1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god, and the vessels he brought into the treasure-house of his god. 3 And the king spoke unto Ashpenaz his chief officer, that he should bring in certain of the children of Israel, and of the royal lineage, and of the nobles, 4 youths in whom there was no blemish, but fair to look on, and skilful in all wisdom, and skilful in knowledge, and discerning in thought, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily portion of the king's food, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at the end of them they might stand before the king. 6 Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 And the chief of the officers gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.

8 But Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's food, nor with the wine which he drank; so he requested of the chief of the officers that he might not defile himself. 9 And God granted Daniel mercy and compassion in the sight of the chief of the officers. 10 And the chief of the officers said to Daniel, 'I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces sad in comparison with the youths that are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.'

11 Then Daniel said to the steward, whom the chief of the officers had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 12 'Try your servants, I beg of you, ten days, and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be examined before you, and the countenance of the youths that eat of the king's food; and as you see, deal with your servants. 14 So he listened to them about this matter, and tried them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths that ate of the king's food. 16 So the steward took away their food, and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them pulse.

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. 18 And at the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the chief of the officers brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them; and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so they stood before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in the realm. 21 And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.

1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep broke from him. 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, 'I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.'

4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, 'O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will declare the interpretation.'

5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, 'I have made up my mind: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 6 But if you declare the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor; only declare to me the dream and its interpretation.'

7 They answered the king the second time and said, 'Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will declare the interpretation.'

8 The king answered and said, 'I know for certain that you want to gain time, because you know that I have made up my mind 9 that, if you do not make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; and you have agreed together to speak before me lying and corrupt words, till the time be changed; only tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can declare to me its interpretation.'

10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, 'There is not a man on the earth that can declare the king's matter; for no great and powerful king has ever asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean. 11 And it is a hard thing that the king asks, and there is none other that can declare it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.' 13 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain; and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.

14 Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and discretion to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon; 15 he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, 'Why is the decree so peremptory from the king?' Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 15 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time to declare to the king the interpretation.

17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companion; 18 that they might ask mercy of the god of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the god of heaven. 20 Daniel spoke and said:

Blessed be the name of God
From everlasting to everlasting;
For wisdom and might are his;
21 And he changes the times and seasons;
He removes kings, and sets up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise,
And knowledge to those who know understanding;
22 He reveals the deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with him.
23 I thank you, and praise you,
O you god of my fathers,
Who has given me wisdom and might,
And have now made known to me what we desired of you;
For you have made known to us the king's matter.

25 So Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of babylon; he went and said thus to him, 'Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will declare to the king the interpretation.'

25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king with haste, and said thus to him, 'I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.'

26 The king spoke and said to Daniel, 'Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?'

27 Daniel answered before the king, and said, 'The secret which the king has asked, neither wise men, enchanter, magicians, nor astrologers can declare it to the king; 28 but there is a god in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the end of days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, are these. 29 As for you, O king, you thoughts came [into your mind] upon your bed, what should come to pass after this; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you what shall come to pass. 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.

31 You, O king, saw, and beheld a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was surpassing, stood before you; and its appearance was terrifying. 32 As for that image, its head was of fine gold, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thights of brass, 33 its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay. 34 You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image upon its feet which were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then were the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them; and the stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 36 This is the dream, and we will tell its interpretation before the king.

37 You, O king, king of kings, to whom the god of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory; 38 and wherever the children of men, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heaven dwell, he has given them into your hand, and has made you to rule over them all; you are the head of gold. 39 And after you shall arise another kingdom, inferior to you; and another third kingdom of brass, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron; forasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and beats down all things; as as iron that crushes all these, shall it break in pieces and crush. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it the firmness of the iron, as you saw the iron mixed with miry clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so part of the kingdom shall be strong, and part of it broken. 43 And as you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves by the seed of men; but they shall not cleave to one another, even as iron does not mingle with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the god of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; nor shall the kingdom be left to another people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdom, but it shall stand forever. 45 As you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great god has made known to the king what shall come to pass after this; and the dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.'

46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet scents to him. 47 The king spoke to Daniel, and said: 'True it is, that your god is the god of gods, and lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing you have been able to reveal this secret.' 48 Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the province of Babylon; but Daniel was in the gate of the king.

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, and its breadth six cubits; he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 3 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sherrifs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 And the herald cried aloud, 'To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up; 5 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.' 7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, trigon, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

8 Therefore, at that time, certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews. 9 They spoke and said, 'O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not respected you: they do not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.'

