Bible Reading for December 9 and 10
World English Bible
Dec.
9
Daniel
1-4
Dan
1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and besieged it.
Dan
1:2 The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part
of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land
of Shinar to the house of his god: and he brought the vessels into
the treasure house of his god.
Dan
1:3 The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he
should bring in certain
of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles;
Dan
1:4 youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skillful in
all wisdom, and endowed with knowledge, and understanding science,
and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace; and that he
should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.
Dan
1:5 The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king's
dainties, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be
nourished three years; that at its end they should stand before the
king.
Dan
1:6 Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Dan
1:7 The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave
the name of
Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of
Shadrach; and to Mishael, of
Meshach; and to Azariah, of
Abednego.
Dan
1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile
himself with the king's dainties, nor with the wine which he drank:
therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not
defile himself.
Dan
1:9 Now God made Daniel to find kindness and compassion in the sight
of the prince of the eunuchs.
Dan
1:10 The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the
king, who has appointed your food and your drink: for why should he
see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age?
so would you endanger my head with the king.
Dan
1:11 Then said Daniel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs
had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Dan
1:12 Prove your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us
pulse to eat, and water to drink.
Dan
1:13 Then let our faces be looked on before you, and the face of the
youths who eat of the king's dainties; and as you see, deal with your
servants.
Dan
1:14 So he listened to them in this matter, and proved them ten
days.
Dan
1:15 At the end of ten days their faces appeared fairer, and they
were fatter in flesh, than all the youths who ate of the king's
dainties.
Dan
1:16 So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they
should drink, and gave them pulse.
Dan
1:17 Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill
in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all
visions and dreams.
Dan
1:18 At the end of the days which the king had appointed for
bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before
Nebuchadnezzar.
Dan
1:19 The king talked with them; and among them all was found none
like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they
before the king.
Dan
1:20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which
the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all
the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.
Dan
1:21 Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.
Dan
2:1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar,
Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his
sleep went from him.
Dan
2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the
enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king
his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
Dan
2:3 The king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is
troubled to know the dream.
Dan
2:4 Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in the Syrian language, O
king, live forever: tell your servants the dream, and we will show
the interpretation.
Dan
2:5 The king answered the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if
you don't make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you
shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
Dan
2:6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall
receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore show me
the dream and its interpretation.
Dan
2:7 They answered the second time and said, Let the king tell his
servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
Dan
2:8 The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain
time, because you see the thing is gone from me.
Dan
2:9 But if you don't make known to me the dream, there is but one
law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak
before me, until the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream,
and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.
Dan
2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not
a man on the earth who can show the king's matter, because no king,
lord, or ruler, has asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter,
or Chaldean.
Dan
2:11 It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no
other who can show it before the king, except the gods, whose
dwelling is not with flesh.
Dan
2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and
commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
Dan
2:13 So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain;
and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.
Dan
2:14 Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch
the captain of the king's guard, who was gone forth to kill the wise
men of Babylon;
Dan
2:15 he answered Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so
urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
Dan
2:16 Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint
him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
Dan
2:17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
Dan
2:18 that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning
this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with
the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Dan
2:19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision of the
night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Dan
2:20 Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever;
for wisdom and might are his.
Dan
2:21 He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings, and
sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those
who have understanding;
Dan
2:22 he reveals the deep and secret things; he knows what is in the
darkness, and the light dwells with him.
Dan
2:23 I thank you, and praise you, you God of my fathers, who have
given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we
desired of you; for you have made known to us the king's matter.
Dan
2:24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed
to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said thus to him:
Don't destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king,
and I will show to the king the interpretation.
Dan
2:25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and
said thus to him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity
of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.
Dan
2:26 The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you
able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its
interpretation?
Dan
2:27 Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the
king has demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor
soothsayers, show to the king;
Dan
2:28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has
made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter
days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are
these:
Dan
2:29 as for you, O king, your thoughts came into
your mind on your bed, what should
happen hereafter; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you
what shall happen.
Dan
2:30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom
that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the
interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know
the thoughts of your heart.
Dan
2:31 You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which
was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and
its aspect was awesome.
Dan
2:32 As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and
its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of brass,
Dan
2:33 its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay.
Dan
2:34 You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck
the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in
pieces.
Dan
2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the
gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the
summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no
place was found for them: and the stone that struck the image became
a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Dan
2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before
the king.
Dan
2:37 You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has
given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory;
Dan
2:38 and wherever the children of men dwell, the animals of the
field and the birds of the sky has he given into your hand, and has
made you to rule over them all: you are the head of gold.
