6 - Now there were among them of the children of Juda, Da-

7 niel and Ananias and Azarias and Misael; and the high cham- . berlain gave them names, to Daniel, Baltusar; and to Ananias,

Sedrach; and to Misael, Misach; and to Azarias, Abdenago.

8 And Daniel having resolved not to pollute himself with the table of the king nor with the wine which he drank, intreated the

9 chamberlain that he might not be defiled. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and compassion with the high

0 chamberlain, therefore the chamberlain said to Daniel, I am afraid of my lord the king who hath appointed your meat and your drink. Perhaps he may see your countenance more uncomely than the youths of your age, and you may endanger

1 my head with the king. Thereupon Daniel said to Amelsad, whom the high chamberlain had set over Daniel, Ananias,

2 Misael and Azarias, Try thy servants, we pray thee, ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink; and

.3 let our countenances and the countenances of the youths who eat of the king's table be examined in thy presence; and, as

4 thou seest, deal with thy servants. So he hearkened to them

15 and tried them ten days. And at the end of the ten days their - countenances appeared more comely and their flesh firmer than that of the youths, who had eaten of the king's table;

L6 whereupon Amelsad took away the food and the wine for

17 their drink and gave them vegetables. And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and understanding in all literature and science ; and Daniel was skilled in all visions

18 and dreams. And at the end of the years which the king had appointed for introducing them, the high chamberlain brought

'9 them in before Nabuchodonosar. And the king conversed with them. And among them all there were none found equal to Daniel and Ananias and Misael and Azarias. So they stood

20 before the king. And in every subject of wisdom and science on which the king questioned them he found them ten times more skilled than all the soothsayers and the magians who were in the realm. And Daniel continued to the first year of Cyrus the king.

" Nabuchodonosar, in the second year of his reign,, dreamed a dream and his spirit was troubled and his sleep went from

2 him. And the king gave orders to call the soothsayers and the magians and the chymists and the Chaldees that they might

3 tell the king his dream. And when they were come and stood before the king, the king said to them, I have dreamed and

4 my mind is anxious to know the dream. -Whereupon the Chaldees said to the king in Syriac, O king, live forever. Tell

5 thy servants the dream and we will explain the meaning. The king answered the Chaldees, The subject is gone from me. If * you do not tell me the dream and the interpretation you shall be put to death and your houses shall be exposed to plunder.

6 But if you let me know the dream and the interpretation, you shall receive of me gifts and immunities and great honour. At all events, tell me the dream and the meaning of it. They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream

8 and we will explain the meaning. In reply to which the king said, I know of a truth that you want to gain time, as you see

9 the matter is gone from me. If therefore you do not tell me the dream, I take it for granted that you have agreed upon something false and fictitious to be said before me,until the time elapse.

10 Tell me my dream, then I will know that you can tell me the meaning of it. The Chaldees answered in the presence of the king and said, There is not a man on the earth who can make known what the king reqnireth; nor doth any king or ruler, however great, ask such a thing, of any soothsayer, magian or Chaldee.

11 For the thing which the king requireth is so difficult, that there is none who can lay it before the king, but the gods only, whose

12 dwelling is not with flesh. Upon this the king in furions wrath gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree went forth. And when the wise men began to be slain—

13 (Now search had been made for Danieland his friends to slay

14 them and Daniel had then addressed Arioch, the king's marshal, who was going out to slay the wise men of Babylon,

15 touching the counsel and decree, " Why, O chief of the king,

16 hath this horrid sentence gone forth from the king's presence?" And when Arioch informed Daniel of the matter, Daniel had intreated the king to grant him time and he would tell the

17 king the meaning of it; and Daniel Ind gone to his house and

18 acquainted his friends Ananias, Misael and Azarias with the affair; and they had sought mercy of the God of heaven touch

ing this secret, that Daniel and his friends might not perish

9 with the rest of the wise men of Babylon : and the secret was

revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night; whereupon he

0 blessed the God of heaven, and said, " Blessed be the name

1 of God from everlasting to everlasting; for wisdom and knowledge are his; and he changeth times and seasons. He setteth up kings and removeth them. He giveth wisdom to the wise and

2 understanding to them who have knowledge. He it is who re- vealeth deep and hidden things. He knovveth the things which

3 are in darkness. And with him is the light. To thee, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise ; because thou hast given me wisdom and power and hast made known to me what we asked thee and hast revealed to me the vision of the

king-)

14 Then Daniel went to Arioch whom the king had appointed to slay the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, Destroy not the wise men of Babylon ; but introduce me to the king,

15 and I will tell him the meaning. Thereupon Arioch with haste introduced Daniel to the presence of the king and said to him, I have found among the captives of Israel, a man

!6 who can tell the king the interpretation. And the king addressing Daniel, whose name was Baltasar, said, Canst thou

17 tell me the dream which I saw, and the meaning of it ? And Daniel answered in the presence of the king and said, The secret which the king demandeth, it is not in the power of wise

!8 men, magians, sooth sayers, gazarenes, to tell the king. There is none but God in heaven who revealeth secrets. He indeed hath made known to the king Nabuchodonosar what must come to pass in latter days. With regard to thy dream, and

29 the visions of thy head, on thy bed, this is it. Thy thoughts, O king, on thy bed ascended to what might come to pass hereafter. And he who revealeth secrets made known to thee

50 the things which must come to pass. And to me this secret was revealed, not indeed for any wisdom in me above all the living: but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, that thou mayst know the thoughts of thy heart.

j 1 Thou, O king ! didst behold, and lo ! an image! Great was that image and its aspect lofty as it stood before thee; and its

52 appearance was awful. It was an image, the. head of which

was of pure gold ; the hands and the breast and the arms oi it were of silver; the belly and the thighs of brass : the legs

33 of iron; the feet partly of iron, and partly of potter's clay.—

34 With wonder thou didst view it, till from a mountain there was rent without hands a stone, which smote the image on die feet, which were of iron and potters clay, and at last broke