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said to them, 'Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods, or worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made [, well]; but if you do not worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is the god who shall delivery you out of my hands?'

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If our god whom we serve is able to deliver us, he will deliver us from the fiery furnace, and out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.'

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the form of his visage changed, against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was normally heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, and their robes, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Thefore, because the king's commandment was peremptory, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was alarmed, and rose up in haste, and spoke and said to his ministers, 'Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?'

They answered and said to the king, 'True, O king.'

25 He answered and said, 'Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.'

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace; he spoke and said, 'Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, you servants of God Most High, come out, and come here.' Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came out from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, and the king's ministers, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their cloaks changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, 'Blessed be the god of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 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. 29 Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, who speak anything amiss against the god of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; because there is no other god who can deliver in such a way.' 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.

31 'Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages who dwell in the earth; peace be multiplied to you. 32 It has seemed good to me to declare the sings and wonders that God Most High has wrought toward me.

33 How great are his signs!
And how mighty are his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And his dominion is from generation to generation.

I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. 2 I saw a dream which made me afraid; and imaginings upon my bed and the visions of my head frightened me. 3 Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, to make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 4 Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me its interpretation. 5 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and I told the dream before him: 6 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret causes you trouble, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation. 7 So were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw,

And behold a tree in the midst of the earth,
and its height was great.
8 The tree grew, and was strong,
And its height reached to heaven,
And it was seen to the end of all the earth.
9 Its leaves were fair, and its fruit much,
And in it was food for all;
The beasts of the field had shadow beneath it,
And the birds of the heaven dwelt in its branches,
And all flesh was fed from it.

10 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven. 11 He cried aloud, and said thus:

Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches,
Shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit;
Let the beasts get away from under it,
And the fowls from its branches.
12 Yet leave the stump of its roots in the earth,
In a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field;
And let it be wet with heaven's dew,
And let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth;
13 Let his heart be changed from man's,
And let a beast's heart be given to him;
And let seven times pass over him.
14 The matter is by decree of the watchers,
And the sentence 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.

15 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen; and you, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, as 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.'

16 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while, and his thoughts frightened him. The king spoke and said, 'Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation, frighten you.'

Belteshazzar answered and said, 'My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your adversaries. 17 The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the heaven, and was seen through all the earth; 18 whose leaves were fair, and its fruit much, and it it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches teh birds of the heaven had their habitation; 19 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown, and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the end of the earth. 20 And as the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, in band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him -- 21 this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 22 that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you; till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will. 23 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom will be securely yours, after you know that the heavens rule. 24 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break of your sins by almsgiving, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.'

25 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 26 At the end of twelve months he was walking upon the royal palace of Babylon. 27 The king spoke and said, 'Is this not great Babylon, which I have built for a royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?'

28 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, 'O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you. 29 And you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, 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.' 30 The same hour the thing was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar; and he was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds claws.

31 ' And at the end of 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;

For his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And his kingdom from generation to generation;
32 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
And he does according to his will in the host of heaven,
And among the inhabitants of the earth;
And none can stay his hand,
Or say to him, What are you doing?

33 At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and my splendor returned to me; and my ministers and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and surpassing greatness was added to me. 34 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.'

Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his consorts, and his concubines might drink from them. 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 lords, his consorts and his concubines, drank from them. 4 They drank wine wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, and of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the palm of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king's countenance was changed in his, and his thoughts frightened him; and his knees knocked against one another. 7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, 'Whoever shall read this writing, and declare to me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall rule as one of three in the kingdom.'

8 Then came in all the king's wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation. 9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly frightened, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed. 10 Now 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! Let not your thoughts frighten you, nor let your countenance be changed; 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, was found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers; 12 because a surpassing spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting dreams, and declaring of riddles, and loosing of knots, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will declare the interpretation.'

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, 'Are you Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah? 14 I have hard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and surpassing wisdom are found in you. 15 And now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, to read this writing, and make known to me its interpretation; but they could not delcare the interpretation of the thing. 16 But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and untie knots; 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 rule as one of three in the kingdom.'

