Study Desk

^[a]King Nebuchadnezzar, To those of every people, nation, and language, who live in all the earth:^(a) May your prosperity increase.^(b)

I am pleased to tell you about the miracles and wonders^(c) the Most High God has done for me.

How great are His miracles, and how mighty His wonders!^(d) His kingdom is an eternal kingdom,^(e) and His dominion is from generation to generation.

^[b]I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.^(f)

I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.^(g)

So I issued a decree^(h) to bring all the wise men of Babylon to me in order that they might make the dream's interpretation known to me.⁽ⁱ⁾

When the diviner-priests, mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.^(j)

Finally Daniel, named Belteshazzar^(k) after the name of my god—and the spirit of the holy gods is in him^(l)—came before me. I told him the dream:

"Belteshazzar, head of the diviners, because I know that you have a spirit of the holy gods^(m) and that no mystery puzzles you,⁽ⁿ⁾ explain to me the visions of my dream that I saw, and its interpretation.

In the visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this: There was a tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was great.

The tree grew large and strong; its top reached to the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the^[c] earth.

Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and on it was food for all. Wild animals found shelter under it, the birds of the air^(o) lived in its branches, and every creature was fed from it.^(p)

"As I was lying in my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind an observer, a holy one,^[d](q) coming down from heaven.

He called out loudly: Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.^(r)

But leave the stump with its roots in the ground,^(s) and with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with dew from the sky and share the plants of the earth^(t) with the animals.

Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of an animal for seven periods of time.^[e][f](u)

This word is by decree of the observers; the matter is a command from the holy ones. This is so the living will know that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men. He gives it to anyone He wants and sets the lowliest of men over it.^(v)

This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can make the interpretation known to me.^(w) But you can, because you have the spirit of the holy gods."

Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was stunned for a moment, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, "Belteshazzar, don't let the dream or its interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!^(x)

The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth,

whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant—and on it was food for all, under it the wild animals lived, and in its branches the birds of the air lived—

that tree is you, the king. For you have become great and strong: your greatness has grown and even reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.^(y)

"The king saw an observer, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground and with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with dew from the sky, and share food with the wild animals for seven periods of time.'

This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the sentence of the Most High that has been passed against my lord the king:^(z)

You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals. You will feed on grass like cattle^(aa) and be drenched with dew from the sky for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men, and He gives it to anyone He wants.^(ab)

As for the command to leave the tree's stump with its roots, your kingdom will be restored^[g] to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven^[h] rules.^(ac)

Therefore, may my advice seem good to you my king. Separate yourself from your sins by doing what is right,^(ad) and from your injustices by showing mercy to the needy.^(ae) Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity."^(af)

All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.^(ag)

At the end of 12 months, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon,

the king exclaimed, "Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built by my vast power to be a royal residence and to display my majestic glory?"^(ah)

While the words were still in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared that the kingdom has departed from you.^(ai)

You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals, and you will feed on grass like cattle for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men, and He gives it to anyone He wants."

At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was executed. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.^(aj)

But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified Him who lives forever:^(ak) For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation.^(al)

All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does what He wants^(am) with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can hold back His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?"^(an)

At that time my sanity returned to me, and my majesty and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and my nobles sought me out, I was reestablished over my kingdom, and even more greatness came to me.^(ao)

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of heaven, because all His works are true and His ways are just.^(ap) He is able to humble^(aq) those who walk in pride.^(ar)

King Belshazzar^(a) held a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles and drank wine in their presence.

Under the influence of^[a] the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels^(b) that his predecessor^[b] Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines could drink from them.

So they brought in the gold^[c] vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines drank from them.

They drank the wine and praised their gods made of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.^(c)

At that moment the fingers of a man's hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the king's palace wall next to the lampstand. As the king watched the hand^[d] that was writing,

his face turned pale,^[e] and his thoughts so terrified him that his hip joints shook and his knees knocked together.

