
{1}1{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}In the third year of Jehoiakim's reign as king of Judah, King 
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem. {R}_{I}2_{/}The Lord 
delivered into his hands King Jehoiakim of Judah, and some of the 
vessels from the temple of God as well. These he carried off to 
the land of Shinar and placed in the treasure house of his god.
{R}_{I}3_{/}King Nebuchadnezzar ordered his chief eunuch Ashpenaz to 
bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the 
nobility: {R}_{I}4_{/}young men without physical defect, handsome, 
intelligent and wise, well-informed, quick to learn and 
understand, and suitable for service in the king's palace. They 
were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 
[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}They were allotted a daily portion of food and wine from 
the king's table and were to be trained for three years, after 
which they were to enter the king's service.
{R}_{I}6_{/}Among these were young men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, 
Mishael, and Azariah, {R}_{I}7_{/}whose names the chief eunuch changed - 
Daniel to Belteshazzar, Hananiah to Shadrach, Mishael to Meshach, 
and Azariah to Abednego.

{N}DANIEL REFUSES TO EAT UNCLEAN FOOD{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}As Daniel was resolved not to make himself unclean 
with the king's food or wine, he begged the chief eunuch to spare 
him this defilement. {R}_{I}9_{/}By the grace of God, the chief eunuch 
had been sympathetic to Daniel, {R}_{I}10_{/}but he was afraid of the 
king, and so he said, "If the king, who has allotted your food and 
drink, sees that you look more emaciated than the other young men 
of your age, he might think ill of me. It will put my life in 
danger to give in to your wish."
{R}_{I}11_{/}Daniel then turned to the steward whom the chief eunuch had 
put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 
{R}_{I}12_{/}"Please test your servants for ten days. Give us only 
vegetables to eat and water to drink, {R}_{I}13_{/}and see how we look in 
comparison with the young men who eat food from the king's table. 
Then treat us in accordance with what you see."
{I}14_{/}The steward agreed and tested them for ten days, {R}_{I}15_{/}at the 
end of which they looked healthier and better fed than any of the 
young men who ate the king's food. {I}16_{/}So the steward continued 
to give them vegetables instead of the choice food and wine.
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}To these four youths God gave wisdom and proficiency in 
literature, and to Daniel the gift of interpreting visions and 
dreams.
{R}_{I}18_{/}At the end of the period set by the king for the youths' 
training, the chief eunuch presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 
{R}_{I}19_{/}The king talked with them and found none to equal Daniel, 
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These four became members of the 
king's court. {R}_{I}20_{/}In any matter of wisdom and discernment about 
which the king consulted, he found them ten times better than all 
the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. {R}_{I}21_{/}Daniel 
remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

{N}NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM{/}

{1}2{/}

[\u0095]_{I}1_{/}In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, he had a 
series of troubling dreams which rendered him sleepless. {R}_{I}2_{/}The 
king summoned magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and Chaldean 
diviners to interpret his dreams. When they arrived and stood in 
his presence, {R}_{I}3_{/}the king said, "I had a terrible dream and I 
want to know its meaning."
{R}_{I}4_{/}The Chaldeans answered in Aramaic, "Live forever, O King! 
Tell your servants the dream, and we will give you its meaning."
{R}_{I}5_{/}But the king replied, "You have to tell me the dream and 
interpret it, too. That is my decision. If you won't do it, I will 
have you cut into pieces and your houses razed to the ground. 
{I}6_{/}But if you can tell me the dream and its meaning, I will give 
you presents and reward you with great honor."
{R}_{I}7_{/}They insisted, "Let the king tell us his dream and we will 
explain what it means."
{R}_{I}8_{/}The king said, "You are only trying to gain time, for you 
know what I will surely do, {I}9_{/}that if you do not tell me my 
dream there is only one sentence for you. You have conspired to 
mislead me with a deceitful interpretation, hoping that times will 
change. But if you can show me that you have the ability to know 
what my dream was, I can be sure that you also have the power to 
understand its meaning."
[=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}The Chaldeans exclaimed, "No man on earth can do what 
your majesty asks. Never has any king, however great and mighty, 
asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter or diviner. 
[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}What the king demands is too difficult. No one can tell 
him that except the gods who do not live among men."
{R}_{I}12_{/}This made the king so furious that he ordered all the wise 
men of Babylon executed. {R}_{I}13_{/}Upon issuance of the decree to put 
the wise men to death, a search was also made for Daniel and his 
companions to have them killed. {R}_{I}14_{/}Daniel, however, talked 
prudently with Arioch, the commander of the king's guards who had 
gone out to kill the wise men. {R}_{I}15_{/}"Why did the king issue such 
a harsh decree?" Daniel asked, and Arioch explained. {R}_{I}16_{/}Daniel 
then went to the king and asked for the suspension of the 
execution to give him time to interpret the dream.
{R}_{I}17_{/}Daniel returned home and informed his companions Hananiah, 
Mishael, and Azariah. {R}_{I}18_{/}He asked them to implore God's mercy 
regarding this mystery, so that they would not perish with the 
rest of Babylon's wise men. {R}_{I}19_{/}Then in a night vision, the 
mystery was revealed to Daniel. He blessed the God of heaven:
{R}_{I}20_{/}Blessed be God's name forever and ever,
for his are wisdom and power.
{R}_{I}21_{/}He changes times and seasons;
he sets up and deposes kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
[=]_{I}22_{/}He reveals things deep and hidden;
he knows what lies in darkness;
for the light dwells with him.
{R}_{I}23_{/}I give thanks and praise to you, O God of my fathers.
You have given me wisdom and power;
you have shown me what we asked for -
you have made known to us the dream of the king.
{R}_{I}24_{/}After this Daniel went to Arioch, the commander appointed by 
the king to execute the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, 
"Do not execute the wise men yet. Bring me to the king, and I will 
interpret his dreams." {R}_{I}25_{/}At once Arioch took Daniel to the 
king and said, "Here is a man found among the Judean captives who 
says he can interpret the king's dream."
{R}_{I}26_{/}The king asked Daniel, who had been named Beltheshazzar, 
"Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?"

{N}DANIEL INTERPRETS THE DREAM{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}27_{/}Daniel answered, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or 
diviner can interpret the king's dream. {R}_{I}28_{/}But there is a God 
in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has shown King 
Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. I will tell you the 
dream and visions you had.
{R}_{I}29_{/}As you lay in bed, O King, your thoughts turned to the 
future, and he who reveals mysteries showed you what is to happen. 
[=]_{I}30_{/}This mystery has been revealed to me not because I am 
wiser than anybody else but so that you may know what it means and 
what went on in your mind.
{I}31_{/}In your vision you saw a statue - very large, very bright, 
terrible to look at. {I}32_{/}Its head was of pure gold, its chest and 
arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, {I}33_{/}its legs of 
iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 
[=]_{I}34_{/}As you watched, a rock cut from a mountain but not by 
human hands, struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, 
smashing them. [=]_{I}35_{/}All at once the iron, clay, bronze, silver 
and gold crumbled into pieces as fine as chaff on the threshing 
floor in summer. The wind swept them off and not a trace was left. 
But the rock that struck the statue became a great mountain that 
filled the whole earth.
{I}36_{/}That was the dream. Now the interpretation. {R}_{I}37_{/}You, O 
king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given 
dominion, strength, power and glory, [=]_{I}38_{/}and into whose hand 
he has placed mankind, the beasts of the field and the birds of 
the air, making you ruler over them. You are that head of gold.
{R}_{I}39_{/}After you, another kingdom inferior to yours will rise. Then 
a third kingdom of bronze will rule the whole world. {R}_{I}40_{/}Last 
shall be a fourth kingdom strong as iron and just as iron breaks 
and crushes everything else, so will it break and smash all the 
others. {R}_{I}41_{/}The partly-clay and partly-iron feet and toes mean 
that it will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the 
strength of iron, just as you saw iron mixed with clay. {R}_{I}42_{/}And 
as the toes were partly iron and partly clay, the kingdom will be 
partly strong and partly weak. {R}_{I}43_{/}Just as you saw the iron 
mixed with baked clay, the people will be a mixture but will not 
remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
[=]_{R}_{I}44_{/}In the time of those kings the God of heaven will set up 
a kingdom never to be destroyed or delivered up to another people. 
It will crush all those kingdoms and put an end to them. And it 
will endure forever. {R}_{I}45_{/}This is the meaning of your vision of a 
rock cut from a mountain not by human hands, the rock which struck 
the statue and broke into pieces the iron, bronze, clay, silver 
and gold. The great God has shown the king what will happen in the 
future. The dream is true and its interpretation reliable."
{R}_{I}46_{/}King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and ordered 
that oblation and incense be offered to him. {R}_{I}47_{/}The king said 
to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings 
and the revealer of mysteries. That is why you were able to reveal 
this mystery."
{R}_{I}48_{/}The king gave Daniel a high position and showered gifts on 
him. He made him governor of the entire province of Babylon and in 
charge of all its wise men. {R}_{I}49_{/}At Daniel's request the king 
appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators of the 
province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the king's 
court.

