Study Desk

So Daniel went to the guard whom Ashpenaz had placed in charge of him and his three friends.

So from then on the guard let them continue to eat vegetables instead of what the king provided.

The king talked with them all, and Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah impressed him more than any of the others. So they became members of the king's court.

In the second year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had a dream. It worried him so much that he couldn't sleep,

so he sent for his fortunetellers, magicians, sorcerers, and wizards to come and explain the dream to him. When they came and stood before the king,

What Your Majesty is asking for is so difficult that no one can do it for you except the gods, and they do not live among human beings."

So the order was issued for all of them to be killed, including Daniel and his friends.

he asked Arioch why the king had issued such a harsh order. So Arioch told Daniel what had happened.

Daniel went at once and obtained royal permission for more time, so that he could tell the king what the dream meant.

He told them to pray to the God of heaven for mercy and to ask him to explain the mystery to them so that they would not be killed along with the other advisers in Babylon.

So Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had commanded to execute the royal advisers. He said to him, "Don't put them to death. Take me to the king, and I will tell him what his dream means."

Now, this mystery was revealed to me, not because I am wiser than anyone else, but so that Your Majesty may learn the meaning of your dream and understand the thoughts that have come to you.

And so, as soon as they heard the sound of the instruments, the people of all the nations, races, and languages bowed down and worshiped the gold statue which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Then Nebuchadnezzar lost his temper, and his face turned red with anger at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual.

So they tied them up, fully dressed—shirts, robes, caps, and all—and threw them into the blazing furnace.

So Nebuchadnezzar went up to the door of the blazing furnace and called out, "Shadrach! Meshach! Abednego! Servants of the Supreme God! Come out!" And they came out at once.

I ordered all the royal advisers in Babylon to be brought to me so that they could tell me what the dream meant.

Then Daniel came in. (He is also called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god.) The spirit of the holy gods is in him, so I told him what I had dreamed. I said to him:

This is the decision of the alert and watchful angels. So then, let all people everywhere know that the Supreme God has power over human kingdoms and that he can give them to anyone he chooses—even to those who are least important.'

At this, Daniel, who is also called Belteshazzar, was so alarmed that he could not say anything. The king said to him, "Belteshazzar, don't let the dream and its message alarm you." Belteshazzar replied, "Your Majesty, I wish that the dream and its explanation applied to your enemies and not to you.