35 them to pieces. Then were broken to pieces at once, the clay, the iron, the brass, the silver, the gold. And they became like the dust of a threshing floor in summer: and a great wind swept them away, and there was no place found for diem. And the stone which smote the image became a great moun-

36 tain and filled all the earth. This is the dream. The mean

37 ing of it we will now explain to the king. Thou O king, art a king of kings, to whom the God of heaven hath given a kingdom, strong and mighty and glorious, in every place where

38 the sons of men dwell. Into thy hand he hath delivered the beasts of the field, and the birds of the air, and the fishes of

"9 the sea, and appointed thee lord over all. Thou art the head of gold. And after thee there shall be raised up another kingdom inferior to thee; then a third kingdom which is the brass,

40 which shall rule over the whole earth; then a fourth kingdom which shall be strong as iron. As iron breaketh to pieces and

41 subdueth all things, so shall it break and subdue all. And inasmuch as thou sawest the feet and toes, partly of clay and partly of iron, it shall be a disjointed kingdom, though there shall be in it some of its iron root. As thou sawest the iron

42 mixed with the clay ; and the toes of the feet were part iron, and part clay, some part of that kingdom will be strong and

43 some part of it will be broken. Inasmuch as thou sawest the iron mingled with the clay, there will be mixtures in it, of the seed of men, and they will not cement one with another, as

44 iron doth not cement with clay. And in the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and this kingdom of his shall not be left to another people. It shall break in pieces, and blow away all

45 those kingdoms and shall itself stand forever. As thou sawest that without hands there was cut from a mountain a stone, which broke in pieces the clay, the iron, the' brass, the silver, the gold ; the God who is great, hath made known to the king what must come to pass hereafter. The dream indeed is true and the interpretation thereof is faithful.

Then king Nabuchodonosar fell on his face, and made obeisance to Daniel and ordered holy gifts, and sweet odours to be offered to him. And the king answered and said to Daniel, Of a truth, your God is the God of Gods, and the Lord of kings, the revealer of secrets; since thou hast been enabled to reveal this secret. Then the king raised Daniel to high rank and gave him many great gifts, and set him over the whole region of Babylon, and a chief satrap over all the wise men of Babylon. And Daniel requested of the king, and he set Se- drach, Misach and Abdenago, over the works of the region of Babylon. And Daniel was in the court of the king. T_. In the eighteenth year of Nabuchodonosar, the king made an image of gold ; the height of it was sixty cubits, and its breadth six cubits. And having set it up in the plain of Dee- ira, in the province of Babylon, he sent for the presidents and the generals, and the governors, rulers and princes, and those in authority, and all the chiefs of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nabuchodonosar the king

3 had set up. And when the governors, the presidents, the generals, the leaders, the great princes, those in authority, and all the chiefs of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image which Nabuchodonosar the king had set up, and were standing before the image, the herald cried with a

4 loud voice, To you peoples of different tribes and languages

5 command is given ; whenever you shall hear the sound of the trumpet and syrinx and of the kithara and sambuk and of the psaltery, and all kinds of musical instruments, prostrate yourselves and worship the golden image which Nabuchodonosar

6 the king hath set up. And whoever will not prostrate himself and worship, shall that very hour be cast into that furnace of fire, which is heating.

7 So when the people heard the sound of the trumpet and syrinx, and of the kithara and sambuk, and of the psaltery, and all kinds of musical instruments, all the peoples, tribes and languages, falling prostrate, worshipped the golden image

8 which Nabuchodonosar the king had set up. Then came certain Cliakkans, and stated to the king an accusation against the 9 Jews, " O king, live forever ! thou, O king, hast made a de-

10 cree, that every man who shall hear the sound of the trumpei and syrinx and of the kithara and sambuk, and of the psaltery

11 and all kinds of musical instruments; and who will not prostrate himself and worship the golden image, shall be cast into

12 that furnace of fire which is heated. Now there are certain Jews whorn thou hast set over the works of the province d Babylon, namely, Sedrach, Misach, Abdenago, who have not hearkened, O king, to thy decree. They neither serve thy gods nor do they worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

13 Upon this Nabuchodonosar in wrath and fury commanded to bring Sedrach, Misach, Abdenago: and when they were

14 brought before the king, Nabuchodonosar addressed them, saying, Is it true, Sedrach, Misach, Abdenago, that you do not serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have

15 set up? Now therefore are you ready, when you hear tht sound of the trumpet and syrinx and of the kithara and sara- buk and of the psaltery and symphony and all kinds of musical instruments, to fall prostrate and worship the golden image which I have made? For if you do not worship you shall, that very hour, be cast into the furnace of fire, which is heated.

16 And what god is there,who can deliver you out of my hands? In reply to this, Sedrach, Misach, Abdenago said to the king

17 Nabuchodonosar, We are at no loss to answer thee in respect to this matter. For our God in heaven, whom we worship, is able to deliver us out of the furnace of fire which is heated,

18 and he will deliver us, O king, out of thy hands. But even though he do not, be it known to thee, O king, that we cannot serve thy gods, nor will we worship the image which thou

19 hast set up. At this Nabuchodonosar was filled with wrath, and the form of his countenance was changed against Sedrach, Misach and Abdenago. And he ordered to heat the furnace seven

20 fold, till it was hot as possible: and commanded some strong men to bind Sedrach, Misach and Abdenago, and cast their,

21 into the furnace of fire which was heated. Then were these men bound, clad as they were with their Babylonish dress and with turbans and boots; and cast into the midst of the furnace of fire which was heated, as the command of the king was pe-

22 remptory. But though the furnace was heated to an excessive

degree and these three men, Sedrach, Misach and Abdenago fell

23 bound into the midst of the glowing furnace, yet they walked about in the midst of the flame, praising God and blessing the

24 Lord. When Nabuchodonosar heard them singing praise he was amazed and starting up hastily said to his nobles, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? And when

25 they said to the king, True, O king, the king said, Here I see four men loose and walking about in the midst of the fire un-

26 hurt: And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of a god. Then Nabuchodonosar went near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and said, Sedrach, Misach, Abdenago, ye servants of the Most High God, come out and come hither. Upon which Sedrach, Misach and Abdenago came forth out of the

27 midst of the fire. And the satraps and the generals and the governors and the mighty men of the king gathered round and viewed the men with astonishment; for the fire had not had any power over their body. Even the hair of their heads was not singed, nor were their mantles changed, nor a smell of fire

28 on them. Then Nabuchodonosar the king addressing them, said, "Blessed be the God of Sedrach, Misach, Abdenago, who hath sent his angel and delivered his servants. Because they have trusted in him and have altered the king's decree and delivered up their bodies to fire that they might not serve nor worship any god, but only their own God, therefore I issue

29 this decree, "Every people, tribe, language, which shall utter any reproach against the God of Sedrach, Misach, Abdenago, shall be devoted to destruction and their houses to plunder: for there is no other god who can deliver in this manner."

