Study Desk

So they approached the king and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for thirty days any person who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?”

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

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed.

So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

He was given dominion,and glory, and a kingdom;so that those of every people,nation, and languageshould serve him.His dominion is an everlasting dominionthat will not pass away,and his kingdom is onethat will not be destroyed.

I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him to clarify all this. So he let me know the interpretation of these things:

So he approached where I was standing; when he came near, I was terrified and fell facedown. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision refers to the time of the end.”

So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

He has carried out his words that he spoke against us and against our rulers by bringing on us a disaster that is so great that nothing like what has been done to Jerusalem has ever been done under all of heaven.

So the Lord kept the disaster in mind and brought it on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all he has done. But we have not obeyed him.

At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God. So consider the message and understand the vision:

Some of those who have insight will fall so that they may be refined, purified, and cleansed until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

I heard but did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”

So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

Therefore, this is what I will do:I will block her way with thorns;I will enclose her with a wall,so that she cannot find her paths.

So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and five bushels of barley.

They sacrifice on the mountaintops,and they burn offerings on the hills,and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,because their shade is pleasant.And so your daughters act promiscuouslyand your daughters-in-law commit adultery.

So I am like rot to Ephraimand like decay to the house of Judah.

So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove;they call to Egypt, and they go to Assyria.

I have seen Ephraim like Tyre,planted in a meadow,so Ephraim will bring out his childrento the executioner.