Daniel

Chapter 1

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against Jerusalem and besieged it.
2 The Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them off to the land of Sennacherib, to the house of his god, and he deposited the vessels in the treasury of his god.

3 The king told Asphenez, chief of his eunuchs, to bring some of the Israelites, either from the royal family or from the nobility,
4 young men without any defect, handsome, gifted with all kinds of talents, educated and intelligent, full of vigor, to stand in the king's palace and be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
5 The king assigned to them for each day a portion royal dishes and the wine he drank, so that, having been raised for three years, they would stand at the end of this time before the king.
6 Among them were Daniel, Ananias, Mishael, and Azariah, from among the children of Judah.
7 The chief of the eunuchs gave them names; he called Daniel Baltassar, Ananias Sidrac, Misael Misac, and Azarias Abdenago.

8 Daniel resolved in his heart not to defile himself with the king's food and the wine he drank, and he asked the chief of the eunuchs not to force him to to soil oneself.
9 And God caused Daniel to find favor and compassion with the chief of the eunuchs.
10 The chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, »I fear the king, my master, who has set your food and drink; for why should he see your faces looking worse than those of Young men your age? You would be putting my head in danger with the king.« 
11 Then Daniel told the steward, whom the chief of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Mishael, and Azariah:
12 »Please make a trial with your servants for ten days, and let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 After that, You will look at our faces and the faces of the young men who eat the king's food, and according to what you see, you will act with your servants.« 
14 He agreed to their request and tested them for ten days.
15 After ten days, they were found to have a better appearance and to be plumper than all the young men who ate the king's food.
16 And the steward took away the food and wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

17 To these young people, to all The four of them, God gave knowledge and skill in all literature and in all wisdom, and Daniel had understanding of all types of visions and of dreams.
18 At the end of the time set by the king for bringing them, the chief of the eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 The king spoke with them, and no one was found among them all like Daniel, Ananias, Mishael, and Azariah; so they were admitted into the king's service.
20 On all subjects who demanded of wisdom and intelligence, and on which the king questioned them, he found them ten times superior to all the scholars and magicians who were in all his kingdom.

21 Daniel was Thus until the first year of King Cyrus.

Chapter 2

1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, his mind was troubled and sleep departed from him.
2 The king summoned the scholars, the magicians, the enchanters, and the Chaldeans to interpret his dreams to him; they came and stood before the king.
3 The king said to them, »I had a dream, and my mind is troubled, looking to know this dream.« 
4 The Chaldeans answered the king in Aramaic: »O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we in we will make known the meaning.« 
5 The king answered the Chaldeans, saying, »This is a decree I have issued. If you do not tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut to pieces and your houses will be reduced to sewers.”.
6 But if you tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and presents and great honor; so tell me the dream and its interpretation.« 
7 They answered a second time, saying, »Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will make known its interpretation.« 
8 The king answered and said, »Truly, I know that you are trying to gain time, because you see that it is a matter decided by me.
9 Since you have not told me about the dream, that's You have only one thought, that to concoct a false and deceptive discourse, in order to THE to hold before me, until times change; thus, tell me the dream and I will know that you can reveal its meaning to me. true meaning. "« 
10 The Chaldeans answered the king, saying, »There is no man on earth who can make known what the king asks. Therefore, never has a king, if large and if powerful that he had been, did not ask such a thing of any scholar, astrologer or Chaldean.
11 The thing the king asks is difficult, and there is no one who can reveal it to the king except the gods whose dwelling is not among mortals.« 

12 At this the king became angry and furious, and gave orders to put to death all the wise men of Babylon.
13 When the sentence was pronounced, the wise men were put to death, and Daniel and his companions were sought for THE kill.
14 Then Daniel gave a prudent and sensible answer to Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, who had gone out to put the wise men of Babylon to death.
15 He spoke up and said to Arioch, the king’s commander, »Why this harsh sentence from the king?» And Arioch explained the matter to Daniel.
16 Then Daniel entered in the palace and asked the king to grant him a delay in order to make the meaning known to the king.
17 Immediately Daniel went to his house and informed Ananias, Misael, and Azariah, his companions, of the matter.,
18 urging them to implore mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision during the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel spoke up and said, »Blessed be the name of God, from everlasting to everlasting, for to him belong wisdom and strength.
21 He is the one who changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the intelligent.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in darkness, and light dwells with him.
23 It is you, God of my fathers, whom I praise and commend, for you have given me wisdom and strength, and for now you have made known to me what we asked of you, by making known to us the king's case.« 

24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon; he went and spoke to him, saying, »Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me before the king, and I will explain to the king the meaning.« 
25 Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king and spoke to him, saying, »I have found a man among the captives of Judah who will explain the meaning to the king.« 
26 The king spoke and said to Daniel, whose name was Belshazzar, »Are you able to tell me the dream I had and its meaning?« 
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king and said: »The secret that the king asks for, neither wise men, nor magicians, nor scholars, nor astrologers are able to make known to the king.
28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your mind that you had Here they are on your bed:

29 You, O king, your thoughts soared in your mind on your bed about what would happen after this these days, And the one who reveals secrets has made known to you what must happen.
30 And I, it is not by a wisdom that would be in me, superior to that of to all living beings, that this secret has been revealed to me, but it is so that its meaning may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.

31 You, O king, were looking, and behold, a great statue. This statue was immense and its splendor extraordinary; it stood before you, and its appearance was terrifying.
32 This statue had a head of fine gold, a chest and arms of silver, and a belly and thighs of bronze,
33 legs of iron, feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
34 You watched until a stone was cut out, not by a hand, and struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them.
35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff. which rises from the threshing floor in summer, and the wind carried them away without leaving any trace of them; and the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

36 This is the dream; its meaning, we shall... there to be said before the king.

37 You, O king, king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given dominion, power, strength, and glory,
38 into whose hands he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of men, the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and whom he has made ruler over them all: you are the head of gold.
39 After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to you, then a third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
40 A fourth kingdom will be strong as iron; just as iron crushes and breaks everything, and like iron that shatters, it will crush and shatter all these.
41 If you have seen the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, that's It will be a divided kingdom; it will have the strength of iron, just as you saw iron mixed with clay.
42 But as The toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay; this kingdom will be partly strong, and partly fragile.
43 If you have seen the iron mixed with the clay, that's it’They will be mixed with human seed; but they will not stick to one another, just as iron cannot combine with clay.
44 In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will its dominion be given to another people; it will crush and bring to an end all those kingdoms, and it itself will endure forever.,
45 as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain, not by a hand, and that it broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold in pieces.

The great God has revealed to the king what will happen next; the dream is true and its meaning certain.« 

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and worshiped Daniel, and he ordered that offerings and incense be presented to him.
47 Then the king spoke to Daniel and said, »Truly your God is the God of gods, the lord of kings, and the revealer of secrets, since you were able to reveal this secret.« 
48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many rich gifts; he made him governor over all the province of Babylon and chief commander over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 At Daniel's request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to oversee the affairs of the province of Babylon; and Daniel remained at court.

