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Bible in 90 Days

An intensive Bible reading plan that walks through the entire Bible in 90 days.
Duration: 88 days
New International Version (NIV)
Version
Ezekiel 47:13 - Daniel 8:27

The Boundaries of the Land

13 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “These are the boundaries(A) of the land that you will divide among the twelve tribes of Israel as their inheritance, with two portions for Joseph.(B) 14 You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your ancestors, this land will become your inheritance.(C)

15 “This is to be the boundary of the land:(D)

“On the north side it will run from the Mediterranean Sea(E) by the Hethlon road(F) past Lebo Hamath to Zedad, 16 Berothah[a](G) and Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath),(H) as far as Hazer Hattikon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17 The boundary will extend from the sea to Hazar Enan,[b] along the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This will be the northern boundary.(I)

18 “On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the Dead Sea and as far as Tamar.[c] This will be the eastern boundary.(J)

19 “On the south side it will run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh,(K) then along the Wadi of Egypt(L) to the Mediterranean Sea.(M) This will be the southern boundary.

20 “On the west side, the Mediterranean Sea will be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo Hamath.(N) This will be the western boundary.(O)

21 “You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You are to allot it as an inheritance(P) for yourselves and for the foreigners(Q) residing among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.(R) 23 In whatever tribe a foreigner resides, there you are to give them their inheritance,” declares the Sovereign Lord.(S)

The Division of the Land

48 “These are the tribes, listed by name: At the northern frontier, Dan(T) will have one portion; it will follow the Hethlon road(U) to Lebo Hamath;(V) Hazar Enan and the northern border of Damascus next to Hamath will be part of its border from the east side to the west side.

“Asher(W) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Dan from east to west.

“Naphtali(X) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Asher from east to west.

“Manasseh(Y) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Naphtali from east to west.

“Ephraim(Z) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Manasseh(AA) from east to west.(AB)

“Reuben(AC) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Ephraim from east to west.

“Judah(AD) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Reuben from east to west.

“Bordering the territory of Judah from east to west will be the portion you are to present as a special gift. It will be 25,000 cubits[d] wide, and its length from east to west will equal one of the tribal portions; the sanctuary will be in the center of it.(AE)

“The special portion you are to offer to the Lord will be 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits[e] wide.(AF) 10 This will be the sacred portion for the priests. It will be 25,000 cubits long on the north side, 10,000 cubits wide on the west side, 10,000 cubits wide on the east side and 25,000 cubits long on the south side. In the center of it will be the sanctuary of the Lord.(AG) 11 This will be for the consecrated priests, the Zadokites,(AH) who were faithful in serving me(AI) and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray.(AJ) 12 It will be a special gift to them from the sacred portion of the land, a most holy portion, bordering the territory of the Levites.

13 “Alongside the territory of the priests, the Levites will have an allotment 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. Its total length will be 25,000 cubits and its width 10,000 cubits.(AK) 14 They must not sell or exchange any of it. This is the best of the land and must not pass into other hands, because it is holy to the Lord.(AL)

15 “The remaining area, 5,000 cubits[f] wide and 25,000 cubits long, will be for the common use of the city, for houses and for pastureland. The city will be in the center of it 16 and will have these measurements: the north side 4,500 cubits,[g] the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits.(AM) 17 The pastureland for the city will be 250 cubits[h] on the north, 250 cubits on the south, 250 cubits on the east, and 250 cubits on the west. 18 What remains of the area, bordering on the sacred portion and running the length of it, will be 10,000 cubits on the east side and 10,000 cubits on the west side. Its produce will supply food for the workers of the city.(AN) 19 The workers from the city who farm it will come from all the tribes of Israel. 20 The entire portion will be a square, 25,000 cubits on each side. As a special gift you will set aside the sacred portion, along with the property of the city.

21 “What remains on both sides of the area formed by the sacred portion and the property of the city will belong to the prince. It will extend eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the sacred portion to the eastern border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the western border. Both these areas running the length of the tribal portions will belong to the prince, and the sacred portion with the temple sanctuary will be in the center of them.(AO) 22 So the property of the Levites and the property of the city will lie in the center of the area that belongs to the prince. The area belonging to the prince will lie between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin.

23 “As for the rest of the tribes: Benjamin(AP) will have one portion; it will extend from the east side to the west side.

24 “Simeon(AQ) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Benjamin from east to west.

25 “Issachar(AR) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Simeon from east to west.

26 “Zebulun(AS) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Issachar from east to west.

27 “Gad(AT) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Zebulun from east to west.