Dan
2:39 After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you; and
another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the
earth.
Dan
2:40 The fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, because iron breaks
in pieces and subdues all things; and as iron that crushes all these,
shall it break in pieces and crush.
Dan
2:41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and
part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it
of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed with miry
clay.
Dan
2:42 As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so
the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan
2:43 Whereas you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall
mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cling to
one another, even as iron does not mingle with clay.
Dan
2:44 In the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be
left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Dan
2:45 Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain
without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the
clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the
king what shall happen hereafter: and the dream is certain, and its
interpretation sure.
Dan
2:46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, and worshiped
Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet
odors to him.
Dan
2:47 The king answered to Daniel, and said, Of a truth your God is
the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets,
seeing you have been able to reveal this secret.
Dan
2:48 Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts,
and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be
chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.
Dan
2:49 Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon:
but Daniel was in the gate of the king.
Dan
3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was
sixty cubits, and its breadth six cubits: he set it up in the plain
of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Dan
3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the
satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers,
the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to
come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had
set up.
Dan
3:3 Then the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges,
the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of
the provinces, were gathered together to the dedication of the image
that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the
image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Dan
3:4 Then the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, peoples,
nations, and languages,
Dan
3:5 that whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither,
lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship
the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up;
Dan
3:6 and whoever doesn't fall down and worship shall the same hour be
cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Dan
3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of
the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music,
all the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and
worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Dan
3:8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought
accusation against the Jews.
Dan
3:9 They answered Nebuchadnezzar the king, O king, live for ever.
Dan
3:10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man that shall hear
the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds
of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image;
Dan
3:11 and whoever doesn't fall down and worship shall be cast into
the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Dan
3:12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs
of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these
men, O king, have not regarded you: they don't serve your gods, nor
worship the golden image which you have set up.
Dan
3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his
rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Then they brought these men before the king.
Dan
3:14 Nebuchadnezzar answered them, Is it on purpose, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, that you don't serve my god, nor worship the
golden image which I have set up?
Dan
3:15 Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn,
flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down
and worship the image which I have made, well:
but if you don't worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the
midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall
deliver you out of my hands?
Dan
3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king,
Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
Dan
3:17 If it be so,
our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Dan
3:18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve
your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.
Dan
3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his
visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore
he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times
more than it was usually heated.
Dan
3:20 He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and
to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Dan
3:21 Then these men were bound in their pants, their tunics, and
their mantles, and their other
garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Dan
3:22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the
furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who
took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Dan
3:23 These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down
bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Dan
3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in
haste: he spoke and said to his counselors, Didn't we cast three men
bound into the midst of the fire? They answered the king, True, O
king.
Dan
3:25 He answered, Look, I see four men loose, walking in the midst
of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is
like a son of the gods.
Dan
3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery
furnace: he spoke and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you
servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come here. Then
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth out of the midst of the
fire.
Dan
3:27 The satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king's
counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had
no power on their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed,
neither were their pants changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on
them.
Dan
3:28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his
servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and
have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any
god, except their own God.
Dan
3:29 Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and
language, which speak anything evil against the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall
be made a dunghill; because there is no other god who is able to
deliver after this sort.
Dan
3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the
province of Babylon.
Dan
4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and
languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
Dan
4:2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the
Most High God has worked toward me.
Dan
4:3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from
generation to generation.
Dan
4:4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in
my palace.
Dan
4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed
and the visions of my head troubled me.
Dan
4:6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of
Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the
interpretation of the dream.
Dan
4:7 Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and
the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not
make known to me its interpretation.
Dan
4:8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was
Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the
spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him, saying,
Dan
4:9 Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the
spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell
me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
Dan
4:10 Thus were the visions of my head on my bed: I saw, and behold,
a tree in the midst of the earth; and its height was great.
Dan
4:11 The tree grew, and was strong, and its height reached to the
sky, and its sight to the end of all the earth.
Dan
4:12 The leaves of it were beautiful, and its fruit much, and in it
was food for all: the animals of the field had shadow under it, and
the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed
from it.
Dan
4:13 I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a
watcher and a holy one came down from the sky.
Dan
4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Cut down the tree, and cut off
its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the
animals get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.
Dan
4:15 Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even
with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and
let it be wet with the dew of the sky: and let his portion be with
the animals in the grass of the earth:
Dan
4:16 let his heart be changed from man's, and let an animal's heart
be given to him; and let seven times pass over him.
Dan
4:17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand
by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know
that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to
whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.