Chapter 3

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide; he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 And King Nebuchadnezzar summoned the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the chief judges, the treasurers, the lawyers, the judges and all the magistrates of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the statue which King Nebuchadnezzar had erected.
3 So the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the chief judges, the treasurers, the lawyers, the judges and all the magistrates of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected; and they stood before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had erected.
4 A herald cried out voice strong: » Here's what’We want you to know, peoples, nations and languages:
5 When you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, zither, lyre, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of instruments, you shall fall down to worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6 Whoever does not prostrate himself and worship the statue, will be thrown instantly into the midst of the blazing furnace.« 
7 Therefore, when all the peoples heard the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, lyre, harp, and all kinds of instruments, all peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 At that very moment, some Chaldeans approached and spoke ill of the Jews.
9 They spoke up and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, »O king, live forever!« 
10 You, O king, have issued a decree ordering that every man who hears the sound of the trumpet, flute, zither, sambuca, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of musical instruments, must fall down and worship the golden statue,
11 and that whoever will not bow down to L'’Those who worship will be thrown into the midst of the blazing furnace.
12 Now there are Jews whom you appointed to oversee the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom these men do not respect you, O king; they do not serve your gods, nor do they bow down to the golden image that you have set up.« 

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, angry and furious, ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in; and these men were brought before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke up and said to them, »Is it for this purpose, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my god or worship the golden image that I have set up!”
15 Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of instruments, to fall down and worship the image I have made… But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into the midst of the blazing furnace, and what god will be able to deliver you from my hand?« 
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered the king and said, »Nebuchadnezzar, on this matter we do not need to give you an answer.
17 If indeed our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, he will deliver us from the blazing furnace and from your hand, O king.
18 Otherwise, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or bow down before the golden image that you have set up.« 

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and his expression changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He spoke again and ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than had been deemed appropriate,
20 and he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to bind Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago and to THE throw into the blazing furnace.
21 Then these men, with their tunics, their robes, their cloaks and their others clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.
22 As the king's order was urgent and the furnace extraordinarily heated, the flame of fire killed those men who had thrown Sidrac, Misac and Abdénago into it.
23 And these three men, Sidrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the midst of the blazing furnace, bound together.

The following, I have not found in the Hebrew books.

24 And they walked in the midst of the flame, praising God and blessing the Lord.
25 And Azariah stood up and offered this prayer; opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said:
26 Blessed be you, Lord, God of our fathers; your name is worthy of praise and glory forever.
27 For you are righteous in all that you have done for us, and all your works are true; your ways are right, and your judgments are just.

28 For you have rendered just judgments; in all the ills that you have brought upon us; and upon the holy city of our fathers, Jerusalem; it is by just judgment that you have done all this, because of our sins.
29 For we have sinned and committed iniquity by withdrawing from you, and we have failed in all things.
30 We have not listened to your commands and we have not observed them, and we have not acted as you commanded us, so that we might be happy.

31 All that you have brought upon us, all that you have done to us, you have done by just judgment.
32 You have handed us over to unjust enemies, to hardened apostates against us, and of an unjust king, the most wicked on earth.
33 And now we dare not open our mouths; shame and reproach belong to your servants and to all who worship you.

34 Do not hand us over forever, because of your name, and do not destroy your covenant.
35 Do not withdraw your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham your friend, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
36 to whom you promised to multiply their descendants; like the stars of heaven, and like the sand that is on the seashore.

37 For, Lord, we are subdued before all nations, and we are today humiliated throughout your earth, because of our sins.
38 There is no longer at this time for us nor prince, nor leader, nor prophet, nor burnt offering, nor sacrifice, nor oblation, nor incense; nor place to bring before you the firstfruits and find favor.

39 But, Lord, may we be received with contrite hearts and humble spirits,
40 as you receive a burnt offering of rams and bulls, or of a thousand fat lambs; let it be so with our sacrifice before you today, and with our submission to you, for there is no shame for those who trust in you.
41 Now, we YOU We follow with all our hearts, we fear you and we seek your face.

42 Do not confound us, but treat us according to your gentleness, and according to the abundance of your mercy.
43 Deliver us by your wonders, and give, Lord, glory to your name.
44 May all who mistreat your servants be put to shame. through loss of all their power, and that their strength be broken,
45 that they may know that you are the Lord, the only God, and the glorious sovereign of the whole world!« 

46 However the king's servants who had thrown these three men in the furnace, they kept heating it with naphtha, tow, pitch and vine shoots.
47 The flame rose forty-nine cubits above the furnace;
48 and, having rushed forward, she burned the Chaldeans whom she met near the furnace.

49 But the angel of the Lord had gone down into the furnace with Azariah and his companions, and he removed the flame of fire from the furnace.
50 And he made the middle of the furnace as if a dew-like wind had blown into it; and the fire did not even touch them, it did not injure them, nor did it cause them the slightest harm.

51 So these three men, as if with one voice, they praised, glorified, and blessed God in the furnace, saying:

52 Blessed are you, Lord, God of our fathers, worthy to be praised, glorified, and exalted forever.
Blessed is your holy and glorious name, worthy of supreme praise and exaltation forever and ever.
53 You are blessed in the temple of your holy glory, worthy of supreme praise and glory forever.
54 You chosen ones blessed on the throne of your kingdom, worthy of supreme praise and exaltation forever.
55 Blessed are you, whose eyes penetrate the depths, and who sit upon the cherubim, worthy of supreme praise and exaltation forever.
56 You are blessed in the firmament of heaven, worthy of praise and glory forever.

57 Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord; praise and exalt him forever.
58 Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
59 Heavens, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
60 Waters and all that is above the heavens, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
61 All you powers of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise him, and exalt him forever.

62 Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
63 Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
64 Rains and dews, bless the Lord all; praise him and exalt him forever.
65 Winds that God unleashed, Bless the Lord, all of you; praise and exalt him forever.

66 Fires and heat, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
67 Cold and heat, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
68 Dews and frosts, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
69 Frosts and scorches, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
70 Ice and snow, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.

71 Nights and days, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
72 Light and darkness, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
73 Lightning and dark clouds, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
74 Let the earth bless the Lord; let it praise and exalt him forever!

75 Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
76 Plants You who grow up on the earth, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
77 Fountains, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
78 Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.

79 Monsters and all that stirs in the waters, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
80 Birds of the sky, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
81 Wild beasts and flocks, bless the Lord all of you; praise him and exalt him forever.
82 Children of men, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
83 Let Israel bless the Lord; let them praise and exalt him forever!

84 Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
85 Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
86 Spirits and souls of the righteous, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
87 Saints and humble of heart, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.
88 Ananias, Azariah and Misael, bless the Lord; praise him and exalt him forever.

For he has brought us out of Sheol, and delivered us from the power of death; he has saved us from the midst of the blazing furnace, and brought us out of the midst of the fire.
89 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures forever.
90 All you godly men, bless the Lord, the God of gods; praise and extol him, for his mercy endures forever.