{N}THE GOLDEN STATUE{/}

{1}3{/}

[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden statue, sixty cubits 
high and six cubits wide, erected on the plain of Dura in the 
province of Babylon. {R}_{I}2_{/}Then he summoned the satraps, prefects, 
governors,  counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all 
the other provincial officials to come for the dedication of the 
statue. {R}_{I}3_{/}All those summoned came together for the dedication 
and stood before the statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. 
[=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}There a herald proclaimed aloud, "Nations and peoples of 
every language, you are hereby commanded [=]_{I}5_{/}to fall down and 
worship the golden statue as soon as you hear the music played on 
the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all other 
instruments. {I}6_{/}Whoever fails to do this will at once be thrown 
into a burning furnace." {R}_{I}7_{/}At this command, all the people of 
every nation and language who heard the sound of music on the 
horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and other instruments fell 
down and worshiped the statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.

{N}THE JEWS: ACCUSED AND CONDEMNED{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}8_{/}It was then that Chaldean diviners came to the king 
accusing the Jews. {R}_{I}9_{/}They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "Live 
forever, O king! {I}10_{/}You issued a decree that upon hearing the 
sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and other 
musical instruments, everyone must fall down and worship the 
golden statue, {I}11_{/}and whoever failed to do so was to be thrown 
into a burning furnace. {I}12_{/}There are some Jews, those whom you 
appointed administrators of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach and 
Abednego, who gave no heed to your order. They would not serve 
your gods or worship the golden image you set up."
{R}_{I}13_{/}Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and summoned Shadrach, 
Meshach and Abednego, who were immediately brought before the 
king. {R}_{I}14_{/}King Nebuchadnezzar questioned them, "Is it true, 
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or 
worship the golden statue I have set up? {I}15_{/}If you hear now the 
sound of horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and other 
instruments, will you fall down and worship the statue I made? If 
you won't, you know the punishment: you will immediately be thrown 
into a burning furnace. And then what god can deliver you out of 
my hands?"
{R}_{I}16_{/}Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered, "King 
Nebuchadnezzar, we need not defend ourselves before you on this 
matter. {R}_{I}17_{/}If you order us to be thrown into the furnace, the 
God we serve will rescue us. {R}_{I}18_{/}But even if he won't, we would 
like you to know, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods 
or worship the golden statue you have set up."
{I}19_{/}Nebuchadnezzar's face reddened with fury as he looked at 
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated 
seven times hotter than usual {I}20_{/}and commanded some of his 
strongest soldiers to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and 
throw them into the burning furnace. {I}21_{/}At once they were bound 
and thrown into the furnace, with their hats, shoes and garments 
on, {R}_{I}22_{/}for the king's order was very urgent. So fierce was the 
fire in the furnace that it devoured even the men who threw 
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into it. {I}23_{/}The three, bound 
fast, fell into the midst of the blazing furnace.
{R}_{I}24_{/}They walked in the midst of the flames, singing to God and 
praising the Lord. {I}25_{/}Azariah stood up in the midst of the fire 
and prayed aloud:
{R}_{I}26_{/}Blessed and worthy of praise are you,
O Lord God of our fathers!
your name is glorious forever!
[=]_{I}27_{/}Justice is in all that you do;
your acts are faultless, your ways are right,
your judgments always true.
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}28_{/}You have indeed given a just sentence in bringing evil 
upon us and upon Jerusalem, the Holy City of our fathers. You have 
acted in accordance with truth and justice, as punishment for our 
sins.
{I}29_{/}For we have sinned and acted perversely by deserting you. We 
have sinned gravely in everything and have not listened to your 
commandments. {I}30_{/}We have not observed them, and we have not 
fulfilled everything you commanded us for our good.
[=]_{I}31_{/}All the evils you have brought upon us, all that you have 
done to us, you have done according to your just sentence.
[=]_{R}_{I}32_{/}You have given us into the hands of our enemies, lawless 
people, the worst of the impious, into the hands of an unjust 
king, the most perverse in all the world.
{I}33_{/}And today, we cannot even open our mouths; shame and 
humiliation have overcome those who serve and worship you.
[=]_{R}_{I}34_{/}Do not abandon us forever, do not reject your covenant 
for your Name's sake.
{R}_{I}35_{/}Do not withdraw your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, 
your friend, of Isaac, your servant, of Israel, your holy one, 
{R}_{I}36_{/}to whom you promised to multiply their race as the stars of 
heaven and the sand on the shore of the sea.
[=]_{I}37_{/}Lord, see, we have become the least among the nations in 
all the world, and we are humiliated because of our sins.
[=]_{R}_{I}38_{/}At this time, we no longer have a king, or prophet, or 
leader. We cannot offer you holocausts, sacrifices, offerings, or 
incense. We have no place to present to you the first-fruits of 
our crops, and so obtain your favor.
[=]_{R}_{I}39_{/}But at least when we present ourselves with a contrite 
soul and humbled spirit may we then be acceptable to you, 
[=]_{R}_{I}40_{/}more than by offerings of rams and calves as holocausts, 
and of thousands of fat lambs.
May this sacrifice of ours today obtain for us your favor for we 
know that those who trust in you shall never be disappointed.
{I}41_{/}And now, we serve you with our whole heart, we fear you and 
we seek your face. [=]_{I}42_{/}Do not leave us in our humiliation, 
but treat us according to your kindness and your great mercy. 
{I}43_{/}Free us in keeping with your wonders, and give us the glory 
of your Name, Lord.
{I}44_{/}Let those who maltreat your servants be confounded, may they 
be covered with shame and deprived of all their power. Crush their 
strength, {R}_{I}45_{/}and let them know that you alone are God and Lord, 
glorious over all the earth."
{R}_{I}46_{/}The king's servants who had thrown them into the furnace did 
not stop kindling the fire with oil, tar, tow and vine shoots, 
{I}47_{/}so that the flames rose up to about twenty-five meters above 
the furnace {I}48_{/}and extending out, burnt the Chaldeans who were 
standing around.
{I}49_{/}But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace beside 
Azariah and his companions; he drove the flames of the fire 
outside the furnace, and blew upon them, [=]_{I}50_{/}in the middle of 
the furnace, a coolness like that of wind and dew, so that the 
fire did not touch them or cause them pain or trouble them.
{R}_{I}51_{/}Then the three began singing together, glorifying and 
blessing God within the furnace, and saying;
{R}_{I}52_{/}"Blessed are you, Lord, God of our fathers, be praised and 
exalted for ever.
Blessed is your holy and glorious name, celebrated and exalted for 
ever.
{I}53_{/}Blessed are you in the temple of your sacred glory, your 
praises are sung for ever.
{R}_{I}54_{/}Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, honored and 
glorified for ever.
{I}55{/}Blessed are you who fathom the depths, who are enthroned on 
the cherubim, praised and exalted for ever.
{I}56_{/}Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praised and 
glorified for ever.
{I}57_{/}All the works of the Lord, bless him, praise him, exalt him 
for ever.
{I}58_{/}Angels of the Lord, bless him, praise and glorify him for 
ever.
{I}59_{/}Heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever.
[=]_{I}60_{/}All the waters above the heavens, bless the Lord, praise 
and exalt him for ever.
{I}61_{/}All the powers of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt 
him for ever.
{I}62_{/}Sun and moon, praise and exalt him for ever. {I}63_{/}Stars of 
heaven, praise and exalt him for ever.
{I}64_{/}Rain and dew, praise and exalt him for ever. {I}65_{/}All winds, 
praise and exalt him for ever.
{I}66_{/}Fire and heat, praise and exalt him for ever. {I}67_{/}Cold and 
heat, praise and exalt him for ever.
{I}68_{/}Dew and frost, praise and exalt him for ever. {I}69_{/}Ice and 
cold, praise and exalt him for ever.
{I}70_{/}Frost and snow, praise and exalt him for ever. {I}71_{/}Days and 
nights, praise and exalt him for ever.
{I}72_{/}Light and darkness, praise and exalt him for ever. 
{I}73_{/}Lightnings and clouds, praise and exalt him for ever.
{I}74_{/}Earth, praise and exalt him for ever.
{I}75_{/}Mountains and hills, praise and exalt him for ever.
{I}76_{/}Everything that sprouts on the earth, praise and exalt him 
for ever.
{R}_{I}77_{/}Springs of water, praise and exalt him for ever. {I}78_{/}Seas 
and rivers, praise and exalt him for ever.
{I}79_{/}Whales and fishes, praise and exalt him for ever. {I}80_{/}All 
the birds of heaven, praise and exalt him for ever. {I}81_{/}Animals 
wild and tame, praise and exalt him for ever.
{I}82_{/}Sons of men, praise and exalt him for ever.
{R}_{I}83_{/}Israel, praise and exalt him for ever.
{R}_{I}84_{/}Priests of the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever. 
{I}85_{/}Servants of the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever.
{I}86_{/}Spirits and souls of the just, praise and exalt him for ever.
{I}87_{/}Holy men and humble of heart, praise and exalt him for ever. 
{R}_{I}88_{/}Ananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt 
him for ever.
For he has taken us out from the netherworld, he has saved us from 
the hands of death, freed us from the furnace of burning flames 
and rescued us from the midst of the fire.
{I}89_{/}Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy is 
everlasting.
{R}_{I}90_{/}All who worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise and 
acknowledge him for his mercy is everlasting." 
{R}_{I}91_{/}Then King Nebuchadnezzar suddenly rose up in great amazement 
and asked his counselors, "Did we not throw three men bound into 
the fire?" They answered, "Certainly." {R}_{I}92_{/}The king said, "But I 
can see four men walking about freely through the fire without 
suffering any harm, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
{R}_{I}93_{/}Nebuchadnezzar approached the mouth of the blazing furnace 
and said, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most 
High God, come out and come here." So they came out from the midst 
of the fire.
{R}_{I}94_{/}The officials, prefects, governors and counselors of the 
king drew near to examine them: the fire had no effect on their 
bodies, their hair was not singed, their trousers were not burned, 
and they did not even have the smell of smoke.
[=]_{R}_{I}95_{/}Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Blessed be the God of 
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who sent his angel to free his 
servants who, trusting in him, disobeyed the king's order and 
preferred to give their bodies to the fire rather than serve and 
worship any other god but their God.
[=]_{R}_{I}96_{/}I give this command, therefore: From every race, nation 
and language, anyone who speaks irreverently of the God of 
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego shall be cut into pieces and his 
house shall be destroyed, for there is no other god who can save 
like this."
{R}_{I}97_{/}And the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the 
province of Babylon.

