of a Tree

   King Nebuchadnezzar,

       To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world:

       May you prosper greatly!

       It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that THE MOST HIGH GOD has performed for me.

       How great are HIS signs,
          how mighty HIS wonders!
       HIS kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
          HIS dominion endures from generation to generation.

       I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)
       I said, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
       "In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. He called in a loud voice: 'Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.
       " 'Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.
       " 'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that THE MOST HIGH is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone HE wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.'
       "This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."


The Book of Daniel: chapter 4, verses 1 - 18

The Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace

       King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
       Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
       Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
       At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."
       Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
       Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, THE GOD we serve is able to save us from it, and HE will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if HE does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
       Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
       Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"
       They replied, "Certainly, O king."
       He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
       Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of THE MOST HIGH GOD, come out! Come here!"
       So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
       Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to THE GOD of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent HIS angel and rescued HIS servants! They trusted in HIM and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own GOD. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against THE GOD of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."
       Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.


The Book of Daniel: chapter 3

Daniel Interprets the Dream

       Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, "Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him."
       Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, "I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means."
       The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), "Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?"
       Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a GOD in heaven who reveals mysteries. HE has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:
       "As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and THE REVEALER OF MYSTERIES showed you what is going to happen. As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
       "You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue--an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
       "This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. You, O king, are the king of kings. THE GOD OF HEAVEN has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands HE has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, HE has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
       "After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron--for iron breaks and smashes everything--and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
       "In the time of those kings, THE GOD OF HEAVEN will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands--a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.
       "THE GREAT GOD has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy."
       Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, "Surely your GOD is THE GOD of gods and THE LORD of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."
       Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.


The Book of Daniel: chapter 2, verses 24 - 49

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

       In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means."
       Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
       The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."
       Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
       Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me."
       The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."
       This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
       When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
       Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from THE GOD OF HEAVEN concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised THE GOD OF HEAVEN and said:

       "Praise be to the name of GOD for ever and ever;
          wisdom and power are HIS.
       HE changes times and seasons;
          HE sets up kings and deposes them.
       HE gives wisdom to the wise
          and knowledge to the discerning.
       HE reveals deep and hidden things;
          HE knows what lies in darkness,
          and light dwells with HIM.
       I thank and praise YOU, O GOD of my fathers:
          YOU have given me wisdom and power,
       YOU have made known to me what we asked of YOU,
          YOU have made known to us the dream of the king."

The Book of Daniel: chapter 2, verses 1 - 23

Daniel's Training in Babylon

       In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And THE LORD delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of GOD. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
       Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility--young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service.
       Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
       But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now GOD had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."
       Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
       At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
       To these four young men GOD gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
       At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
       And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.


The Book of Daniel: chapter 1

Jeremiah

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The word of THE LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.


The Book of Jeremiah: chapter 1, verses 1 - 3

The Call of Jeremiah

       The word of THE LORD came to me, saying,

       "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
          before you were born I set you apart;
          I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

       "Ah, SOVEREIGN LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
       But THE LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I AM with you and will rescue you," declares THE LORD.
       Then THE LORD reached out HIS hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put MY words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
       The word of THE LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?"
       "I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied.
       THE LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I AM watching to see that MY word is fulfilled."
       The word of THE LORD came to me again: "What do you see?"
       "I see a boiling pot, tilting away from the north," I answered. THE LORD said to me, "From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. I AM about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms," declares THE LORD.

       "Their kings will come and set up their thrones
          in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
       they will come against all her surrounding walls
          and against all the towns of Judah.
       I will pronounce MY judgments on MY people
          because of their wickedness in forsaking ME,
       in burning incense to other gods
          and in worshiping what their hands have made.

       "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land--against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I AM with you and will rescue you," declares THE LORD.


The Book of Jeremiah: chapter 1, verses 4 - 19

Israel Forsakes GOD

       The word of THE LORD came to me: "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

       " 'I remember the devotion of your youth,
          how as a bride you loved ME
       and followed ME through the desert,
          through a land not sown.
       Israel was holy to THE LORD,
          the firstfruits of HIS harvest;
       all who devoured her were held guilty,
          and disaster overtook them,' "
                                                        declares THE LORD.

       Hear the word of THE LORD, O house of Jacob,
          all you clans of the house of Israel.

       This is what THE LORD says:

       "What fault did your fathers find in ME,
          that they strayed so far from ME?
       They followed worthless idols
          and became worthless themselves.
       They did not ask, 'Where is THE LORD,
          who brought us up out of Egypt
       and led us through the barren wilderness,
          through a land of deserts and rifts,
       a land of drought and darkness,
          a land where no one travels and no one lives?'
       I brought you into a fertile land
          to eat its fruit and rich produce.
       But you came and defiled MY land
          and made MY inheritance detestable.
       The priests did not ask,
          'Where is THE LORD?'
       Those who deal with the law did not know ME;
          the leaders rebelled against ME.
       The prophets prophesied by Baal,
          following worthless idols.