Dan
4:18 This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you,
Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of
my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but
you are able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.
Dan
4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for
a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered,
Belteshazzar, don't let the dream, or the interpretation, trouble
you. Belteshazzar answered, My lord, the dream be to those who hate
you, and its interpretation to your adversaries.
Dan
4:20 The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height
reached to the sky, and its sight to all the earth;
Dan
4:21 whose leaves were beautiful, and its fruit much, and in it was
food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on
whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation:
Dan
4:22 it is you, O king, that are grown and become strong; for your
greatness is grown, and reaches to the sky, and your dominion to the
end of the earth.
Dan
4:23 Whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from
the sky, and saying, Cut down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless
leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron
and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with
the dew of the sky: and let his portion be with the animals of the
field, until seven times pass over him;
Dan
4:24 this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the
Most High, which is come on my lord the king:
Dan
4:25 that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be
with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as
oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall
pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom
of men, and gives it to whomever he will.
Dan
4:26 Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the
tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have
known that the heavens do rule.
Dan
4:27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and
break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing
mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.
Dan
4:28 All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar.
Dan
4:29 At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace
of Babylon.
Dan
4:30 The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I
have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and
for the glory of my majesty?
Dan
4:31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from
the sky, saying,
O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom is departed
from you:
Dan
4:32 and you shall be driven from men; and your dwelling shall be
with the animals of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as
oxen; and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the
Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he
will.
Dan
4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar: and he
was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with
the dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles' feathers,
and his nails like birds' claws.
Dan
4:34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to
heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most
High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his
dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation
to generation.
Dan
4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he
does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the
inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or tell him,
What do you?
Dan
4:36 At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the
glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me; and my
counselors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my
kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me.
Dan
4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of
heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those
who walk in pride he is able to abase.
Dec.
10
Daniel
5-8
Dan
5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his
lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
Dan
5:2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the
golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken
out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his
lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them.
Dan
5:3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the
temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and
his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them.
Dan
5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of
brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
Dan
5:5 In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and
wrote over against the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the
king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
Dan
5:6 Then the king's face was changed in him, and his thoughts
troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his
knees struck one against another.
Dan
5:7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans,
and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of
Babylon, Whoever shall read this writing, and show me its
interpretation, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of
gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Dan
5:8 Then came in all the king's wise men; but they could not read
the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.
Dan
5:9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his face was
changed in him, and his lords were perplexed.
Dan
5:10 Now
the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into
the banquet house: the queen spoke and said, O king, live forever;
don't let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your face be changed.
Dan
5:11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the
holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and
wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king
Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I
say, your father, made him master of the
magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
Dan
5:12 because an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding,
interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving
of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named
Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the
interpretation.
Dan
5:13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and
said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel, who are of the children of the
captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?
Dan
5:14 I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and
that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
Dan
5:15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before
me, that they should read this writing, and make known to me its
interpretation; but they could not show the interpretation of the
thing.
Dan
5:16 But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and
dissolve doubts; now if you can read the writing, and make known to
me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a
chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the
kingdom.
Dan
5:17 Then Daniel answered before the king, Let your gifts be to
yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read
the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
Dan
5:18 You king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the
kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty:
Dan
5:19 and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples,
nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would
he killed, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he
raised up, and whom he would he put down.
Dan
5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened
so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and
they took his glory from him:
Dan
5:21 and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made
like the animals', and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was
fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the
sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of
men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will.
Dan
5:22 You his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though
you knew all this,
Dan
5:23 but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and
they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and
your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from
them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass,
iron, wood, and stone, which don't see, nor hear, nor know; and the
God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you
have not glorified.
Dan
5:24 Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this
writing was inscribed.
Dan
5:25 This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL,
UPHARSIN.
Dan
5:26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered
your kingdom, and brought it to an end;
Dan
5:27 TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.
Dan
5:28 PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and
Persians.
Dan
5:29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple,
and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation
concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Dan
5:30 In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain.
Dan
5:31 Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two
years old.
Dan
6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty
satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;
Dan
6:2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that
these satraps might give account to them, and that the king should
have no damage.
Dan
6:3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the
satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought
to set him over the whole realm.
Dan
6:4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion
against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no
occasion nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any
error or fault found in him.
Dan
6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this
Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
Dan
6:6 Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the
king, and said thus to him, King Darius, live forever.
Dan
6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps,
the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to
establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that
whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save
of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
Dan
6:8 Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that
it not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians,
which doesn't alter.
Dan
6:9 Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict.
