Daniel 1-6
New Catholic Bible
Edifying Accounts: The Acts of Daniel and His Companions[a]
Daniel and His Companions Trained for the King’s Service
Chapter 1
The Food Test.[b] 1 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, marched into Jerusalem and laid siege to it.[c] 2 The Lord allowed King Jehoiakim of Judah to fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the temple of God, which he carried off to the land of Shinar and placed in the temple treasury of his own god.
3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring into the palace some Israelites from the royal family and from the nobility; 4 young men who were handsome and without physical defects of any kind, possessing an aptitude for every branch of knowledge and with great insight, clearly showing the necessary competence to serve in the king’s palace. Those so chosen were to be instructed in the language and the literature of the Chaldeans.
5 The king designated a daily allotment of food and wine from the royal table for them. After having been educated for three years, they would enter the king’s service. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief eunuch assigned them different names: Daniel would be called Belteshazzar, Hananiah would be called Shadrach, Mishael would be called Meshach, and Azariah would be called Abednego.
8 However, Daniel was determined not to defile himself by partaking of food and wine from the royal table, and he pleaded with the chief eunuch to spare him this defilement. 9 God influenced the eunuch to grant this favor and to treat Daniel with compassion. 10 However, the eunuch said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king. He has specifically designated what food and drink are to be supplied to you. If he should notice that you appear to be notably thinner than the other young men of your age, he would probably issue a command that I be beheaded.”
11 Then Daniel said to the guard whom the eunuch had assigned to supervise Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for a period of ten days, during which we will be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 You can then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat only the food designated by the king. Then deal with your servants and treat us in accordance with what you observe.”
14 The guard agreed to this proposal and tested them for a period of ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days they looked better nourished and healthier than any of the young men who had subsisted solely on the food provided by the king. 16 Therefore, the guard continued to withdraw the food and the wine they were to drink, and he provided them with vegetables. 17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and learning. In addition, Daniel was given the gift of interpreting visions and dreams of every kind.
18 When the time arrived that the king had designated for their presentation to him, the eunuch brought all the young men into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar. 19 After the king had spoken with all of them, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore, all four of them were appointed to the king’s court. 20 In regard to whatever point of wisdom or understanding the king would question them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters throughout his entire kingdom. 21 Daniel remained there until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.[d]
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of the Shattered Statue[e]
Chapter 2
The King’s Dream. 1 During the second year of his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him deeply and made sleep impossible. 2 Therefore, the king commanded that the magicians, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans[f] were to be summoned to interpret his dream. When they arrived and stood in his presence, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream, and my mind is troubled because I have been unable to interpret it.” 4 The Chaldeans replied to the king in Aramaic,[g] “May you live forever, O king. Relate your dream to us, your servants, and we will reveal its meaning to you.”
5 The king answered the Chaldeans, “This is what I have decided to do. If you are unable to tell me both the dream I had and its meaning, I will command that you be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be totally destroyed. 6 However, if you are able to tell me what I dreamed and its meaning, I will present you with gifts, rewards, and great honors. Therefore, tell me the content of the dream and its meaning.”
7 They replied a second time, “Let the king first reveal his dream to his servants, and we shall interpret its meaning for you.” 8 But the king responded, “It is clear to me that you are stalling for time, since you know what I have already resolved to do. 9 If you are unable to interpret my dream for me, there will only be one verdict for you. You have obviously decided to stall for time in the hope that some compromise may be reached. Therefore, relate the content of my dream to me so that I will be able to determine whether you can interpret it correctly.”
10 The Chaldeans answered the king, “There is not a man on earth who can do what you request, O king. Never has there been a king, no matter how great or powerful, who has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 What you are requiring of us is much too difficult, and no one can satisfy the king’s demand except for the gods, whose dwelling is not among mortals.”
12 On hearing this, the king flew into a violent rage and ordered that all the wise men of Babylon were to be put to death. 13 There-fore, the decree was issued for their execution, and a search was also made for Daniel and his companions so that they also might be executed.
14 As Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, prepared to execute the wise men of Babylon, Daniel approached him, and with prudent words and discretion 15 he said to him, “May I ask you why the king has issued such a harsh decree?” When Arioch explained what had occurred, 16 Daniel went off and asked the king to decree a stay of execution so that he might have the opportunity to offer his interpretation to the king.