.30 Then the king reinstated Sedrach, Misach and Abdenago in the province of Babylon, and advanced them in dignity and honoured them with a command over all the Jews in his realm.

IV. NABUCHODONOSAR the king, to all the peoples, tribes and languages who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

2 It hath seemed good in my sight to declare to you the signs and the wonders which the God who is Most High hath

3 done with me. How great and mighty is his kingdom. His king-

VOL. III. XX.

dom is an everlasting kingdom; and his dominion is to endless ages.

4 I Nabuchodonosar was at rest in my house and in the en-

5 joyment of prosperity. I had a dream which terrified me and I

6 was troubled on my bed, and the visions of my head disquieted me. Therefore I issued a decree to bring before me all the wise men of Babylon, that they might explain to me the mean-

7 ing of this dream. And when the soothsayers, the magians, the gazarenes, the Chaldees came in, I told my dream befort them; but they did not explain to me the meaning of it until

8 Daniel came, whose name is Baltasar, after the name of my

9 God, and who hath in him a holy spirit of a God. To him I said, Baltasar chief of the soothsayers, who, I know, hast a holy spirit of a god in thee, so that no secret can escape thee, hear the vision of the dream which I have seen; and tell me

10 the meaning of it. I beheld with astonishment on my bed, and

11 lo! a tree in the midst of the earth. Though its height was great, the tree increased in magnitude and strength and its top reached up to heaven; and its bulk to the extent of the whole

12 earth. Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant. And on it there was food for all: and the wild beasts of the field dwelt beneath it; and the birds of the air lodged among its branches;

13 and from it all flesh was fed. I beheld in a vision of the night on my bed; and lo an' Eir, even a holy one, came down from heaven and cried with a loud vofce, and thus he said, "Cut

14 down that tree and lop off its branches and shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts be driven from underneath

15 it and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump of its roots in the earth; and in a band of iron and brass and in the green grass abroad and in the dew of heaven let it abide: and let its portion be with the wild beasts in the grass of the earth. His

16 heart shall be changed from men and the heart of a wild beast shall be given him and seven seasons shall revolve over him.

17 The sentence is by the decree of an Eir; and the decree is a request of holy ones, that the living may know that there is a sovereign Lord of the kingdom of men and that he can give it to whom he will, and set over it that which is disesteemed by

18 men." This is the dream, which I Nabuchodonosar the king have seen. Thou therefore Baltasar, tell me the rueaniiig; for all the wise men of my kingdom are unable to explain to me the meaning of it: but thou Daniel art able, because there is in thee the holy spirit of a god.

19 Upon this Daniel, whose name is Baltasar, was absorpt in astonishment for about an hour and his thoughts agitated him and Baltasar answered and said, Let this dream, my Lord, be for them who hate thee, and the interpretation thereof for thine

20 enemies. The tree which thou sawest, which was increased in magnitude and strength, the top of which reached up to heaven and its bulk to the extent of the whole earth, the leaves of which were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and on which

21 there was food for all; beneath which the beasts of the field dwelt, and on the branches of which the birds of the air roost-

22 ed: Thou, O king art it. For thou art become great and strong and thy greatness hath increased and reached up to hea-

23 ven and thy dominion to the limits of the earth. And inasmuch as the king saw an Eir, even a holy one descending from heaven who said, Cut down that tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth; and in a band of iron and brass and in the green grass abroad and in the dew of heaven let it abide; and let its portion be with the wild beasts of the

2i field until seven seasons revolve over it—This, O king, is the interpretation thereof and the decree of the Most High which is about to come upon my lord the king. Thou wilt be dri-

25 ven from among men; and* thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; and they will feed thee with grass like an ox.^ and thou shalt lodge in the dew of heaven; and seven seasons shall revolve over thee, till thou be made sensible that the Most

26 High ruleth over the kingdom of men and can give it to whom he will. But inasmuch as they said, Let the stump of the roots of the tree remain, thy kingdom shall remain for thee

~~ when thou art made sensible of the heavenly authority. For this cause, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee; and make atonement for thy sins by acts of kindness, and for thy transgressions by tender mercies for the distressed. Perhaps. God may forgive thine offences.

All these things came upon Nabuchodonosar the king. At -9 the end of twelve months, as the king was walking in the temple 30 of his kingdom at Babylon, he spake, saying, Is not this the great Babylon which I have built for the house of a kingdom,

31 by the might of my power, for the display of my glory"? While the word was yet in the king's mouth, there came a voice from heaven, To thee Nabuchodonosar it is said, the regal power is

32 gone from thee and thou shall be driven from among men and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; and they shall feed thee with grass like an ox; and seven seasons shall revolve over thee, that thou mayst know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men and can give it to whom he

S3 will. In that very hour the word was fulfilled on Nabuchodonosar; and he was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew strong like the shag of lions and his nails like the

34 claws of birds. And at the end of the days I Nabuchodonosar lifted up mine eyes to heaven, and mine understanding was restored to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and glorified him who liveth forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion and his kingdom is to endless generations,

35 and all the inhabitants of the earth are reckoned as nothing; and he doth according to his pleasure in the army of heaven and in the habitations of the earth; and there is none who can

36 stay his hand, or say to him, What hast thou done. At this very hour my 'senses were restored to me and I reassumed the honour of my kingdom; and my form returned to me; and my princes and my grandees sought me;' and I was re-established in

37 my kingdom and greater majesty was added to me. Now therefore I Nabuchodonosar praise and extol and glorify the king of heaven; for all his works are true and his ways are judgments and all them who walk in pride he can abase.

