Daniel 4-6

Complete Jewish Bible

4 ⁽⁴⁾“I, N’vukhadnetzar, was contentedly living at home, enjoying the luxury of my palace; ²⁽⁵⁾but as I lay on my bed, I had a dream which frightened me, followed by fantasies and visions in my head which frightened me even more. ³⁽⁶⁾So I ordered all the sages of Bavel to present themselves to me, so that they could tell me the interpretation of the dream. ⁴⁽⁷⁾When the magicians, exorcists, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream; but they couldn’t interpret it for me. ⁵⁽⁸⁾Finally, however, Dani’el (renamed Belt’shatzar, after the name of my god), in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, came before me; and I told him the dream: ⁶⁽⁹⁾‘Belt’shatzar, chief of the magicians! Because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the meaning of the visions I saw in my dream. ⁷⁽¹⁰⁾Here are the visions I had in my head as I lay on my bed: I looked, and there before me was a tree at the center of the earth; it was very tall. ⁸⁽¹¹⁾The tree grew and became strong until its crown reached the sky, and it could be seen from anywhere on earth. ⁹⁽¹²⁾Its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant; it produced enough food for everyone. The wild animals enjoyed its shade, the birds in the air lived in its branches, and it gave food to every living creature. ¹⁰⁽¹³⁾I looked in the visions of my head as I lay on my bed, and there appeared a holy watcher coming down from heaven. ¹¹⁽¹⁴⁾He cried out:

    “‘“Cut down the tree, cut off its branches,
    strip off its leaves, scatter its fruit!
    Let the wild animals flee from its shelter!
    Let the birds abandon its branches!
¹²⁽¹⁵⁾But leave the stump with its roots in the ground,
    with a band of iron and bronze,
    in the lush grass of the countryside;
    let him be drenched with dew from the sky
    and share the lot of animals in the pasture;
¹³⁽¹⁶⁾let his heart and mind cease to be human
    and become those of an animal;
    and let seven seasons pass over him.

¹⁴⁽¹⁷⁾“‘“This order is issued by the watchers,
    the sentence is announced by the holy ones,
    so that all who live may know
    that the Most High rules the human kingdom,
    that he gives it to whomever he wishes
    and can raise up over it the lowliest of mortals.”

¹⁵⁽¹⁸⁾“‘This is the dream which I, King N’vukhadnetzar, saw. Now you, Belt’shatzar, tell me its interpretation. None of the sages of my kingdom can tell me the interpretation, but you can do it, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’

¹⁶⁽¹⁹⁾“Dani’el, whose name was Belt’shatzar, was in shock awhile, frightened by his thoughts. The king said, ‘Belt’shatzar, don’t let the dream or the interpretation frighten you.’ Belt’shatzar answered, ‘My lord, if only the dream were about those who hate you, and the interpretation about your enemies! ¹⁷⁽²⁰⁾The tree you saw which grew and became strong until its crown reached the sky, and it could be seen throughout the whole earth, ¹⁸⁽²¹⁾that had beautiful foliage and abundant fruit, enough to feed everyone, under which the wild animals lived, and on whose branches the birds in the air built their nests — ¹⁹⁽²²⁾it’s you, your majesty! You have grown and become strong — your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your rule extends to the end of the earth.

²⁰⁽²³⁾“‘Now the king saw a holy watcher coming down from heaven, who said,

    “‘“Cut down the tree, and destroy it,
    but leave the stump with its roots in the ground,
    with a band of iron and bronze,
    in the lush grass of the countryside;
    let him be drenched with dew from the sky
    and share the lot of the wild animals
    until seven seasons pass over him.”

²¹⁽²⁴⁾“‘This is the interpretation, your majesty; and it is the decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king:

²²⁽²⁵⁾“‘You will be driven from human society
    to live with the wild animals.
    You will be made to eat grass like an ox
    and be drenched with dew from the sky,
    as seven seasons pass over you;
    until you learn that the Most High
    rules in the human kingdom
    and gives it to whomever he pleases.