17 The Prayer of Daniel. Then Daniel went home and informed his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, what had happened. 18 He also asked them to implore the God of heaven[h] for his mercy in regard to the mystery so that he and his companions might not perish along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision during the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 This is what Daniel said,
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
for wisdom and power are his.
21 He directs the changes of the times and seasons;
he controls the appointment and the removal of kings.
He endows the wise with wisdom
and confers knowledge on those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and hidden mysteries
and knows what lies in the darkness,
for light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
I offer thanks and praise
because you have given me wisdom and power.
Now you have made known to me
what we asked of you;
you have revealed to us the king’s dream.”
24 The Statue Turned Upside Down.[i]Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had designated to execute the wise men of Babylon, and he said to him, “Do not put the wise men of Babylon to death. Bring me into the presence of the king, and I will reveal to him the interpretation of the dream.”
25 Arioch immediately brought Daniel to the king and said to him, “Among the exiles from Judah I have located a man who can reveal the meaning of the dream to the king.” 26 The king said to Daniel, “Are you able to tell me the dream that I experienced and to reveal its meaning to me?”
27 Daniel stood in the king’s presence and replied, “None of the wise men, the enchanters, the sorcerers, or the astrologers has been able to explain to the king the dream about which you have been so disturbed. 28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has disclosed to King Nebuchadnezzar what is to take place at the end of this age. These were the dreams and the visions that passed through your head as you lay in your bed.
29 “While you were lying there, O king, thoughts came to you about what would happen in the future, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what will take place. 30 This mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than any living person, but for the sole purpose that the interpretation may be made known to you and also that you may understand the thoughts that have entered your mind.
31 “In the vision that you had, Your Majesty, you beheld a huge statue that was dazzling in its brightness. It stood before you, frightening in its appearance. 32 The head of the statue was of fine gold, its chest and its arms were of silver, its belly and its thighs were of bronze, 33 its legs were of iron, and its feet were partly of iron and partly of clay.
34 “While you were gazing at the statue, a stone broke away, untouched by any human hand, and struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, shattering them to pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were all shattered into pieces as fine as the chaff on the threshing floor during the summer. The wind carried them away without leaving a trace. However, the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the entire earth.
36 “That was the dream. Now we shall offer to the king its interpretation. 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom with its power, its might, and its glory. 38 He has entrusted to your care men, wild beasts, and birds of the air, wherever they may dwell. You are the head of gold.
39 “After you another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours, followed by a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over the whole earth. 40 There will then be a fourth kingdom, as strong as iron. Just as iron crushes and smashes everything to pieces, it will crush and pulverize all the other kingdoms.
41 “Like the feet and the toes that you saw, composed partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but it will have some of the strength of iron just as you saw the iron mixed with the clay tile. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly potter’s clay, the kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with the clay, so will the people mix together in marriage, but they will not remain united, just as iron does not mix with clay.
44 “In the times of those kings, the God of heaven shall establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom fall under the power of another people. It shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of your vision of the stone untouched by human hands being hewn from the mountain and crushing the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
46 Nebuchadnezzar Prostrates Himself before God. Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate and paid homage to Daniel, and he gave orders that a grain offering and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Truly 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.”
48 Then the king conferred a high rank on Daniel and gave him many handsome gifts. He also appointed him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Furthermore, at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as administrators of the province of Babylon. However, Daniel remained at the king’s court.
Chapter 3
The Three Young Men in the Fiery Furnace[j]
The Trial of Daniel’s Companions.[k] King Nebuchadnezzar ordered a golden statue[l] to be made, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he decre ed that it be placed on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 King Nebuchadnezzar then commanded the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to assemble for the dedication of the statue that he had set up. 3 Therefore, the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.4 Then a herald proclaimed in a loud voice, “Peoples and nations of every language: when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, 5 you are commanded to prostrate yourselves and worship the golden statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. 6 Anyone who refuses to prostrate himself and worship shall immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, all the peoples and nations of every language prostrated themselves and worshiped the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 Immediately some Chaldeans came forward before the king and made a malicious accusation against the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever! 10 You have issued a decree, Your Majesty, that when the people hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, they are to prostrate themselves and worship the golden statue, 11 and that whoever fails to do so is to be cast into a furnace of blazing fire.