The passage which ends here is not found in the Hebrew; the translation we have given is based on Theodotion's edition.

91 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He spoke and said to his advisors, »Did we not throw three men bound into the midst of the fire?» They answered and said to the king, »Certainly, O king!« 
92 He continued, »Well, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like…” that of’a son of the gods.« 

93 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the blazing furnace; he spoke and said, »Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here!» So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the midst of the fire.
94 The satraps, the stewards, the governors, and the king's advisors, having assembled, looked upon these men and saw that the fire had had no power over their bodies, that the hair on their heads had not been burned, that their tunics had not undergone any change, and that they did not smell of fire.

95 Nebuchadnezzar spoke up and said: »Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, who transgressed the king’s command and gave up their bodies, to serve and worship no god except their own God.
96 Order is given by me that all man, to some people, nation or language that it belongs, whoever speaks ill of the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego shall be cut to pieces and his house shall be reduced to a cesspool, because there is no other god who can save in this way.

97 Then the king made Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego prosper in the province of Babylon.

98 » King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell throughout the earth: peace May it be given to you in abundance!

99 It seemed good to me to make known the signs and wonders which the Most High God has worked for me.
100 How great are his signs and how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and his dominion remains from age to age.

Chapter 4

1 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.
2 I had a dream that terrified me, and my Thoughts on my bed and visions in my mind troubled me.
3 I issued a decree to summon all the wise men of Babylon to me, to tell me the meaning of the dream.
4 Then came the scholars, the magicians, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers; I told the dream in their presence, but they did not tell me its interpretation.
5 Finally Daniel, whose name is Baltasar, after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, came before me, and I told him the dream:
6 "Baltassar, chief of the scholars, as I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery embarrasses you, explain to me the visions that I saw in a dream, and their meaning.
7 Here are what they were The visions of my mind on my bed: I saw, and behold, in the midst of the earth, a tree whose height was great.
8 The tree grew and became strong; its top reached to the sky, and it could be seen from the ends of the whole earth.
9 Its foliage was beautiful and its fruits abundant, and there was food on it for all; under its shade the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air dwelt, and from it all flesh was nourished.
10 I contemplated these visions of my mind upon my bed, and behold, a watcher, a saint, was descending from heaven.
11 He cried out loudly and said, “Cut down the tree and break off its branches; shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit; let the animals flee from under it, and let the birds leave its branches.
12 However, leave the stump of its roots in the ground, but bound with iron and bronze chains, in the midst of the grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven and let it share the grass of the earth with the animals.
13 Let his heart no longer be a human heart, but let him be given the heart of an animal, and let seven times pass over him.
14 This sentence rest by decree of the watchers, and this matter is an order of the saints, so that the living may know that the Most High rules over human kingship, that he gives it to whomever he wants, and that he raises up the humblest of men.
15 This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw; and you, Belshazzar, say—in the meaning, because all the wise men of my kingdom cannot me‘'in to make known the meaning; but you, you THE You can, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.« 

16 Then Daniel, whose name was Belshazzar, remained perplexed for some time, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke again and said, »Do not let the dream and its interpretation trouble you!» Belshazzar replied, »My lord, let the dream be for your enemies, and its interpretation for your adversaries.”.
17 The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose top reached to the sky and which could be seen from all the earth;
18 whose foliage was beautiful and fruit abundant; where there was food for all; under which the animals of the field sheltered, and in whose branches the birds of the air dwelt,
19 this tree, It is you, O king, who have become great and strong, whose greatness has increased and reached heaven, and whose dominion extends to the ends of the earth.
20 If the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, “Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze chains, in the midst of the grassy field; let it be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let it do its portion with the beasts of the field, until seven times have passed over it:
21 in This is the meaning, O king! It is a decree of the Most High that will be fulfilled upon my lord the king:
22 You will be driven out middle men, and your dwelling will be among the beasts of the field; you will be given grass to eat like the oxen, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he pleases.
23 And if it was commanded that the stump of the roots of the tree be left, it is because your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that heaven has dominion.
24 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you: redeem your sins through righteousness and your iniquities through mercy towards the unfortunate, if your prosperity is to continue. 

25 All these things happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
26 After twelve months, as he was walking on the terraces of royal palace of Babylon,
27 The king spoke and said, »Is not this great Babylon, which I have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?« 
28 While the words were still in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven: »King Nebuchadnezzar, it is declared unto you that your kingdom has passed away.” far from you.
29 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven periods of time will pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of men and gives them to whomever he pleases.« 
30 At that very moment, the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; he was driven away from among men; he ate grass like oxen, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of eagles, and its nails like those birds.

31 But at the end of days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my sanity was restored. I blessed the Most High, and I praised and glorified Him who lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and whose kingdom remains from generation to generation.
32 All the inhabitants of the earth count for nothing in front of him ; He does as he pleases with the army of heaven and with the inhabitants of the earth, and there is no one to strike him on the hand and say, »What are you doing?« 
33 At the same time, my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingship, my majesty and splendor returned to me; my counselors and my nobles recalled me, I was restored to my kingship, and my power increased even more.
34 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of heaven, whose works are all true and whose ways are just, and who is able to humble those who walk in pride.« 

Chapter 5

1 King Baltasar held a great feast for a thousand of his princes, and in the presence of these thousand he drank wine.
2 Excited by the wine, Belshazzar brought in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had taken from the temple which is in Jerusalem, so that the king and his princes, his wives and his concubines, might use them to drink.
3 Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which is in Jerusalem, and the king and his princes, his wives and his concubines drank from them.
4 They drank wine, and they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

5 At that moment human hand fingers appeared and were writing, opposite the candelabrum, on the lime of the wall of the royal palace; and the king saw the tip of the hand that was writing.
6 Then the king's face changed, and his thoughts troubled him; the joints of his loins loosened and his knees knocked together.
7 The king loudly called for the magicians, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers to be summoned; and the king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, »Whoever reads this writing and tells me its meaning shall be clothed in purple and will wear around his neck a gold chain, and he will be third in command in the kingdom.« 
8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read what was written, nor could they make known its meaning to the king.
9 Then King Belshazzar was very frightened; his color changed, and his princes were dismayed.
10 The queen, learner After hearing the words of the king and his princes, he entered the banquet hall; the queen spoke and said: "O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts trouble you, and let not your colors change!"
11 There is a man from your kingdom in whom resides the spirit of the holy gods; in the days of your father, light, understanding, and wisdom were found in him, like the wisdom of the gods. Therefore, King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—the king, your father—appointed him chief of the scholars, magicians, Chaldeans, and astrologers.,
12 For in him, Daniel, whom the king had named Belshazzar, was found an excellent mind, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, to explain riddles, and to solve difficult problems. So call Daniel, and he will tell you the interpretation!« 