V. KING Baltasar made a great supper for his thousand gran-

2 dees and wine was set before the thousand. And as he was drinking, Baltasar gave an order upon tasting the wine, to bring the vessels of gold and silver which Nabuehodonosar his father had brought out of the temple at Jerusalem; and that the king and his nobles, and his concubines and his wives should

3 drink out of them. Accordingly the vessels of gold and silver which had been taken out of the temple of God at Jerusalem were brought, and the king and his nobles and his concubines

4 and his wives drank out of them. And having drunk wine they praised the gods of gold and silver and brass and wood and

5 stone. At that very hour there came forth fingers of a man's hand and wrote over against the lamp, on the plaistering of the wall of the king's palace. And the king beheld with astonish-

6 ment the joint of the hand that was writing. Whereupon the king's countenance changed and his thoughts troubled him and the joints of his loins were loosened and his knees smote one

7 against another. And the king cried aloud to bring in the ma- gians, Chaldees, gazarenes. And he said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever shall read this writing and explain to me the meaning, he shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold for his neck and shall be a chief, third in rank, in my

8 kingdom. And when all the king's wise men came in and could neither read the writing nor explain the meaning to the king,

9 king Baltasar was agitated and his countenance changed, and .0 his nobles were in like trepidation. Then the queen came to

the banquet house and said, O king, live forever! Let not thy 11 thoughts trouble thee, nor thy countenance change. There is in thy kingdom a man, in whom is a spirit of a god, and in the days of thy father, light and knowledge were found in him, and the king Nabuchodonosar thy father appointed him chief of the soothsayers, Chaldees, gazarenes, because of the extra- [-2 ordinary spirit in him, and of his understanding and knowledge in the interpretation of dreams, and explaining hard sentences and solving difficulties—namely Daniel whom the king surnamed Baltasar. Now therefore let him be called in and he

13 will tell thee the meaning of this. Thereupon Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king said to Daniel, Thou art Daniel? One of the captives of Juda whom the king

14 my father brought hither? I have heard of thee that there is in thee a spirit of a god, and that light and knowledge and extra-

15 ordinary wisdom have been found in thee. Now the wise men, magians, gazarenes have come in before me to read that writing and make known to me the meaning of it, but they are not

16 able to tell me. But I have heard of thee that thou canst solve difficulties. Now therefore if thou canst read that writing and explain to me the meaning of it, thou shall be clothed in purple and have a chain of gold for thy neck and be a chief, third

17 in rank, in my kingdom. Then Daniel said before the king, Let thy gifts be thine own, and give to another the honour of thy household; but the writing I will read, and I will explain

18 to thee the meaning of it. O king, God, the Most High gave to Nabuchodonosar thy father this kingdom and majesty and glo-

19 ry and honour. And because of the majesty which he gave him, all the peoples, tribes and languages trembled and were struck with awe at his presence. Whom he would he slew, and whom he would he smote, and whom he would he set up, and whom

20 he would he put down. But when his heart became elated and his spirit emboldened to shew its arrogance, he was deposed from the throne of his kingdom and his glory was taken from

21 him; and he was driven from among men; and his heart was disposed to associate with the beasts; and his dwelling was with the wild asses; and he was fed with grass like an ox; and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, till he was made to know that the Most High God ruleth over the kingdom of men and can give it to whom he will.

22 Now thou, Baltasar, his son, hast not therefore humbled thy

23 heart before this God. Hast thou not known all these things? Yet thou hast exalted thyself against the Lord God of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought before thee, and thou and thy nobles and thy concubines and thy wives have drunk wine out of them, and thou hast praised the gods of gold and silver and brass and iron and wood and stone which neither see nor hear, nor understand: but the God in whose hand is thy breath and all thy ways—him thou hast not

24 glorified. For this cause a joint of a hand hath been sent from

25 his presence, and it hath sketched this writing. Now this is what

26 is written, Mane, Thefcel, Phares. The interpretation of the de-

27 cree is this. Mane; God hath measured thy kingdom and

28 brought it to a conclusion. Thekel—It hath been weighed in a balance and found wanting. Phares—Thy kingdom is taken away and given to Medes and Persians.

29 Then Baltasar gave orders and they clothed Daniel whh purple and put a chain of gold about his neck, and proclamation was made concerning him that he was a chief, third in

30 rank, in the kingdom. And that very night Baltasar the Chal-

dean king was slain, and Darius the Mede assumed the kingdom, being sixty two years of age.

/I. IT having seemed good in the sight of Darius, he set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps to be govern-

2 ors of provinces throughout his whole dominion; and over these he appointed three ministers of whom Daniel was one;' that the governors might render an account to them, so that the

3 king might not be oppressed with business. And Daniel was at the head of these. Because there was in him an extraordi-

4 nary spirit and the king had set him over his whole kingdom, therefore the ministers and the governors sought to find some pretext against Daniel. And when they found no pretext, lapse or crime with which to charge him, for he was faithful;

5 the ministers said, We shall not find any pretext against Da-

6 niel except in the ceremonies relating to his God. Then the ministers and the governors waited on the king, and said to

7 him, King Darius live forever ! All that are over thy kingdom, the generals and governors, the chief commanders and toparchs have joined in opinion to establish by a royal statute and make a firm decree, that whoever shall make any request of any god or man for thirty days, save of theeonly, O king;

8 he shall be cast into the den of the lions. Now therefore, O king, establish the edict and promulgate it in writing, that the decree of the Persians and Medes may not be dispensed with.

9 Upon this Darius the king ordered the decree to be written.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the decree was passed, he went home and the windows in his upper chamber towards Jerusalem were opened for him, and three times a day, kneeling down on his knees, he prayed and gave thanks before his God as he had done heretofore.