12 “Now there are certain Jews whom you have put in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon. These men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, have ignored your command, O king. They do not serve your God, and they refuse to worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
13 On hearing this, Nebuchadnezzar became infuriated and was filled with rage, and he sent for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When the three men were brought into his presence, 14 King Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my god or worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe, and every other musical instrument, are you ready to fall down and worship the statue that I have made? If you refuse to worship it, you shall be immediately thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. What god is there that can deliver you from my power?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, “There is no need for us to defend ourselves to you in this regard. 17 If our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the white-hot blazing furnace and from your power, O king, let him deliver us. 18 But even if he does not do so, Your Majesty, be assured that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue you have set up.”
19 This reply so infuriated Nebuchadnezzar against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his countenance became distorted. He ordered that the furnace was to be heated seven times more than customary, 20 and he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and hurl them into the fiery furnace.
21 The three young men were then bound while still wearing their cloaks, their trousers, their head coverings, and their other garments and thrown into the fiery furnace. 22 Because the king’s command was so urgent and the heat of the furnace was so intense, the raging flames killed the men who were carrying Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 However, the three young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell, bound, into the fiery furnace.
Two Inspired Additions of Prayer Texts
24 The Prayer of Azariah.[m] They walked amidst the flames, all the while singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord. 25 Azariah then stood up, surrounded by flames, and said this prayer:
26 “Blessed are you and deserving of all praise,
O Lord, the God of our fathers,
and glorious is your name forever.
27 For you have shown justice in all you have done for us;
all your deeds are true, all your ways are right,
and all your judgments are correct.
28 You have made proper judgments
in all that you have brought upon us
and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our ancestors.
By a judgment, you have done all this
because of our sins.
29 “For we have sinned and broken your law
in our rebellion against you;
we have fallen short in every way.
30 We have neglected to obey your commandments
and have failed to do what you commanded for our own good.
31 Therefore, in all the misfortunes you have inflicted upon us,
in all you have done to us,
you have executed proper judgments.
32 You have handed us over to our enemies,
lawless and godless rebels,
and to a wicked king, the most evil in the entire world.
33 “Now we cannot open our mouths;
we, your servants who worship you,
have become a cause of shame and dishonor.
34 For your name’s sake, do not abandon us forever
or renounce your covenant.
35 Do not withdraw your mercy from us
for the love of Abraham, your friend,
Isaac, your servant, and Israel, your holy one,
36 to whom you spoke, promising to make their descendants
as numerous as the stars in the heavens
and the grains of sand on the seashore.
37 “For we, O Lord, have become the least of all nations,
humiliated throughout the world in our day
because of our sins.
38 We now have no ruler, no prophet, no leader,
no burnt offering or sacrifice or oblation of incense,
no place to make an offering before you and to find mercy.
39 But may we be accepted by you
as we approach you with a contrite heart
and with a submissive spirit.
40 As though we were presenting burnt offerings of rams and bulls
or thousands of fat lambs,
so may our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly,
for those who trust in you will never be put to shame.
41 “And now with all our heart we shall follow you;
even though we fear you, we seek your face.
42 Do not let us be put to shame,
but deal with us in your patience
and in your great mercy.
43 Deliver us by your wonderful deeds,
and let your name be glorified, O Lord.
44 Let those who harm your servants be brought low;
let them be put to shame and rendered powerless,
and may their strength be crushed.
45 Let them know that you alone are the Lord God,
glorious throughout the whole world.”
46 Now the king’s servants who had thrown the three young men into the furnace continued to stoke it with brimstone, pitch, tow, and brushwood 47 until the flames rose forty-nine cubits above the furnace 48 and spread out, burning to death those Chaldeans who were standing nearby. 49 But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace where Azariah and his companions had been cast. He drove the fiery flames out of the furnace 50 and made the inside of the furnace as though a dewy breeze was wafting through it. The fire did not touch them in the least way and caused them no pain or harm.
51 The Canticle of the Three Young Men.[n] Then those three men in the furnace began to sing in unison, glorifying and blessing God:
52 “Blessed are you, Lord, the God of our ancestors,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
Blessed is your holy and glorious name,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
53 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
54 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
55 Blessed are you who behold the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
56 Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
worthy of praise and glory forever.
