Daniel 2-6
1599 Geneva Bible
2 1 The dreams of Nebuchadnezzar. 13 The king commandeth all the wise men of Babylon to be slain, because they could not interpret his dream. 16 Daniel requireth time to solute the question. 24 Daniel is brought unto the king, and showeth him his dream, and the interpretation thereof. 44 Of the everlasting kingdom of Christ.
1 And in the [a]second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed [b]dreams wherewith his spirit was [c]troubled, and his [d]sleep was upon him.
2 Then the king commanded to call the enchanters, and the astrologians, and the sorcerers, and the [e]Chaldeans for to show the king his dreams: so they came and stood before the King.
3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in the [f]Aramite’s language, O king, live forever: show thy servants thy dream, and we shall show the interpretation.
5 And the King answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me. If ye will not make me understand the dream with the interpretation thereof, ye [g]shall be drawn in pieces, and your houses shall be made a jakes.
6 But if ye declare the dream and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards, and great honor: therefore show me the dream and the interpretation of it.
7 They answered again, and said, Let the king show [h]his servants the dream, and we will declare the interpretation thereof.
8 Then the king answered, and said, I know certainly that ye [i]would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
9 But if ye will not declare me the dream, there is but one judgment for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words, to speak before me till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, that I may know, if ye can declare me the interpretation thereof.
10 Then the Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is no man upon earth that can declare the king’s matter: yea, there is neither King nor Prince nor lord that asked such things at an enchanter, or astrologian, or Chaldean.
11 For it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can declare it before the king, except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh.
12 For this cause the king was angry and in great fury, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babel.
13 ¶ And when sentence was given, the wise men were slain: and they [j]sought Daniel and his fellows to be put to death.
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the king’s [k]chief steward, which was gone forth to put to death the wise men of Babel.
15 Yea, he answered and said unto Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the sentence so hasty from the king? Then Arioch declared the thing to Daniel.
16 So Daniel went and desired the king that he would give him leisure, and that he would show the king the interpretation thereof.
17 ¶ Then Daniel went to his house, and showed the matter to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah his companions,
18 That they should beseech the God of heaven for grace in this secret, that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babel.
19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a vision by night: therefore Daniel praised the God of heaven.
20 And Daniel answered and said, (A)The Name of God be praised forever and ever: for wisdom and strength are his.
21 And he changeth the times and seasons: he taketh away kings: he setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and understanding to those that understand.
22 He discovereth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in darkness, and the [l]light dwelleth with him.
23 I thank thee and praise thee, O thou God of my [m]fathers, that thou hast given me wisdom and [n]strength, and hast showed me now the thing that we desired of thee: for thou hast declared unto us the king’s matter.
24 ¶ Therefore Daniel went unto Arioch, whom the King had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babel: he went and said thus unto him, Destroy not [o]the wise men of Babel, but bring me before the king, and I will declare unto the king the interpretation.
25 Then Arioch brought Daniel before the king in all haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the children of Judah that were brought captives, that will declare unto the king the interpretation.
26 Then answered the king, and said unto Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to show me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded, can neither the wise, the astrologians, the enchanters, nor the soothsayers declare unto the king.
28 But there is a God in [p]heaven that revealeth secrets, and showeth the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the things which thou hast seen in thine head upon thy bed, is this:
29 O king, when thou wast in thy bed, thoughts came into thy mind, what should come to pass hereafter, and he that revealeth secrets, telleth thee what shall come.
30 As [q]for me, this secret is not showed me for any wisdom that I have more than any other living, but only to show the king the interpretation, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thine heart.
31 O king, thou sawest, and behold, there was a great image: this great image whose glory was so excellent, stood before thee, and the form therefore was terrible.
32 This image’s head was of fine [r]gold, his breast, and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
33 His legs of iron, and his feet were part of iron, and part of clay.
34 Thou beheldest it till a stone was cut without hands, which smote the image upon his feet, that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver and the gold broken all together, and became like the chaff of the summer flowers, and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image, became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
36 This is the dream, and we will declare before the king the interpretation thereof.
37 ¶ O king, thou art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
38 And in all places where the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all: thou art [s]this head of gold.
39 And after thee shall rise another kingdom, [t]inferior to thee, of silver, and another [u]third kingdom shall be of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: for as iron breaketh in pieces, and subdueth all things, and as iron bruiseth all these things, so shall it break in [v]pieces, and bruise all.
