The Daily Audio Bible
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1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, to Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand with part of the vessels of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar, to the house of his god. And he brought the vessels into his god’s treasury.
3 And the king spoke to Ashpenaz, the master of his Eunuchs, and told him to bring some of the children of Israel, some of the king’s seed, and some of the princes;
4 Children in whom there was no blemish, but were well favored; and who were instructed in all wisdom, and well-versed in knowledge; and able to utter knowledge; and such as were able to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed provisions for them every day from a portion of the king’s meat, and from the wine which he drank, thus nourishing them for three years. That at the end thereof, they might still stand before the king.
6 Now among these were some of the children of Judah - Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,
7 To whom the chief of the Eunuchs gave other names. For he called Daniel, “Belteshazzar”, and Hananiah, “Shadrach”, and Mishael, “Meshach”, and Azariah, “Abednego”.
8 But Daniel had determined in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he required the chief of the Eunuchs not to defile himself.
9 (Now God had brought Daniel into favor and compassion with the chief of the Eunuchs.)
10 And the chief of the Eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord, the king; who has appointed your meat and your drink. For if he sees your faces looking worse than other youths of your age, then you shall make me lose my head to the king.”
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the chief of the Eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 “Please, test your servants for ten days. And let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our faces be looked upon before you, and the faces of those who eat of the portion of the king’s meat. And as you see fit, deal with your servants.”
14 So he consented to them in this matter, an watched them for ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer, and looked better, than all the others who ate the king’s meat.
16 Thus, Melzar took away their meat, and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge, and understanding in all learning, and wisdom. Also, he gave Daniel understanding of all visions and dreams.
18 Now when the time had come for the king to bring them in, the chief of the Eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king spoke with them. And among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore, they stood before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the enchanters and astrologers in his realm.
21 And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
2 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams which troubled his spirit, and broke his sleep.
2 Then the king commanded to call the enchanters, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to interpret the king’s dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream. And my spirit was troubled to know the dream.”
4 Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in the Aramite’s language, “O king, live forever. Show your servants your dream, and we shall show the interpretation.”
5 And the king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The thing is spoken. If you will not make me understand the dream, with the interpretation thereof, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.
6 “But, if you declare the dream and the interpretation thereof, you shall receive from 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 his servants the dream, and we will declare the interpretation thereof.”
8 Then the king answered, and said, “I know certainly that you would like more time, because you see the thing is spoken.
9 “But if you will not declare to me the dream, there is but one judgment for you. For you have prepared lying and corrupt words, to speak before me till the time changes. Therefore, tell me the dream, that I may know if you can declare to me the interpretation thereof.”
10 Then the Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is no man upon earth who can declare the king’s matter. Yea, there is neither king nor prince nor lord who asked such things of an enchanter, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
11 For it is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can declare it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 For this reason, the king was angry and in a great fury, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babel.
13 And when sentence was given, the wise men were killed. And they sought Daniel and his friends, to be put to death.
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch, the king’s chief steward, who had gone forth to put to death the wise men of Babel.
15 “Yea,” he answered and said to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the sentence so severe from the king?” Then Arioch explained it to Daniel.
16 So Daniel went and asked the king if he would give him time to show the king the interpretation thereof.
17 Then Daniel went to his house and shared the matter with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
18 in order that they should ask the God of heaven for grace in this secret, so that Daniel and his friends should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babel.
19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision by night. Therefore, Daniel praised the God of heaven.
20 And Daniel answered and said, “The Name of God be praised forever and ever. For wisdom and strength are his.
21 “And he changes the times and seasons. He takes away kings. He sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and understanding to those who understand.
22 “He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23 “I thank you and praise you, O God of my fathers, that you have given me wisdom and strength, and have shown me now the thing that we desired of you. For you have declared to us the king’s matter.”
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind; compassionate, loving as brothers, merciful, friendly,
9 not rendering evil for evil, nor rebuke for rebuke. On the contrary, bless. Know that you are called to this so that you could be heirs of blessing.
10 For “if anyone longs after life (and to see good days), let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 “Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears towards their prayers. And the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 And who is it that will harm you if you follow that which is good?
14 But if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And “do not fear their terror, nor be troubled.”
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give an answer - with humility and respect - to everyone who asks you the Reason for the hope that is in you;
16 having a good conscience, so that when they falsely accuse you as evildoers, those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
17 For it is better (if it is the will of God) to suffer for doing good rather than evil.
18 For Christ also has suffered once for sins - the Just for the unjust - so that He might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
19 by Whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison.
20 They were disobedient in the past, when once more the patience of God awaited in the days of Noah while the Ark was being prepared (in which few - that is, eight - souls were saved in the water).
21 This is now represented by baptism, which is not a putting away of the filth of the flesh, but an appeal to God, made with a good conscience. This also rescues us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 Who is at the right hand of God, gone into Heaven, to Whom the angels and powers and might are subject.
4 Therefore, as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. For he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
2 so that henceforth (as much time as remains in the flesh) he should not live after the lusts of man, but after the will of God.
3 For in the past of our lives, it may have sufficed for us to work after the same desires as the Gentiles: walking in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, in gluttony, carousing, and in abominable idolatries.
4 So, it seems strange to them that you do not run with them to the same excess of debauchery, and they speak evil of you.
5 They shall give account to Him Who is ready to judge quick and dead.
6 For to this purpose was the Gospel also preached to the dead: so that they might be condemned according to man in the flesh but might live according to God in the Spirit.
TETH
65 O LORD, You have dealt graciously with Your servant, according to Your Word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I have believed Your Commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep Your Word.
68 You are good and gracious; teach me Your Statutes.
69 The proud have imagined a lie against me, but I will keep Your Precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is fat as grease; but my delight is in Your Law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your Statutes.
72 The Law of Your Mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.
JOD
73 Your Hands have made me and fashioned me. Give me understanding, therefore, that I may learn Your Commandments.
74 So those who fear You, seeing me, shall rejoice, because I have trusted in Your Word.
75 I know, O LORD, that Your Judgments are right, and that You have afflicted me justly.
76 I pray that Your mercy may comfort me, according to Your Promise to Your servant.
77 Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live. For Your Law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed, for they have dealt wickedly and falsely with me. But I meditate on Your Precepts.
79 Let those who fear You turn to me, and those who know Your Testimonies.
80 Let my heart be upright in Your Statutes, that I be not ashamed.
14 Blessed is the man who is always reverent. But he who hardens his heart shall fall into evil.
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