57 “Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
58 Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
59 You heavens, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
60 All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
61 All you powers of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
62 Sun and moon, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
63 Stars of heaven, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
64 “All rain and dew, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
65 All you winds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
66 Fire and heat, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
67 Cold and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
68 Dew and rain, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
69 Frost and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
70 Ice and snow, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
71 Nights and days, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
72 Light and darkness, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
73 Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
74 “Let the earth bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
75 Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
76 Every plant that grows, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
77 Springs of water, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
78 Seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
79 Dolphins and all creatures that live in water, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
80 Every kind of bird, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
81 All animals, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
82 “All the human race, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
83 O Israel, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
84 You priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
85 You servants of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
86 Spirits and souls of the upright, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
87 You who are holy and humble in heart, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
88 “Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him forever.
For he has rescued us from the netherworld
and saved us from the power of death.
He has liberated us from the fiery furnace,
and from the fire he has delivered us.
89 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
90 Bless the God of gods, all you who fear the Lord;
praise him and give thanks to him,
for his mercy endures forever.”
91 The Miracle Is Accomplished.[o] Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisors, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, O king.”
92 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of God.”[p]
93 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire, 94 and the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisors crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
95 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 96 Therefore, I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other God can save in this way.”
97 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
King Nebuchadnezzar’s Madness
98 Vision of the Great Tree. King Nebuchadnezzar, to the nations and peoples of every language dwelling throughout the entire world: May you prosper abundantly. 99 I am pleased to make known the signs and wonders with which I have been favored by the Most High God.
100 How great are his signs,
how mighty are his wonders.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his sovereignty endures through all generations.
Chapter 4[q]
1 [r]I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in contentment at home and enjoying the luxury of my palaces. 2 However, as I lay in my bed, I had a dream that frightened me, and the visions that I experienced in my mind were a source of torment.
3 Therefore, I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon were to be brought before me and offer me their interpretation of the dream. 4 When the magicians, the soothsayers, the Chaldeans, and the diviners arrived, I related to them the content of the dream, but they were unable to explain its meaning.
5 Finally Daniel, whom I had renamed Belteshazzar, after the name of my god and in whom resides the Spirit of the holy God, came into my presence, and I related to him my dream. 6 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the Spirit of the holy God resides in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you to resolve. Listen to the dream that I experienced, and tell me its interpretation.
7 “These were the visions that came to me as I lay in my bed:
“I beheld a tree at the center of the earth,
and its height was great.
8 The tree became ever taller and stronger
until its top reached the heavens,
and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
9 Its foliage was beautiful,
and its fruit was abundant,
providing fruit for all.
The wild beasts found shade under it,
the birds of the air rested in its branches,
and from it all living creatures were nourished.
10 “In the vision I saw as I lay in my bed, I next beheld a holy sentinel coming down from heaven. 11 He shouted loudly:
“ ‘Hew down the tree and lop off its branches;
strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit.
12 However, leave the stump and its roots in the ground,
bound with iron and bronze
in the grass of the field.
Let him be bathed by the dew of heaven,
and let his lot be to eat, among wild beasts,
the grass of the earth.
13 Let his mind be changed from that of a human,
and let the mind of a beast be given to him,
until seven years pass over him.
14 ‘Such is the sentence decreed by the sentinel,
the verdict announced by the holy ones,
so that all who live may learn
that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mortals.
He confers it on whomever he wishes
and appoints over it the lowliest of men.’
15 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now I am depending upon you, Belteshazzar, to interpret its meaning, although none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret its meaning, you can do so because the Spirit of the holy God resides in you.”
16 Daniel Interprets the Dream.[s] Then Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was greatly upset and confused. The king said, “Belteshazzar, do not allow the dream and its meaning to terrify you.” Belteshazzar replied, “My lord, may the dream be meant for those who hurt you, and its interpretation for your enemies. 17 The tree that you saw, which grew great and strong, with its top reaching the sky so that it could be seen throughout the entire earth, 18 a tree with beautiful foliage and abundant fruit, providing food for all and affording shade for the wild beasts, with the birds of heaven dwelling in its branches— 19 that tree is you, O king. You have grown great and strong. Your power has increased and now reaches the sky; your sovereignty extends to the ends of the earth.