Dan
6:10 When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his
house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem)
and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave
thanks before his God, as he did before.
Dan
6:11 Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making
petition and supplication before his God.
Dan
6:12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the
king's interdict: Haven't you signed an interdict, that every man who
shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, save to
you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered,
The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians,
which doesn't alter.
Dan
6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who
is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn't regard you, O
king, nor the interdict that you have signed, but makes his petition
three times a day.
Dan
6:14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased,
and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the
going down of the sun to rescue him.
Dan
6:15 Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the
king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that
no interdict nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.
Dan
6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him
into the den of lions. Now
the king spoke and said to Daniel, Your God whom you serve
continually, he will deliver you.
Dan
6:17 A stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the
king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords;
that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
Dan
6:18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting;
neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep
fled from him.
Dan
6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in
haste to the den of lions.
Dan
6:20 When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a
lamentable voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel, Daniel, servant
of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to
deliver you from the lions?
Dan
6:21 Then said Daniel to the king, O king, live forever.
Dan
6:22 My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, and
they have not hurt me; because as before him innocence was found in
me; and also before you, O king, have I done no hurt.
Dan
6:23 Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they
should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of
the den, and no manner of hurt was found on him, because he had
trusted in his God.
Dan
6:24 The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused
Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their
children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and
broke all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of
the den.
Dan
6:25 Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and
languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
Dan
6:26 I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men
tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God,
and steadfast forever, His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed;
and his dominion shall be even to the end.
Dan
6:27 He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in
heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the
lions.
Dan
6:28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the
reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Dan
7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a
dream and visions of his head on his bed: then he wrote the dream and
told the sum of the matters.
Dan
7:2 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold,
the four winds of the sky broke forth on the great sea.
Dan
7:3 Four great animals came up from the sea, diverse one from
another.
Dan
7:4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I saw until
its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made
to stand on two feet as a man; and a man's heart was given to it.
Dan
7:5 Behold, another animal, a second, like a bear; and it was raised
up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth:
and they said thus to it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Dan
7:6 After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had
on its back four wings of a bird; the animal had also four heads; and
dominion was given to it.
Dan
7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, a fourth
animal, awesome and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had
great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the
residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the animals that
were before it; and it had ten horns.
Dan
7:8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them
another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns
were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like
the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Dan
7:9 I saw until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days
sat: his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like
pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and
its wheels burning fire.
Dan
7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands
of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand
stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Dan
7:11 I saw at that time because of the voice of the great words
which the horn spoke; I saw even until the animal was slain, and its
body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.
Dan
7:12 As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away:
yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Dan
7:13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the
clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the
ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan
7:14 There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that
all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his
dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and
his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Dan
7:15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my
body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Dan
7:16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the
truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the
interpretation of the things.
Dan
7:17 These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who shall
arise out of the earth.
Dan
7:18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and
possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
Dan
7:19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal,
which was diverse from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth
were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in
pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;
Dan
7:20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the
other horn
which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had
eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout
than its fellows.
Dan
7:21 I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and
prevailed against them;
Dan
7:22 until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the
saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed
the kingdom.
Dan
7:23 Thus he said, The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on
earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour
the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Dan
7:24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings
arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse
from the former, and he shall put down three kings.
Dan
7:25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out
the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times
and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and
times and half a time.
Dan
7:26 But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his
dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end.
Dan
7:27 The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms
under the whole sky, shall be given to the people of the saints of
the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all
dominions shall serve and obey him.
Dan
7:28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts
much troubled me, and my face was changed in me: but I kept the
matter in my heart.
Dan
8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision
appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me
at the first.
Dan
8:2 I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in
the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in
the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.
Dan
8:3 Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, there stood
before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were
high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
Dan
8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward;
and no animals could stand before him, neither was there any who
could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and
magnified himself.
Dan
8:5 As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west
over the surface of the whole earth, and didn't touch the ground: and
the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
Dan
8:6 He came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing
before the river, and ran on him in the fury of his power.
Dan
8:7 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger
against him, and struck the ram, and broke his two horns; and there
was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast him down to
the ground, and trampled on him; and there was none who could deliver
the ram out of his hand.
Dan
8:8 The male goat magnified himself exceedingly: and when he was
strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up
four notable horns
toward the four winds of the sky.
Dan
8:9 Out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew
exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward
the glorious land.
Dan
8:10 It grew great, even to the army of the sky; and some of the
army and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled on
them.
Dan
8:11 Yes, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the army; and
it took away from him the continual burnt
offering, and the place of his sanctuary
was cast down.