       "Therefore I bring charges against you again,"
                                                        declares THE LORD.
          "And I will bring charges against your children's children.
       Cross over to the coasts of Kittim and look,
          send to Kedar and observe closely;
          see if there has ever been anything like this:
       Has a nation ever changed its gods?
          (Yet they are not gods at all.)
       But MY people have exchanged their Glory
          for worthless idols.
       Be appalled at this, O heavens,
          and shudder with great horror,"
                                                 declares THE LORD.
       "MY people have committed two sins:
       They have forsaken ME,
          the spring of living water,
       and have dug their own cisterns,
          broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
       Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth?
          Why then has he become plunder?
       Lions have roared;
          they have growled at him.
       They have laid waste his land;
          his towns are burned and deserted.
       Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes
          have shaved the crown of your head.
       Have you not brought this on yourselves
          by forsaking THE LORD your GOD
          when HE led you in the way?
       Now why go to Egypt
          to drink water from the Shihor?
       And why go to Assyria
          to drink water from the River?
       Your wickedness will punish you;
          your backsliding will rebuke you.
       Consider then and realize
          how evil and bitter it is for you
       when you forsake THE LORD your GOD
          and have no awe of ME,"
              declares THE LORD, THE LORD ALMIGHTY.

       "Long ago you broke off your yoke
          and tore off your bonds;
          you said, 'I will not serve YOU!'
       Indeed, on every high hill
          and under every spreading tree
          you lay down as a prostitute.
       I had planted you like a choice vine
          of sound and reliable stock.
       How then did you turn against ME
          into a corrupt, wild vine?
       Although you wash yourself with soda
          and use an abundance of soap,
          the stain of your guilt is still before ME,"
                                   declares THE SOVEREIGN LORD.
       "How can you say, 'I am not defiled;
          I have not run after the Baals'?
       See how you behaved in the valley;
          consider what you have done.
       You are a swift she-camel
          running here and there,
       a wild donkey accustomed to the desert,
          sniffing the wind in her craving--
          in her heat who can restrain her?
       Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves;
          at mating time they will find her.
       Do not run until your feet are bare
          and your throat is dry.
       But you said, 'It's no use!
          I love foreign gods,
          and I must go after them.'

       "As a thief is disgraced when he is caught,
          so the house of Israel is disgraced--
       they, their kings and their officials,
          their priests and their prophets.
       They say to wood, 'You are my father,'
          and to stone, 'You gave me birth.'
       They have turned their backs to ME
          and not their faces;
       yet when they are in trouble, they say,
          'Come and save us!'
       Where then are the gods you made for yourselves?
          Let them come if they can save you
          when you are in trouble!
       For you have as many gods
          as you have towns, O Judah.

       "Why do you bring charges against ME?
          You have all rebelled against ME,"
                                                               declares THE LORD.
       "In vain I punished your people;
          they did not respond to correction.
       Your sword has devoured your prophets
          like a ravening lion.

       "You of this generation, consider the word of THE LORD:

       "Have I been a desert to Israel
          or a land of great darkness?
       Why do MY people say, 'We are free to roam;
          we will come to YOU no more'?
       Does a maiden forget her jewelry,
          a bride her wedding ornaments?
       Yet MY people have forgotten ME,
          days without number.
       How skilled you are at pursuing love!
          Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.
       On your clothes men find
          the lifeblood of the innocent poor,
          though you did not catch them breaking in.
       Yet in spite of all this
          you say, 'I am innocent;
          HE is not angry with me.'
       But I will pass judgment on you
          because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
       Why do you go about so much,
          changing your ways?
       You will be disappointed by Egypt
          as you were by Assyria.
       You will also leave that place
          with your hands on your head,
       for THE LORD has rejected those you trust;
          you will not be helped by them.

       "If a man divorces his wife
          and she leaves him and marries another man,
       should he return to her again?
          Would not the land be completely defiled?
       But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers--
          would you now return to ME?"
                                                       declares THE LORD.
       "Look up to the barren heights and see.
          Is there any place where you have not been ravished?
       By the roadside you sat waiting for lovers,
          sat like a nomad in the desert.
       You have defiled the land
          with your prostitution and wickedness.
       Therefore the showers have been withheld,
          and no spring rains have fallen.
       Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute;
          you refuse to blush with shame.
       Have you not just called to ME:
          'My Father, my friend from my youth,
       will YOU always be angry?
          Will YOUR wrath continue forever?'
       This is how you talk,
          but you do all the evil you can."


The Book of Jeremiah: chapter 2 & chapter 3, verses 1 - 5