41 Whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter’s clay, and part of iron: the kingdom shall be [w]divided, but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, as thou sawest the iron mixed with the clay, and earth.
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so shall the kingdom be partly strong, and partly broken.
43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with clay and earth, they shall mingle themselves with [x]the seed of men: but they shall not join one with another, as iron cannot be mixed with clay.
44 And in the days of these kings, shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which [y]shall never be destroyed: and this kingdom shall not be given to another people, but it shall break, and destroy all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
45 Whereas thou sawest, that the [z]stone was cut of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold: so the great God hath showed the king, what shall come to pass hereafter, and the dream is true, and the interpretation thereof is sure.
46 ¶ Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and [aa]bowed himself unto Daniel, and commanded that they should offer meat offerings, and sweet odors unto him.
47 Also the King answered unto Daniel, and said, I know of a truth that your [ab]God is a God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and the revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest open this secret.
48 So the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many and great [ac]gifts. He made him governor over the whole province of Babel, and chief of the rulers, and above all the wise men of Babel.
49 Then Daniel [ad]made request to the King, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the charge of the province of Babel: but Daniel sat in the [ae]gate of the king.
3 1 The king setteth up a golden image. 8 Certain are accused because they despised the king’s commandment, and are put into a burning oven. 15 By belief in God they are delivered from the fire. 25 Nebuchadnezzar confesseth the power of God after the sight of the miracle.
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made [af]an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babel.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent forth to gather together the nobles, the princes and the dukes, the judges, the receivers, the counselors, the officers, and all the governors of the provinces, that they should come to the [ag]dedication of the image, which Nebuchadnezzar the [ah]King had set up.
3 So the nobles, princes, and dukes, the judges, the receivers, the counselors, the officers, and all the governors of the provinces were assembled unto the dedicating of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the King had set up and they stood before the image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, Be it known to you, O people, [ai]nations, and languages,
5 That when ye hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all instruments of music, ye fall down, and worship the golden image, that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.
6 And whosoever falleth not down, and worshippeth, shall the same hour be cast into the midst of an hot fiery furnace.
7 Therefore as soon as all the people heard the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all instruments of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down, and worshipped the golden image, that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 ¶ By reason whereof at that same time came men of the Chaldeans, and grievously accused the Jews.
9 For they spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O King, live forever.
10 Thou, O King, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all instruments of music, shall fall down, and worship the golden image.
11 And whosoever falleth not down, and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of an hot fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the charge of the province of Babel, [aj]Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: these men, O King, have not regarded thy commandment, neither will they serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image that thou hast set up.
13 ¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar in his anger and wrath commanded that they should bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, so these men were brought before the king.
14 And Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said unto them, What disorder? will not you, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, serve my god, nor worship the golden image that I have set up?
15 [ak]Now therefore are ye ready when ye hear the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all instruments of music, to fall down, and worship the image which I have made? for if ye worship it not, ye shall be cast immediately into the midst of an hot fiery furnace: for who is that God, that can deliver you out of mine hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the King, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [al]are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 Behold, our God whom we serve, is [am]able to deliver us from the hot fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19 ¶ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of rage, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he charged and commanded that they should heat the furnace at once seven [an]times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 And he charged the most valiant men of war that were in his army, to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the hot fiery furnace.
21 So these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their cloaks, with their other garments, and cast into the midst of the hot fiery furnace.
22 Therefore, because the king’s commandment was strait, that the furnace should be exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that brought forth Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego fell down bound into the midst of the hot fiery furnace.
24 ¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? Who answered, and said unto him, It is true, O king.
25 And he answered, and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the [ao]son of God.
26 Then the King Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the hot fiery furnace, and spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the servants of the high God, go forth and come hither: so Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego [ap]came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 Then the nobles, princes, and dukes, and the king’s counselors came together to see these men, because the fire had no power over their bodies: for not an hair of their head was burnt, neither were their coats changed, nor any smell of fire came upon them.
28 Wherefore Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, [aq]Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who hath sent his Angel, and delivered his servants, that put their trust in him, and have changed the king’s commandment, and yielded their bodies rather than they would serve or worship any god save their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree that every people, nation, and language, which speak any [ar]blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be drawn in pieces, and their houses shall be made a jakes, because there is no god that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the King promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babel.
31 Nebuchadnezzar king unto all people, nations and languages, that dwell in all the [as]world, Peace be multiplied unto you:
32 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders, that the high God hath wrought toward me.