20 “In regard to the king’s vision of a holy sentinel descending from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump and its roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; let him be bathed by the dew of heaven, and let his lot be with the wild beasts until seven years pass over him,’ 21 this is the interpretation, O king. It is a decree that the Most High has issued upon my lord the king:
22 “You will be banished from human society,
and you will dwell among the wild animals.
You will be forced to eat grass like oxen,
and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven.
Seven years will pass over you
until you have learned
that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men
and gives it to whomever he wishes.
23 “As for the command to leave untouched the stump and the roots of the tree, this means that your kingdom will once again be subject to your rule once you come to acknowledge the sovereignty of Heaven.[t] 24 May the king be willing to take my advice. Atone for your sins with deeds of righteousness, and for your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed. If you do so, you will enjoy a long and peaceful life.”[u]
25 The Dream Is Fulfilled. All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 26 At the end of twelve months, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace, 27 the king said, “How magnificent Babylon is! Was it not built as a royal residence by my mighty strength and for my majestic glory?”[v]
28 These words were not completely out of his mouth when a voice came from heaven:
“To you, King Nebuchadnezzar, it is decreed:
your kingdom has been taken from you.
29 You shall be banished from human society
as you are forced to dwell with wild beasts
and feed on grass as the oxen do.
Seven years shall pass over you
until you have learned
that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men
and gives it to whomever he wishes.”
30 This sentence was immediately fulfilled. Nebuchadnezzar was cast out from human society, and he ate grass as oxen do. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails became like a bird’s talons.
31 When the period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven and my power of reasoning was restored to me.
I blessed the Most High,
and I praised and glorified him
who lives forever.
32 All who dwell on earth count for nothing;
he does as he pleases with the powers of heaven[w]
and the inhabitants on earth.
No one can stay his hand
or say to him, “What are you doing?”
33 At that very moment my power of reason returned to me, and my glory and splendor were restored to me. My counselors and my lords sought my counsel. I was reestablished in my kingdom, and my power was greatly increased.
34 Therefore, now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
praise and exalt and glorify
the King of heaven.
For all of his works are right,
and all of his ways are just.
Also, he is able to humble
all those who follow the path of pride.
Belshazzar’s Banquet[x]
Chapter 5
The Writing on the Wall. 1 King Belshazzar hosted a magnificent banquet for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in their presence. 2 Under the influence of the wine, he gave orders that the gold and silver vessels that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem were to be brought in so that the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.
3 Therefore, the gold and silver vessels that had been removed from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, were brought in, and the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank their wine and praised their gods of gold and silver, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone.
5 Suddenly, the fingers of a human hand appeared and began to write on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace next to the lampstand, and the king watched the hand as it wrote. 6 Then the king turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His legs grew limp, and his knees began to knock.
7 Then the king shouted aloud, ordering the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers to be brought in. When they entered, he addressed the wise men of Babylon and said, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me its interpretation shall be clothed in purple, wear a gold chain around his neck, and rank third in the government of the kingdom.”
8 However, none of the king’s wise men could either read the writing or explain to the king what it meant. 9 Then King Belshazzar became greatly terrified. His face grew even more pale, and his lords were in a state of confusion.
10 When the queen heard the commotion made by the king and his lords, she came into the banqueting hall and said, “May Your Majesty live forever. Do not let your thoughts terrify you. Why should you look so pale? 11 In your kingdom there is a man who has within him the Spirit of the holy God. During your father’s lifetime this man was renowned for his enlightenment, insight, and godlike wisdom, and to such a degree that King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, appointed him as chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners.
12 “Therefore, since this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, has a keen mind, and is endowed with knowledge and understanding and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems, summon him. He will be able to give you the interpretation you seek.”
13 Then Daniel was brought into the king’s presence. The king said to him, “Are you the Daniel who was one of the Jewish exiles that my father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have been told that the Spirit of God is in you, and that you are renowned for your knowledge, understanding, and exceptional wisdom.
15 “Now the wise men and the enchanters have been brought in to me to read this writing and reveal its meaning to me, but they have been unable to interpret it. 16 Yet I have been told that you can give interpretations and solve problems. If you are able to read this writing and make known its interpretation, you shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around your neck, and rank third in the government of the kingdom.”