11 Now those men watched and having found Daniel prais- 2 ing and supplicating his God, they went and said to the king,

O king, hast thou not passed an edict, that every man who shall make any request of any god or man for the space of thirty days save of thee only, O king, shall be cast into the den of the lions? And the king said, It is true; and the decree of the Medes and Persians cannot be altered. Then they answered and said before thr king, Daniel, who is one of the captives from Juda, hath not paid obedience to thy decree.

14 For three times a day he maketh requests of his God. When the king heard this matter he was exceedingly grieved for it and strove hard for Daniel to save him and continued till evening

15 his endeavours to deliver him. Then the men said to the king, Know, O king, that it is decreed by the M.edes and Persians, That no edict or statute which the king shall pass must be dis-

16 pensed with. Then the king gave orders and they brough: Daniel and threw him into the lions' dem And the king said to Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually will him-

17 self deliver thee. And when they had brought a stone and ptr. it on the mouth of the den, the king caused it to be sealed with his own signet and with the signet of his nobles that no-

18 thing might be altered in respect to Daniel. Then the king went to his house and retired to bed without supper. And there was no food brought to him and sleep went from him. But God shut the mouths of the lions so that they did not mo-

19 lest Daniel. And in the morning the king arose soon as it was

20 light and went in haste to the lions' den. And when he approached the den, he cried with a loud voice, O Daniel, the servant of the living God, hath thy God, whom thou servest continually, been able to deliver thee from the mouths of the

21 lions? Thereupon Daniel said to the king, O king live for-

22 ever! My God sent his angel and shut the mouths of the lions and they have not hurt me. For before him rectitude was found in me; and even in thy sight, O king, I have commit-

23 ted no offence. At this the king was exceedingly rejoiced and gave order to take Daniel up out of the den. So he was taken up out of the den and there was no manner of hurt found on

24 him, because he had trusted in his God. Then the king commanded and they brought the men who had accused-Danitl. and they and their sons and their wives were cast into the den of the lions. And before they reached the bottom of the den the lions had such mastery over them that they broke all their

25 bones. Then Darius the king wrote—To all the peoples, tribti and languages who dwell in the whole earth, Peace be multi-

26 plied to you. From my presence this decree is established, tha'. in every government of my kingdom men tremble and be struck with awe at the presence of the God of Daniel; for he

is the living God and endureth forever, and his kingdom can never be destroyed and his dominion will be to the end.

27 He supporteth and delivereth and doth signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He it is who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

28 So Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

VIL In the first year of Baltasar king of the Chaldeans, Daniel had a dream and these were the visions of his head on his bed and he wrote down this dream of his.

2 I Daniel beheld, and lo! the four winds of heaven blew

3 violently on the great sea; and four great beasts came up out

4 of the sea, different one from the other. The first was like a lioness, and had wings like those of an eagle. I beheld till her wings were plucked oft; and she was raised from the earth and stood on the feet of a man and a man's heart was given her.

5 And behold the second beast was like a bear; and it stood half erect and there were three ribs in its mouth between its teeth,

6 and they said to it dius, " Arise, devour much flesh." After this I looked, and lo ! another beast h'ke a leopard; and it had four wings of a bird on it; and this beast had four heads and

7 to it dominion was given. After this I beheld, and lo ! a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong and its teeth of iron ! It devoured and brake in pieces ! and the residue h trampled with its feet. Now this was far different from all the

8 beasts which were before it and it had ten horns. I attended to its horns, and behold another little horn sprouted up in the midst of them ; and three of the horns which were before it were rooted out from before it. And behold in this horn there were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking

9 great things. And I beheld till the thrones were set and an ancient of days was seated. And his garment was white as

10 snow and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was a flame of fire and his wheels a blazing fire. A river of fire rolled before him. Thousands of thousands ministered to him

11 and myriads of myriads waited on him. The court sat and books were opened. I looked then because of the sound of the great words which that horn had spoken, until the beast

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was slain and destroyed and its body given to be burned

12 with fire. And the government of the rest of the beasts was changed and a length of time given them until a time and a

13 time. And I beheld in the vision of the night, and lo I with the clouds of heaven one like a son of man coming! And he advanced to the Ancient of days and was introduced to him.

14 And to him was given the government and the honour and the kingdom; and all the peoples, tribes and languages are to serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall never pass away, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed.

15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit quivered in my whole frame

16 and the vision of my head troubled me. And I went to one of them in waiting and made diligent inquiry to learn of him concerning all these things and he gave me exact information and explained to me the meaning of these things.

17 These beasts, which are four, denote that four kingdoms shall

18 be raised up on the earth. These shall be removed, and the holy ones of the Most High shall take the kingdom and hold it to an age of the ages.

19 Then I inquired particularly concerning the fourth beast, because it was different from every beast, exceedingly dreadful. Its teeth were of iron and its claws of brass. It devoured and brake in pieces and the residue it trampled with

20 its feet. And concerning the ten horns, which were on its head, and that other, which sprouted up and shook off some ol the first; and which had eyes and a mouth speaking great things and the appearance of which was greater than the rest.

21 I beheld and that horn made war on the holy ones and pre-

22 vailed against them until the Ancient of days came and gave judgment for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time

23 came and the holy ones possessed the kingdom. And lie said, With regard to the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on the earth which shall surpass all the kingdoms and

24 devour all the earth and trample down and cut to pieces. And its ten horns denote that ten kingdoms shall be raised up; and after them another shall be raised up which shall exceed in

25 evils all those before and shall humble three kings and shall speak words against the Most High and wear out the holy ones of the Most High and think of changing times and law,.and

this shall be put in its power for a time and times and the half

6 of a Time. When the court hath sat they will change this go-

7 vernment to abolish and destroy it utterly. For the kingdom and the dominion and the majesty of the kings who are under the whole heaven, is given to the holy ones of the Most High. And his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all the governments shall serve and obey him. To this is the end of this word.