33 How great are his signs, and how mighty are his wonders! [at]his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
4 2 Another dream of Nebuchadnezzar, which Daniel declareth. 29 The Prophet declareth how of a proud king, he should become as a beast. 31 After he confesseth the power of God, and is restored to his former dignity.
1 I Nebuchadnezzar being at [au]rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace,
2 Saw a [av]dream, which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed, and the visions of mine head troubled me.
3 Therefore made I a decree, that they should bring all the wise men of Babel before me, that they might declare unto me the interpretation of the dream.
4 So came the enchanters, the astrologians, the Chaldeans and the soothsayers, to whom I told the dream, but [aw]they could not show me the interpretation thereof,
5 Till at the last Daniel came before me, (whose name was [ax]Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, which hath the spirit of the holy gods in him) and before him I told the dream, saying,
6 O Belteshazzar, [ay]chief of the enchanters, because I know, that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream, that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
7 Thus were the visions of my head in my bed, and behold, I saw a [az]tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great:
8 A great tree and strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the ends of all the earth.
9 The boughs thereof were fair and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: it made a shadow under it for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh fed of it.
10 I saw in the visions of mine head upon my bed, and behold, a [ba]watchman and an holy one came down from heaven,
11 And cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and break off his branches: shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit, that the beasts may flee from under it, and the fowls from his branches.
12 Nevertheless, leave the stump of his roots in the earth, and with a band of iron and brass bind it among the grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts among the grass of the field.
13 [bb]Let his heart be changed from man’s nature, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him, and let seven times be passed over him.
14 [bc]The sentence is according to the decree of the watchmen, and according to the word of the holy ones: the demand was answered, to the intent that living men may know, that the most High hath power over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and appointeth over it the most abject among men.
15 This is the dream, that I King Nebuchadnezzar have seen: therefore thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof: for all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to show me the interpretation: but thou art able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
16 ¶ Then Daniel (whose name was Belteshazzar) held his [bd]peace by the space of one hour, and his thoughts troubled him, and the King spake and said, Belteshazzar, let neither the dream, nor the interpretation thereof trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
17 The tree that thou sawest, which was great and mighty, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof through all the world,
18 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all, under the which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven did sit,
19 It is thou, O king, that art great and mighty: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the ends of the earth.
20 Whereas the King saw a watchman, and an holy one that came down from heaven, and said, Hew down the tree, and destroy it, yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, and with a band of iron and brass bind it among the grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, [be]till seven times pass over him.
21 This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king,
22 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as the [bf]oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven: and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know, that [bg]the most High beareth rule over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
23 Whereas they said, that one should leave the stump of the tree roots, thy kingdom shall remain unto thee: after that, thou shalt know, that the heavens have the rule.
24 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and [bh]break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by mercy towards the poor: lo, let there be a [bi]healing of thine error.
25 All these things shall come upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
26 ¶ At the end of twelve [bj]months, he walked in the royal palace of Babel.
27 And the king spake and said, Is not this great Babel that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?
28 While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came down from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee be it spoken, Thy kingdom is departed from thee,
29 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass, as the oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou knowest, that the most High beareth rule over the kingdom of men, and giveth it unto whomsoever he will.
30 The very same hour was this thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as the oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown as eagles feathers, and his nails like birds claws.
31 And at the end of these [bk]days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding was restored unto me, and I gave thanks unto the most High, and I praised and honored him, that liveth forever, (B)whose power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.
32 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and according to his [bl]will he worketh in the army of heaven, and in the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, nor say unto him, What doest thou?
33 At the same time was mine understanding restored unto me, and I returned to the honor of my kingdom: my glory and my beauty was restored unto me, and my counselors and [bm]my princes sought unto me, and I was established in my kingdom, and my glory was augmented toward me.
34 Now therefore I Nebuchadnezzar [bn]praise, and extol and magnify the king of heaven, whose works are all truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride, he is able to abase.
5 5 Belshazzar king of Babylon seeth an handwriting on the wall. 8 The soothsayers called of the king, cannot expound the writing. 25 Daniel readeth it, and interpreteth it also. 30 The king is slain. 31 Darius enjoyeth the kingdom.
1 King [bo]Belshazzar made a great feast to a thousand of his princes, and drank wine [bp]before the thousand.
2 And Belshazzar [bq]while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring him the golden and silver vessels, which his [br]father Nebuchadnezzar had brought from the Temple in Jerusalem, that the king and his princes, his wives, and his concubines might drink therein.