13 Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, »Are you this Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, whom the king, my father, brought from Judah?
14 I have heard about you that the spirit of the gods is in you, that extraordinary light, intelligence, and wisdom are found in you.
15 The wise men and magicians have just been brought before me to read this writing and explain its meaning to me; but they have not been able to explain its meaning to me. these words.
16 And I have heard that you can interpret and solve difficult problems. If you can read what is written and tell me its meaning, you will be clothed with purple, you will wear A gold chain around your neck, and you will be third in command in the kingdom.« 

17 Then Daniel spoke and said before the king, »Your gifts should be yours, and give your presents to another! However, I will read to the king what is written and I will tell him in I will let you know the meaning.
18 O king, the Most High God had given to Nebuchadnezzar, your father, the kingship and the greatness, the glory and the majesty;
19 And because of the greatness which he had given him, all peoples, nations and languages were in awe and trembled before him; he put to death whom he wanted, and he gave life to whom he wanted; he exalted whom he wanted, and he humbled whom he wanted.
20 But his heart became proud and his spirit hardened to arrogance, so he was taken down from his royal throne and his greatness was taken away.
21 He was driven out middle children of men, his heart became like the one beasts and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was fed with grass like the oxen, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of men, and that he raises up whomever he pleases.
22 And you, his son, Baltasar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all these things.
23 But you have defied the Lord of heaven. The vessels of his house were brought before you, and you, your princes, your wives, and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which neither see nor hear nor understand anything; and the God who holds your breath in his hand and from whom pertain all your ways, you do not L'’has not been glorified.
24 It was then that this piece of hand was sent from him and that what is written there was traced.
25 This is the writing that was traced: MENE MENE. THEQEL. UPHARSIN.
26 And this is the meaning of these words: Led (account): God has numbered your reign and brought it to an end.
27 Theqel (weighed): You were weighed on the scales and found to be light.
28 Peres (split): your kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians.« 

29 Then, at Belshazzar's command, Daniel was clothed in purple, he was put around his neck a gold chain, and it was proclaimed that he would be third in command in the kingdom.
30 That same night, Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was killed.

Chapter 6

1 And Darius the Mede received the kingship, being about sixty-two years old.

2 It pleased Darius to establish one hundred and twenty satraps over the kingdom, to be distributed throughout the kingdom.
3 And he mit above them were three ministers, of whom Daniel was one, and these satraps were to answer to them, so that the king would not be wronged.
4 Now Daniel surpassed the ministers and satraps, because there was an excellent spirit in him, and the king intended to set him over the whole kingdom.
5 Then the ministers and satraps sought to find a subject accusation against Daniel concerning the affairs of kingdom; but they could find no grounds for complaint, nor anything to criticize; for he was faithful, and there was nothing wrong or reprehensible in him.
6 So these men said, »We will find no grounds for a charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him in the law of his God.« 
7 Then these ministers and satraps went with a great clamor to the king and spoke to him thus: »King Darius, live forever!
8 All the ministers of the kingdom, the intendants, the satraps, the councillors and the governors agreed to issue a royal edict and publish a prohibition bearing that anyone, in the’space for thirty days, he will address prayers to some god or man, if not to you, O king, he shall be thrown into the lions' den.
9 Now, O king, issue the decree and write it down, so that it cannot be deviated from, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which is irrevocable.« 
10 Consequently, King Darius wrote the decree and the defense.

11 When Daniel heard that the decree had been written, he went into his house, which had windows in the upper room facing Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed and praised God, just as he had done before.
12 Then these men came with a great noise and found Daniel praying and calling on his God.
13 Then they approached the king and him They spoke about the royal defense: "Haven't you written a defense?" bearing that whoever, for thirty days, prayed to any god or man, except you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?» The king answered and said, »That is certain, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which is irrevocable.« 
14 Then they answered and said before the king, »Daniel, mon of the captives of Judah, did not heed you, O king, nor the decree you wrote; but three times a day he prays.« 
15 The king, hearing these words, was greatly displeased; as for Daniel, he took it into his heart to deliver him, and until sunset he tried to save him.
16 Then these men came with a great clamor to the king, and they said to the king, »Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or edict issued by the king may be deviated from.« 
17 Then the king gave orders that Daniel be brought in and thrown into the lions' den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, »May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you himself!« 
18 They brought a stone and put it over the mouth of the pit; the king sealed it with his signet ring and with the signet ring of the princes, so that nothing would be changed with regard to Daniel.

19 The king then went to his palace; he spent the night fasting and did not bring any women to him, and sleep fled. far from him.
20 Then the king got up at dawn, at daybreak, and went with all haste to the lions' den.
21 When he came near the den, he cried out to Daniel in a sorrowful voice; the king answered and said to Daniel, »Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?« 
22 Then Daniel spoke to the king: »O king, live forever!”
23 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they did not harm me, because I was found innocent before my God ; And before you, O king, I have done no wrong!« 
24 Then the king was very glad about him, and he ordered Daniel to be lifted out of the pit. So Daniel was lifted out of the pit, and no injury was found on him, because he had believed in his God.
25 At the king’s command, these men who had spoken ill of Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. Before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions seized them and broke all their bones.

26 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell throughout the earth:

 »" That peace May it be given to you in abundance!
27 By me is decreed that throughout my kingdom people should fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, who endures forever; his kingdom will never be destroyed and his dominion will have no end.
28 He delivers and saves; he performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; he has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.« 

29 And this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Chapter 7

1 The first year reign Daniel, while lying on his bed, had a dream and visions in his mind. He then wrote down the dream and related the substance of the events.

2 Daniel spoke and said, »I saw in my vision during the night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were pouring down upon the great sea,
3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, each different from the other.
4 The first was like a lion and had eagle's wings. I watched until its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on its feet like a man, and a human heart was given to it.
5 And behold another beast, a second one, resembling a bear; it raised one of its sides, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth, and it was told, »Arise, eat much flesh!”
6 After that, I looked, and here was another beast like a leopard; it had four bird's wings on its back, and the beast had four heads; and dominion was given to it.
7 After this I looked in the visions of the night, and behold, a fourth beast, terrible and dreadful and exceedingly strong; it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and trampled the rest underfoot; it was different from all the beasts that had preceded it, and it had ten horns.
8 I was looking at the horns, and behold, another horn, a little one, arose among them, and three of the first horns were plucked out by it; and behold, this horn had eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth which spoke great things.

9 I watched until thrones were set in place, and an ancient man sat down. His clothing was as white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire; its wheels were a blazing fire.
10 A river of fire was flowing from before him; thousands upon thousands attended him, and countless thousands stood before him. The Judge sat down, and books were opened.
11 I watched then, because of the sound of the great words which the horn uttered; I watched, until the moment the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to the flame of fire.
12 As for the rest of the animals, their dominion had also been taken away, and the duration of their life had been fixed up to a certain time and moment.

13 I was watching in the visions of the night, and behold, with the clouds came one like a son of man; he came up to the old man, and was brought before him.
14 And to him was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall never be destroyed.