17 Daniel Explains the Writing. Then Daniel replied to the king, “Your Majesty, keep the gifts for yourself or give them to someone else. However, I will read the writing to Your Majesty and make known to you its interpretation.
18 “O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom with power, glory, and majesty. 19 He made him so powerful that the nations and peoples of every language trembled with fear before him. He killed those whom he wished to kill; he spared those whom he wished to spare; he honored those whom he wished to honor, and he degraded those whom he wished to degrade.
20 “However, when his heart became filled with pride and his spirit became hardened with arrogance, he was deposed from his kingly throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He was banished from human society, and his mind became like that of an animal. He was forced to live with the wild asses, he fed on grass like oxen, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God has sovereignty over the kingdom of men and appoints whomever he wishes to rule it.
22 “Even though you, Belshazzar, his son, were aware of all this, you did not humble your heart. 23 You have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You ordered the vessels of his temple to be brought to you, and you, your nobles, your wives, and your concubines have drunk your wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone, that neither see, nor hear, nor have intelligence. But you have not glorified the God in whose hands are your breath of life and the entire course of your life.
24 “That is why he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. 25 The words inscribed are Mene, Tekel, and Peres.[y] This is what the words mean:
26 “Mene: God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.
27 “Tekel: you have been weighed on the scales and been found wanting.
28 “Peres: your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
29 Then, at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, with a gold chain around his neck, and a proclamation was made declaring that Daniel would rank third in the government of the kingdom.
30 On that very night Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, was slain.
Daniel in the Lions’ Den[z]
Chapter 6
The Plot against Daniel. 1 Darius the Mede succeeded Belshazzar as king, at the age of sixty-two. 2 It pleased Darius to appoint one hundred and twenty satraps to rule throughout his kingdom.[aa] 3 Over them he designated three administrators, including Daniel, to whom the satraps were to be accountable. In this way the king’s interests were to be safeguarded.
4 Daniel quickly became recognized as superior to the other administrators and satraps because of his exceptional qualities, and the king decided to place him in charge of the entire kingdom. 5 Therefore, the administrators and the satraps tried to find some grounds upon which they could bring charges against Daniel. But they could find no basis for complaint or the slightest evidence of corruption on his part, because he was so faithful in performing his duties that there was no possibility of charging him with negligence or corruption. 6 Therefore, they concluded, “We shall never find any basis to lodge a complaint against Daniel unless it is in connection with his God.”
7 As a result, these administrators and satraps conspired together, and then they came in a group to the king, saying, “May King Darius live forever! 8 All of us, the ministers of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, are unanimous in our belief that the king should issue an edict and enforce a decree that whoever presents a petition to anyone, whether divine or human, during the next thirty days, other than to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions. 9 We ask that Your Majesty ratify this edict immediately and sign the document, thereby making it unalterable, for the law of the Medes and the Persians cannot be revoked.” 10 Therefore, King Darius signed the document, thereby establishing its contents as a law.
11 Daniel Continues To Pray. Even after Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he continued his custom of retiring to his house, in which the windows in the upper room opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he fell to his knees, praying to God and giving him thanks, as he had always done.[ab] 12 The conspirators, who were ever on the watch, broke into his room and found Daniel praying and pleading with God.
13 The conspirators were then granted an audience with the king during which they reminded him of the royal edict. “Your Majesty,” they said, “did you not sign a decree forbidding anyone for the next thirty days to present a petition to anyone, divine or human, except to you, O king, under the penalty of being thrown into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The decree stands, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 14 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, has totally disregarded both you, O king, and the decree you signed. He continues to offer his prayer three times a day.”
15 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed, and he became determined to save Daniel. Until sunset he made every effort possible to rescue him. 16 Meanwhile, the conspirators continued to press the king in this matter, saying, “Your Majesty surely must know that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or decree can be changed once it has been issued by the king.”
17 Daniel Thrown into the Lions’ Den. Finally the king ordered Daniel to be brought forth and thrown into the den of lions, after first having said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you.” 18 A stone was then brought forward and placed over the mouth of the pit. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles to forestall any tampering in an attempt to rescue Daniel.