28 “The southern boundary of Gad will run south from Tamar(AU) to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.(AV)

29 “This is the land you are to allot as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these will be their portions,” declares the Sovereign Lord.(AW)

The Gates of the New City

30 “These will be the exits of the city: Beginning on the north side, which is 4,500 cubits long, 31 the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. The three gates on the north side will be the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah and the gate of Levi.

32 “On the east side, which is 4,500 cubits long, will be three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin and the gate of Dan.

33 “On the south side, which measures 4,500 cubits, will be three gates: the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar and the gate of Zebulun.

34 “On the west side, which is 4,500 cubits long, will be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher and the gate of Naphtali.(AX)

35 “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits.[i]

“And the name of the city from that time on will be:

the Lord is there.(AY)

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim(AZ) king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar(BA) king of Babylon(BB) came to Jerusalem and besieged it.(BC) And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried(BD) off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[j] and put in the treasure house of his god.(BE)

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility(BF) young men without any physical defect, handsome,(BG) showing aptitude for every kind of learning,(BH) well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language(BI) and literature of the Babylonians.[k] The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine(BJ) from the king’s table.(BK) They were to be trained for three years,(BL) and after that they were to enter the king’s service.(BM)

Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel,(BN) Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.(BO) The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar;(BP) to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.(BQ)

But Daniel resolved not to defile(BR) himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor(BS) and compassion(BT) to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[l] food and drink.(BU) Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test(BV) your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”(BW) 14 So he agreed to this and tested(BX) them for ten days.

15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.(BY) 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.(BZ)

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding(CA) of all kinds of literature and learning.(CB) And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.(CC)

18 At the end of the time(CD) set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.(CE) 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians(CF) and enchanters in his whole kingdom.(CG)

21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.(CH)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams;(CI) his mind was troubled(CJ) and he could not sleep.(CK) So the king summoned the magicians,(CL) enchanters, sorcerers(CM) and astrologers[m](CN) to tell him what he had dreamed.(CO) When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles(CP) me and I want to know what it means.[n]

Then the astrologers answered the king,[o](CQ) “May the king live forever!(CR) Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided:(CS) If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces(CT) and your houses turned into piles of rubble.(CU) But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.(CV) So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”

Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty(CW) for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”(CX)

10 The astrologers(CY) answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.(CZ) 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods,(DA) and they do not live among humans.”

12 This made the king so angry and furious(DB) that he ordered the execution(DC) of all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.(DD)

14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15 He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.

17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.(DE) 18 He urged them to plead for mercy(DF) from the God of heaven(DG) concerning this mystery,(DH) so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery(DI) was revealed to Daniel in a vision.(DJ) Then Daniel praised the God of heaven(DK) 20 and said:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;(DL)
    wisdom and power(DM) are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;(DN)
    he deposes(DO) kings and raises up others.(DP)
He gives wisdom(DQ) to the wise
    and knowledge to the discerning.(DR)
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;(DS)
    he knows what lies in darkness,(DT)
    and light(DU) dwells with him.
23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:(DV)
    You have given me wisdom(DW) and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
    you have made known to us the dream of the king.(DX)

Daniel Interprets the Dream

24 Then Daniel went to Arioch,(DY) whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”

25 Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles(DZ) from Judah(EA) who can tell the king what his dream means.”

26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar),(EB) “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”

27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,(EC) 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.(ED) He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.(EE) Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind(EF) as you were lying in bed(EG) are these:(EH)

29 “As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.(EI) 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed(EJ) to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.

31 “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue,(EK) awesome(EL) in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands.(EM) It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed(EN) them.(EO) 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away(EP) without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain(EQ) and filled the whole earth.(ER)

36 “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.(ES) 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings.(ET) The God of heaven has given you dominion(EU) and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all.(EV) You are that head of gold.

39 “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth.(EW) 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.(EX) 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush(EY) all those kingdoms(EZ) and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.(FA) 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock(FB) cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands(FC)—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.

“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future.(FD) The dream is true(FE) and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate(FF) before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering(FG) and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods(FH) and the Lord of kings(FI) and a revealer of mysteries,(FJ) for you were able to reveal this mystery.(FK)

48 Then the king placed Daniel in a high(FL) position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.(FM) 49 Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon,(FN) while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.(FO)

The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image(FP) of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,[p] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps,(FQ) prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials(FR) to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language,(FS) this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp,(FT) pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image(FU) of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.(FV) Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”(FW)

Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.(FX)

At this time some astrologers[q](FY) came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!(FZ) 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree(GA) that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,(GB) 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(GC)—who pay no attention(GD) to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”(GE)

13 Furious(GF) with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods(GG) or worship the image(GH) of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god(GI) will be able to rescue(GJ) you from my hand?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(GK) replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver(GL) us from it, and he will deliver(GM) us[r] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.(GN)

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven(GO) times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(GP) and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,(GQ) 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God,(GR) come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers(GS) crowded around them.(GT) They saw that the fire(GU) had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel(GV) and rescued(GW) his servants! They trusted(GX) in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.(GY) 29 Therefore I decree(GZ) that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble,(HA) for no other god can save(HB) in this way.”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.(HC)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

[s]King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the nations and peoples of every language,(HD) who live in all the earth:

May you prosper greatly!(HE)

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs(HF) and wonders that the Most High God(HG) has performed for me.