3 Then were brought the golden vessels, that were taken out of the Temple of the Lord’s house at Jerusalem, and the king and his princes, his wives and his concubines drank in them.
4 They drank wine, and praised the [bs]gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
5 At the same hour appeared fingers of a man’s hand, which wrote over [bt]against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the palm of the hand that wrote.
6 Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his [bu]knees smote one against the other.
7 Wherefore the king cried loud, that they should bring [bv]the astrologians, the Chaldeans and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babel, Whosoever can read this writing, and declare me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, and shall have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
8 Then came all the king’s wise men, but they could neither read the writing, nor show the king the interpretation.
9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his princes were astonied.
10 Now the [bw]Queen by reason of the talk of the King and his princes, came into the banquet house, and the Queen spake, and said, O king, live forever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed.
11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and in the days of thy father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him: whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made chief of the [bx]enchanters, astrologians, Chaldeans, and soothsayers,
12 Because a more excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding (for he did expound dreams, and declare hard sentences, and dissolved doubts) were found in him, even in Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will declare the interpretation.
13 ¶ Then was Daniel brought before the king, and the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom my father the king brought out of Jewry?
14 Now I have heard of thee, that [by]the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and that light and understanding, and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
15 Now therefore wise men and Astrologians have been brought before me, that they should read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof: but they could not declare the interpretation of the thing.
16 Then heard I of thee, that thou couldest show interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and shall have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, Keep thy rewards to thyself, and give thy gifts to another: yet I will read the writing unto the king, and show him the interpretation.
18 O king, hear thou, The most high God gave unto [bz]Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and honor, and glory.
19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages trembled, and feared before him: he put to death whom he would: he smote whom he would: whom he would he set up, and whom he would he put down.
20 But when his heart was puffed up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his honor from him.
21 And he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the heaven, till he knew that the most high God bare rule over the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it, whomsoever he pleaseth.
22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all these things,
23 But hast lifted thyself up against the Lord of heaven, and they have brought the vessels of his House before thee, and thou and thy princes, thy wives and thy concubines have drunk wine in them, and thou hast praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood and stone, which neither see, neither hear, nor understand: and the God in whose hand thy breath is and all thy ways, him hast thou not glorified.
24 [ca]Then was the palm of the hand sent from him, and hath written this writing.
25 And this is the writing that he hath written, [cb]MENE, MENE, TEKEL UPHARSIN.
26 This is the interpretation of the thing, MENE, God hath numbered thy kingdom, and hath finished it.
27 TEKEL, thou art weighed in the balance, and art found [cc]too light.
28 PERES, thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
29 Then at the commandment of Belshazzar they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 The same night was Belshazzar the King of the Chaldeans slain.
31 And Darius [cd]of the Medes took the kingdom, being threescore and two years old.
6 1 Daniel is made ruler over the governors. 5 An act against Daniel. 16 He is put into a den of lions by the commandment of the king. 23 He is delivered by faith in God. 24 Daniel’s accusers are put unto the lions. 25 Darius by a decree magnifieth the God of Daniel.
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom [ce]an hundred and twenty governors, which should be over the whole kingdom,
2 And over these three rulers, (of whom Daniel was one) that the governors might give accompts unto them, and the king [cf]should have no damage.
3 Now this Daniel [cg]was preferred above the rulers, and governors, because the spirit was excellent in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 ¶ Wherefore the rulers and governors [ch]sought an occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom: but they could find none occasion nor fault: for he was so faithful that there was no blame nor fault found in him.
5 Then said these men, We shall not find an occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the Law of his God.
6 Therefore the rulers and these governors went together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live forever.
7 All the rulers of thy kingdom, the officers and governors, the counselors and dukes have consulted together to make a decree for the king, and to establish a statute, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, confirm the decree, and seal the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius [ci]sealed the writing and the decree.
10 ¶ Now when Daniel understood that he had sealed the writing, he went into his house, and his [cj]window being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed and praised his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying, and making supplication unto his God.
12 So they came and spake unto the king concerning the king’s decree, Hast thou not sealed the decree, that every man that shall make a request to any god or man within thirty days, save to thee, O King, shall be cast into the den of lions? The King answered, and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then answered they, and said unto the King, This Daniel which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast sealed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14 When the King heard these words, he was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel, to deliver him: and he labored till the sun went down, to deliver him.
15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the King, Understand, O King, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree nor statute which the king confirmeth, may be [ck]altered.