19 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night in fasting. He refused to receive any concubines into his chamber and found himself unable to sleep. 20 At the first light of dawn he stood up and hurried to the lions’ den. 21 As he drew near, he cried out sorrowfully to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve so faithfully, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
22 Daniel answered the king, “May Your Majesty live forever! 23 My God sent his angel to seal the lions’ jaws, and they were not able to harm me, because I was judged blameless before him. Nor have I done any harm to you, O king.”
24 The king was overcome with great joy, and he ordered that Daniel be taken up out of the lions’ den. Therefore, Daniel was released from the den, and he was completely unhurt, because he had trusted in his God. 25 The king then commanded that the men who had accused Daniel were to be thrown into the lions’ den, together with their wives and their children. Before they reached the bottom of the pit, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
26 The King’s Profession of Faith. Then King Darius wrote to the nations and peoples of every language throughout the entire world, “May your property increase. 27 I decree that throughout my royal domain everyone is to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel:
“For he is the living God,
enduring forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and his dominion shall be without end.
28 He delivers, rescues,
and works signs and wonders
in heaven and on earth.
For he has delivered Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
29 Therefore, Daniel flourished during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Footnotes
- Daniel 1:1 Instead of simply asserting truths, the sacred author illustrates these with stories that contain lessons. On the basis of his rather inaccurate knowledge of history, he imagines some young Jewish men at a pagan court, in the setting of the Babylonian and Persian regimes; these young men do not lack physical gifts, education, courage, and, above all, faith. Among these a certain Daniel stands out.
- Daniel 1:1 A well-told little incident that encourages Jews to remain faithful to the law of Moses: let them refuse to adopt the pagan customs that Antiochus wants to impose on them. God will reward their fidelity (see 2 Mac 6:18; 7:42).
- Daniel 1:1 The verse combines two expeditions of Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem, one in the third year of his reign (605 B.C.), the other in 598–597 B.C., when he captured the city and took away its sacred vessels. He also took away King Jehoiachin, who had very recently succeeded Jehoiakim; it was against the latter, who had rebelled, that the king of Babylon had been moving (see 2 Ki 24:1, 10-16; 2 Chr 36:5-10).
- Daniel 1:21 The first year of the reign of King Cyrus: that is, 539 B.C., the year of Cyrus’s conquest of Babylon.
- Daniel 2:1 How was the author to circulate subversive writings on the coming end of the reign of Antiochus IV, without naming the king? How was he to proclaim the coming of God’s reign, when a pagan prince was in control? Here is one of the stories that, doubtless, circulated behind the king’s back. To a small extent it makes use of the story of Joseph at the pharaoh’s court (Gen 41), but draws more direct and important conclusions. In this allegory, dreams, which the ancients considered a means used by divinities to communicate with human beings, play an important part. Dreams serve chiefly as a literary device for writers of apocalypses, such as the Book of Daniel.
- Daniel 2:2 Chaldeans: some Chaldeans studied astrology.
- Daniel 2:4 Aramaic: from this verse to the end of chapter 7, the original is written in Aramaic, the current language of the period.
- Daniel 2:18 God of heaven: a title frequently used in the Persian period for the true God, Yahweh; Daniel and his companions ask mercy from this God.
- Daniel 2:24 This odd statue, the parts of which are listed in order of decreasing value, may simply illustrate the sequence of the ages of the world. The present story describes the succession of human empires from Nebuchadnezzar to Antiochus IV. The last of these regimes is the weakest, and the linking by marriage of the Greek sovereigns of Egypt (the Ptolemies) and those of Antioch (the Seleucids) is unable to restore a balance among the successors of Alexander. God will finally destroy these regimes and establish another kingdom, his own, which will be everlasting.
- Daniel 3:1 Another story of resistance that was very likely clandestine. Is the story a legend? Perhaps, but it was written at a dramatic moment. The purpose of the story is primarily to encourage an absolute rejection of idolatry, at the cost, if necessary, of martyrdom.
1
The prayer of Azariah and the canticle of the three young men, which make up these verses, are inspired additions to the Aramaic text of Daniel, translated from the Greek form of the Book. Their original (in Hebrew or Aramaic) is not extant. The Church regards them as part of the canonical Scriptures. - Daniel 3:1 The author plays with history: he speaks of Nebuchadnezzar but he is thinking of Antiochus, the king diseased by his greatness and pride.