15 For As for me, Daniel, my mind was troubled within me, and the visions in my head terrified me.
16 I approached one of those who were standing  there, and I asked him for something certain about all this, and he spoke to me to give me the explanation.
17 These large beasts, which are four, these are four kings Who will rise from the earth;
18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and they will possess the kingdom forever and ever.

19 So I wanted to be certain about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others others, extremely terrible, whose teeth were of iron and whose claws were of bronze, which ate, broke and trampled underfoot what remained;
20 and on the ten horns that were on his head, and on the other horn which had risen up and before which three had fallen, this horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great things, and which appeared greater than its companions.
21 I looked, and this horn was the war to the Saints and prevailed over them,
22 until the old man came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 It me spoke thus: »The fourth beast, It is a fourth kingdom Who will be on earth, unlike any other kingdom, and will devour the whole earth, trample it down and reduce it to powder.
24 The Ten Horns mean that From this kingdom ten kings will arise; another will arise after them, who will differ from the former ones, and he will overthrow three kings.
25 He will speak against the Most High, he will oppress the saints of the Most High, and he will plot to change the times and the law, and the Saints will be delivered into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
26 And the judgment will be held, and his dominion will be taken away for THE destroy and L'’to annihilate forever.
27 And the kingdom, the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under all heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all powers shall serve and obey him.« 

28 That is the end of the speech. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly frightened me, and my complexion changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.

Chapter 8

1 In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me before.
2 And I saw in the vision; and it came to pass, as I watched, that I was in Susa, the fortress which is in the province of Elam, and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.
3 I lifted up my eyes and I saw: and behold, a ram was standing before the river; it had two horns; the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.
4 I saw the ram beating with its horns westward, northward, and southward; no beast could stand before it, and no one could deliver out of its hand; it did as it pleased and grew.

5 And I was watching carefully, and behold, a young goat was coming from the west across the face of all the earth, without touching the earth, and the goat had a very prominent horn between its eyes.
6 He came to the two-horned ram, which I had seen standing before the river, and he ran against it in the heat of his strength.
7 I saw him approach the ram; becoming angry with it, he struck the ram and broke both of its horns, and the ram was not strong enough to stand before him; he threw it to the ground and trampled it underfoot, and no one delivered the ram from his hand.
8 The young goat grew exceedingly large, and when it had become strong, the large horn was broken off, and I saw four horns rising in its place toward the four winds of heaven.

9 From one of them came forth a small horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious country.
10 It grew up to the army of heaven; it cast down to the earth a part of this army and of the stars, and trampled them underfoot.
11 She grew up to the head of the army and took away his worship perpetual, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown.
12 And an army was given over through unfaithfulness, with perpetual worship, and the horn threw the truth to the ground; she L'’She did it and she succeeded.
13 And I heard a saint speaking: and a other Saint said to the one who was speaking: "How long will it last?" what is announced the vision concerning perpetual worship, the sin of desolation, as well as the abandonment of the sanctuary and the army to be trampled underfoot?« 
14 He said to me, »For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.« 

15 While I, Daniel, was seeing the vision and I‘'in I was seeking intelligence, and there before me stood something like a man's figure.
16 And I heard a man's voice from the midst of the Ulai; he called out and said, "Gabriel, make him understand the vision."» 
17 He then came near the place where I stood there, and at his approach I was terrified, and I fell on my face. He said to me, »Understand, son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.« 
18 As he spoke to me, I fell to the ground on my face, I was overcome with drowsiness; but he touched me and made me stand up, instead where I was standing.
19 And he said, »Behold, I will tell you what will happen in the last time of wrath; for it is for the time of the end.
20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia;
21 The hairy goat is the king of Javan, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king.
22 If this horn broke, and if four horns stood in his place; that's Four kingdoms will arise from this nation, but without having the same strength.
23 At the end of their domination, when the number The infidels will be complete; a king with a hard face will arise, penetrating hidden things.
24 His power will increase, but not by his own power; he will cause tremendous devastation; he will succeed in his undertakings; he will devastate the powerful and the people of the saints.
25 Because of his cunning, he will make the deceit in his hand prosper; he will become proud in his heart, and in peacetime he will cause many to perish; he will rise up against the prince of princes, and he will be broken without the hand of a man.
26 The vision concerning the evening and the morning, which has been revealed, is the truth. But you, close up your eyes, because it relates to a distant time.« 

27 And I, Daniel, fell into a deep sleep and was ill for several days; then I got up and went about the king's business. I was amazed at what I had seen, and no one understood it.

Chapter 9

1 The first year of Darius, son of Ahasuerus, of the race of the Medes, who was established king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans;
2 In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, paid attention to reading the books, concerning the number of years about which the word of Yahweh had been addressed to the prophet Jeremiah, and which were to be fulfilled on the ruins of Jerusalem, seventy years.
3 And I turned my face toward the Lord God, preparing myself for prayer and supplication with fasting, and with sackcloth and ashes.

4 I prayed to Yahweh, my God, and I confessed, and I said:

 “Ah! Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant and mercy to those who YOU They love and keep your commandments,
5 We have sinned, we have committed iniquity, we have been wicked and rebellious, we have turned away from your commandments and your laws.
6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our leaders, our fathers, and all the people of the land.
7 To you, Lord, belongs justice, to us shame of countenance, as That's the case. today, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the countries where you have driven them, because of the iniquities they have committed against you.
8 Lord, we, our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, will be ashamed of our countenance because we have sinned against you.
9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against YOU.
10 We have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh our God, to follow his laws which he has set before us through his servants the prophets.
11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away from listening to your voice; therefore the curse and the imprecation written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against him.
12 He kept his words that he spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing a calamity upon us if large, that he n‘'in Nothing like what happened in Jerusalem has ever occurred under heaven.
13 As it is written in the law of God, all this calamity has come upon us, and we have not look for to appease Yahweh, our God, by turning us away from our iniquities and making us attentive to your Truth.
14 And Yahweh watched over the evil, and he brought it upon us; for Yahweh, our God, is righteous in all his works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice.
15 Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with your mighty hand, and who made a name for yourself, as he is Today we have sinned, we have been wicked.
16 Lord, may your anger and indignation, according to all your righteousness, turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; for it is because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers that Jerusalem and your people are to the opprobrium of all those around us.
17 Now, O our God, hear the prayer of your servant and his supplications, and let your face shine upon your desolate sanctuary, for the Lord's sake.
18 My God, incline your ear and listen; open your eyes and see our desolation and the city over which your name has been spoken. For it is not because of our righteousness that we lay our supplications before you, but because of your great mercy.
19 Lord, hear; Lord, forgive; Lord, listen and act; do not delay, for your own sake, O my God; for your name has been pronounced upon your city and your people! 