16 ¶ Then the King commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions: now the king spake, and said unto Daniel, Thy God, whom thou always servest, even he will deliver thee.
17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the King sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his princes, that the purpose might not be changed, concerning Daniel.
18 Then the king went unto his palace, and remained fasting, neither were the instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him.
19 ¶ Then the king arose early in the morning, and went in all haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake, and said to Daniel, O Daniel the servant of the living God, is not thy God (whom thou always servest) [cl]able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the King, O king, live forever.
22 My God hath sent his Angel and hath shut the lion’s mouths, and they have not hurt me: for [cm]my justice was found out before him: and unto thee, O king, I have done [cn]no hurt.
23 Then was the King exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel out of the den: so Daniel was brought out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he [co]believed in his God.
24 And by the commandment of the King these men which had accused Daniel, were brought, and were [cp]cast into the den of lions, even they, their children, and their wives: and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones a pieces, or ever they came at the ground of the den.
25 ¶ Afterward King Darius wrote, Unto all people, nations and languages, that dwell in all the world: Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom, men tremble and fear [cq]before the God of Daniel: for he is the [cr]living God, and remaineth forever: and his kingdom shall not perish, and his dominion shall be everlasting.
27 He rescueth and delivereth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth: who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus of Persia.
Footnotes
- Daniel 2:1 The father and the son were both called by this name, so that this is meant of the son, when he reigned alone: for he reigned also after a sort with his father.
- Daniel 2:1 Not that he had many dreams, but because many matters were contained in this dream.
- Daniel 2:1 Because it was so rare and strange a dream: that he had not had the like.
- Daniel 2:1 He was so heavy with sleep, that he began to sleep again. Some read, and his sleep was broken from him.
- Daniel 2:2 For all these Astrologers and sorcerers called themselves by this name of honor, as though all the wisdom and knowledge of the country depended upon them, and that all other countries were void of the same.
- Daniel 2:4 That is, in the Syrian tongue which differed not much from the Chaldeans, save it seemed to be more eloquent, and therefore the learned used to speak it, as the Jewish writers do to this day.
- Daniel 2:5 This is a just reward of their arrogance (which vaunted of themselves that they had the knowledge of all things) that they should be proved fools, and that to their perpetual shame and confusion.
- Daniel 2:7 Herein appeared their ignorance, that notwithstanding their brags, yet were they not able to tell the dream, except he entered them into the matter, and therefore they would pretend knowledge where was but mere ignorance, and so as deluders of the people, they were worthy to die.
- Daniel 2:8 Hebrew, redeem the time.
- Daniel 2:13 Which declareth that God would not have his servant joined in the company of these sorcerers and Astrologers, whose arts were wicked, and therefore justly ought to die, though the king did it upon a rage and no zeal.
- Daniel 2:14 Or, the captain of the guards.
- Daniel 2:22 He showeth that man hath neither wisdom nor knowledge, but very dark blindness and ignorance of himself: for it cometh only of God, that man understandeth anything.
- Daniel 2:23 To whom thou madest thy promise, and who lived in thy fear: whereby he excludeth all other gods.
- Daniel 2:23 Meaning, power to interpret it.
- Daniel 2:24 Whereby appeareth that many were slain, as verse 13, and the rest at Daniel’s offer were preserved on condition: not that Daniel favored their wicked profession, but that he had respect to equity, because the King proceeded according to his wicked affection, and not considering if their science were lawful or no.
- Daniel 2:28 He affirmeth that man by reason and art is not able to attain to the cause of God’s secrets, but the understanding only thereof must come of God: whereby he smiteth the king with a certain fear and reverence of God, that he might be the more apt to receive the high mysteries, that should be revealed.
- Daniel 2:30 Because he had said that God only must reveal the signification of this dream, the King might have asked, why Daniel did enterprise to interpret it, and therefore he showeth that he was but God’s minister and had no gifts, but such as God had given him to set forth his glory.
- Daniel 2:32 By gold, silver, brass and iron, are meant the Chaldean, Persian, Macedonian and Roman kingdoms, which should successively rule all the world till Christ (which is here called the stone) come himself, and destroy the last: and this was to assure the Jews, that their affliction should not end with the empire of the Chaldeans, but that they should patiently abide the coming of Messiah, which should be at the end of this fourth monarchy.
- Daniel 2:38 Daniel leaveth out the kingdom of the Assyrians, which was before the Babylonian, both because it was not a Monarchy and general empire, and also because he would declare the things that were to come, to the coming of Christ, for the comfort of the elect among these wonderful alterations, and he calleth the Babylonian kingdom the golden head, because in respect of the other three, it was the best, and yet it was of itself wicked and cruel.