:8 As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me much and my countenance was clianged. But I kept the matter in mine own heart.

»^rIII. IN the third year of Baltasar the king a vision appear.

2 ed to me. After the first vision which appeared to me, 1 Daniel was at Susoi the palace which is in the province of Ailam;

3 and being on the bank of the Oubal, I lifted up mine eyes and looked, and lo a ram stood before the Oubal and it had lofty horns and one was higher than the other; and the highest

4 sprang up last. And I saw the ram butting westward and northward and southward, and of all the beasts none could stand before him nor was there any to deliver out of his hand. So he

5 acted according to his pleasure and became great. And while I was considering, behold a he-goat came from the south west over the face of the whole earth and he did not seem to touch

€ the ground. And the goat had a horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram which had two horns and which I saw standing before the Oubal and ran up to him with all his might.

7 I saw him indeed coming up to the ram and he was exasperated against him, and he smote the ram and broke his two horns and the ram had not power to stand before him. So he threw him on the ground and trampled him, and there was

8 none to deliver the ram out of his hand. And the goat of the goats became very great and when he was in full strength, that great horn of his was broken; and four others sprang up

'.) from under it towards the four winds of heaven. And out from the first of them there came forth one strong horn

iO which became very great towards the south and towards the host, and its greatness reached even to the host of heaven. And there fell on the earth some of the host of heaven and

11 some of the stars, and these were trodden down. And until the captain general should deliver the captivity, even by reason of him the sacrifice was disturbed; and he was prosper-

12 ed; and the sanctuary is to be desolated; and sin was permitted against the sacrifice; and this righteousness was cast on the

13 ground; so he acted and was prospered. And I heard a holy one speaking; and a holy one said to the Phelmoni who spoke, "How long shall this vision last, respecting the sacrifice which is taken away, and the sin of desolation which is permitted;

14 and the sanctuary and the host be trodden down?" And he said to him, Even till there shall be of an evening and a morning two thousand four hundred days. Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

15 And when I Daniel had seen the vision and sought the meaning, then lo! there stood before me an appearance like

16 that of a man. And I heard a voice of a man amidst the On- bal and it called and said, " Gabriel, instruct him respecting

17 the vision." So he came and stood near where I was standing. And when he came, I was struck with terror and fell on my face. And he said to me, Son of man, understand; for

18 this vision also is for the end of a time. And while he was speaking to me, I fell flat with my face on the ground. Then

19 he touched me and set me on my feet, and said, Behold I make known to thee the things which shall be in the last days of the

20 indignation ; for this vision also is for the end of a time. The ram which thou sawest which had the horns, is the king of

21 the Medes and Persians. The goat of the goats, is the king of the Grecians ; and the great horn which was between his eyes

22 is the first king. Now as upon this being broken, four horns shot up from under it, four kings of that nation of his will

23 be raised up, but not by their own might. And in the last days of their kingdom, their sins being come to the full, a king will be raised up of an unblushing countenance, skilled

24 in problems, and his power will be great, and he will destroy things which are objects of admiration and will prosper and

25 act and destroy mighty men, and a holy people. And the yoke of his chain will prosper; and by his hand and by his heart, deceit will be magnified, and with deceit he will destroy many and for the destruction of many be will he raised up and will

G break them like eggs with his hands. Now the vision of the evening and the morning, which was mentioned is true. Seal thou therefore the vision, for it is for many days.

7 Upon this I Daniel was confined to my bed and sick.— And when I arose I did the king's business. And I was astonished at the vision ; but none understood it.

X. IN the first year of Darius, the son of Assuerus of the

2 seed of the Medes, who reigned over the kingdom of the Chaldeans, I Daniel understood by the books that the number of the years, which was a word of the Lord to Jeremias the prophet, for the accomplishment of the desolation of Jerusalem,

3 was seventy years. Therefore I turned my face to the Lord my God, to seek a prayer and supplication by fasting and

4 sackcloth. And I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession and said, O Lord, the God great and marvellous, who keepest thy covenant and thy mercy for them who love thee

5 and keep thy commandments! We have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have transgressed and apostatised and turned away from thy commandments, and from thy judg-

o ments, and have not hearkened to thy servants the prophets who spoke in thy name to our kings and our chiefs and our

7 fathers and to all the people of the land. To thee, O Lord, be- longeth righteousness; but to us confusion of face as at this day—to the man Juda and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to all Israel—and to those near and to them far off, in every land where thou hast scattered them for their breach of cove-

3 nant of which they have been guilty. In thee, O Lord, is our righteousness. Though to us belongeth confusion of face— to our kings, and our chiefs and our fathers, who have sinned

9 against thee; with the Lord our God are tender mercies and

10 forgivenesses. Because we apostatised and did not hearken to the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws which he set before us by the ministry of his servants the prophets;

11 and all Israel transgressed thy law, and declined to hearken to thy voice; therefore upon us came the curse and the execration which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God.

12 Because we sinned against him, therefore he confirmed his words which he spoke against us and against our judges who

judged us, by bringing upon us great evils, such as never happened under the whole heaven; as was the case in Jerusa-

13 lem. According to what is written in the law of Moses all those evils have come upon us. We indeed did not supplicate the favour of the Lord our God, by turning from all our wickedness, therefore that we might be made sensible of all thy

14 truth, the Lord hath indeed been watchful and hath brought upon us these things. For the Lord our God is righteous in every act of his which he hath done, and we have not hearkened to his voice.

