44 And in the days of these kings *shall the God of heaven set up a ch. 4.3,34. kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

& 6. 28. & 7. 14, 27. Mic. 4. 7. Luke 1. 32, 23.

6 Chald. kingdom thereof.

t P8. 2. 9. Is. 60. 12.

1 Cor. 15. 24.

☐ ver. 35. Is. 28. 16.

6 Or, which

was not in hand.

7 Chald. after this.

*See Acts10. 25. & 14. 13. & 28.6.

7 Ezra 6. 10.

I ver. 28.

er. 6.

b ch. & 5. 11.

• ch. 3. 12.

u

45 " Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation y and sweet odours unto him.

47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

Z

48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and b chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.

49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but d Esth. 2. 19, Daniel sat in the gate of the king. CHAPTER III.

21. & 3.2.

cir. 580.

d

| Nebuchadnezzar dedicateth a golden image in Dura. 8 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego are accused for not worshipping the image. 13 They, being threatened, make a good confession. 19 God delivereth them out of the

furnace. 26 Nebuchadnezzar seeing the miracle blesseth God.

a golden image.

height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour bbe Jer. 29. 22. cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

8 ¶ Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

regard

BEFORE CHRIST

cir. 580.

pose, as Ex. 21. 18.

ship the golden image which thou
hast set
up.
13 ¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar in his
rage and fury commanded to bring
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
Then they brought these men before
the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said Or, of pur- unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

f as Ex. 32. 32.

Luke 13.9.

8 Ex. 5. 2. 2 Kings 18. 85.

15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; 'well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, Matt.10.19. O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

8 Chald. filled.

4 Chald. mighty of strength.

6 Or,

mantles.

• Or, turbans.

7 Chald. word.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar 'full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

delivered out of the furnace.

sellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

2

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like 'the Son of God.

26 ¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these

men,

m

BEFORE CHRIST cir. 580.

Is. 48. 2

2 Chald. there is no

hurt in

them. 1 Job 1. 6. & 38.7. Ps. 34. 7.

ver. 28. Chald.

door.

upon whose bodies the fire Heb.11.34. had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that "trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

29 o

Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be Po cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

P. 84. 7,8. ch. 6. 22, 23.

Jer. 17.7.

ch. 6. 26. decree is made by me.

6 Chald. error.

ch. 2. 5.

6 Chald. made pieces.

ach. 6. 27.

made to prosper.

5

21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

CHAPTER IV.

1 Nebuchadnezzar confesseth God's kingdom, 4 maketh relation of his dreams, which the magicians could not interpret. 8 Daniel heareth the dream. 19 He interpreteth it. 28 The story of the event.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his 'coun

cir 570.

& 6. 25.

EBUCHADNEZZAR the king, unto all people, nations, ch. 3. 4. and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

Chald. It before me.

was seemly

b ch. 3. 26.

ch. 6. 27.

3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is dan everlasting kingdom, ver. 34. and his dominion is from generation 6.2. to generation.

ch. 2. 44.

Nebuchadnezzar's dream.

BEFORE CHRIST cir. 570.

4 TI Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

5 I saw a dream which made me ch. 2.28,29. afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head ftroubled me.

fch. 2.1.

8 ch. 2.2.

b ch.1.7.

! Is. 63. 11. ver. 18. ch. 2. 11. & 5. 11,14. k ch. 2. 48. & 5. 11.

2 Chald. I was seeing. 1 Ezek. 81. 3, &c. ver. 20.

m Ezek. 17. 23. & 31.6.

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

78 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

8 ¶ But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, 'and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold 1a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all : the beasts of the See Lam field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

20.

Daniel interpreteth it.

г

given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent ⚫ that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, " forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; *for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

20 a The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end Jer. 27. 6, of the earth.

7,8.

d. ver. 13.

23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be withch. 5. 21. the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most, High, which is come upon my lord the king:

ch. 5. 21, &.

25 That they shall drive thee from ver. 82. men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and Ps. 106. 20. they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass

25.

Matt. 21.

Luke 15. 18, 21.

11 Pet. 4. 8.

26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and1 break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to m Ps. 41. 1, the poor; if it may be 2n a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

&c.

2 Or, an healing of thine error.

n 1 Kings 21. 29.

8 Or, upon.

• Prov. 16. 18.

ch. 5. 20.

p ch. 5. 5.

a ver. 24.

28 T All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 The kingspake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

31 P While the word was in the Luke 12. 20. king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

cir. 569. r ver. 25.

cir. 563. ■ ver. 26.

32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar : and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is "an everlasting ch. 2. 44. & dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

t ch. 12. 7. Rev. 4. 10. a Ps. 10. 14

7. 14. Mic. 4. 7. Luke 1. 33. x Is. 40. 15. 17.

P115. 3.

& 135. 6.

Job 34. 29.

■ Job 9. 12. Ls. 45. 9. Rom. 9. 20. b ver. 26.

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, "What doest thou?

36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. CHAPTER V.

1 Belshazzar's impious feast. 5 A handwriting, unknown to the magicians, troubleth the king. 10 At the commendation of the queen Daniel is brought. 17 He, reproving the king of pride and idolatry, 25 readeth and interpreteth the writing. 30 The monarchy is translated to the Medes.

BELSHAZZAR the king "made

a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 5 In the same hour came forthch. 4. 81. fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

Daniel readeth and

BEFORE CHRIST cir. 538.

I ch. 2. 4. & 3.9.

m ch. 2. 48.

4. 8, 9, 18.

father. ver. 2.

was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.

10 ¶ Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, 'O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:

11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy Or, grandfather light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king 3 Or, grand Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made "master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

father.

ver. 2. n ch. 4. 9.

• ch. f. 8.

3

12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and underOr, of an standing, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, P whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

6 Or, of a dissolver.

6 Chald. knots.

p ch. 1. 7.

13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king 'father brought out of Jewry? my 14 I have even heard of thee, that a ver. 11, 12.4 the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

1 Or, grandfather.

r ver. 7, 8.

8 Chald. interpret. ver. 7.

9 Or, fee, as ch. 2. 6.

t ch.2.37,38.

& 4. 17, 22, 25.

г

15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:

16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, Iand shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

interpreteth the writing.

BEFORE CHRIST cir. 538.

☐ Jer. 27.7.

19 And for the majesty that he gave him, "all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; ch. 3. 4. and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven z till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hasta Jer. 10. 23. thou not glorified:

24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

25 ¶ And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, "that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

31 And Darius the Median took

the kingdom, "being about threescore and two years old.