- Daniel 2:39 Meaning, the Persians which were not inferior in dignity, power, and riches, but were worse touching ambition, cruelty, and all kind of vice, showing that the world should grow worse and worse, till it was restored by Christ.
- Daniel 2:39 That is, of the Macedonians shall be of brass, not alluding to the hardness thereof, but to the vileness in respect of silver.
- Daniel 2:40 That is, the Roman empire shall subdue all these other aforenamed, which after Alexander were divided into the Macedonians, Grecians, Syrians and Egyptians.
- Daniel 2:41 They shall have civil wars, and continual discords among themselves.
- Daniel 2:43 They shall by marriages and affinities think to make themselves strong: yet shall they never be joined in hearts.
- Daniel 2:44 His purpose is to show, that all the kingdoms of the world are transitory, and that the kingdom of Christ shall only remain forever.
- Daniel 2:45 Meaning Christ, who was sent of God, and not set up by man, whose kingdom at the beginning should be small and without beauty to man’s judgment, but should at length grow and fill the whole earth, which he calleth a great mountain, as verse 35. And this kingdom which is not only referred to the person of Christ, but also to the whole body of his Church, and to every member thereof, shall be eternal: for the Spirit that is in them is life eternal, Rom. 8:10.
- Daniel 2:46 Though this humbling of the king seemed to deserve commendation, yet because he joined God’s honor with the Prophet’s, it is to be reproved, and Daniel herein erred, if he suffered it: but it is credible that Daniel admonished him of his fault, and did not suffer it.
- Daniel 2:47 This confession was but a sudden motion, as it was also in Pharaoh, Exod. 9:28, but his heart was not touched, as appeared soon afterward.
- Daniel 2:48 Not that the Prophet was desirous of gifts or honor, but because by this means he might relieve his poor brethren, which were grievously oppressed in this their captivity, and also he received them, lest he should offend this cruel king, which willingly gave them.
- Daniel 2:49 He did not this for their private profit: but that the whole Church, which was then there in affliction, might have some release and ease by this benefit.
- Daniel 2:49 Meaning, that either he was a judge, or that he had the whole authority, so than none could be admitted to the king’s presence, but by him.
- Daniel 3:1 Under pretence of religion, and holiness in making an image to his idol Bel, he sought his own ambition and vain glory: and this declareth that he was not toucheth with the true fear of God before but that he confessed him on a sudden motion as the wicked when they are overcome with the greatness of his works. The Greek interpreters write, that this was done eighteen years after the dream, and as may appear, the King feared lest the Jews by their religion, should have altered the state of his commonwealth, and therefore he meant to bring all to one kind of religion, and so rather sought his own quietness than God’s glory.
- Daniel 3:2 Showing that the idol is not known for an idol so long as he is with workmen: but when the ceremonies and customs are recited and used, and the consent of the people is there, then of a block they think they have made a god.
- Daniel 3:2 This was sufficient with the wicked at all times to approve their religion, if the king’s authority were alleged for the establishment thereof, not considering in the mean season what God’s word did permit.
- Daniel 3:4 These are the two dangerous weapons, wherewith Satan used to fight against the children of God, the consent of the multitude, and the cruelty of the punishment: for though some feared God, yet the multitude, which consented to the wickedness, astonied them: and here the King required, not an inward consent, but an outward gesture, that the Jews might by little and little learn to forget their true religion.
- Daniel 3:12 It seemeth that they named not Daniel, because he was greatly in the king’s favor, thinking if these three had been destroyed, they might have had better occasion to accuse Daniel: and this declareth that this policy of erecting this image was invented by the malicious flatterers which sought nothing but the destruction of the Jews, whom they accused of rebellion and ingratitude.
- Daniel 3:15 Signifying that he would receive them to grace if they would now at the length obey his decree.
- Daniel 3:16 For they should have done injury to God, if they should have doubted in this holy cause, and therefore they say, that they are resolved to die for God’s cause.
- Daniel 3:17 They ground on two points, first on the power and providence of God over them, and secondly on their cause, which was God’s glory, and the testifying of his true religion with their blood, and so make open confession, that they will not so much as outwardly consent to idolatry.
- Daniel 3:19 This declareth that the more that tyrants rage, and the more witty they show themselves inventing strange and cruel punishments, the more is God glorified by his servants to whom he giveth patience and constancy to abide the cruelty of their punishment: for either by delivereth them from death, or else for this life giveth them a better.