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, 'Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him its interpretation. 18 O you king, God Most High gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty; 19 and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him; whom he would, he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down. 20 But when ihis heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he acted proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken 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, he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; until he knew that God Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will. 22 And you, his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you know all this; 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 consorts and your concubines, have drunk wine in them; and you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor know; and the god in whose hand your breath is, whose are all your ways, you have not glorified; 24 then the palm of the hand was sent from before him, and this writing was inscriped. 25 And this is the writing that was inscripted: MENE MENE, TEKEL UPHARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE, God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end. 27 TEKEL, you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting. 28 PERES, your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.'

29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should rule as one of three in the kingdom. 30 On that night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain.

1 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. 2 It pleased Darius to set up over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom; 3 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account to them, and that the king should have no damage. 4 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the presidents and the satraps, because a surpassing spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

5 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault; because he was faithful, nor was there any error or fault found in him. 6 Then said these men, 'We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, unless we find it against him in the matter of the law of his God.'

7 Then these presidents and satraps came tumultuously to the king, and said thus to him, 'King Darius, live forever! 8 All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the ministers and the governors, have consulted together that the king should establish a statute, and make a strong interdict, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 9 Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be altered.' 10 Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict.

11 And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house -- now his windows were open in his upper chamber toward Jerusalem -- and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his god, as had done before. 12 Then these men came tumultuously, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his god. 13 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's interdict, 'Have you not signed an interdict, that every man who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?'

The king answered and said, 'The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be altered.'

14 Then they answered and said before the king, 'That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, does not respect you, O king, nor the interdict which you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.' 15 Then the king, when he heard these words, was severely displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him.

16 Then these men came tumultuously to the king, and said to the king, 'Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.' 17 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.

Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, 'Your god, whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.' 18 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

19 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; nor were diversions brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. 20 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions. 21 And when he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a pained voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel, 'O Daniel, servant of the living god, is your god, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?'

22 Then Daniel said to the king, 'O king, live forever! 23 My god has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; because before him my innocence was found in me; and also before you, O king, I have done no hurt.'

24 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 manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his god. 25 And the king commanded, and they brought those men who had Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and they had not come to the bottom of the den, when the lions fell upon them, and broke all their bones in pieces.

26 Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: 'Peace be multiplied to you. 27 I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the god of Daniel;

For he is the living God,
And steadfast forever,
And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed,
And his dominion shall be even to the end;
28 He delivers and rescues,
And he works signs and wonders
In heaven and in earth;
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.'

29 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed; then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spoke and said: I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven broke forth upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings; I beheld until its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

5 And behold another beast, a second, like a bear, and it raised itself on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was said thus to it, 'Arise, devour much flesh.'

6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the sides of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads, and dominion was given to it.

7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly, and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet, and it was different from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 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 great things. 9 I beheld
Till thrones were placed,
And one that was ancient of days sat:
His clothing was as white as snow,
And the hair of his head like pure wool;
His throne was fiery flames,
And its wheels burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before him;
Thousand thousands ministered to him,
And ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
The judgment was set,
And the books were opened.

11 I beheld at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke, I beheld even till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. 12 And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

13 I saw in the night visions,
And, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven
One like a son of man,
And he came even to the Ancient of Days,
And he was brought near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion,
And glory, and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations, and languages
Should serve him;
His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away,
And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

15 As for me Daniel, my spirit was pained in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head frightened me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things: 17 ' These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, for ever and ever.'

19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; 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 great things, whose appearance was greater than that of its fellows. 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High; and the time came, and the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 Thus he said, 'The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise; and another shall rise after them; and he shall be different from the former, and he shall put down three kings. 25 And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear down the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the seasons and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. 26 But the judgment shall sit, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and to be destroyed unto the end. 27 And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.' 28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my thoughts greatly frightened me, and my countenance was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.

1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, to me Daniel, after the one which appeared to me at the first. 2 And I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in Shushan the castle, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was by the stream Ulai. 3 And I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the stream a ram that had two horns; and the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no beasts could stand before him, nor was there any who could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.

5 And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6 And he came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the stream, and ran at him in the fury of his power. 7 And I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and struck the ram, and broke his two horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast him down to the ground, and trampled upon him; and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8 And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly; and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and in its place there came up the appearance of four horns toward the four winds of heaven.

9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceedingly great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the beautiful land. 10 And it grew great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them. 11 Yes, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the host; and from him the continual burnt-offering was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12 And the host was given over to it together with the continual burnt-offering through transgression; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it acted, and prospered. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to the one that had spoken, 'How long shall the vision concerning the continual burnt-offering, and the transgression that causes appalment, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?'

