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24 Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and spoke to him as follows: “(A)Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon! Take me [a]into the king’s presence, and I will declare the interpretation to the king.”
25 Then Arioch hurriedly (B)brought Daniel [b]into the king’s presence and spoke to him as follows: “I have found a man among the [c](C)exiles from Judah who can make the interpretation known to the king!” 26 The king said to Daniel, whose name was (D)Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither (E)wise men, conjurers, [d]magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. 28 However, there is a (F)God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the [e](G)latter days. This was your dream and the (H)visions [f]in your mind while on your bed. 29 As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts [g]turned to what would take place [h]in the future; and (I)He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place. 30 But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any (J)wisdom [i]residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may [j]understand the (K)thoughts of your [k]mind.
The King’s Dream
31 “You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and [l]of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was (L)awesome. 32 The (M)head of that statue was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 You [m]continued looking until a (N)stone was cut out (O)without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and (P)crushed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed [n]all at the same time and became (Q)like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that (R)not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great (S)mountain and filled the whole earth.
The Interpretation—Babylon the First Kingdom
36 “This was the dream; now we will tell (T)its interpretation before the king. 37 You, O king, are the (U)king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the [o]kingdom, the (V)power, the strength and the glory; 38 and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the (W)beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold.
Medo-Persia and Greece
39 After you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
Rome
40 Then there will be a (X)fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. 41 In that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with [p]common clay. 42 As the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle. 43 And in that you saw the iron mixed with [q]common clay, they will combine with one another [r]in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery.
The Divine Kingdom
44 In the days of those kings the (Y)God of heaven will (Z)set up a (AA)kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be [s]left for another people; it will (AB)crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that a (AC)stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the (AD)great God has made known to the king what (AE)will take place [t]in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
Daniel Promoted
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did (AF)homage to Daniel, and gave orders to present to him an offering and [u](AG)fragrant incense. 47 The king answered Daniel and said, “Surely (AH)your God is a (AI)God of gods and a Lord of kings and a (AJ)revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king [v](AK)promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole (AL)province of Babylon and chief [w]prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And Daniel made request of the king, and he (AM)appointed (AN)Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king’s [x](AO)court.
The King’s Golden Image
3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an (AP)image of gold, the height of which was sixty [y]cubits and its width six [z]cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the (AQ)province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the (AR)satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed: “To you [aa]the command is given, (AS)O peoples, nations and men of every [ab]language, 5 that at the moment you (AT)hear the sound of the horn, flute, [ac]lyre, [ad]trigon, [ae]psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall [af]immediately be (AU)cast into the midst of a (AV)furnace of blazing fire.” 7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, [ag]lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every [ah]language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Worship of the Image Refused
8 For this reason at that time certain (AW)Chaldeans came forward and [ai](AX)brought charges against the Jews. 9 They responded and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “(AY)O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have (AZ)made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, [aj]lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, is to (BA)fall down and worship the golden image. 11 But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have (BB)appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in (BC)rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve (BD)my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready, (BE)at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, [ak]lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will [al]immediately be (BF)cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and (BG)what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?”
16 (BH)Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17 [am]If it be so, our (BI)God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; [an]and (BJ)He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 (BK)But even if He does not, (BL)let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Daniel’s Friends Protected
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with (BM)wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered [ao]by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 He commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 Then these men were tied up in their [ap](BN)trousers, their [aq]coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 For this reason, because the king’s [ar]command was [as](BO)urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. 23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, (BP)fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Certainly, O king.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and (BQ)walking about in the midst of the fire [at]without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the (BR)gods!” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the (BS)Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (BT)came out of the midst of the fire. 27 The (BU)satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the (BV)fire had no [au]effect on [av]the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their [aw](BW)trousers [ax]damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.
28 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the (BX)God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has (BY)sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their (BZ)trust in Him, [ay]violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as (CA)not to serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I (CB)make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of (CC)Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their (CD)houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is (CE)no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” 30 Then the king (CF)caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.
7 (A)The end of all things [a]is near; therefore, (B)be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of [b]prayer. 8 Above all, (C)keep fervent in your love for one another, because (D)love covers a multitude of sins. 9 (E)Be hospitable to one another without (F)complaint. 10 (G)As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good (H)stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 (I)Whoever speaks, is to do so [c]as one who is speaking the (J)utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving [d](K)by the strength which God supplies; so that (L)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, (M)to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Share the Sufferings of Christ
12 (N)Beloved, do not be surprised at the (O)fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you (P)share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the (Q)revelation of His glory (R)you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled [e](S)for the name of Christ, (T)you are blessed, (U)because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that (V)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a [f](W)troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a (X)Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to (Y)glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment (Z)to begin [g]with (AA)the household of God; and if it (AB)begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those (AC)who do not obey the (AD)gospel of God? 18 (AE)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, [h]what will become of the (AF)godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to (AG)the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
Serve God Willingly
5 (AH)Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your (AI)fellow elder and (AJ)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a (AK)partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd (AL)the flock of God among you, exercising oversight (AM)not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and (AN)not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as (AO)lording it over [i]those allotted to your charge, but [j]proving to be (AP)examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief (AQ)Shepherd appears, you will receive the (AR)unfading [k](AS)crown of glory. 5 (AT)You younger men, likewise, (AU)be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with (AV)humility toward one another, for (AW)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
6 Therefore (AX)humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your (AY)anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 (AZ)Be of sober spirit, (BA)be on the alert. Your adversary, (BB)the devil, prowls around like a roaring (BC)lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 [l](BD)But resist him, (BE)firm in your faith, knowing that (BF)the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your [m]brethren who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered (BG)for a little while, the (BH)God of all grace, who (BI)called you to His (BJ)eternal glory in Christ, will Himself (BK)perfect, (BL)confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11 (BM)To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12 Through (BN)Silvanus, our faithful brother [n](for so I regard him), (BO)I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is (BP)the true grace of God. (BQ)Stand firm in it! 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, (BR)Mark. 14 (BS)Greet one another with a kiss of love.
(BT)Peace be to you all who are in Christ.
Kaph.
81 My (A)soul languishes for Your salvation;
I [a](B)wait for Your word.
82 My (C)eyes fail with longing for Your [b]word,
[c]While I say, “When will You comfort me?”
83 Though I have (D)become like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do (E)not forget Your statutes.
84 How many are the (F)days of Your servant?
When will You (G)execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The arrogant have (H)dug pits for me,
Men who are not [d]in accord with Your law.
86 All Your commandments are (I)faithful;
They have (J)persecuted me with a lie; (K)help me!
87 They almost destroyed me [e]on earth,
But as for me, I (L)did not forsake Your precepts.
88 Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
Lamedh.
89 (M)Forever, O Lord,
Your word [f]is settled in heaven.
90 Your (N)faithfulness continues [g]throughout all generations;
You (O)established the earth, and it (P)stands.
91 They stand this day according to Your (Q)ordinances,
For (R)all things are Your servants.
92 If Your law had not been my (S)delight,
Then I would have perished (T)in my affliction.
93 I will (U)never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have [h](V)revived me.
94 I am Yours, (W)save me;
For I have (X)sought Your precepts.
95 The wicked (Y)wait for me to destroy me;
I shall diligently consider Your testimonies.
96 I have seen [i]a limit to all perfection;
Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.