- Daniel 3:25 For the Angels were called the sons of God, because of their excellency: therefore the king called this Angel whom God sent to comfort his in these great torments, the son of God.
- Daniel 3:26 This commendeth their obedience unto God, that they would not for any fear depart out of this furnace, till the time appointed, as Noah remained in the ark, till the Lord called him forth.
- Daniel 3:28 He was moved by the greatness of the miracle to praise God, but his heart was not touched. And here we see that miracles are not sufficient to convert men to God, but that doctrine most chiefly be adjoined, without the which there can be no faith.
- Daniel 3:29 If this heathen king moved by God’s Spirit would not see blasphemy unpunished, but made a law and set a punishment to such transgressors, much more ought all they that profess religion, take order that such impiety reign not, lest according as their knowledge and charge is greater, so they suffer double punishment.
- Daniel 3:31 Meaning, so far as his dominion extended.
- Daniel 3:33 Read Dan. 2:44.
- Daniel 4:1 There was no trouble that might cause me to dream, and therefore it came only of God.
- Daniel 4:2 This was another dream besides that which he saw of the four Empires, for Daniel both declared what that dream was, and what it meant, and here he only expoundeth the dream.
- Daniel 4:4 In that that he sent abroad to others, whose ignorance in times past he had experimented, and left Daniel which was ever ready at hand, it declareth the nature of the ungodly, which never seek to the servants of God, but for very necessity, and then they spare no flatterings.
- Daniel 4:5 This no doubt was a great grief to Daniel not only to have his name changed, but to be called by the name of a vile idol, which thing Nebuchadnezzar did to make him forget the true religion of God.
- Daniel 4:6 Which also was a great grief to the Prophet to be numbered among the sorcerers and men whose practices were wicked and contrary to God’s word.
- Daniel 4:7 By the tree is signified the dignity of a king whom God ordaineth to be a defense for all kind of men, and whose state is profitable for mankind.
- Daniel 4:10 Meaning the Angel of God, which neither eateth nor sleepeth, but is ever ready to do God’s will, and is not infected with man’s corruption, but is ever holy: and in that that he commandeth to cut down this tree, he knew that it should not be cut down by man, but by God.
- Daniel 4:13 Hereby he meaneth that Nebuchadnezzar should not only for a time lose his kingdom, but be like a beast.
- Daniel 4:14 God hath decreed this judgment and the whole army of heaven have as it were subscribed unto it, like as also they desire the execution of his decree against all them that lift up themselves against God.
- Daniel 4:16 He was troubled for the great judgment of God, which he saw ordained against the king, and so the Prophets used on the one part to denounce God’s judgments for the zeal they bare to his glory, and on the other part to have compassion upon man, and also to consider that they should be subject to God’s judgments, if he did not regard them with pity.
- Daniel 4:20 Whereby he meaneth a long space, as seven years. Some interpret seven months, and others seven weeks, but it seemeth he means of years.
- Daniel 4:22 Not that his shape or form was changed into a beast, but that he was either stricken mad, and so avoided man’s company, or was cast out for his tyranny, and so wandered among the beasts, and ate herbs and grass.
- Daniel 4:22 Daniel showeth the cause why God thus punished him.
- Daniel 4:24 Cease from provoking God to anger any longer by thy sins, that he may mitigate his punishment, if thou show by thine upright life that thou hast true faith and repentance.
- Daniel 4:24 Suffer the errors of thy former life to be redressed.
- Daniel 4:26 After that Daniel had declared this vision: and this his pride declareth that it is not in man to convert to God, except his Spirit move him: seeing that these terrible threatenings could not move him to repent.
- Daniel 4:31 When the term of these seven years was accomplished.
- Daniel 4:32 He confesseth God’s will to be the rule of all justice, and a most perfect law, whereby he governeth both man and Angels and devils, so that none ought to murmur or ask a reason of his doings, but only to stand content therewith and give him the glory.
- Daniel 4:33 By whom it seemeth that he had been put from his kingdom before.
- Daniel 4:34 He doth not only praise God for his deliverance, but also confesseth his fault that God may only have the glory, and man the shame, and that he may be exalted and man cast down.
- Daniel 5:1 Daniel reciteth this history of king Belshazzar, Evil-merodach’s son, to show God’s judgments against the wicked for the deliverance of his Church: and how the prophecy of Jeremiah was true, that they should be delivered after seventy years.