20 While I was still speaking, praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and laying down my supplication before Yahweh my God, for the holy mountain of my God;
21 as I was still talking in my In prayer, this man, Gabriel, whom I had seen before in a vision, approached me with a swift flight towards the time of the evening oblation.
22 He instructed me, spoke to me, and said:

 »"Daniel, I have come at this moment to open your mind.".
23 From the beginning of your prayer, a word went forth, and I have come to you there make it known, because you are a man favored of God. Therefore, pay attention to the word and understand the vision.
24 Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city to shut up transgression, to seal up sins, to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
25 Know therefore and understand: from the going forth of a word ordering to rebuild Jerusalem until an anointed one, a ruler, for seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be rebuilt, with its streets and its enclosure, in the distress of the times.
26 And after sixty-two weeks, the anointed one will be cut off, and no one will replace him. And the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary, and its end will be in the flood, and until the end there will be war, which is decreed concerning devastation.
27 He will make a firm covenant with many for one week; and in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering, and to the wing of abominations will come a devastating, and that until the destruction and what has been decreed spread over the devastated.

Chapter 10

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a word was revealed to Daniel, who was called Belshazzar; this word is true, and she announced a great war. He understood the word and he had the intelligence of the vision:

2 In those days I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.
3 I ate no delicacies; no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself until the three weeks of days were completed.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was on the bank of the great river, which is the Tigris.
5 I lifted up my eyes and looked: and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist.
6 His body was like chrysolite, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like torches of fire, his arms and feet had the appearance of polished bronze, and his voice, when he spoke, was like the voice of a multitude.
7 I, Daniel, alone saw the apparition, and the men who were with me did not see the apparition, but great fear fell upon them, and they fled to hide.
8 And I was left alone and saw this great apparition, and there was no more strength left in me; my face changed color and decomposed without retaining any strength.
9 I heard the sound of his words and, hearing the sound of his words, I fell asleep on my face to the ground.

10 And behold, a hand touched me and made me rise on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
11 Then he said to me, »Daniel, a favored man of God, "Understand the words I am about to tell you and stand up; for I have now been sent to you." When he had spoken to me in these words, I stood trembling.
12 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 stood before me twenty-one days, and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to my aid, and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
14 And I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days; for this is yet a vision for days distant.

15 While he was speaking to me in these terms, I turned my face toward the ground and remained silent.
16 And behold, as it were, a likeness of the son of man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and spoke; I said to him who stood before me, »My lord, to this The apparition, the anxieties seized me and I retained no strength.
17 How can this servant of my lord speak to this lord? Right now, I have no strength left and no breath remains in me.« 
18 Then the one who had the likeness of a man touched me again and strengthened me.
19 Then he said to me, »Do not be afraid, favored man.” of God ; that peace "Be with you! Courage! Courage!" While he was speaking with me, I regained my strength and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."» 

20 He said to me, »Do you know why I have come to you? Now I am going back to fight against the prince of Persia; and, as soon as I go away, behold, the prince of Javan will come.
21 But I will tell you what is written in the book of truth; and there is no one who stands with me against these, except Michael, your leader.

Chapter 11

1 And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, stood beside him to support and strengthen him.

2 Now I will tell you the truth. Behold, three more kings will arise for Persia; the fourth will possess greater riches than all the others, and when he is powerful through his riches, he will stir up everything against the kingdom of Javan.
3 And a mighty king will arise, who will have great power and will do as he pleases.
4 As soon as he rises, his kingdom will be broken and divided to the four winds of heaven, without belong to his descendants and without having the same power he had; for his kingdom will be torn apart, and he will pass to others besides themselves.

5 The king of the South will become strong, as will one of his generals, who will become stronger than him and will be powerful; his power will be a great power.

6 After a few years, they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will come to the king of the North to make a treaty. But she will not retain the support of an arm, for it will not hold, nor will her own arm; and she will be given up, she and those who brought her, the one who gave birth to her and the one who supported her for a while.

7 A Offshoots from his roots will rise in his place; he will come to the army, he will enter the fortress of the king of the North, he will deal with them at his discretion And he will prevail.
8 They will carry off their very gods, their cast images, and their precious vessels of silver and gold into Egypt, and he will prevail over the king of the North for many years.
9 This one will enter the kingdom of the South, and he will return to his own country.

10 But his sons will arm themselves to the war and will assemble a great multitude of troops; one of them He will come, he will flood, he will invade, then he will return, and push hostilities against the fortress.
11 The king of the South will be angry, he will go and fight against him, against the king of the North; he will raise a large army, and the army of the king of the North It will be delivered to him.
12 Before the assembled multitude against him, His courage will rise; he will bring down thousands, but he will not be stronger.
13 For the king of the North will again gather troops greater than the first, and after a number of years he will set out with a large army and a considerable train.
14 In those days many will rise up against the king of the South, and violent men from your people will rise up to fulfill the vision, and they will fall.
15 The king of the North will come, he will build siege ramps and take a fortified city; the arms of the South will not hold, nor will his elite troops; there will be no strength to resist.
16 He who marches against him will do as he pleases, and no one will be able to stand before him; he will stand in the glorious land, and destruction will be in his hand.
17 He will decide to come with the force of his entire kingdom and will make a deal with him; and he will give him a young girl to bring about his downfall; but this will not succeed, and this kingdom will not belong to him.
18 Then he will turn to the islands and take many of them; but a captain will put an end to his wrongdoing and, without having received He will return the insult.
19 He will turn towards the fortresses of his country; but he will stumble, he will fall, and he will not be found.

20 Another will stand in his place, who will bring an extortionist into the place which is the glory of the kingdom, and in a few days it will be broken, and it will be neither by anger nor by the war.

21 In its place will stand a man despised, to whom royal dignity will not be given; he will come silently and seize the kingship through intrigue.

22 The forces of the flood will be overwhelmed before him and broken, and also the leader of the covenant.
23 Disregarding the alliance made with him, he will act cunningly, he will set out and prevail with few people.
24 He will come silently into the richest provinces of the land; he will do what his fathers and his fathers' fathers did not do, distributing plunder, spoils, and riches among them, and plotting against the fortresses, and that up to a certain point.

25 He will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South, at the head of a great army. And the king of the South will engage in the war with a large and very strong army; but he will not hold out, because plots will be formed against him.
26 Those who eat the food of his table They will break him, his army will be scattered, and many of men will fall struck dead.
27 The two kings will seek to harm each other in their hearts, and, at the same table, they se They will tell lies; but this will not succeed, for the end born will come that’at the appointed time.
28 He will return to his country with great riches; his heart meditate on evil against the holy covenant, and he does it, and he returns to his country.

29 At the appointed time, he will arrive again in the South; but this last campaign will not be like the first one.
30 Ships from Cetim will come against him and he will lose heart; he will turn back and become angry with the holy covenant; and he will act, and he will once again make peace with those who have abandoned the covenant.
31 Troops sent by him will be held there ; They will desecrate the sanctuary, the fortress; they will put an end to the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination that causes desolation.
32 Through flattery he will win over to idolatry those who violate the covenant; but the people who know their God will stand firm and act.
33 Those who are intelligent among the people will instruct the multitude; but they will fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and plunder, for a time.
34 While they are falling in this way, they will receive a little help, and many will join them, but with hypocrisy.
35 And among these intelligent people, there are some who will fall, so that they may be tested, purified and made spotless, until the time of the end, for the appointed time has not yet come.