²³⁽²⁶⁾“‘But since it was ordered to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be kept for you until you have learned that Heaven rules everything. ²⁴⁽²⁷⁾Therefore, your majesty, please take my advice: break with your sins by replacing them with acts of charity, and break with your crimes by showing mercy to the poor; this may extend the time of your prosperity.’

²⁵⁽²⁸⁾“All this happened to King N’vukhadnetzar. ²⁶⁽²⁹⁾Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Bavel, ²⁷⁽³⁰⁾the king said, ‘Bavel the great! I built it as a royal residence by my power and force to enhance the glory of my majesty!’ ²⁸⁽³¹⁾No sooner had the king spoken these words when a voice came down from heaven: ‘King N’vukhadnetzar! These words are for you:

    ‘“The kingdom has left you.
²⁹⁽³²⁾You will be driven from human society
    to live with the wild animals.
    You will be made to eat grass like an ox
    and be drenched with dew from the sky,
    as seven seasons pass over you,
    until you learn that the Most High
    rules in the human kingdom
    and gives it to whomever he pleases.’

³⁰⁽³³⁾“Within the hour the word was fulfilled. N’vukhadnetzar was driven from human society, he ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

³¹⁽³⁴⁾“When this period was over, I, N’vukhadnetzar, lifted my eyes toward heaven, and my understanding came back to me. I blessed the Most High, I praised and gave honor to him who lives forever.

    “‘For his rulership is everlasting,
    his kingdom endures through all generations.
³²⁽³⁵⁾All who live on earth are counted as nothing.
    He does what he wishes with the army of heaven
    and with those living on earth.
    No one can hold back his hand
    or ask him, “What are you doing?”’

³³⁽³⁶⁾“It was at that moment that my understanding came back to me; and for the sake of the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor also came back to me. My advisers and lords sought me out, I was re-established in my kingdom, and to my previous greatness even more was added. ³⁴⁽³⁷⁾So now I, N’vukhadnetzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven:

    “‘For all his works are truth,
    and his ways are just;
    and he can humble those who walk in pride.’”

5 Belshatzar the king gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords, and in the presence of the thousand he was drinking wine. ²While tasting the wine, Belshatzar ordered that the gold and silver vessels which his father N’vukhadnetzar had removed from the temple in Yerushalayim be brought; so that the king, his lords, his wives and his concubines could drink from them. ³So they brought the gold vessels which had been removed from the sanctuary of the house of God in Yerushalayim; and the king, his lords, his wives and his concubines drank from them. ⁴They drank their wine and praised their gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.

⁵Suddenly, the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the palace wall by the lampstand. When the king saw the palm of the hand that was writing, ⁶the king’s face took on a different look. As frightening thoughts rose up within him, his hip joints gave way and his knees started knocking together. ⁷The king cried out to bring in the exorcists, astrologers and diviners. The king said to the sages of Bavel, “Whoever can read this inscription and tell me what it means will be dressed in royal purple, wear a gold chain around his neck and be one of the three men ruling the kingdom.” ⁸But although all the king’s sages came in, none could read the inscription or tell the king what it meant. ⁹Then King Belshatzar became terrified; his face turned pale, and his lords were thrown into confusion.

¹⁰At this point the queen mother, because of what the king and his lords were saying, entered the banquet hall. The queen mother said, “May the king live forever! Don’t be scared by your thoughts or let your face be so pale. ¹¹There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, he was found to have light, discernment and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. King N’vukhadnetzar your father — the king, your father — made him chief of the magicians, exorcists, astrologers and diviners; ¹²because he was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, discernment, and the ability to interpret dreams, unlock mysteries and solve knotty problems. He is called Dani’el, but the king gave him the name Belt’shatzar. Now have Dani’el summoned, and he will tell you what this means.”