Dan
8:12 The army was given over to it
together with the continual burnt
offering through disobedience; and it
cast down truth to the ground, and it did its
pleasure and prospered.
Dan
8:13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to
that certain one who spoke, How long shall be the vision concerning
the continual burnt offering,
and the disobedience that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary
and the army to be trodden under foot?
Dan
8:14 He said to me, To two thousand and three hundred evenings and
mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Dan
8:15 It happened, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I
sought to understand it; and behold, there stood before me as the
appearance of a man.
Dan
8:16 I heard a man's voice between the
banks of the Ulai, which called, and
said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
Dan
8:17 So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was
frightened, and fell on my face: but he said to me, Understand, son
of man; for the vision belongs to the time of the end.
Dan
8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with
my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright.
Dan
8:19 He said, Behold, I will make you know what shall be in the
latter time of the indignation; for it belongs to the appointed time
of the end.
Dan
8:20 The ram which you saw, that had the two horns, they are the
kings of Media and Persia.
Dan
8:21 The rough male goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn
that is between his eyes is the first king.
Dan
8:22 As for that which was broken, in the place where four stood up,
four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his
power.
Dan
8:23 In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are
come to the full, a king of fierce face, and understanding dark
sentences, shall stand up.
Dan
8:24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he
shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do his
pleasure; and he shall destroy the
mighty ones and the holy people.
Dan
8:25 Through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand;
and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their
security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the
prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Dan
8:26 The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is
true: but seal up the vision; for it belongs to many days to
come.
Dan
8:27 I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up,
and did the king's business: and I wondered at the vision, but none
understood it.
Dec. 9
2 Peter
2
2Pe 2:1
But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers
will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive
heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on
themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2
Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the
truth will be maligned.
2Pe 2:3
In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose
sentence now from of old doesn't linger, and their destruction will
not slumber.
2Pe 2:4
For if God didn't spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down
to Tartarus, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved
for judgment;
2Pe 2:5
and didn't spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven
others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the
world of the ungodly;
2Pe 2:6
and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned
them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would
live ungodly;
2Pe 2:7
and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful
life of the wicked
2Pe 2:8
(for that righteous man dwelling among them, was tormented in his
righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless
deeds):
2Pe 2:9
the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to
keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment;
2Pe
2:10 but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of
defilement, and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not
afraid to speak evil of dignitaries;
2Pe
2:11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, don't bring
a railing judgment against them before the Lord.
2Pe
2:12 But these, as unreasoning creatures, born natural animals to be
taken and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are
ignorant, will in their destroying surely be destroyed,
2Pe
2:13 receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it
pleasure to revel in the daytime, spots and blemishes, reveling in
their deceit while they feast with you;
2Pe
2:14 having eyes full of adultery, and who can't cease from sin;
enticing unsettled souls; having a heart trained in greed; children
of cursing;
2Pe
2:15 forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the
way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing;
2Pe
2:16 but he was rebuked for his own disobedience. A mute donkey
spoke with a man's voice and stopped the madness of the prophet.
2Pe
2:17 These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm; for
whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.
2Pe
2:18 For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in
the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed
escaping from those who live in error;
2Pe
2:19 promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants
of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes
him.
2Pe
2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world
through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are
again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse
for them than the first.
2Pe
2:21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy
commandment delivered to them.
2Pe
2:22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, "The
dog turns to his own vomit again," and "the sow that has
washed to wallowing in the mire."
Dec. 10
2 Peter
3
2Pe 3:1
This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you;
and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you;
2Pe 3:2
that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the
holy prophets, and the commandments of us, the apostles of the Lord
and Savior:
2Pe 3:3
knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking
after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4
and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the
day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were
from the beginning of the creation."
2Pe 3:5
For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old,
and an earth formed out of water and amid water, by the word of God;
2Pe 3:6
by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water,
perished.
2Pe 3:7
But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have
been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment
and destruction of ungodly men.
2Pe 3:8
But don't forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the
Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9
The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness;
but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that
all should come to repentance.
2Pe
3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in
which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements
will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that
are in it will be burned up.
2Pe
3:11 Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this,
what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,
2Pe
3:12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of
God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the
elements will melt with fervent heat?
2Pe
3:13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a
new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
2Pe
3:14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be
diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his
sight.
2Pe
3:15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our
beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him,
wrote to you;
2Pe
3:16 as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these
things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand,
which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other
Scriptures, to their own destruction.
2Pe
3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand,
beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you
fall from your own steadfastness.
2Pe
3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