15 Now, O Lord our God, who broughtest thy people out of the land of Egypt with a strong hand and who hast made thyself a great name as at this day; we have sinned, we have com-

16 mitted iniquity. Mercy, O Lord, is thine in all things; let thy wrath, I beseech thee, be turned away and thine indignation from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain. Because we have sinned, therefore for our iniquities and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become an object of re-

17 proach among all those around us. But now, O Lord our God, hearken to the prayer of thy servant and to his supplications;

18 and let thy face shine upon thy sanctuary which is desolate. For thine own sake, O Lord, incline, O my God, thine ear and hear. Open thine eyes and behold our desolation and that oi thy city which is called by thy name. For we do not for our own righteousness present our piteous case before thee; but we cast ourselves upon thy tender mercies, O Lord, which are

19 many. O Lord hear! O Lord, be appeased! Attend, OLord! Defer not, O my God, for thine own sake! for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

20 Now whilst I was still speaking and praying and confessing mine own sins and the sins of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the mount

21 of the sanctuary; even whilst I was uttering this prayer, behold a man, Gabriel, whom I saw in the former vision, came flying and touched me about the hour of the evening sacrifice

22 and instructed me and conversed with me and said, Daniel, I

23 am now come to teach thee knowledge. At the beginning of thy supplication a word went forth, and I am come to tell thee; for thou art a man greatly beloved. Be instructed thereforeby

14 the decree, and understand by the vision. Seventy weeks* are set apart for thy people and for the holy city; for finishing sin offerings, and for sealing up sin offerings; and blotting out iniquities, and making atonement for iniquities; and for bringing in an everlasting righteousness; and for sealing vision and

25 prophet; and for anointing the Holy of Holies. Therefore thou art to know and understand, that from the going forth of a word for returning an answer and for building Jerusalem until an Anointed ruler are seven weeks, and sixty two weeks. They shall indeed return and a street shall be built and a wall,

26 and these times shall be emptied out, and after the sixty two weeks, the Messiah shall be cut off, though there is no crime in him; and he, with the ruler who is coming, will destroy the city and the sanctuary. They shall be destroyed with a deluge, and even to the end of the war determined on in course, with

27 desolations. Now one week shall confirm a covenant for many and in the half of that week my sacrifice and libation shall be taken away. And upon the temple shall be an abomination of the desolations, and at the end of a time, an end shall be put to that desolation.

X. IN the third year of Cyrus, king of the Persians, a word was revealed to Daniel, surnamcd Baltasar. And the word is true and great power and knowledge was given him by the vision.

2 In those days, I Daniel, had been mourning three weeks. I had

3 not eaten palatable bread, nor had flesh or wine entered my

4 mouth, neither had I anointed myself to the full end of three weeks. On the twenty fourth of the first month when I was on

5 the bank of the great river, namely, Tigris Eddekel, I raised mine eyes and looked, and lo! a man clothed with a flowing

6 robe and his loins girded with gold of Ophaz, and his body- like a Tharsis, and his face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like lamps of fire, and his arms and his legs like the appearance of sparkling brass, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.

7 Now, I Daniel alone saw this vision. The men who were with me did not see it; but great consternation fell upon them

8 and they fled for fear; so I was left alone. And when I beheld this great vision, there was no strength left in me. Even my

comeliness was changed into corruption and I retained Dc

9 strength ; but I heard the sound of his words. And when I

heard him, I was struck with awe, and my face was on the

10 ground. And lo ! a hand touched me and raised me up upon

11 my knees. And he said to me, Daniel, man greatly beloved, gain knowledge by the words which I speak to thee and stand up; for I am now sent to thee. And when he said this to me

12 I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to gain knowledge and afflict thyself before the Lord thy God, thy

13 words were heard, and I came at thy words ; but the chkf of the kingdom of the Persians stood in my way twenty one days, when lo ! Michael the first of the chiefs came to help me, and I left him there with the chief of the kingdom of the

14 Persians, and am come to teach thee what will befal thv

'

people in the last days. Because this vision is for days to come.—

15 Now while he was speaking to me in such terms, I turned my countenance to the earth, and was in amaze ; and behold

16 a likeness as it were of a son of man touched my lips, whereupon I opened my mouth, and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, O my lord, at the sight of thee my vitals are changed, and I have no strength ; how then can thy

17 servant, O my lord, speak with this my lord ? As for me, from that moment my strength could not support me and there was

18 no spirit left in me. Then an appearance like that of a man touched me again, and strengthened me and said to me, Man much beloved, fear not: peace be to thee. Take courage and be

19 strong. And when he had spoken to me I recovered strength and said, Let my lord speak, for thou hast strengthened me.

20 Then he said, O that thou knewest that for which I came to thee, then would I return to fight for the chief of the Persians,

21 for as I was coming, the chief of the Grecians came. But I will tell thee that only which is ordered in a writing of truth. There is indeed none with me'solicitous about him, but only Michael your chief. As for me, I in the first year of Cyrus,

XI. was his strength and power. And now I will tell the 2 truth: Behold yet three kings shall be raised up in Persia,

and the fourth shall abound in great wealth above all. And after he hath gotten this his great wealth he will be stirred up

3 against all the kingdoms of the Greeks. But there will be raised up a mighty king who will be lord of a great dominion

4 and will do according to his pleasure. But as soon as his kingdom hath been set up, it will be broken in pieces and divided towards the four winds of heaven, but not to his utmost bounds, nor according to his dominion which he ruled. For his kingdom will be torn to pieces, and given to others be-

5 sides these. And the king of the south will grow strong; and one of these chiefs will grow strong against him, and will

6 rule over a great dominion. And after his years they will come to an agreement. And a daughter of a king of the south will come to a king of the north for the purpose of making leagues with him. But he will not retain strength of arm, nor shall his seed stand; for she will be delivered up and they who bring her, both the young woman, and he who strengthen-

7 eth her in those times. Out of the blossom of her root one having a government of his own will be raised up, and will come to this power, and enter the strong holds of the king of

8 the north, and perform exploits in them and prevail. And he will carry their gods with their molten images, all his precious vessels of silver and gold, with captives to Egypt; and

9 he will stand above the king of the north who will come to the kingdom of the king of the south; and return again to

10 his own land. But his sons will collect a multitude among many, and one will come with effect, and like a deluge, and will pass through and establish himself and the war will be

11 carried even to his fortress. Then will the king of the south be furiously enraged, and he will come out and fight the king of the north, who will array a great multitude, but this mul-

12 titude will be delivered into his hand. And when he shall take this multitude, his heart will be elated, and he will over-