¹³Dani’el was brought into the king’s presence. The king said to Dani’el, “Are you Dani’el, one of the exiles from Y’hudah whom the king my father brought out of Y’hudah? ¹⁴I’ve heard about you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have been found to have light, discernment and extraordinary wisdom. ¹⁵Now the sages, the exorcists, were brought in to me so that they could read this inscription and tell me what it means, but they couldn’t interpret it for me. ¹⁶However, I’ve heard that you can give interpretations and solve knotty problems. Now if you can read the inscription and tell me what it means, you will be dressed in royal purple, wear a gold chain around your neck and be one of the three men ruling the kingdom.”

¹⁷Dani’el answered the king, “Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else. However, I will read the inscription to the king and tell him what it means. ¹⁸Your majesty, the Most High God gave N’vukhadnetzar your father the kingdom, as well as greatness, glory and majesty. ¹⁹Because of the greatness he gave him, all the peoples, nations and languages trembled with fear before him. Anyone he wanted to, he put to death; anyone he wanted to, he kept alive; anyone he wanted to, he advanced; and anyone he wanted to, he humbled. ²⁰But when he grew proud and his spirit became hard, he began treating people arrogantly, so he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken away from him. ²¹He was driven from human society, his heart was made like that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed with grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky; until he learned that the Most High God rules in the human kingdom and sets up over it whomever he pleases. ²²But, Belshatzar, you, his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. ²³Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven by having them bring you the vessels from his house; and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them; then you offered praise to your gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood and stone, which can’t see, hear or know anything. Meanwhile, God, who holds your very breath in his hands, and to whom belongs everything you do, you have not glorified. ²⁴This is why he sent the hand to write this inscription; ²⁵and the inscription says, ‘M’ne! M’ne! T’kel ufarsin.’ ^[a] ²⁶This is what it means: ‘M’ne!’ — God has counted up your kingdom and brought it to an end. ²⁷‘T’kel’ — you are weighed on the balance-scale and come up short. ²⁸‘P’res’ — your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

²⁹Then Belshatzar gave the order; and they clothed Dani’el in royal purple, put a gold chain around his neck and proclaimed of him that he was to be one of the three men ruling the kingdom.

³⁰That very night Belshatzar, the king of the Kasdim, was killed.

6 ^(5:31)The kingdom passed to Daryavesh the Mede when he was about sixty-two years old. ²⁽¹⁾Daryavesh decided to set over the kingdom 120 viceroys to rule throughout the entire kingdom, ³⁽²⁾with three chiefs over them, of whom Dani’el was one, so that these viceroys could be responsible to them and so that the king’s interests would be safeguarded. ⁴⁽³⁾But because an extraordinary spirit was in this Dani’el, he so distinguished himself above the other chiefs and the viceroys that the king considered putting him in charge of the whole kingdom. ⁵⁽⁴⁾The other chiefs and the viceroys tried to find a cause for complaint against Dani’el in regard to how he performed his governing duties, but they could find nothing to complain about, no fault; on the contrary, because he was so faithful, not a single instance of negligence or faulty administration could be found.

⁶⁽⁵⁾Then these men said, “We’re not going to find any cause for complaint against this Dani’el unless we can find something against him in regard to the law of his god.” ⁷⁽⁶⁾So these chiefs and viceroys descended on the king and said to him, “King Daryavesh, live forever! ⁸⁽⁷⁾All the chiefs of the kingdom, along with the prefects, viceroys, advisers and governors, have met and agreed that the king should issue a decree putting in force the following law: ‘Whoever makes a request of any god or man during the next thirty days, except of you, your majesty, is to be thrown into the lion pit.’ ⁹⁽⁸⁾Now, your majesty, issue this decree over your signature, so that it cannot be revoked, as required by the law of the Medes and Persians, which is itself irrevocable.” ¹⁰⁽⁹⁾So King Daryavesh signed the document, and the decree became law.