{N}NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM AND INSANITY{/}

{R}_{I}98_{/}Nebuchadnezzar, the king, to all peoples, all nations and to 
all men on the earth whatever be their language: Peace. {R}_{I}99_{/}It 
pleases me to make known to you the signs and wonders the Most 
High God has done in me.
{R}_{I}100_{/}How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
his dominion lasts for all generations.

{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at peace in  my house and content in my 
palace when I had a dream which appalled me. {R}_{I}2_{/}The nightmares I 
had as I lay in bed, and the visions that passed through my mind 
tormented me. {I}3_{/}So I summoned all the wise men of Babylon that 
they might explain to me what the dream meant.
{I}4_{/}The wise men, seers and astrologers came, and I recounted the 
dream to them, but they could not explain it to me. {R}_{I}5_{/}So Daniel 
came in before me - he was renamed Belteshazzar after the name of 
my god, for in him dwells the spirit of the Holy God. I told him 
my dream in this way: {R}_{I}6_{/}Belteshazzar, chief of the wise men, I 
know that you have the spirit of the Holy God and that no mystery 
is ever difficult for you. Examine the dream I have had and 
explain it to me.
[=]_{I}7_{/}These were my dreams as I lay in bed. There was a tree at 
the center of the world; it was very tall.
{I}8_{/}The tree grew, it became big and reached up to heaven, and its 
branches could be seen from the ends of the earth.
[=]_{I}9_{/}Its leaves were beautiful, its fruits abundant; there was 
food for all in it. Animals of the field found refuge in its 
shade, the birds of heaven nested in its branches and all living 
things fed on it.
{I}10_{/}I was looking at this interior vision when a watchful one, a 
holy one, came down from heaven.
{I}11_{/}He cried in a loud voice: Cut the tree down, cut off its 
branches, strip off its leaves and throw away its fruits. Let the 
beasts flee from under it and the birds as well. {I}12_{/}But leave in 
the earth the stump and the roots bound with iron and bronze 
bands, in the grass of the field.
Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, let him share the 
grass of the earth with the animals. {I}13_{/}Let his heart cease from 
being human, and let a beast's heart be given him and pass over 
him seven times.
[=]_{I}14_{/}This is the sentence given by the watchful ones, the 
question settled by the holy ones, so that every living thing may 
know that the Most High is higher than any human authority. He 
confers power on whom he pleases and raises the most humble of 
men.
{R}_{I}15_{/}This was the dream I had, I, King Nebuchadnezzar. You, 
Belteshazzar, explain it to me, since not one of the wise men in 
my kingdom has been able to interpret it for me. But you can, for 
the spirit of the Holy God dwells in you.
{R}_{I}16_{/}Then Daniel, renamed Belteshazzar, was stunned for a while 
and looked very much upset. The king said, "Belteshazzar, what is 
in that dream or in its interpretation that upsets you so?" 
Belteshazzar answered, {I}17_{/}"My lord, may this dream be meant for 
your enemies and its content refer to your foes!"
{I}18_{/}The tree you saw, which grew big and strong, and reached to 
heaven and was visible through all the earth, with beautiful 
leaves and abundant fruit, which had food for all, under which 
animals of the field found refuge and in whose branches the birds 
of heaven built their nests - {R}_{I}19_{/}this tree is you, O King, 
whose power has increased reaching up to heaven, whose empire 
extends to the ends of the earth.
{R}_{I}20_{/}Now, regarding what the king has seen: a watchful one, a 
holy one, who came down from heaven and said: Cut the tree down, 
destroy it, but leave the stump and the roots in the ground with 
bands of iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; let him be 
drenched with the dew of heaven, and share the lot of the animals 
of the field until they have passed over him seven times. 
{R}_{I}21_{/}Now I shall explain it to you:
This is the decree of the Most High regarding the king, my lord. 
{I}22_{/}You shall be driven out from among men and live with the 
beasts of the field. You shall eat grass like the oxen, and be 
drenched by the dew of heaven. Seven times shall pass over you 
until you acknowledge that the Most High is higher than any human 
authority, and that he gives the power to whom he pleases.
[=]_{R}_{I}23_{/}The order to leave the stump and the roots means that 
you shall recover your kingdom when you have acknowledged that all 
power comes from heaven. {R}_{I}24_{/}May it then please the king to 
accept my advice: wipe out your sins with works of justice, and 
your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; then perhaps you may 
lengthen your prosperity."
{R}_{I}25_{/}All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. {I}26_{/}Twelve months 
later, while walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, 
{R}_{I}27_{/}the king said, "Is this not the great Babylon I built with 
the strength of my own power as my royal residence, and for the 
glory of my majesty?"
[=]_{R}_{I}28_{/}These words were still in the mouth of the king when a 
voice came down from heaven:
"King Nebuchadnezzar, I speak to you: your empire is finished.
{I}29_{/}You shall be driven from among men, and live with the animals 
of the field; you shall eat grass like oxen and seven times shall 
pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High disposes of 
the power among men and gives it to whom he pleases."
{I}30_{/}These words were fulfilled at once. Nebuchadnezzar was driven 
from among men, he fed on grass like oxen, his body was drenched 
with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of 
an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
{R}_{I}31_{/}At the end of this time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my 
eyes to heaven and my reason returned to me; so I blessed the Most 
High:
Blessed and glorified is he who lives for ever, whose dominion is 
everlasting and whose kingdom lasts through all generations.
[=]_{I}32_{/}All the inhabitants of the earth are before him as if 
they were nothing. He does as he pleases with the army of heaven 
and the inhabitants of the earth. No one can stop his hand or ask 
him to render an account.
{R}_{I}33_{/}At that moment, I regained my reason, I recovered my throne 
and again began to govern, for the glory of my kingdom. My 
counselors and my noblemen acclaimed me, they restored me to my 
throne and I was given still greater power.
[=]_{R}_{I}34_{/}So now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and glorify the 
King of Heaven. For all his works are true, and his ways are all 
just; he knows how to humble those who walk in pride.