The king called out to bring in the mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers. He said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this inscription and gives me its interpretation will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around his neck,^(d) and have the third highest position in the kingdom."

So all the king's wise men came in, but none could read the inscription or make its interpretation known to him.

Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face turned pale,^[f] and his nobles were bewildered.^(e)

Because of the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen^[g] came to the banquet hall. "May the king live forever," she said. "Don't let your thoughts terrify you or your face be pale.^[h]

There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him.^(f) In the days of your predecessor he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the diviners, mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers. Your own predecessor, the king,

did this because Daniel, the one the king named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and perception, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems.^(g) Therefore, summon Daniel, and he will give the interpretation."

Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the Judean exiles that my predecessor the king brought from Judah?^(h)

I've heard that you have the spirit of the gods in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.

Now the wise men and mediums were brought before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not give its interpretation.

However, I have heard about you that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around your neck, and have the third highest position in the kingdom."⁽ⁱ⁾

Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else;^(j) however, I will read the inscription for the king and make the interpretation known to him.

Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty,^(k) greatness, glory, and majesty to your predecessor Nebuchadnezzar.^(l)

Because of the greatness He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages^(m) were terrified and fearful of him. He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted.

But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant,⁽ⁿ⁾ he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him.^(o)

He was driven away from people,^(p) his mind was like an animal's, he lived with the wild donkeys,^(q) he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over the kingdom of men and sets anyone He wants over it.^(r)

"But you his successor, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart,^(s) even though you knew all this.

Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them,^(t) you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand.^(u) But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life.^[i]

Therefore, He sent the hand, and this writing was inscribed.

"This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.

This is the interpretation of the message: MENE^[j] means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.

TEKEL^[k] means that you have been weighed in the balance and found deficient.

PERES^[l][m] means that your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

Then Belshazzar gave an order, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck,^(v) and issued a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

That very night Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was killed,

^[n]and Darius the Mede^(w) received the kingdom at the age of 62.

Darius decided^[a] to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm,

and over them three administrators, including Daniel.^(a) These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded.^(b)

Daniel^[b] distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit,^(c) so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.^(d)

The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel^(e) regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption,^(f) for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.

Then these men said, "We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God."^(g)

So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, "May King Darius live forever.^(h)

All the administrators of the kingdom,⁽ⁱ⁾ the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that for 30 days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions' den.^(j)

Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict^(k) and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed."^(l)

So King Darius signed the document.^(m)

When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem,⁽ⁿ⁾ and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God,^(o) just as he had done before.

Then these men went as a group and found^(p) Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.

So they approached the king^(q) and asked about his edict: "Didn't you sign an edict that for 30 days any man who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions' den?" The king answered, "As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and is irrevocable."^(r)

Then they replied to the king, "Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you,^(s) the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day."

As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel^(t) and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.

Then these men went to the king and said to him, "You as king know it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed."^(u)

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den.^(v) The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually,^(w) rescue you!"

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den.^(x) The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed.

Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting.^(y) No diversions^[c] were brought to him, and he could not sleep.^(z)

At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions' den.

When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. "Daniel, servant of the living God," the king said,^[d] "has your God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you^(aa) from the lions?"

Then Daniel spoke with the king: "May the king live forever.

My God sent His angel^(ab) and shut the lions' mouths. They haven't hurt me, for I was found innocent before Him. Also, I have not committed a crime against you my king."

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, uninjured, for he trusted in his God.^(ac)

The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel^[e](ad) were brought and thrown into the lions' den—they, their children, and their wives.^(ae) They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Then King Darius wrote to those of every people, nation, and language who live in all the earth: "May your prosperity abound.^(af)

I issue a decree^(ag) that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel:^(ah) For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed,^(ai) and His dominion has no end.

He rescues and delivers; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth,^(aj) for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."

So Daniel prospered^(ak) during the reign of Darius and^[f] the reign of Cyrus the Persian.^(al)