¹¹⁽¹⁰⁾On learning that the document had been signed, Dani’el went home. The windows of his upstairs room were open in the direction of Yerushalayim; and there he kneeled down three times a day and prayed, giving thanks before his God, just as he had been doing before. ¹²⁽¹¹⁾Then these men descended on Dani’el and found him making requests and pleading before his God. ¹³⁽¹²⁾So they went to remind the king of his royal decree: “Didn’t you sign a law prohibiting anyone from making requests of any god or man within thirty days, except yourself, your majesty, on pain of being thrown into the lion pit?” The king answered, “Yes, that is true, as required by the law of the Medes and Persians, which is itself irrevocable.” ¹⁴⁽¹³⁾They replied to the king, “That Dani’el, one of the exiles from Y’hudah, respects neither you, your majesty, nor the decree you signed; instead, he continues praying three times a day.” ¹⁵⁽¹⁴⁾When the king heard this report, he was very upset. He determined to save Dani’el and worked until sunset to find a way to rescue him. ¹⁶⁽¹⁵⁾But these men descended on the king and said to him, “Remember, your majesty, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or edict, once issued by the king, can be revoked.”

¹⁷⁽¹⁶⁾So the king gave the order, and they brought Dani’el and threw him into the lion pit. The king said to Dani’el, “Your God, whom you are always serving, will save you.” ¹⁸⁽¹⁷⁾A stone was brought to block the opening of the pit, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing concerning Dani’el could be changed.

¹⁹⁽¹⁸⁾Then the king returned to his palace. He spent the night fasting and refusing to be entertained, as sleep eluded him. ²⁰⁽¹⁹⁾Early in the morning, the king got up and hurried to the lion pit. ²¹⁽²⁰⁾On approaching the pit where Dani’el was, the king cried in a pained voice to Dani’el, “Dani’el, servant of the living God! Has your God, whom you are always serving, been able to save you from the lions?” ²²⁽²¹⁾Then Dani’el answered the king, “May the king live forever! ²³⁽²²⁾My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths, so they haven’t hurt me. This is because before him I was found innocent; and also I have done no harm to you, your majesty.” ²⁴⁽²³⁾The king was overjoyed and ordered Dani’el taken up from the pit. So Dani’el was taken up from the pit, and he was found to be completely unharmed, because he had trusted in his God.

²⁵⁽²⁴⁾Then the king gave an order, and they brought those men who had accused Dani’el, and they threw them into the lion pit — them, their children and their wives — and before they even reached the bottom of the pit, the lions had them in their control and broke all their bones to pieces.

²⁶⁽²⁵⁾King Daryavesh wrote all the peoples, nations and languages living anywhere on earth:

“Shalom rav! [Abundant peace!]

²⁷⁽²⁶⁾“I herewith issue a decree that everywhere in my kingdom, people are to tremble and be in awe of the God of Dani’el.

    “For he is the living God;
    he endures forever.
    His kingdom will never be destroyed;
    his rulership will last till the end.
²⁸⁽²⁷⁾He saves, rescues, does signs and wonders
    both in heaven and on earth.
    He delivered Dani’el
    from the power of the lions.”

²⁹⁽²⁸⁾So this Dani’el prospered during the reign of Daryavesh, and also during the reign of Koresh the Persian.

Footnotes

Daniel 5:25 M’ne — a maneh was a coin; Aramaic mena means “to count.” T’kel is Aramaic for shekel, a unit of weight; Aramaic tekilta means “you are weighed.” P’res (an Aramaic noun, plural parsin), is half a maneh; p’ris means “cut up, divided”; Paras is Persia. (The “f” in ufarsin is the Aramaic letter peh, sometimes pronounced “p” and sometimes, “f.”)

Daniel 4-6

New International Version

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

4 ^[a]King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the nations and peoples of every language,^(A) who live in all the earth:

May you prosper greatly!^(B)

²It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs^(C) and wonders that the Most High God^(D) has performed for me.

³How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!^(E)
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures^(F) from generation to generation.

⁴I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented^(G) and prosperous. ⁵I had a dream^(H) that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed,^(I) the images and visions that passed through my mind^(J) terrified me.^(K) ⁶So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret^(L) the dream for me. ⁷When the magicians,^(M) enchanters, astrologers^[b] and diviners^(N) came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.^(O) ⁸Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar,^(P) after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods^(Q) is in him.)