- Daniel 5:1 The kings of the East parts then used to sit alone commonly, and disdained that any should sit in their company: and now to show his power, and how little he set by his enemy, which then besieged Babylon, he made a solemn banquet, and used excess in their company, which is meant here by drinking wine: thus the wicked are most dissolute and negligent, when their destruction is at hand.
- Daniel 5:2 Or, overcome with wine.
- Daniel 5:2 Meaning, his grandfather.
- Daniel 5:4 In contempt of the true God, they praise their idols, not that they thought that the gold or silver were gods, but that there was a certain virtue and power in them to do them good, which is also the opinion of all idolaters.
- Daniel 5:5 That it might the better be seen.
- Daniel 5:6 So he that before contemned God, was moved by this sight to tremble for fear of God’s judgments.
- Daniel 5:7 Thus the wicked in their troubles seek many means, who draw them from God, because they seek not to him who is the only comfort in all afflictions.
- Daniel 5:10 To wit, his grandmother Nebuchadnezzar’s wife, which for her age was not before at the feast, but came thither when she heard of these strange news.
- Daniel 5:11 Read Dan. 4:6, and this declareth that both this name was odious unto him, and also he did not use these vile practices, because he was not among them when all were called.
- Daniel 5:14 For the idolaters thought that the Angels had power as God, and therefore had them in like estimation, as they had God, thinking that the spirit of prophecy and understanding came of them.
- Daniel 5:18 Before he read the writing, he declareth to the king his great ingratitude toward God, who could not be moved to give him the glory, considering his wonderful work toward his grandfather, and so showeth that he doth not sin of ignorance but of malice.
- Daniel 5:24 After that God had so long time deferred his anger, and patiently waited for thine amendment.
- Daniel 5:25 This word is twice written for the certainty of the thing: showing that God had most surely counted: signifying also that God hath appointed a term for all kingdoms, and that a miserable end shall come on all that raise themselves against him.
- Daniel 5:27 Or, wanting.
- Daniel 5:31 Cyrus his son-in-law gave him this title of honor, although Cyrus in effect had the dominion.
- Daniel 6:1 Read Esther 1:1.
- Daniel 6:2 Or, not be troubled.
- Daniel 6:3 This heathen king preferred Daniel a stranger to all his nobles and familiars, because the graces of God were more excellent in him than in others.
- Daniel 6:4 Thus the wicked cannot abide the graces of God in others, but seek by all occasions to deface them, therefore against such assaults there is no better remedy than to walk upright in the fear of God, and to have a good conscience.
- Daniel 6:9 Herein is condemned the wickedness of the king, who would be set up as a god, and passed not what wicked laws he approved for the maintenance of the same.
- Daniel 6:10 Because he would not by his silence show that he consented to this wicked decree, he set open his windows toward Jerusalem, when he prayed: both to stir up himself with the remembrance of God’s promises to his people, when they should pray toward that Temple, and also that others might see, that he would neither consent in heart nor deed for these few days to anything that was contrary to God’s glory.
- Daniel 6:15 Thus the wicked maintain evil laws by constancy and authority, which is ofttimes either lightness, or stubbornness, when as the innocents thereby perish, and therefore governors neither ought to fear, nor be ashamed to break such.
- Daniel 6:20 This declareth that Darius was not touched with the true knowledge of God, because he doubted of his power.
- Daniel 6:22 My just cause and uprightness in this thing wherein I was charged, is approved of God.
- Daniel 6:22 For he did disobey the king’s wicked commandment to obey God, and so did no injury to the king, who ought to command nothing whereby God should be dishonored.
- Daniel 6:23 Because he committed himself wholly unto God whose cause he did defend, he was assured that nothing but good could come unto him: wherein we see the power of faith, as Heb. 11:33.
- Daniel 6:24 This is a terrible example against all the wicked which do against their conscience make cruel laws to destroy the children of God, and also admonisheth Princes how to punish such when their wickedness is come to light: though not in every point, or with like circumstances, yet to execute true justice upon them.
- Daniel 6:26 This proveth not that Darius did worship God aright, or else was converted: for then he would have destroyed all superstition and idolatry: and not only given God the chief place, but also have set him up, and caused him to be honored according to his word: but this was a certain confession of God’s power, whereunto he was compelled by this wonderful miracle.
- Daniel 6:26 Which hath not only life in himself, but is the only fountain of life, and quickeneth all things, so that without him there is no life.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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