14 And he said to me, 'As far as two thousand and three hundred evenings and morning; then the sanctuary shall be victorious.'

15 And it came to pass, when I, I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, who called, and said, 'Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.'

17 So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was terrified, and fell upon my face; but he said to me, 'Understand, O son of man; for the vision belongs to the time of the end.' 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.

19 And he said, 'Behold, I will make you know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongs to the appointed time of the end. 20 The ram which you saw, having the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece; and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 And as for what was broken, in whose place four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with power. 23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have completed their transgression, there shall stand up a king of fierce countenance, and understanding strategems. 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do; and he shall destroy those who are mighty and the people of the saints. 25 And through his cunning he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in time of security he shall destroy many; he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 26 And the vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true; but you, shut up the vision; because it belongs to many days to come.' 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was appalled at the vision, but did not understand it.

1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; 2 in the first year of his reign I Daniel meditated in the books, over the number of the years, of which the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 3 And I set my face toward the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to Yahweh my God, and made confession, and said, 'O Lord, Great and Dreadful God, who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love you and keep your commandments, 5 we have sinned, and have acted iniquitously, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, and have turned aside from your commandments and your ordinances; 6 nor have we 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. 7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those near, and those far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because they dealt treacherously with you. 8 O Yahweh, to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because he was sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our god belong compassions and forgivenesses; for we have rebelled against him; 10 nor have we listened to the voice of Yahweh our god, to walk in his laws, which he set before us through his servants the prophets. 11 Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, and have turned aside, so as not to listen to your voice; and so there has been poured out upon us the curse and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God; because we have sinned against him. 12 And he has confirmed his word, which he spoke against us, and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil; so that under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of Yahweh our god, that we might turn from our iniquities, and have discernment in your truth. 14 And so Yahweh has watched over the evil, and brought it upon us; for Yahweh our god is righteous in all his works which he has done, and we have not listened to his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our god, who has brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and has gotten yourself renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 O Lord, according to all your righteousness, let your anger and your fury, I pray you, 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 that are round about us. 17 Now therefore, O our god, listen to the prayer of your servant, and to his supplications, and cause your face to shine upon your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 18 O my god, incline your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city upon which your name is called; for we do not present our supplications before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great compassions. 19 O Lord, hear, O Lord, forgive, O Lord, attend and do, do not defer; for your own sake, O my god, because your name is called upon your city and your people.'

20 And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my god for the holy mountain of my god; 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, approached close to me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he made me to understand, and talked with me, and said, 'O Daniel, I have now come forth to make you skilful of understanding. 23 At the beginning of your supplications a word went forth, and I have come to declare it; for you are greatly beloved; therefore look into the word, and understand the vision. 24 Seventy weeks are decreed upon your people and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin, and to forgive iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal vision and prophet, and to anoint the most holy place. 25 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the word to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem to one anointed, a prince, shall be seven weeks; and for sixty-two weeks, it shall be built again, with broad place and moat, but in troubled times.

26 And after the sixty-two weeks an anointed one shall be cut off, and be no more; and the people of a prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, but his end shall be with a flood; and to the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and upon the wing of detestable things shall be that which causes appalment; and that until the extermination wholly determined be poured out upon that which causes appalment.'

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar; and the word was true, even a great warfare; and he gave heed to the word, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three whole weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, nor did flesh nor wine enter my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4 And in the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Tigris, 5 I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with the fine gold of Uphaz; 6 his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as torches of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision; for the men that were with me did not see the vision; yet a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet I heard the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground. 10 And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me tottering upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, 'O Daniel, you man greatly beloved, give heed to the words that I speak to you, and stand upright; for now I am sent to you'; and when he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling.

12 Then he said to me, 'Do not 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; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I was left over there beside the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what shall befall your people in the end of days, for there is yet a vision for the days.'

15 And when he had spoken to me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was mute. 16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth, and spoke and said to him that stood before me, 'O my lord, by reason of the vision my pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 For how can this servant of my lord talk with this my lord? For as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, nor was there breath left in me.' 18 Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me.

19 And he said, 'O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be with you, be strong, yes, be strong.'

And when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened, and said, 'Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me.'

20 Then he said, 'Do you know why I have come to you? And now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I go forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come. 21 Yet I will declare to you what is inscribed in the writing of truth; and there is no one who holds with me against these, except Michael your prince.