{N}THE BANQUET OF BELSHAZZAR{/}

{1}5{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}King Belshazzar gave a  great banquet for his nobles, a 
thousand of them attended and he drank wine with them. {R}_{I}2_{/}Under 
the influence of wine, he ordered that the gold and silver vessels 
his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem 
be brought in so that he and his nobles, his wives and concubines 
might drink from them. {R}_{I}3_{/}The gold and silver vessels taken from 
God's temple were brought in, and the king and his nobles, his 
wives and concubines drank from them. [=]_{I}4_{/}While they drank 
wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze and 
iron, of wood and stone.
{R}_{I}5_{/}Suddenly a man's fingers appeared opposite the lampstand and 
wrote on the plastered wall of the king's palace. Watching the 
hand as it wrote, the king turned pale. {I}6_{/}So terrified was he 
that his knees knocked and his legs gave way.
{R}_{I}7_{/}He shouted, calling for his enchanters and Chaldean diviners. 
"Whoever reads this writing and tells me its meaning," said he to 
the wise men of Babylon, "will be clothed in purple, wear a gold 
chain around his neck, and be made the third highest ruler in my 
kingdom."
{R}_{I}8_{/}All the king's wise men came, but none could read the writing 
or tell its meaning. {R}_{I}9_{/}King Belshazzar became very frightened 
and his face grew even more pale. His nobles were likewise 
terrified and confused.
{R}_{I}10_{/}Hearing the troubled voices of the king and his nobles, the 
queen entered the banquet hall and said, "Live forever, O king! Do 
not be alarmed and become pale. [=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}In your kingdom is a man 
who has the spirit of the holy gods. He was found to have 
discernment and god-like wisdom during your father's lifetime. He 
was in fact appointed chief of the magicians, enchanters and 
diviners by your father King Nebuchadnezzar. [=]_{R}_{I}12_{/}This man 
Daniel, whom the king called Beltheshazzar, knew how to interpret 
dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for 
Daniel and he will tell you what the writing means."
{R}_{I}13_{/}Daniel was brought in and questioned by the king, "Are you 
Daniel, one of the exiles my father brought from Judah? {R}_{I}14_{/}I 
have heard that you have the spirit of the gods, that you have 
insight and extraordinary wisdom. {R}_{I}15_{/}Wise men and enchanters 
were brought here, but none of them could read this writing and 
tell its meaning. {R}_{I}16_{/}I have heard that you can interpret dreams 
and solve problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what 
it means, you will be clothed in purple, wear a gold chain around 
your neck, and be appointed third in rank in my kingdom."
{R}_{I}17_{/}Daniel replied, "You may keep your gifts or give them to 
someone else. Just the same I will read and interpret the writing 
for you. {R}_{I}18_{/}God the Most High gave your father Nebuchadnezzar 
sovereignty and a great kingdom. {R}_{I}19_{/}Because of the greatness 
given him by God, he was feared by nations and peoples of every 
language. He had the power of life and death over everyone. He 
exalted or humbled whomsoever he wished. [=]_{I}20_{/}But when he 
became arrogant and insolent, he was deposed and stripped of his 
glory. [=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}He became an outcast and as senseless as a beast. 
He lived with wild asses, ate grass like cattle and his body was 
drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that God 
the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and appoints whom he 
pleases to govern it. {I}22_{/}But you his son Belshazzar, although 
you knew all this, have not humbled yourself. {R}_{I}23_{/}You have 
defied the Lord of heaven. You had the vessels from his temple 
brought to you, and together with your nobles, your wives and 
concubines, you drank wine from them. You praised the idols made 
of silver and gold, of bronze, iron and stones, which neither see, 
nor hear, nor understand; but you never glorified God who has 
power over your life and all your fortunes. {I}24_{/}So he sent the 
hand that wrote the inscription {I}25_{/}which read MENE, MENE, TEKEL, 
PARSIN. And these words mean: {R}_{I}26_{/}MENE, God has numbered the 
days of your reign and put an end to it; {I}27_{/}TEKEL, you have been 
weighed on the scales and found wanting; {R}_{I}28_{/}PARSIN, your 
kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians."
{R}_{I}29_{/}On Belshazzar's order, Daniel was clothed in purple, given a 
gold chain to wear around his neck, and proclaimed the third 
highest ruler in the kingdom. {R}_{I}30_{/}That very night, however, the 
Chaldean king Belshazzar was slain. 

{1}6{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}Darius the Mede, at the age of sixty-two, took over the 
kingdom.

{N}DANIEL IS THROWN INTO THE LION'S DEN{/}

{R}_{I}2_{/}Darius appointed one hundred and twenty satraps throughout 
the whole kingdom. They were made accountable to three 
administrators, one of whom was Daniel. This was to ensure that no 
loss or harm should come to the king. {R}_{I}3_{/}Because of the 
extraordinary spirit residing in him, Daniel excelled above all 
the other administrators and satraps, so that the king planned to 
give him authority over the entire kingdom. {R}_{I}4_{/}This provoked 
envy among the administrators and satraps, who tried to find 
grounds for filing charges against Daniel as regard his 
performance of official duties. But he was so trustworthy that 
neither corruption nor negligence could be found in him. 
{R}_{I}5_{/}Finally the men decided: "We will never find any grounds for 
charges against this man Daniel except in something that has to do 
with the law of his God."
{R}_{I}6_{/}These administrators and satraps, therefore, went as a group 
to the king and said to him, "Live forever, O King Darius! 
{R}_{I}7_{/}The administrators of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, 
counselors and governors are all agreed that the king should issue 
and enforce a decree that anyone who prays and makes petition to 
any god or man within the next thirty days, except to you, O king, 
shall be thrown into the lions' den. [=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}And now, O king, put 
the decree in writing and have it signed at once, so that it 
cannot be altered or annulled, in accordance with Medo-Persian 
laws. {R}_{I}9_{/}King Darius put in writing and signed the prohibition, 
thus making it a law.
{R}_{I}10_{/}Daniel heard about the new law, but just as usual, he 
returned home and prayed three times a day, giving thanks to his 
God, in his room upstairs with the windows opened towards 
Jerusalem. [=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}There the men spying on him found Daniel 
kneeling in prayer and asking God for help. {R}_{I}12_{/}So they went to 
the king and reminded him about the prohibition, "O king, did you 
not publish a decree that anyone who prays or makes petition to 
any god or man except to you would be thrown into the lions' den?"
The king answered, "Yes, and the decree stands, in accordance with 
Medo-Persian laws which cannot be altered or annulled."
{R}_{I}13_{/}Then they said, "But the Jewish exile Daniel pays no 
attention to you and to your decree. Three times a day he still 
prays to some god other than you."
{R}_{I}14_{/}Greatly aggrieved at what he heard, the king decided to help 
Daniel. He made every effort till sundown to save him.
{R}_{I}15_{/}But the men kept coming to him and insisting, "Remember, O 
king, that under the Medo-Persian laws every decree or prohibition 
issued by the king is irrevocable."
{R}_{I}16_{/}The king, therefore, could not help giving the order that 
Daniel be brought and thrown into the lions' den. The king said to 
Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve faithfully, save you."
{R}_{I}17_{/}A stone was placed at the mouth of the den, and the king 
sealed it with his own signet ring and with that of his nobles, so 
that Daniel's situation might remain unchanged. [=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}Then the 
king returned to his palace and spent a sleepless night, refusing 
food and entertainment. {I}19_{/}Very early next morning, he rose and 
hurried to the lions' den. {R}_{I}20_{/}As he came near he called in an 
anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, did your God 
whom you serve faithfully save you from the lions?"
{R}_{I}21_{/}Daniel answered, "Live forever, O king! {R}_{I}22_{/}My God sent 
his angel who closed the lions' mouths so that they did not hurt 
me. God did that because I am innocent in his sight. Neither have 
I wronged you, O king."
[=]_{R}_{I}23_{/}The king felt very glad and ordered Daniel released from 
the lions' den. No wound was found on him for he had trusted in 
his God. {R}_{I}24_{/}At the king's order, the men who had accused Daniel 
were thrown into the lions' den, together with their wives and 
children. No sooner had they reached the floor of the den than the 
lions lunged at them and tore them to pieces.
{R}_{I}25_{/}King Darius wrote to the nations,to peoples of every 
language, "Peace to you all! {R}_{I}26_{/}I decree that throughout my 
kingdom people should reverence and fear the God of Daniel.
"For he is the living God,
and forever he endures;
his kingdom will not be crushed,
his dominion will never cease.
{R}_{I}27_{/}He rescues and he delivers;
he performs signs and wonders
both in heaven and on earth.
And he came to Daniel's rescue
saving him from the lions' tooth and claw."
{R}_{I}28_{/}Daniel greatly prospered during the reign of Darius and the 
reign of Cyrus the Persian.

{N}VISION OF THE FOUR EMPIRES{/}

{1}7{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}In the first year of the reign  of King Belshazzar of 
Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions in his mind as he was 
sleeping. When he woke up, he wrote down the dream. This is how 
the narrative began:
[=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}Daniel said, "I saw the following in my vision: the four 
winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, [=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}and four great 
beasts, each one different from the other, came out of the sea.
{R}_{I}4_{/}The first was like a lion with eagle's wings. As I looked at 
it, its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground, 
stood up on its feet like a man, and was given a human heart. 
{I}5_{/}The second was a beast like a bear; it was raised up on one 
side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was 
told: Go and devour much flesh. {I}6_{/}I went on looking and saw 
another beast like a leopard with four wings on its back; it had 
four heads and dominion was given to it.
{R}_{I}7_{/}I continued seeing my visions of the night and saw a terrible 
fourth beast. It was fearful and extraordinarily strong; it had 
great iron teeth; it ate, tore into pieces, and crushed underfoot 
whatever remained. It was different from the previous beasts and 
had ten horns. {I}8_{/}I was looking at the horns, when another small 
horn sprang among them, and three of the first horns were pulled 
out by the roots to make way for the new. It had eyes like human 
eyes and a mouth that uttered insolent words.