- Daniel 3:1 Golden statue: the colossus was about ninety feet tall and nine feet wide.
- Daniel 3:24 The condemned men are kept safe from the flames by an angel, through a special intervention of God who does not abandon his own to the madness of the wicked. The canticle, which is found only in Greek manuscripts, is a collective lament, filled with biblical echoes and well adapted to times of persecution.
- Daniel 3:51 This second canticle, which is likewise found only in Greek manuscripts, is a lengthy canticle of praise. It brings together some of the most magnificent verses from the Psalms (Pss 103; 148; 150). The whole of creation is urged to take part in this great symphony.
- Daniel 3:91 Nebuchadnezzar, who is really Antiochus IV, is compelled to acknowledge the true God. The miracle seems to reward appeals inspired by limitless faith, such as we find in the psalter (Ps 70:1) and in Isaiah (Isa 43:2). Mentions of this story in the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 11:34) and in the Quran (85) attest to its popularity.
- Daniel 3:92 A son of God: other versions have “a son of the gods.”
- Daniel 4:1 There do exist, in fact, some documents about a king who withdrew for some years to an oasis and who consulted a Jewish seer. This would be Nabonidus, who reigned a half-century after Nebuchadnezzar (556–539 B.C.). Everyone knows of the immense pride of Nebuchadnezzar, who turned his city into one of the wonders of the world. In our story, the author has drawn on recollections and information that were not accurate, while reserving the right to attribute everything to the person with whom he is concerned, Nebuchadnezzar.
- Daniel 4:1 The king is tormented by the way in which a tree, the symbol par excellence of life and immortality (see Gen 3:9), is treated in his dream. In the Bible, a tree serves also to describe the destiny of a person, of a sovereign (Pss 1:3; 37:35; Ezek 31). By reserving to Daniel the responsibility for interpreting the king’s nightmare, the author shows the superiority of Jewish wisdom in explaining the difficult mysteries of human existence.
- Daniel 4:16 This is a kind of prophecy that announces the lot reserved for Nebuchadnezzar: this most prestigious and most acclaimed of kings will undergo a trial before being converted unless he changes his present ways.
- Daniel 4:23 God is called Heaven in order not to profane God’s name by uttering it; to him alone, dominion belongs.
- Daniel 4:24 A classic locus for the doctrine of the efficacy of good works.
- Daniel 4:27 The words of the king are similar to those found in royal inscriptions of the Mesopotamian kings.
- Daniel 4:32 The powers of heaven are the heavenly creatures.
- Daniel 5:1 If there was a historical Belshazzar, he was the son of Nabonidus, not of Nebuchadnezzar; in any case, he was not given an opportunity to ascend the throne, but simply substituted for his father until Babylon fell in 539 B.C. under the blows of Cyrus the Persian, who had first subdued the Medes. The text speaks of Darius the Mede (6:1), but the only Dariuses known to history were all Persians. It is not a matter of concern that the author mixes up overly vague historical memories. His purpose is a different one: to denounce once more the human pride that claims the right to laugh at God. On the figure of Belshazzar are imposed the characteristics of Antiochus IV, who sacked temples, profaned things holy, and had himself worshiped as a god, while haughtily controlling the destiny of human beings (see 1 Mac 1:16-64; 6:1-5; 2 Mac 3:1-40; 5:11-20; 9:2).
- Daniel 5:25 The words of the inscription are names of weights or monies, allowing the play on words in the interpretation.
- Daniel 6:1 The Babylonian kings are followed by a Persian monarch. Because he has been advanced to high offices in the empire, Daniel has aroused the jealousy of other officials. His manner of praying becomes the basis for an accusation, and he is condemned. But the trust and fidelity of the righteous will be rewarded: Daniel will be saved. Moreover—and this is the apologetic purpose of the story—the astonished king will make a public profession of faith in the living God who delivers, rescues, and will, himself, proclaim the unending reign of God (vv. 27-28).
- Daniel 6:2 The division of the empire into satraps was effected by Darius I of Persia in 521 B.C.
- Daniel 6:11 The verse tells us how a fervent Jew prayed: three times a day, facing toward Jerusalem.