How great are his signs,
    how mighty his wonders!(HH)
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
    his dominion endures(HI) from generation to generation.

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented(HJ) and prosperous. I had a dream(HK) that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed,(HL) the images and visions that passed through my mind(HM) terrified me.(HN) So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret(HO) the dream for me. When the magicians,(HP) enchanters, astrologers[t] and diviners(HQ) came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.(HR) Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar,(HS) after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods(HT) is in him.)

I said, “Belteshazzar, chief(HU) of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods(HV) is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed:(HW) I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous.(HX) 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.(HY) 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches;(HZ) from it every creature was fed.

13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed,(IA) I looked, and there before me was a holy one,(IB) a messenger,[u] coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree(IC) and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.(ID) 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.

“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times[v] pass by for him.(IE)

17 “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High(IF) is sovereign(IG) over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest(IH) of people.’

18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me.(II) But you can,(IJ) because the spirit of the holy gods(IK) is in you.”(IL)

Daniel Interprets the Dream

19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified(IM) him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”(IN)

Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds(IO) 22 Your Majesty, you are that tree!(IP) You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.(IQ)

23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one,(IR) a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’(IS)

24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree(IT) the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched(IU) with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High(IV) is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.(IW) 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots(IX) means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.(IY) 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.(IZ) It may be that then your prosperity(JA) will continue.(JB)

The Dream Is Fulfilled

28 All this happened(JC) to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory(JD) of my majesty?”(JE)

31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.(JF) 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”(JG)

33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched(JH) with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.(JI)

34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity(JJ) was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.(JK)

His dominion is an eternal dominion;
    his kingdom(JL) endures from generation to generation.(JM)
35 All the peoples of the earth
    are regarded as nothing.(JN)
He does as he pleases(JO)
    with the powers of heaven
    and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back(JP) his hand(JQ)
    or say to him: “What have you done?”(JR)

36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom.(JS) My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt(JT) and glorify(JU) the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.(JV) And those who walk in pride(JW) he is able to humble.(JX)

The Writing on the Wall

King Belshazzar(JY) gave a great banquet(JZ) for a thousand of his nobles(KA) and drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking(KB) his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets(KC) that Nebuchadnezzar his father[w] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines(KD) might drink from them.(KE) So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods(KF) of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.(KG)

Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale(KH) and he was so frightened(KI) that his legs became weak(KJ) and his knees were knocking.(KK)

The king summoned the enchanters,(KL) astrologers[x](KM) and diviners.(KN) Then he said to these wise(KO) men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck,(KP) and he will be made the third(KQ) highest ruler in the kingdom.”(KR)

Then all the king’s wise men(KS) came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.(KT) So King Belshazzar became even more terrified(KU) and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.

10 The queen,[y] hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!”(KV) she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods(KW) in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom(KX) like that of the gods.(KY) Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.(KZ) 12 He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar,(LA) was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles(LB) and solve difficult problems.(LC) Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.(LD)

13 So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?(LE) 14 I have heard that the spirit of the gods(LF) is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.(LG) 15 The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it.(LH) 16 Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems.(LI) If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck,(LJ) and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”(LK)

17 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.(LL) Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

18 “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar(LM) sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.(LN) 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death;(LO) those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.(LP) 20 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride,(LQ) he was deposed from his royal throne(LR) and stripped(LS) of his glory.(LT) 21 He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign(LU) over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.(LV)

22 “But you, Belshazzar, his son,[z] have not humbled(LW) yourself, though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have set yourself up against(LX) the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives(LY) and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand.(LZ) But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life(MA) and all your ways.(MB) 24 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

25 “This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

26 “Here is what these words mean:

Mene[aa]: God has numbered the days(MC) of your reign and brought it to an end.(MD)

27 Tekel[ab]: You have been weighed on the scales(ME) and found wanting.(MF)

28 Peres[ac]: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes(MG) and Persians.”(MH)

29 Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck,(MI) and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.(MJ)

30 That very night Belshazzar,(MK) king(ML) of the Babylonians,[ad] was slain,(MM) 31 and Darius(MN) the Mede(MO) took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.[ae]

Daniel in the Den of Lions

[af]It pleased Darius(MP) to appoint 120 satraps(MQ) to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.(MR) The satraps were made accountable(MS) to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.(MT) At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges(MU) against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”(MV)

So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!(MW) The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors(MX) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.(MY) Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”(MZ) So King Darius put the decree in writing.