{N}THE SON OF MAN{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{I}9_{/}I looked and saw the following:
Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took his seat. 
His robe was white as snow, his hair white as washed wool. His 
throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire. {I}10_{/}A 
river of fire sprang forth and flowed before him. Thousands upon 
thousands served him and a countless multitude stood before him.
Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book. 
[=]_{I}11_{/}But as I remembered the haughty words of the horn with 
human eyes and mouth which I had seen before, this animal was 
killed before my eyes, and its body destroyed and cast into the 
fire. {I}12_{/}Dominion was taken from the other animals, though they 
were allowed to stay alive for a time, until the fixed time.
[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}I continued watching the nocturnal vision: 
One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the 
One of Great Age and was brought into his presence. 
[=]_{R}_{I}14_{/}Dominion, honor and kingship were given him, and all the 
peoples and nations of every language served him. His dominion is 
eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be 
destroyed.
{R}_{I}15_{/}I, Daniel, was deeply troubled, since these visions 
terrified me. {I}16_{/}I approached one of those who were standing 
there, and asked him to tell me what all this meant. He answered 
me and gave me the interpretation of these things:
{R}_{I}17_{/}'These four beasts are four kings who will rise from the 
earth. [=]_{R}_{I}18_{/}But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive 
the kingdom to possess it eternally, forever and ever.'
{I}19_{/}Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, 
different from the others, extraordinarily terrifying, with iron 
teeth and bronze claws, that ate, tore into pieces and crushed 
underfoot whatever remained. {I}20_{/}I also wanted to know about the 
ten horns it had on its head, and about the other horn which had 
sprung up, and the three first horns that fell, and about this 
horn with eyes and a mouth that spoke with arrogance, and that 
looked greater than the other horns.
{I}21_{/}As I looked, this horn waged war against the holy ones and 
was subduing them  [=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}until the One of Great Age came to do 
justice for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came for 
the holy ones to take possession of the kingdom.
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}23_{/}Then I was told:
'The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, different 
from all the kingdoms. It will devour the earth, crush it and 
destroy it.
[=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}The ten horns are ten kings who shall rise from this 
kingdom. Another one will rise up after them and destroy three 
kings.
[=]_{R}_{I}25_{/}This king shall insult the Most High and persecute the 
holy ones of the Most High. He shall try to change the feasts and 
the laws. The holy ones shall be handed over to his power for a 
time, two times, and half a time.
{I}26_{/}But judgment will come and dominion will be taken from him; 
he shall be destroyed and utterly wiped out. [=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}The 
kingship, dominion and leadership of all the kingdoms of the world 
shall be given to the people of the holy ones of God Most High: 
his kingdom will be without end. All the kingdoms shall serve him 
and be subject to him.'
{R}_{I}28_{/}Here ends the narrative. I, Daniel, was greatly disturbed in 
my thoughts, I grew pale and I kept these things in my heart."

{N}ANOTHER VISION ABOUT KING ANTIOCHUS{/}

{1}8{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, I, 
Daniel, had another vision. [=]_{I}2_{/}In the vision, I saw myself in 
Susa, the fortified city in the province of Elam; I noticed that I 
was by the river Ulai.
{I}3_{/}I raised my eyes and saw a ram standing before the river. It 
had two long horns, but one was longer than the other. {I}4_{/}I saw 
the ram charging westward, northward and southward. No animal 
could resist it, none could escape its power. It did as it pleased 
and so became great.
{I}5_{/}As I was thinking, a he-goat came from the west, as if flying 
above the entire earth without touching the ground; it had a great 
horn between its eyes. {I}6_{/}It approached the ram with the two 
horns which I had seen by the river, and it ran towards the ram 
with all the fury of its strength. {I}7_{/}I saw how it reached the 
ram and directed itself against it; it charged the ram and broke 
its two horns, and the ram was unable to resist. It cast it down 
to the ground and crushed it. No one could free the ram from its 
power.
{I}8_{/}The he-goat became very great, but when it was powerful, the 
great horn snapped and in its place sprang four great horns facing 
the four winds of heaven. [=]_{I}9_{/}From one of these, the small 
one, sprang a horn which grew big towards the south and east and 
towards the Beautiful Land.
[=]_{I}10_{/}It grew up to the army of heaven and flung part of the 
stars to the ground and crushed them underfoot. {R}_{I}11_{/}It even came 
to the Commander of the army, deprived him of the perpetual 
sacrifice and made useless his temple {R}_{I}12_{/}and the army. It put 
Abomination in place of the sacrifice and flung Truth to the 
ground. And whatever it undertook succeeded.
{R}_{I}13_{/}Then I heard a holy one speaking and another who asked him 
in return, "When shall the vision be fulfilled? What about the 
perpetual offering, the Abomination of the devastator, the 
sanctuary handed over and the army trampled underfoot?" {R}_{I}14_{/}He 
answered, "Until two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings 
have gone by, then the Temple shall be restored."
{R}_{I}15_{/}As I, Daniel, looked at this vision and tried to understand 
it, I suddenly saw before me someone like a man, [=]_{I}16_{/}and I 
heard a human voice over the river Ulai that cried out to him: 
"Gabriel, explain the vision to this man."
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}He approached the place where I was. When he came, I was 
terrified and fell on my face. He said to me, "Son of man, 
understand: this vision refers to the end-time." {I}18_{/}As he spoke, 
I lost consciousness and fell face down on the ground. He touched 
me and raised me to my feet. [=]_{I}19_{/}Then he said, "See, I will 
reveal to you what is going to happen when the wrath comes to an 
end, for the end is set.
{R}_{I}20_{/}The ram you have seen, with its two horns, stands for the 
two kings of the Medes and the Persians. {R}_{I}21_{/}The hairy he-goat 
is the king of Greece; the great horn between its eyes is the 
first of its kings; this horn snapped, {I}22_{/}and the four horns 
that sprang up in its place are the four kingdoms that will rise 
from his nation, but will not overpower him.
{R}_{I}23_{/}At the end of their reign, when the sinners have reached 
their full number, a king will arise, insolent and wise in 
cunning. [=]_{I}24_{/}His strength will increase, so that he shall 
plot things unheard of before.
Whatever he undertakes shall prosper, he shall destroy the 
powerful and the very people of the holy ones. [=]_{I}25_{/}He shall 
carry out his deceits, will be believed in by many and, in the 
fullness of peace, shall destroy many. He shall even rise against 
the Prince of princes, but he shall be destroyed without the 
intervention of any human hand.
{I}26_{/}What I said of the vision of the mornings and evenings is 
true, but keep the vision secret, for it will be fulfilled only in 
the remote future."
{R}_{I}27_{/}I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for several days. Then I got 
up to attend to the king's affairs. I remained frightened because 
of the vision and did not understand it.

{N}THE PRAYER OF DANIEL{/}

{1}9{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}In the first year of the reign of Darius, son of 
Ahasuerus, of the Median race, who was king of Chaldea, the 
following happened:
[=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}I, Daniel, thought about the number of years, according 
to the scriptures, before Jerusalem should be left in ruins. 
Yahweh spoke of seventy years to the prophet Jeremiah. [=]_{I}3_{/}I 
turned to the Lord and begged him. I pleaded with prayers and 
fasting. I did penance, I put on sackcloth and sat on an ash pile.
[=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}I prayed to Yahweh, my God, and made this confession: 
"Lord God, great and to be feared, you keep your Covenant and love 
for those who love you and observe your commandments. [=]_{I}5_{/}We 
have sinned, we have not been just, we have been rebels, and have 
turned away from your commandments and laws. {R}_{I}6_{/}We have not 
listened to your servants, the prophets, who spoke in your name to 
our kings, leaders, fathers and to all the people of the land.
[=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}Lord, justice is yours, but ours is a face full of shame, 
as it is to this day - we, the men of Judah, the inhabitants of 
Jerusalem, the whole of Israel, near and far away, in all the 
lands where you have dispersed us because of the infidelity we 
have committed against you. {R}_{I}8_{/}Ours is the shame, O Lord for we, 
our kings, princes, fathers, have sinned against you. {I}9_{/}We hope 
for pardon and mercy from the Lord, because we have rebelled 
against him. {R}_{I}10_{/}We have not listened to the voice of Yahweh, 
our God, or followed the laws which he has given us through his 
servants, the prophets.
{R}_{I}11_{/}All Israel has broken your law and has turned away from it 
rather than listen to your voice. Therefore, the curse and the 
threats written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have come 
upon us because we have sinned against him. {R}_{I}12_{/}He has carried 
out the threats he pronounced against us and against those who 
governed us: he brought a terrible calamity upon us. No, never 
could there be anything worse than what has come upon Jerusalem.
{R}_{I}13_{/}All these disasters have struck us with dread as it was 
written in the Law of Moses, but we have not tried to calm the 
anger of Yahweh, our God. We have not turned away from our sins 
and learned to listen to your truth. {R}_{I}14_{/}Yahweh made true his 
threat and brought this calamity upon us, for Yahweh, our God, is 
just in all his works, while we have not obeyed his voice.
{R}_{I}15_{/}And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of 
Egypt by your powerful hand and gained renown to this day, we have 
sinned, we have been unfaithful. [=]_{R}_{I}16_{/}Lord, in keeping with 
your kindness, turn away your anger and wrath from Jerusalem, your 
city, your holy mountain, for because of our sins and the 
wickedness of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people are the 
laughingstock of all around us.
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}So now, our God, listen to the prayer and pleading of 
your servant and, for your own sake, let your face shine upon your 
desolate sanctuary. {R}_{I}18_{/}My God, incline your ear and listen. 
Open your eyes and see how the city lies in ruins, the city upon 
which your Name has been pronounced. We do not rely on our good 
works, but we pour out our plea before you, trusting in your great 
mercy.
[=]_{R}_{I}19_{/}Listen, Lord! Lord, forgive! Pay attention to us, Lord! 
Act, my God, and do not delay for your own sake, since your city 
and your people are called by your name."

