From: "FamilyNet Direct"
Bible Reading for September 27
Daniel 4
[1] Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that
dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. [2] I thought it good to
shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
[3] How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. [4] I
Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
[5] I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the
visions of my head troubled me.
[6] Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before
me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. [7]
Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the
soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known
unto me the interpretation thereof. [8] But at the last Daniel came in before
me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom
is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, [9] O
Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, 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. [10] Thus were the
visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the
earth, and the height thereof was great. [11] The tree grew, and was strong,
and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end
of all the earth: [12] The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof
much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it,
and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed
of it. [13] I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a
watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
[14] He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his
branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away
from under it, and the fowls from his branches: [15] Nevertheless leave the
stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the
tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let
his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
[16] Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given
unto him; and let seven times pass over him. [17] This matter is by the decree
of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent
that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and
giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
[18] This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar,
declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my
kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art
able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee. [19] Then Daniel, whose name
was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him.
The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or 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. [20] The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose
height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; [21]
Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for
all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the
fowls of the heaven had their habitation: [22] It is thou, O king, that art
grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven,
and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
[23] And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from
heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of
the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the
tender 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, till seven times pass over him;
[24] This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most
High, which is come upon my lord the king: [25] That they shall drive thee
from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they
shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of
heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most
High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
[26] And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy
kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the
heavens do rule.
[27] Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off
thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor;
if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. [28] All this came upon the
king Nebuchadnezzar. [29] At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace
of the kingdom of Babylon.
[30] The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built
for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of
my majesty?
[31] While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven,
saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed
from thee.
[32] 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 oxen, and seven
times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the
kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. [33] The same hour was
the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did
eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs
were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
[34] And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto
heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High,
and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an
everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: [35]
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth
according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the
earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? [36] At
the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom,
mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellers and my lords
sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was
added unto me.
[37] Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all
whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he
is able to abase.
Daniel 5
[1] Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and
drank wine before the thousand.
[2] Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and
silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple
which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his
concubines, might drink therein.
[3] Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of
the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his
wives, and his concubines, drank in them. [4] They drank wine, and praised the
gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
[5] In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over
against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace:
and the king saw the part 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 knees smote one against another.
[7] The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the
soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon,
Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof,
shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and
shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. [8] Then came in all the king's wise
men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the
interpretation thereof. [9] Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his
countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. [10] Now the
queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet
house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: 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 master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
[12] Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding,
interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of
doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now
let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. [13] Then was
Daniel brought in 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 the king my father brought out of Jewry? [14] I have even heard of thee,
that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and
excellent wisdom is found in thee. [15] And now the wise men, the astrologers,
have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make
known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the
interpretation of the thing:
[16] And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and
dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the
interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and 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, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and
give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and
make known to him the interpretation. [18] O thou king, the most high God gave
Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: [19]
And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages,
trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he
kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
[20] But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was
deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory 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 heaven; till he knew that the most high God
ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.
[22] And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou
knewest all this;
[23] But hast lifted up thyself against the LORD of heaven; and they have
brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, 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 see not, nor
hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy
ways, hast thou not glorified: [24] Then was the part of the hand sent from
him; and this writing was written.
[25] And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
[26] This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy
kingdom, and finished it.
[27] TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. [28]
PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. [29] Then
commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, 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] In that night was Belshazzar the king of
the Chaldeans slain. [31] And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about
threescore and two years old.
Daniel 6
[1] It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes,
which should be over the whole kingdom; [2] And over these three presidents;
of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and
the king should have no damage. [3] Then this Daniel was preferred above the
presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king
thought to set him over the whole realm.
[4] Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel
concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch
as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
[5] Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel,
except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. [6] Then these
presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him,
King Darius, live for ever. [7] All the presidents of the kingdom, the
governors, and the princes, the counsellers, and the captains, have consulted
together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, 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, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not
changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
[9] Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. [10] Now when
Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his
windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees
three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did
aforetime.
[11] Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making
supplication before his God.
[12] Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's
decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a
petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of 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 before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children
of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that
thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. [14] Then the
king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his
heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun
to deliver him. [15] Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the
king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree
nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. [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 servest continually, 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
lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. [18] Then the
king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were
instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. [19]
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in 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, servant of the living
God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the
lions?
[21] Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. [22] My God hath
sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me:
forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O
king, have I done no hurt. [23] Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and
commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken
up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he
believed in his God. [24] And the king commanded, and they brought those men
which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them,
their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and
brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
[25] Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that
dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. [26] I make a decree,
That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of
Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that
which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
[27] He delivereth and rescueth, 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 the
Persian.
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