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward(NA) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees(NB) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.(NC) 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.(ND) 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”(NE)

13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,(NF) pays no attention(NG) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;(NH) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”(NI)

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.(NJ) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue(NK) you!”

17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed(NL) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating(NM) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.(NN)

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”(NO)

21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!(NP) 22 My God sent his angel,(NQ) and he shut the mouths of the lions.(NR) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.(NS) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound(NT) was found on him, because he had trusted(NU) in his God.

24 At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,(NV) along with their wives and children.(NW) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.(NX)

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language(NY) in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!(NZ)

26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence(OA) the God of Daniel.(OB)

“For he is the living God(OC)
    and he endures forever;(OD)
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.(OE)
27 He rescues and he saves;(OF)
    he performs signs and wonders(OG)
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”(OH)

28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus[ag](OI) the Persian.(OJ)

Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts

In the first year of Belshazzar(OK) king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions(OL) passed through his mind(OM) as he was lying in bed.(ON) He wrote(OO) down the substance of his dream.

Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven(OP) churning up the great sea. Four great beasts,(OQ) each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

“The first was like a lion,(OR) and it had the wings of an eagle.(OS) I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.

“And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’(OT)

“After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard.(OU) And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

“After that, in my vision(OV) at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron(OW) teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled(OX) underfoot whatever was left.(OY) It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.(OZ)

“While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little(PA) one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being(PB) and a mouth that spoke boastfully.(PC)

“As I looked,

“thrones were set in place,
    and the Ancient of Days(PD) took his seat.(PE)
His clothing was as white as snow;(PF)
    the hair of his head was white like wool.(PG)
His throne was flaming with fire,
    and its wheels(PH) were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire(PI) was flowing,
    coming out from before him.(PJ)
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
    ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
    and the books(PK) were opened.

11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking.(PL) I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.(PM) 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[ah](PN) coming(PO) with the clouds of heaven.(PP) He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority,(PQ) glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.(PR) His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom(PS) is one that will never be destroyed.(PT)

The Interpretation of the Dream

15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.(PU) 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.

“So he told me and gave me the interpretation(PV) of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people(PW) of the Most High will receive the kingdom(PX) and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’(PY)

19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns(PZ) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.(QA) 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,(QB) 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.(QC)

23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.(QD) 24 The ten horns(QE) are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High(QF) and oppress his holy people(QG) and try to change the set times(QH) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.[ai](QI)

26 “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed(QJ) forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms(QK) under heaven will be handed over to the holy people(QL) of the Most High.(QM) His kingdom will be an everlasting(QN) kingdom, and all rulers will worship(QO) and obey him.’

28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled(QP) by my thoughts,(QQ) and my face turned pale,(QR) but I kept the matter to myself.”

Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat

In the third year of King Belshazzar’s(QS) reign, I, Daniel, had a vision,(QT) after the one that had already appeared to me. In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa(QU) in the province of Elam;(QV) in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. I looked up,(QW) and there before me was a ram(QX) with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power.(QY) It did as it pleased(QZ) and became great.

As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it,(RA) and none could rescue the ram from its power.(RB) The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off,(RC) and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.(RD)

Out of one of them came another horn, which started small(RE) but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.(RF) 10 It grew until it reached(RG) the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth(RH) and trampled(RI) on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the commander(RJ) of the army of the Lord;(RK) it took away the daily sacrifice(RL) from the Lord, and his sanctuary was thrown down.(RM) 12 Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people[aj] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.(RN)

13 Then I heard a holy one(RO) speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled(RP)—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot(RQ) of the Lord’s people?”

14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”(RR)

The Interpretation of the Vision

15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision(RS) and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man.(RT) 16 And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai(RU) calling, “Gabriel,(RV) tell this man the meaning of the vision.”(RW)

17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate.(RX) “Son of man,”[ak] he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”(RY)

18 While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.(RZ) Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.(SA)

19 He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath,(SB) because the vision concerns the appointed time(SC) of the end.[al](SD) 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.(SE) 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece,(SF) and the large horn between its eyes is the first king.(SG) 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.

23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people.(SH) 25 He will cause deceit(SI) to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes.(SJ) Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.(SK)

26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true,(SL) but seal(SM) up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”(SN)

27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted(SO) for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business.(SP) I was appalled(SQ) by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

New International Version (NIV)

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