{N}THE PROPHECY OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}20_{/}At the hour of the evening sacrifice, I was still 
speaking, confessing my sins and those of Israel, my people, 
begging Yahweh on behalf of his Holy Mountain.
[*]_[=]_{I}21_{/}At that moment, Gabriel whom I had seen at the 
beginning of the vision, came to me, flying, {R}_{I}22_{/}and he said to 
me, "Daniel, I have come now to make you understand. {R}_{I}23_{/}As you 
were praying, a word was uttered and I have come to teach it to 
you because God loves you. Pay attention to this word and 
understand the vision:
[=]_{R}_{I}24_{/}Seventy weeks are set for your people and your holy 
city, to put an end to transgression, to put sin under lock, to 
wipe out the offense, and to bring everlasting justice, so that 
the visions and the prohecies will be fulfilled and the Holy of 
Holies be anointed.
[=]_{R}_{I}25_{/}Understand this, then:
From the time the order to rebuild Jerusalem was given until an 
anointed leader comes, there shall be seven weeks. 
Then in sixty-two weeks squares and walls will be rebuilt, but in 
a difficult time.
[=]_{R}_{I}26_{/}After the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one will be cut 
off; the city and the temple shall be destroyed by the people of a 
king who will come. They will be carried along as by a flood. 
Until the end, there will be wars and disasters which God has 
decreed.
[=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}He will impose his law on a great part of the people for 
a week. By mid-week, he will put a stop to the sacrifices and 
offerings. The devastator shall place the abominable idol in the 
Temple until the ruin decreed by God comes upon the devastator."

{N}HISTORY OF THE TIME OF THE MACCABEES: A SYMBOLIC NARRATIVE{/}

{1}10{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}In the third year of the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia, 
God gave a message to Daniel, renamed Belteshazzar. This message 
spoke of fidelity and great anguish. Daniel paid attention to 
these words and to the following vision:
{R}_{I}2_{/}At that time, I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 
[=]_{I}3_{/}I ate no rich food, took no meat or wine, and did not 
perfume myself for three weeks.
{I}4_{/}On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I stood on the 
bank of the river Tigris, [=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}I raised my eyes and saw this: 
a man clothed in linen with a belt of pure gold round his waist. 
{I}6_{/}His body was like chrysolite, his face had the brilliance of 
lightning, his eyes were like blazing torches, and the sound of 
his words was like the noise of a crowd.
[=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}I, Daniel, alone saw this vision; the men who were with 
me did not see it, but they were seized with great fear and they 
fled to hide. {I}8_{/}So I was left alone gazing on this vision. I was 
powerless. The appearance of my face changed fearfully, and I 
retained absolutely no strength. {I}9_{/}I heard the sound of his 
words, and when I heard it, I fainted face down to the ground. 
{I}10_{/}Then a hand touched me, and set me trembling on my hands and 
knees.
[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}He said to me, "Daniel, man loved by God, pay attention 
to the words I shall say to you and stand up, for I have been sent 
to you now." When I heard these words I stood up trembling.
{R}_{I}12_{/}Then he said to me, "Daniel, do not be afraid, for from that 
first day when you resolved to acquire understanding and to humble 
yourself before your God, your supplications were heard, and it is 
precisely because of this that I have come.
[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}The prince of the Persian kingdom has resisted me for 
twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the leading angels, has come 
to my assistance. I left him there with the kings of Persia, 
{I}14_{/}and I have come to tell you what will happen to your people 
in the days to come. For this new vision, too, refers to those 
days."
{R}_{I}15_{/}When he had said these words to me, I bowed my head and kept 
silent, but someone like a man touched my lips. {I}16_{/}Then I opened 
my mouth to speak and said to him who was before me, "My lord, 
anguish overcomes me at this vision, and I have no strength. 
{I}17_{/}How can I speak to my lord when my strength fails me and I 
cannot breathe?"
{R}_{I}18_{/}The one who looked like a man touched me again, and he 
strengthened me. {R}_{I}19_{/}He said to me, "Man chosen by God, do not 
fear. Peace be with you. Have courage and be strong." {I}20_{/}And as 
he spoke, I felt strengthened, and I said, "Speak, my lord, now 
that I feel strong."
Then he said to me, "Do you know why I have come to you? {R}_{I}21_{/}I 
shall reveal to you what is written in the Book of Truth. After 
that I have to return to fight against the angel of Persia; then, 
the angel of Greece will come. No one lends me support in all this 
except Michael, your angel.

{1}11{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}He helps and strengthens me in the same way that I have 
helped him in the first year of Darius, the Mede. {R}_{I}2_{/}But now, I 
shall tell you the truth.
There shall be three more kings in Persia, and the fourth shall 
have more riches than all the others. And when he has grown strong 
with his riches, he will stir up everything against the kingdom of 
Greece.
{R}_{I}3_{/}A powerful king will rise and reign over a vast empire and do 
as he pleases. {R}_{I}4_{/}But as soon as he has secured his reign, his 
empire will be broken up and divided out to the four winds of 
heaven, though not among his descendants. It will not be the same 
dynasty, but his kingdom shall be taken from them and passed on to 
others.
{R}_{I}5_{/}The king of the South will grow powerful, but one of his 
leaders will grow more powerful still and will have an empire 
greater than his. {R}_{I}6_{/}Some years later, they will be allies and 
the daughter of the king of the South shall come to the king of 
the North to conclude the alliance. But she will not endure; for 
she will be put to death with those who brought her, and her son 
and husband as well. {R}_{I}7_{/}Then, a bud from her roots will sprout 
in her place, and will cross the land of "the army" and enter the 
fortress of the king of the North. {R}_{I}8_{/}He will be victorious in 
wars and will appropriate to himself their gods, statues and 
objects of silver and gold: all this plunder will be brought into 
Egypt. For some years, he shall remain far away from the king of 
the North.
{R}_{I}9_{/}The king of the North will invade the kingdom of the South, 
and then return to his own country. {I}10_{/}His sons will prepare for 
war and assemble a great multitude of troops. One of them will 
come like an overflowing river; he will break through and then 
withdraw after having fought right up to his fortress. {R}_{I}11_{/}Then 
the king of the South, enraged, will set out to fight against the 
king of the North. He will mobilize a great army, and the 
multitude will fall into his hands {I}12_{/}and perish. Then he will 
become proud and crush tens of thousands of men, but his strength 
will not last.
{R}_{I}13_{/}The king of the North will attack after mobilizing a greater 
army than the first. And after several years, he will come with a 
large army and abundant provisions and supplies. {R}_{I}14_{/}Then many 
will rise against the king of the South, and the violent among 
your people will rise against him, trusting in a vision, but they 
will throw up siegeworks and will capture the fortified city. 
{R}_{I}15_{/}The king of the South will not be able to resist, he and the 
picked troops of his people.
{I}16_{/}He who marches against him will do as he pleases, and none 
can resist him, and he will settle in the Beautiful Land, bringing 
destruction. {R}_{I}17_{/}He shall plan to reign over his whole kingdom, 
and will conclude an agreement with him, giving him one of his 
daughters, in order to destroy the kingdom. But he will not 
succeed, so it will not happen.
{I}18_{/}Then he will turn against the islands and seize a good number 
of them, but a commander will humble him, and he will not be able 
to avenge himself. {I}19_{/}So he will turn against the fortresses of 
his own land, but he will stumble, fall and never rise again.
{R}_{I}20_{/}In his place will rise another who will send a tax collector 
to despoil the Glory of his Kingdom, but he will be overthrown 
within a few days, though neither with arms nor in battle.
{R}_{I}21_{/}In his place a contemptible man will rise to whom royal 
dignity has not been given, but he will intervene unexpectedly and 
will gain possession of the kingdom by intrigue. {R}_{I}22_{/}The enemy 
forces will be completely routed and utterly destroyed by him, and 
the Prince of the covenant, too. {I}23_{/}He will act with cunning, 
making good use of the pacts concluded with him, and with a few 
men, he will grow strong.
{I}24_{/}He will invade the richest provinces and will do what his 
fathers or his grandfathers had not done. He will divide the 
plunder, the booty and the riches among his friends. He will 
devise plans against fortresses, but up to a certain period only.
{R}_{I}25_{/}He will direct his strength and courage against the king of 
the South. The king of the South will go to war with a great and 
powerful army, but will not be able to resist, for conspiracies 
have been plotted against him. {R}_{I}26_{/}Those who ate from his table 
will ruin him, his army will be disbanded and many will fall dead 
by the sword.
[=]_{R}_{I}27_{/}The two kings will not think of  anything but to do harm 
and to deceive each other while sitting at the same table. But 
they will not accomplish anything, since there is{I} {/}still time 
before the appointed moment.
{R}_{I}28_{/}The king of the North will return to his land with great 
riches and will devise plans against the Holy Covenant. He will 
act against it, then he will return to his land. {R}_{I}29_{/}In due time 
he will return again to the South, but in this second time, things 
will not be as before.
[=]_{R}_{I}30_{/}The ships of Kittim will come against him and he will 
have to abandon his plan, but he will vent his anger against the 
Holy Covenant, and will again favor those who have turned away 
from the Holy Covenant. [=]_{R}_{I}31_{/}He will send some of his forces 
to profane the Citadel sanctuary, to suppress the perpetual 
sacrifice and there to set up the Abominable Idol of the 
devastator. {R}_{I}32_{/}He will corrupt with flatteries those who 
violate the Covenant, but the people who know their God will stand 
firm.
[=]_{I}33_{/}The most intelligent among the people will teach many, 
but they will fall by the sword or be burned or exiled or 
plundered of their goods for some time. {I}34_{/}And when they fall, 
they will receive little help; but many will join them in deceit. 
{I}35_{/}Some among the learned will stumble, but this will be so as 
to prove them, to purify and cleanse them until the end which is 
to come at its appointed time.
[=]_{R}_{I}36_{/}The king will act according to his whims, becoming 
conceited and exalting himself above all the gods, and he will 
speak outrageous blasphemies against the God of gods. He will 
prosper until the Wrath is filled to overflowing, for what has 
been decreed will be fulfilled. {I}37_{/}He will pay no heed to his 
fathers' gods, will not mind the favorite god of the women, or any 
other god, but will exalt only himself as greater than them all. 
{I}38_{/}In their place, he will worship the god of fortresses, a god 
unknown to his fathers, and will honor him with gold, silver and 
precious stones and jewels. {I}39_{/}Trusting in a foreign god, he 
will attack the fortresses. Those who adore him will be given 
great honor, they will have authority to divide the land as a 
reward.
{R}_{I}40_{/}When the end-time comes, the king of the South will confront 
him. The king of the North will attack him with chariot cavalry 
and many ships. He will enter his lands, invade them and pass 
through them.
{R}_{I}41_{/}He will come to the Beautiful Land where many will fall; 
only the people of Edom, Moab and the best of the Ammonites will 
escape. {R}_{I}42_{/}He will stretch out his hand to many countries, 
including Egypt. {R}_{I}43_{/}He will seize the treasures of gold and 
silver and all precious objects of Egypt. Libyans and Ethiopians 
will join him.
{I}44_{/}But reports coming from the East and the North will worry 
him, and he will set out in a rage, determined to utterly wipe out 
and destroy many.
[=]_{R}_{I}45_{/}He will set up the tent of his military camp between the 
sea and the Holy Mountain of the Beautiful Land. Then he will come 
to his end and no one will come to his aid.