36 The king will do as he pleases; he will exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and will speak marvelous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the wrath is completed; for what is decreed must be fulfilled.
37 He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers, nor for the divinity dear to women; he will show no regard for any god; for he will exalt himself above all.
38 But he will honor the god of fortresses in his place; the god whom his fathers did not know, he will honor with gold, silver, precious stones, and jewels.
39 He will attack the walls of the fortresses with the foreign god; those who THE They will recognize them, he will shower them with honors, he will make them rule over the multitude, and he will distribute lands to them as a reward.

40 At the time of the end, the king of the South will clash with him. The king of the North will come against him with chariots and horsemen and many ships; he will advance inland and sweep through.
41 He will enter the glorious land, and many will fall under his blows, but these will escape his hand: Edom and Moab and the flower of the children of Ammon.
42 He will stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape.
43 He will take possession of all the treasures of gold and silver and all the precious things of Egypt; the Libyans and the Ethiopians will follow him.
44 But news from the east and the north will come Disturb him, and he will go out in a great fury to destroy and exterminate a crowd people.
45 He will pitch the tents of his palace between the seas, toward the holy and glorious mountain. Then he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

Chapter 12

1 At that time Michael, the great prince who stands for your people, will arise, and there will be a time of distress such as has never been. of the same, from the beginning of a nation until that time. And at that time your people will be saved, everyone whose name is found written in the book.
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust will awake, some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who lead many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.

4 And you, Daniel, keep up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many THE They will scrutinize, and knowledge will increase.« 

5 I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others men They were standing, one on one bank of the river, the other on the other bank of the river.
6 One of them spoke to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river: »How long will the term of these Wonderful things?« 
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen who was above the waters; he raised his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that that would in a time, times and half time, and that, when the strength of the holy people had been completely broken, SO All these things will come to pass.
8 And I heard, but did not understand, and I said, »My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?« 
9 He said, »Go, Daniel, for the words are locked up and sealed until the time of the end.
10 Many will be purified, made spotless, and tested; but the wicked will continue to do evil, and no wicked person will understand; but the intelligent will understand.
11 From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished, and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
12 Blessed is the one who waits and reaches the end of the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days!
13 As for you, go to your end and rest; at the end of days you will rise to receive your inheritance.« 

      So far we have read Daniel in the Hebrew text; what follows until the end of the book has been translated from Theodotion's edition.

THE STORY OF SUSANNE.

Chapter 13

1 There was a man who lived in Babylon, and his name was Joakim.
2 He took a wife named Susanna, daughter of Helcias, of great beauty and God-fearing;
3 because her parents, who were righteous, had instructed their daughter according to the law of Moses.
4 Now Joakim was very rich, and he had a garden near his house, and the Jews flocked to him because he was the most honorable of all.

5 That year two elders from among the people were appointed as judges, of whom the Master said: »Iniquity went out of Babylon through the elders who were judges, who appeared to rule over the people.« 
6 They frequented the house of Joakim, and all those who had disputes went to them.
7 Around midday, when the people had withdrawn, Susanna would enter her husband's garden and walk there.
8 The two old men saw her every day going in and walking around there, and they conceived a burning passion for her.
9 They perverted their minds and averted their eyes so as not to see heaven and not to remember righteous judgments of God.
10 So they were injured of love for her, but they did not communicate their suffering to each other.,
11 because they were ashamed to reveal to each other the passion that made them desire to be with her.
12 They L'’They watched carefully every day to see her, and they said to each other:
13 "Let's go home, it's time for dinner." And they went out and parted.
14 But having retraced their steps, they met, and having wondered the reason their return, They confessed their passion to each other; then they agreed between themselves on when they could find her alone.

15 As they were watching for a suitable day, it happened that Susanna entered the garden, as she had done the day before and the day before that, with no other company than two young girls; she wanted to bathe in the garden, because it was hot.
16 There was no one there except the two old men, who had hidden themselves and were spying on him.
17 She said to the young women, »Bring me perfumed oil and ointments, and close the garden gates so that I may bathe.« 
18 They did what Suzanne had given their order and, having closed the garden gate, they went out through a back door to deliver what had been requested; they did not know that the old men were hiding. in the garden.

19 As soon as the young girls had left, the two old men got up and ran to Susanne and said to him:
20 » Look, the garden gates are closed, no one sees us, and we burn with love for you; therefore consent to our desire and be ours.
21 If not, we will testify against you, and we will say that a young man was with you, and that It is for that that You sent the girls away.« 
22 Susanne sighed and said: "Anguish is overwhelming me on all sides"»environment. If I do that, it's death for me, and if I don't, I won't escape your hands.
23 But it is better for me to fall into your hands without having done evil than to sin in the presence of the Lord.« 
24 Then Susanna gave a loud cry, and the two old men also cried out against her.
25 And one two ran to open the garden gates.
26 When the servants From inside the house, they heard the cries. pushed In the garden, they rushed out the back door to see what was there.
27 When the elders had explained themselves, the servants were greatly ashamed, because nothing like this had ever been said about Susanna.

28 The next day, when the people had gathered at the house of Joakim, Susanna's husband, the two old men also came there, full of wicked thoughts against her, in order to kill her.
29 They said before the people, »Send for Susanna, daughter of Helcias, wife of Joakim.» And they sent her immediately.
30 She came with her parents, her sons, and all her relatives.
31 Now Suzanne had delicate features and great beauty.
32 Because she was veiled, the judges The wicked commanded that her veil be removed, so that they could feast their eyes on her beauty.
33 But all her relatives and all who knew her were weeping.
34 The two elders, rising in the midst of the people, placed their hands on his head.
35 She, weeping, looked up to heaven, for her heart trusted in the Lord.
36 The elders said, "As we were walking alone in the garden, she came in with two young girls and, after having the garden gates closed, she sent the young girls away.
37 And a young man who was hiding came to her and did evil with her.
38 We were in a corner of the garden; seeing the crime, we ran to them, and we saw them in this infamy.
39 We were unable to take the young man, because he was stronger than us, and having opened the door, he escaped.
40 But she, after L'’having taken, we him We asked who this young man was, and she refused to tell us. This is what we attest to.« 
41 The crowd believed them, because they were elders and judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.