13 throw myriads, but will not prevail. For the king of the north will return, and bring a multitude greater than the former and at the end of times of years invade the frontiers with a great

14 army, and with much wealth. And in those times many will rise up against the king of the south, and the sons of the pests of thy people will be stirred up to establish a phantom, but

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15. they will be weak. For a king of the north will come and cas: up a mount and take strong cities. Though the arms of the king of the south will make a stand, and his chosen men will

16 be raised up, yet there will not be power to withstand. So that he who cometh against him, will do according to his pleasure, and there is none able to stand before him. So he will stand in the land of Sabci, and it will be perfected by his

17 hand. Then he will set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and will settle all things equitably with him, and will give him a daughter of the women with a view to corrupt her, but she will not continue in his interest, nor

18 be for him. Then he will turn his face to the islands, and take- many, and cause chiefs to cease their reproaches : but his own

19 reproach will be turned upon him. Then he will turn his face to the strength of his own land, and will be weak and fall, and

20 will not be found. And from his root there will be set upon his throne a plant of royalty plundering, and taxing the glory of a kingdom. And in those days he also will be destroyed,

21 but not with open violence nor in battle. And on his throne one will be settled, who was despised and on whom they did not confer the honour of a kingdom. But he will come to it

22 peaceably and obtain the kingdom by obsequiousness. And the arms of the overwhelmer will be overwhelmed at his pre- 23 sence, and they with the ruler of the covenant will be destroyed. Because of the associations against him, he will practise guile and come up and overpower them with a small nation am!

24 come peaceably into rich provinces, and do what neither his fathers, nor his fathers' fathers ever did. Plunder and spoils and wealth he will scatter among them; and against Egypt he

25 will forecast devices even for a time. And his power and his heart will be stirred up against a king of the south, with a great army; and the king of the south will join battle with an

26 exceeding great and powerful army; but they will not stand; for they will form devices against him and devour his substance and crush him, and armies will be overwhelmed, and many

27 wounded shall fall. Then both the kings with their hearts bcni on mischief will speak lies at one table. But it will not prosper.

28 Because an end is still put off for a time, therefore he will return to his own land with much wealth and his heart will be against the holy covenant, and he will act and return to his own land.

9 At the time he will return and come to the south; but this

0 last expedition will not be like the first: for the Kitians who set out at the same time will arrive, and he will be humbled. Then he will return and will be inflamed with wrath against the holy covenant. And he will act and return and keep up an intelligence with them who have forsaken the holy cove-

11 nant. And seeds out of him wfl|ihdng up, and the sanctuary of the dominion will be pollutsed^:; and the daily sacrifice will be removed; and there uTW^e set up an abomination

>2 which hath caused desolation, which they who break covenant will bring in by flatteries. But the people who acknow-

>3 ledge their God will take courage and act. And the men of understanding among the people will keep up an intelligence for many purposes ; but they will be weakened by sword and

34 by fire, and by captivity, and by plundering, for days. And when they are weak, they will be helped with a little help.

35 And many will join them by flatteries. Then some of the wise will be weak that they may be tried and chosen, and that at

36 a time the end may be revealed. Because it is still for a time, therefore he will act according to his pleasure. And this king will be exalted and magnified above every god, and will speak swelling words, and prosper until the indignation is completed:

37 for it is coming to a completion. Though with all the gods of his fathers, he will not keep up any intelligence, including even the desire of women—though he will not pay respect to any thing divine, because he will magnify himself above

.18 them all, yet in his place he will glorify god Muozim—even a god which his fathers knew not, he will glorify with gold and silver, and precious stones, and with desirable things, and

39 act for the fortresses of them who have taken refuge with a strange God, and he will multiply glory and subject many to

40 them and distribute lands for gifts. And at the end of a time there will be conflicts with the king of the south, and against him there will be brought a king of the north, with chariots and horsemen, and many ships, which shall invade the land,

41 and he will break in pieces and pass through and come to the land of Sabaim, and many will be weak. But these will escape out of his hand, namely, Edom and Moab and the children 42 of Ammon. And he will stretch forth his hand against this I

43 land, and the land of Egypt will be no security. And he will be master of the hidden stores of gold and silver, and of afi the desirable things of Egypt, and of the Lybians and Ethi-

44 opians, in their strong holds. And when reports and disturbances shall trouble him from the east, and from the north,

45 he will then come with great wrath to destroy many, and he will pitch his tent at Ephadanus between the seas on the holy mountain Sabaim. Theiihe^wjll come to his portion, and there is none to deliver him.

XII. And at that time Michael the great chief, who hath been over the children of thy people will stand up, and there will be a time of tribulation—a tribulation such as hath not been since there was a nation on the earth even to this time. At that time all thy people who are enrolled in the book shall be saved.

2 And many of them who sleep in mounds of earth shall be raised up, some for everlasting life and some for disgrace and

3 everlasting shame* And they who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and some of the many right- ecus like the stars for the ages and longer.

4 As for thee, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book till die time of accomplishment; until many be taught and knowledge abound.

5 Then I Daniel looked, and lo ! two others stood, one on this bank of the river and the other on the other bank of the

6 river. And one said to the man clothed with the flowing robes who was over the water of the river, How long to the end of

7 these wonderful things which thou hast spoken? And I heard the man clothed with the fine robes who was over the water of the river. He lifted up his right and his left hand to heaven and sware by him who liveth forever and ever that it will be until a time of times and the half of a time. When an end is put to the dispersion, they will know all these things. As for

8 me though I heard I did not understand. So I said, Lord,

9 What will be the issue of these things? And he said, Come Daniel. Because these words are shut up and sealed until the

10 end of a time. Though many be chosen and made white and purified and sanctified, and transgressors transgress ; yet no transgressor will understand but the prudent will understand.

1 Now from the time of the change of the daily sacrifice, when the abomination of desolation shall be set up there will be a

2 thousand two hundred and ninety days. Happy he who will wait and come to a thousand three hundred and thirty five

3 days. But as for thee, come and go to rest, for still there will be days and hours to the final accomplishment. And thou shalt stand up for thy portion at the end of days.