{N}THOSE WHO SLEEP WILL AWAKE TO EVERLASTING LIFE{/}

{1}12{/}

[\u0095]_{I}1_{/}At that time, Michael will rise, the Great Commander who 
defends the sons of your people. It shall be a time of anguish as 
never before since the nations first existed until this very day.
Then all those whose names are written in the Book will be saved. 
[=]_{I}2_{/}Many of those who sleep in the Region of the Dust will 
awake, some to everlasting life but others to eternal horror and 
shame. [=]_{I}3_{/}Those who acquired knowledge will shine like the 
brilliance of the firmament; those who taught people to be just 
will shine like the stars for all eternity.
{R}_{I}4_{/}And you, Daniel, keep these words secret and have the Book 
sealed until the appointed time of the end. Many will wander 
looking here and there. Wickedness will go on increasing."
[\u0095]_{R}_{I}5_{/}I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing, one on 
either side of the river. {R}_{I}6_{/}One said to the man clothed in 
linen who was upstream, "When will these wonderful things take 
place?"
[=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}And I heard the answer of the man in linen who was 
upstream. He raised his hands to heaven and swore by the One who 
lives eternally: "Everything will be fulfilled within a time, two 
times and a half a time. When the holy people is completely 
crushed and without any strength, then these things will be 
fulfilled."
[=]_{I}8_{/}I heard but did not understand. Then I said, "My lord, 
what will be the outcome of these things?" {R}_{I}9_{/}He said, "Go, 
Daniel, for these words are secret and sealed until the appointed 
time of the end. [=]_{I}10_{/}Many will be purified, cleansed and 
proved. The impious will go on doing evil, none of them will 
understand anything, only the learned will understand.
{R}_{I}11_{/}From the time the perpetual sacrifice is suppressed and the 
Abominable Idol of the devastator is installed, there shall be a 
thousand two hundred ninety days. {I}12_{/}Fortunate is the one who 
waits and reaches a thousand three hundred thirty-five days. 
{I}13_{/}And you, go your way until your end. You shall rest and then 
rise to receive your reward at the end of time."

{C}THREE BOOKS ADDED TO THE BOOK OF DANIEL{/}

{N}THE STORY OF SUSANNA{/}

{1}13{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}There lived in Babylon  a man named Joakim, {R}_{I}2_{/}who was 
married to a very beautiful God-fearing woman, Susanna, Hilkiah's 
daughter, {R}_{I}3_{/}whose pious parents had trained her in the law of 
Moses. {R}_{I}4_{/}A very rich man and greatly respected by his 
countrymen, Joakim was frequently visited by the Jews in his house 
adjoining a garden.
[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}That year, two elders of the people were appointed 
judges, in whom this word of the Lord became true, "Wickedness has 
come forth from Babylon, through the elders appointed judges, who 
were supposed to govern the people." {I}6_{/}These men frequented 
Joakim's house, and all who had legal disputes used to come to 
them.
{I}7_{/}After the people had left at noon, Susanna would go into her 
husband's garden for a walk. {I}8_{/}The two old men began to lust for 
her as they watched her enter the garden every day. 
[=]_{I}9_{/}Forgetting the demands of justice and virtue, their lust 
grew all the more as they made no effort to turn their eyes to 
heaven. {I}10_{/}Although both were possessed of the same passion for 
her, they concealed that from each  other, {I}11_{/}for they were 
ashamed to reveal their lustful desire. {I}12_{/}But they continued 
watching her day after day.
{I}13_{/}One day before lunch, they parted, saying to each other, "Let 
us go home for it is meal time. So off they went in different 
directions. {I}14_{/}but both turned back, and coming face to face 
again, each was obliged to explain his action and admit his lust. 
They agreed to wait for an opportunity to meet her alone.
{I}15_{/}One day, as they were waiting for an opportune time, Susanna 
entered the garden as usual with only two maids. She decided to 
bathe, for it was a hot day. {I}16_{/}Nobody else was there ex-cept 
the two elders watching her from where they had hidden themselves.
{I}17_{/}She said to the maids, "Bring me oil and ointments, and shut 
the garden doors while I bathe." {I}18_{/}Unaware of the elders hidden 
inside the garden, the two maids did as ordered, shutting the 
doors and leaving by the side entrance to the house to fetch what 
she had asked for.
{I}19_{/}When the maids had left, the two elders hurried to her and 
said, {I}20_{/}"Look, the garden doors are shut and no one sees us. We 
desire to possess you. {R}_{I}21_{/}If you refuse to give in, we will 
testify that you sent your maids away for there was a young man 
here with you."
[=]_{R}_{I}22_{/}Susanna moaned, "Whatever I do, I am trapped. If I give 
in to your desire, it will be death for me; if I refuse, I won't 
escape your persecution. {I}23_{/}I would rather be persecuted than 
sin in the eyes of the Lord."
{I}24_{/}Susanna shrieked, but the old men shouted, putting the blame 
on her. {I}25_{/}One of them ran and opened the garden doors. 
{I}26_{/}Hearing the noise in the garden, the household servants 
rushed in by the side entrance to see what was happening. 
{I}27_{/}They were taken aback when they heard the elders' accusation, 
for never had anything like this been said of Susanna.
{R}_{I}28_{/}The next day a meeting was held at Joakim's house. The two 
elders arrived, vindictively determined to have Susanna sentenced 
to death. {I}29_{/}They ordered before all the people, "Send for 
Susanna, Hilkiah's daughter and Joakim's wife." {I}30_{/}They sent for 
her, and she came with her parents, children and all her 
relatives.
{I}31_{/}Susanna was a very refined and beautiful woman. {I}32_{/}She had 
her veil on, but the wicked elders ordered her to uncover her face 
for them to feast on her beauty. {I}33_{/}Her family and friends and 
all who saw her wept.
{I}34_{/}The two elders stood up and laid their hands upon her head. 
{I}35_{/}Completely trusting in the Lord, she raised her tearful eyes 
to heaven.
{I}36_{/}The elders started making their accusation, "We were taking a 
walk in the garden when this woman came in with two maids. She 
ordered them to shut the garden doors and dismissed them. 
{R}_{I}37_{/}Then a young man came out of hiding and lay with her. 
{I}38_{/}We were in a corner of the garden, and we saw this crime from 
there. We ran to them, {R}_{I}39_{/}and caught them in the act of 
embracing. We were unable to take hold of the man. He was too 
strong for us. He made a dash for the door, opened it and ran off. 
{I}40_{/}But we were able to seize this woman. We asked her who the 
young man was, {R}_{I}41_{/}but she refused to tell us. This is our 
statement, and we testify to its truth."
The assembly took their word, since they were elders and judges of 
the people. Susanna was condemned to death. [=]_{R}_{I}42_{/}She cried 
aloud, "Eternal God, nothing is hidden from you; you know all 
things before they come to be. {I}43_{/}You know that these men have 
testified falsely against me. Would you let me die, though I am 
not guilty of all their malicious charges?"
{I}44_{/}The Lord heard her, {R}_{I}45_{/}and as she was being led to her 
execution, God aroused the holy spirit residing in a young lad 
named Daniel. [=]_{R}_{I}46_{/}He shouted, "I will have no part in the 
death of this woman!"
{I}47_{/}Those present turned to him, "What did you say?" they all 
asked.
{I}48_{/}Standing in their midst, he said to them, "Have you become 
fools, you Israelites, to condemn a daughter of Israel without due 
process and in the absence of clear evidence? {R}_{I}49_{/}Return to 
court, for those men have testified falsely against her."
[=]_{R}_{I}50_{/}Hurriedly they returned, and the elders said to Daniel, 
"Come and sit with us, for you also possess the gifts bestowed by 
God upon the elders."
{R}_{I}51_{/}Daniel said to the people, "Separate these two from one 
another and I will examine each of them." 
{R}_{I}52_{/}When the two elders were separated from each other, Daniel 
called one of them and said, "How wicked you have grown with age. 
Your sins of earlier days have piled up against you, and now is 
the time of reckoning. {R}_{I}53_{/}Remember how you have passed unjust 
sentences, condemning the innocent and freeing the guilty, 
although the Lord has said 'The innocent and the just should not 
be put to death.' {I}54_{/}Now, if you really witnessed the crime, 
under what tree did you see them do it?"
{R}_{I}55_{/}The elder answered, "Under a mastic tree."
Daniel said, "Your lie will cost you your head. You will be cut in 
two, as soon as the Lord's angel receives your sentence from God."
{R}_{I}56_{/}Putting the first one aside, Daniel called the other elder 
and said to him, "You offspring of Canaan and not of Judah, you 
have long allowed yourself to be perverted by lust. {R}_{I}57_{/}This is 
how you have dealt with the daughters of Israel, who out of fear 
have yielded to you. But here is a daughter of Judah who would not 
tolerate your wickedness. {I}58_{/}Tell me then, under what tree did 
you catch them committing the crime?"
The answer came, "Under an oak."
{R}_{I}59_{/}"Your lie has also cost you your head," Daniel said. "God's 
angel waits to cut you both in two."
{R}_{I}60_{/}The whole assembly shouted and blessed God for helping those 
who hope in him. [=]_{R}_{I}61_{/}They turned against the two elders who, 
through Daniel's efforts, had been convicted by their own mouths. 
In accordance with Moses' law, the penalty the two elders had 
intended to impose upon their neighbor was inflicted upon them. 
{R}_{I}62_{/}They were sentenced to death. Thus was the life of an 
innocent woman spared that day.
{R}_{I}63_{/}Hilkiah and his wife praised God for the justice given 
Susanna, and so did Joakim her husband and all her relatives, for 
she was not found guilty of any shameful deed. {R}_{I}64_{/}Daniel was 
greatly esteemed by the people from that day onward.