⁹I said, “Belteshazzar, chief^(R) of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods^(S) is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. ¹⁰These are the visions I saw while lying in bed:^(T) I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous.^(U) ¹¹The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.^(V) ¹²Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches;^(W) from it every creature was fed.

¹³“In the visions I saw while lying in bed,^(X) I looked, and there before me was a holy one,^(Y) a messenger,^[c] coming down from heaven. ¹⁴He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree^(Z) and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.^(AA) ¹⁵But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.

“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. ¹⁶Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times^[d] pass by for him.^(AB)

¹⁷“‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High^(AC) is sovereign^(AD) over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest^(AE) of people.’

¹⁸“This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me.^(AF) But you can,^(AG) because the spirit of the holy gods^(AH) is in you.”^(AI)

Daniel Interprets the Dream

¹⁹Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified^(AJ) him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”^(AK)

Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! ²⁰The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, ²¹with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds^(AL)— ²²Your Majesty, you are that tree!^(AM) You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.^(AN)

²³“Your Majesty saw a holy one,^(AO) a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’^(AP)

²⁴“This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree^(AQ) the Most High has issued against my lord the king: ²⁵You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched^(AR) with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High^(AS) is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.^(AT) ²⁶The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots^(AU) means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.^(AV) ²⁷Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.^(AW) It may be that then your prosperity^(AX) will continue.^(AY)”

The Dream Is Fulfilled

²⁸All this happened^(AZ) to King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, ³⁰he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory^(BA) of my majesty?”^(BB)

³¹Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.^(BC) ³²You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”^(BD)

³³Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched^(BE) with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.^(BF)

³⁴At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity^(BG) was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.^(BH)

His dominion is an eternal dominion;
    his kingdom^(BI) endures from generation to generation.^(BJ)
³⁵All the peoples of the earth
    are regarded as nothing.^(BK)
He does as he pleases^(BL)
    with the powers of heaven
    and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back^(BM) his hand^(BN)
    or say to him: “What have you done?”^(BO)

³⁶At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom.^(BP) My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. ³⁷Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt^(BQ) and glorify^(BR) the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.^(BS) And those who walk in pride^(BT) he is able to humble.^(BU)

The Writing on the Wall

5 King Belshazzar^(BV) gave a great banquet^(BW) for a thousand of his nobles^(BX) and drank wine with them. ²While Belshazzar was drinking^(BY) his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets^(BZ) that Nebuchadnezzar his father^[e] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines^(CA) might drink from them.^(CB) ³So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. ⁴As they drank the wine, they praised the gods^(CC) of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.^(CD)

⁵Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. ⁶His face turned pale^(CE) and he was so frightened^(CF) that his legs became weak^(CG) and his knees were knocking.^(CH)

⁷The king summoned the enchanters,^(CI) astrologers^[f]^(CJ) and diviners.^(CK) Then he said to these wise^(CL) men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck,^(CM) and he will be made the third^(CN) highest ruler in the kingdom.”^(CO)

⁸Then all the king’s wise men^(CP) came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.^(CQ) ⁹So King Belshazzar became even more terrified^(CR) and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.

¹⁰The queen,^[g] hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!”^(CS) she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! ¹¹There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods^(CT) in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom^(CU) like that of the gods.^(CV) Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.^(CW) ¹²He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar,^(CX) was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles^(CY) and solve difficult problems.^(CZ) Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.^(DA)”

¹³So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?^(DB) ¹⁴I have heard that the spirit of the gods^(DC) is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.^(DD) ¹⁵The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it.^(DE) ¹⁶Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems.^(DF) If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck,^(DG) and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”^(DH)

¹⁷Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.^(DI) Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

¹⁸“Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar^(DJ) sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.^(DK) ¹⁹Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death;^(DL) those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.^(DM) ²⁰But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride,^(DN) he was deposed from his royal throne^(DO) and stripped^(DP) of his glory.^(DQ) ²¹He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign^(DR) over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.^(DS)

