The Bible, King James version, Book 27: Daniel
Book 27 Daniel
27:001:001 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
27:001:002 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
27:001:003 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
27:001:004 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
27:001:005 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
27:001:006 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
27:001:007 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
27:001:008 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
27:001:009 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
27:001:010 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
27:001:011 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
27:001:012 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
27:001:013 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
27:001:014 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
27:001:015 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
27:001:016 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
27:001:017 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
27:001:018 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
27:001:019 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
27:001:020 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
27:001:021 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
27:002:001 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
27:002:002 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
27:002:003 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
27:002:004 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
27:002:005 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
27:002:006 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
27:002:007 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
27:002:008 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
27:002:009 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
27:002:010 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
27:002:011 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
27:002:012 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
27:002:013 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
27:002:014 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
27:002:015 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
27:002:016 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
27:002:017 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
27:002:018 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
27:002:019 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
27:002:020 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
27:002:021 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
27:002:022 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
27:002:023 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
27:002:024 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
27:002:025 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
27:002:026 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
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