{N}DANIEL AND THE PRIESTS OF BEL{/}

{1}14{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}When King Astyages died, Cyrus the Persian ascended the 
throne. {R}_{I}2_{/}Daniel was very close to the king, who held him in 
higher esteem than any of his other friends.
[=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}The Babylonians had an idol called Bel, to which twelve 
bushels of fine flour, forty sheep, and six measures of wine were 
offered daily. {R}_{I}4_{/}The king took part in this cult and worshiped 
the idol every day. Daniel, on the other hand, worshiped only his 
own God. [=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}And the king asked him, "Why don't you worship 
Bel?"
Daniel answered, "I worship no man-made idols, but only the living 
God who made heaven and earth and rules over all mankind." 
{R}_{I}6_{/}The king asked, "Don't you think Bel is a living god? Don't 
you see how much he eats and drinks every day?"
{R}_{I}7_{/}Daniel laughed. "Do not be deceived, O king. This is only 
clay inside and bronze outside. It never ate or drank anything."
{R}_{I}8_{/}Enraged, the king called his priests and said to them, "If 
you will not tell me who consumes all these offerings, you will 
all die. {R}_{I}9_{/}But if you can show that Bel consumes them, it is 
Daniel who will die for blaspheming." Daniel said to the king, 
"Let it be as you say."
{R}_{I}10_{/}There were seventy priests of Bel, besides their wives and 
children. Together with Daniel, the king went to Bel's temple. 
{R}_{I}11_{/}The priests said to the king, "See, we are going outside. We 
will leave you here inside, O king, to set out the food and 
prepare the wine. Then you can leave them, shut the door and seal 
it with your ring. {R}_{I}12_{/}You will return in the morning, and if 
you find that Bel has not eaten the food and drunk the wine, we 
are ready to be executed. But if the reverse happens, Daniel must 
die for telling lies and slandering us."
{I}13_{/}They were confident for they had made a secret entrance under 
the table, through which they used to come in to consume the food 
and wine offerings. {R}_{I}14_{/}When the priests had left, the king set 
the food before Bel, while Daniel ordered his servants to scatter 
ashes all over the temple floor. Then they left after shutting the 
door and sealing it with the king's ring. {R}_{I}15_{/}That night the 
priests and their wives and children came and, as usual, ate and 
drank the offerings.
{R}_{I}16_{/}Early the next morning, the king returned to the temple with 
Daniel. {R}_{I}17_{/}"Are the seals unbroken, Daniel?" the king asked. 
Daniel answered, "They are unbroken, O king." {R}_{I}18_{/}Opening the 
door, the king looked at the table, then exclaimed, "You are 
indeed great, O Bel. There is no deception in you."
{R}_{I}19_{/}Daniel laughed, and restraining the king from entering, he 
said, "But look at the floor and see whose footprints these are." 
{R}_{I}20_{/}The king said, "I see footprints of men, women and 
children."
{R}_{I}21_{/}Enraged, the king ordered the priests and their wives and 
children to be seized. They were compelled to show him the secret 
door through which they used to enter to consume the offerings on 
the table. {R}_{I}22_{/}They were put to death on orders of the king. And 
Bel was handed over to Daniel, who destroyed the idol and its 
temple.

{N}DANIEL AND THE DRAGON{/}

[=]_{I}23_{/}In Babylon there was a big dragon which was also 
worshiped. {R}_{I}24_{/}"Look," said the king to Daniel, "this is alive, 
not made of bronze. Would you deny that this is a living god? 
Worship it."
{R}_{I}25_{/}Daniel replied, "I will worship no one but the Lord my God, 
for he alone is the living God. {R}_{I}26_{/}With your permission, O 
king, I will slay this dragon without sword or club." The king 
answered, "You have my permission."
{I}26_{/}Then Daniel took some pitch, fat and hair, and boiled them 
together. He made them into cakes which he fed to the Dragon. And 
the Dragon burst after eating them. {R}_{I}27_{/}Daniel said to the king, 
"Now look at what happened to the thing you worship.
{R}_{I}28_{/}The Babylonians became angry upon hearing of this. "Our king 
has become a Jew," they said. "He destroyed Bel, killed the Dragon 
and put the priests to death." {R}_{I}29_{/}They went to the king and 
said, "Hand Daniel over to us or we will kill you and your 
family!" {R}_{I}30_{/}The king was forced to hand Daniel over to the 
people.
{R}_{I}31_{/}Daniel was thrown into the lions' den, where he stayed for 
six days. {R}_{I}32_{/}In the den were seven lions which were fed daily 
with two human bodies and two sheep. This food was withheld from 
them, to make sure that they would devour Daniel.
{R}_{I}33_{/}Now in Judea was a prophet named Habakkuk. He had put some 
bread and stew in a basket, and was about to take them to the 
reapers in the field {R}_{I}34_{/}when an angel of the lord appeared and 
said to him, "Take that lunch to Daniel in the lion's den at 
Babylon."
{I}35_{/}Habakkuk said, "Sir, I have never been to Babylon nor have I 
seen the lions' den." [=]_{I}36_{/}The angel then took him by the 
crown of his head, carried him by his hair, and soon they were 
alighting above the lion's den in Babylon. {R}_{I}37_{/}"Daniel, Daniel," 
cried, Habakkuk, "take this lunch God has sent you."
{R}_{I}38_{/}Daniel gave thanks to God, saying, "You have remembered me, 
O God, and have not forsaken those who love you." {R}_{I}39_{/}Daniel 
ate, and the Lord's angel returned Habakkuk to his own place.
{R}_{I}40_{/}On the seventh day, the king came to the lions' den to mourn 
for Daniel. He looked inside and saw Daniel sitting there. 
{R}_{I}41_{/}The king cried aloud, "How great you are, O Lord God of 
Daniel! Surely there is no other God but you!" {R}_{I}42_{/}He took 
Daniel out and threw into the den those who tried to destroy him. 
They were at once devoured before his eyes.