²²“But you, Belshazzar, his son,^[h] have not humbled^(DT) yourself, though you knew all this. ²³Instead, you have set yourself up against^(DU) the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives^(DV) and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand.^(DW) But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life^(DX) and all your ways.^(DY) ²⁴Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

²⁵“This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

²⁶“Here is what these words mean:

Mene^[i]: God has numbered the days^(DZ) of your reign and brought it to an end.^(EA)

²⁷Tekel^[j]: You have been weighed on the scales^(EB) and found wanting.^(EC)

²⁸Peres^[k]: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes^(ED) and Persians.”^(EE)

²⁹Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck,^(EF) and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.^(EG)

³⁰That very night Belshazzar,^(EH) king^(EI) of the Babylonians,^[l] was slain,^(EJ) ³¹and Darius^(EK) the Mede^(EL) took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.^[m]

Daniel in the Den of Lions

6 ^[n]It pleased Darius^(EM) to appoint 120 satraps^(EN) to rule throughout the kingdom, ²with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.^(EO) The satraps were made accountable^(EP) to them so that the king might not suffer loss. ³Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.^(EQ) ⁴At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges^(ER) against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. ⁵Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”^(ES)

⁶So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!^(ET) ⁷The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors^(EU) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.^(EV) ⁸Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(EW) ⁹So King Darius put the decree in writing.

¹⁰Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward^(EX) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees^(EY) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.^(EZ) ¹¹Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.^(FA) ¹²So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(FB)

¹³Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,^(FC) pays no attention^(FD) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;^(FE) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

¹⁵Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”^(FF)

¹⁶So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.^(FG) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue^(FH) you!”

¹⁷A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed^(FI) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating^(FJ) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.^(FK)

¹⁹At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”^(FL)

²¹Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!^(FM) ²²My God sent his angel,^(FN) and he shut the mouths of the lions.^(FO) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.^(FP) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

²³The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound^(FQ) was found on him, because he had trusted^(FR) in his God.

²⁴At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,^(FS) along with their wives and children.^(FT) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.^(FU)

²⁵Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language^(FV) in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!^(FW)

²⁶“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence^(FX) the God of Daniel.^(FY)

“For he is the living God^(FZ)
    and he endures forever;^(GA)
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.^(GB)
²⁷He rescues and he saves;^(GC)
    he performs signs and wonders^(GD)
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”^(GE)

²⁸So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus^[o]^(GF) the Persian.^(GG)

Footnotes

Daniel 4:1 In Aramaic texts 4:1-3 is numbered 3:31-33, and 4:4-37 is numbered 4:1-34.
Daniel 4:7 Or Chaldeans
Daniel 4:13 Or watchman; also in verses 17 and 23
Daniel 4:16 Or years; also in verses 23, 25 and 32
Daniel 5:2 Or ancestor; or predecessor; also in verses 11, 13 and 18
Daniel 5:7 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 11
Daniel 5:10 Or queen mother
Daniel 5:22 Or descendant; or successor
Daniel 5:26 Mene can mean numbered or mina (a unit of money).
Daniel 5:27 Tekel can mean weighed or shekel.
Daniel 5:28 Peres (the singular of Parsin) can mean divided or Persia or a half mina or a half shekel.
Daniel 5:30 Or Chaldeans
Daniel 5:31 In Aramaic texts this verse (5:31) is numbered 6:1.
Daniel 6:1 In Aramaic texts 6:1-28 is numbered 6:2-29.
Daniel 6:28 Or Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus

Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

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Daniel 4-6

Complete Jewish Bible

Footnotes

Daniel 4-6

New International Version

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

Daniel Interprets the Dream

The Dream Is Fulfilled

The Writing on the Wall

Daniel in the Den of Lions

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Daniel 4-6 Complete Jewish Bible

Footnotes

Daniel 4-6 New International Version

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

Daniel Interprets the Dream

The Dream Is Fulfilled

The Writing on the Wall

Daniel in the Den of Lions

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Daniel 4-6

Complete Jewish Bible

Daniel 4-6

New International Version