42 Then Susanna cried out in a loud voice and said, »Eternal God, who knows what is hidden and who knows all things before they happen,
43 You know that they have given false testimony against me; and now I am dying, having done nothing of the things they have wickedly invented against me.« 
44 The Lord heard his voice.
45 As she was being led to her death, God stirred up the holy spirit in a young child named Daniel.
46 He cried out in a loud voice, »As for me, I am innocent of the blood of this women !« 
47 All the people turned towards him and him said: "That means That statement you're making?« 
48 Daniel, Standing in their midst, he said, »Are you so foolish, children of Israel, that you should put an Israelite woman to death without examination, without seek to know the truth?
49 Return to the court, for they have given false testimony against her.« 

50 Then the people returned in haste, and the elders said to Daniel "Come, take your place among us, and expose us." your opinion, because God has given you the honor of old age.« 
51 Daniel said to the people, »Separate them from one another, and I will judge them.« 
52 When they had separated from one another, Daniel called one of them and said to him, »You who are old in wickedness, the sins you committed long ago have now come back to haunt you.” on you,
53 You who rendered unjust judgments, who condemned the innocent and released the guilty, when the Lord said: You shall not put to death the innocent and the righteous.
54 »Well, if you saw her, tell me under which tree you saw them talking together.» He replied, «Under a mastic tree.” 
55 Daniel said, »You are lying, and this is your downfall; for the angel of God, who has already received the divine decree, is going to cleave you in two.« 
56 After sending him away, he ordered the other man to be brought in, and he said to him, »The offspring of Canaan, and not of Judah, the beauty of a woman It seduced you, and passion corrupted your heart.
57 This is how you treated the daughters of Israel, and they, being afraid of you, They spoke to you; but a daughter of Judah could not suffer your iniquity.
58 »Tell me now, under what tree you found them talking together.» He said, «Under an oak tree.” 
59 Daniel said to him, »You too have spoken a lie, to your own destruction; for the angel of the Lord is waiting with a sword in his hand, the moment to cut you in half, so that you will die.« 

60 SO The whole assembly gave a loud shout, and they blessed God who saves those who hope in him.
61 Then they rose up against the two elders, whom Daniel had convicted by their own mouths of bearing false witness, and they did to them the evil that they themselves had wanted to do for their neighbor;
62 in order to fulfill the law of Moses, and so they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved that day.
63 Helcias and his wife rented God concerning their daughter Susanne, with Joakim, her husband, and all her relatives, because nothing dishonest had been found in her.
64 And Daniel became great in the sight of the people, from that day forward.

BEAUTIFUL AND THE DRAGON.

65 King Astyages having been reunited with his fathers, Cyrus the Persian received the kingdom.

Chapter 14

1 Now Daniel ate at the king's table, and was honored more than all his others friends.

2 There was among the Babylonians an idol named Bel; they spent on it every day twelve artabas of flour, forty sheep and six meters of wine.
3 The king also revered it, and went out every day to worship it; but Daniel worshipped his God.
4 The king said to him, »Why do you not worship Bel?» He him He replied, "Because I do not worship idols made by human hands, but the living God who made heaven and earth and who has power over all flesh."» 
5 The king said to him, »Doesn’t Bel seem like a living being to you? Don’t you see all that he eats and drinks every day?« 
6 Daniel smiled and replied, »Do not be deceived, O king; for it is mud inside and bronze outside, and it has never Nothing eaten.« 
7 The angry king summoned the priests of Bel and said to them, "If you do not tell me who it is who eats these offerings, you will die;
8 but if you demonstrate to me that It is Bel Who If Daniel eats them, he will die, because he has blasphemed against Bel.« 

9 Now there were seventy priests of Bel, not counting their women and their children. And the king went with Daniel to the temple of Bel.
10 The priests of Bel said, »Behold, we are going out; you, O king, set the food and bring the wine, after mixing it; then shut the door, and seal it with your ring.
11 And when you come in tomorrow morning, if you do not find that everything has been eaten by Bel, we will die; or else it will be Daniel, who lied against us.« 
12 They thought they had made a secret opening under the table, through which they always got in and came consume offerings.

13 When they had gone out and the king had placed the food before Bel, Daniel commanded his servants to bring ashes, and they scattered them throughout the temple in the presence of the king alone; then they went out, closed the door, sealing it with the king's ring, and departed.
14 During the night, the priests, according to their custom, went in with their wives and children, and they ate and drank everything what was there.

15 The king got up at daybreak, and Daniel with him.
16 The king He said, "Are the seals intact, Daniel?" He replied, "They are intact, O king."» 
17 As soon as he had opened the door and looked at the table, the king exclaimed aloud, "You are great, O Bel, and there is not the slightest deceit in you."» 
18 Daniel laughed and, restraining the king from going any further, he him He said: "Look at the paving stones, consider whose footsteps these are."» 
19 The king said, "I see the footsteps of men, women, and children;" and the king became very angry.
20 Then he seized the priests, their wives, and their children, and they showed him the secret doors through which they had been entering and came eat what was on the table.
21 He had them put to death and handed Bel over to Daniel, who destroyed him and his temple.

22 There was also a great dragon, and the Babylonians worshipped it.
23 The king said to Daniel, »Will you still say that this man is made of bronze? Look, he lives and eats and drinks. Now you cannot say that he is not a living god.« 
24 Daniel replied, »I worship the Lord my God, for he is a living God; but this man is not a living God.
25 »You, O king, grant me permission, and I will kill this dragon without sword or staff.» The king said, “I will give you there given. "« 
26 Then Daniel took pitch, fat, and hair, and boiled them. the whole together they made balls which he threw into the dragon's mouth. And the dragon burst. And he said, "This is the one you worshipped!"» 

27 When the Babylonians heard of this, they were filled with indignation; they gathered against the king and said, »The king has become a Jew; he has destroyed Bel, killed the dragon, and massacred the priests.« 
28 So they came to the king and said, »Give Daniel to us, or we will kill you and your household.« 
29 When the king saw that they were attacking him violently, he yielded to necessity and handed Daniel over to them.
30 They threw him into the lions' den, and he remained there six days.
31 In the den there were seven lions, and they were given two carcasses and two sheep each day; but then they were not given this pasture, so that they might devour Daniel.

32 Now the prophet Habakkuk was in Judea; after cooking porridge and crumbling bread into a vessel, he would go to the fields and deliver it to his harvesters.
33 The angel of the Lord said to Habakkuk, »Take the food you have with you to Babylon, to Daniel, who is into the lions' den.« 
34 Habakkuk He said, “Lord, I have never seen Babylon, and I do not know the pit.” 
35 Then the angel took him by the top of his head, carried him by the hair of his head, and set him down in Babylon, above the pit, with all the agility of his spiritual nature.
36 And Habakkuk He cried out, "Daniel, servant of God, take the meal that God has sent you." 
37 Daniel replied, »You have indeed remembered me, O God, and have not forsaken those who love you.« 
38 Then Daniel got up and ate. And the angel of the Lord immediately gave him back Habakkuk in its proper place.

39 On the seventh day, the king came to mourn Daniel; when he came to the den, he looked, and behold, Daniel was sitting in the midst of the lions.
40 He cried out in a loud voice and said, »You are great, Lord, God of Daniel, and there is no one else besides you!» And he drew him out of the lions’ den.
41 Then he had those who had sought to destroy him thrown into the pit, and they were devoured before his eyes in an instant.
42 Then the king said, »Let all the inhabitants of the whole earth fear the God of Daniel, for It is him Who is the Savior, who performs signs and wonders on earth, him who delivered Daniel from the lions' den!«