1 And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to be a supporter and a stronghold to him. 2 And now I will declare to you the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be richer than them all; and when he has grown strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. 3 And a mighty king shall stand up, and shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up, for others besides these.

5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his commanders; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

6 And at the end of [some] years they shall join themselves together; and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the strength of her arm; nor shall he stand, nor his arm, but she shall be given up, and those who brought her, and he who begot her, and he who obtained her in those times.

7 But one of the shoots of her roots shall stand up in his place, and shall come to the army, and shall enter into the stronghold of the king of the south, and shall deal with them, and shall prevail; 8 and also their gods, with their molten images, and with their precious vessels of silver and of god, he shall bring into captivity into Egypt; and he shall desist some years from the king of the north. 9 And he shall come into the kingdom of the king of the south, but shall return to his own land.

10 And his sons shall stir themselves up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces, and he shall come on, and overflow, as he passes through, and he shall return and stir himself up, as far as his stronghold. 11 And the king of the south shall be enraged, and shall come forth and fight with him, with the king of the north; and he shall raise a great horde, and the horde shall be given into his hand; 12 and the horde shall be carried away, and his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. 13 And again the king of the north shall raise up a horde, greater than the first, and he shall come at the end of the times, of years, with a great army and with much substance. 14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south; also the children of the violent among your people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they shall stumble. 15 And the king of the north shall come, and throw up earthworks, and take a well-fortified city; and the arms of the south shall not withstand; and as for his chosen people, there shall be no strength in them to withstand. 16 But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the beauteous land, and in his hand shall be extermination. 17 And he shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, but shall make an agreement with him; and he shall give him the daughter of women, to destroy it; but it shall not stand, nor be for him. 18 After this he shall set his face to the isles, and shall take many; but a captain shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yes, he shall cause his own reproach to return upon him. 19 Then he shall turn his face toward the strongholds of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.

20 Then shall stand up in his place one who shall cause an exactor to pass through the glory of the kingdom; but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.

21 And in his place shall stand up a contemptible person, upon whom had not been conferred the majesty of the kingdom; but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by blandishments. 22 And the arms of the flood shall be swept away from before him, and shall be broken; and also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceit fully; and he shall come up and be strong, with a little nation. 24 In time of security shall he come even upon the fattest places of the province, and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers: he shall scatter among them prey, and spoil, and substance; and he shall devise his devices against fortresses, but only until the time.

25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall stir himself up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise devices against him. 26 And those who eat of his food shall destroy him, and his army shall be swept away; and many shall fall slain. 27 And as for both these kings, their hearts shall be to do mischief and they shall speak lies at one table, but it shall not prosper, for the end remains yet for the time appointed. 28 And he shall return to his own land with great substance; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do [his own pleasure], and return to his own land.

29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former. 30 For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be cowed, and he shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do [his pleasure], and he shall return, and fix his attention upon those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 And his forces shall stand, and they shall profane the sanctuary, the stronghold, and shall take away the continual burnt-offering, and they shall set up the destestable thing that causes appalment. 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt by flatteries; but the people that know their god shall show strength, and prevail. 33 And those who are wise among the people shall cause the many to understand; yet they shall stumble by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall stumble, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves to them with flatteries. 35 And some of those who are wise shall stumble, to refine among them, and to purify, and to make white, until the time of the end; for it is yet for the time appointed.

36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak strange things against the God of Gods; and he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. 37 Nor shall he regard the gods of his fathers; and neither the desire of women, nor any god, shall he regard; for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 But in his place he shall honor the god of strongholds; and a god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and costly things. 39 And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he whom he recognizes, will increase glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price.

40 And at the time of the end the king of the south shall push at him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow, as he passes through. 41 He shall enter also into the beauteous land, and many [countries] shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand, Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall alarm him; and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to do away with many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the beauteous holy mountain; and he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

1 And at that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to reproaches and everlasting abhorrence. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn the many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.'

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood another two, the one on the bank of the river on this side, and the other on the bank of the river on that side. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river: 'How long shall it be to the end of the wonders?' 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he lifted up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

8 And I heard, but did not understand; then I said, 'O my lord, what shall be the closing stage of these things?'

9 And he said, 'Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the continual burnt-offering shall be taken away, and the detestable thing that causes appalment set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Happy is the one who waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 But you, go your way till the end; and you shall rest, and shall stand up to your lot, at the end of the days.'

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