Study Desk

And the king gave them a share of his best food and wine every day. They were to be taught for three years, and after that they were to serve the king.

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not make himself unclean with the king's best food and wine. So he asked the head ruler to allow him not to make himself unclean.

Every time the king asked them questions that needed wise and understanding answers, he found that they knew ten times more than all the wonder-workers under his rule who used their secret ways.

In the second year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had a dream. His spirit was troubled and he could not sleep.

They answered the king a second time, saying, "Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will tell you what it means."

So the law was sent out that the wise men must be killed. They looked for Daniel and his friends, to kill them also.

Then Daniel went to his house and told his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, what had happened.

He told them to ask for loving-pity from the God of heaven about this secret, so that Daniel and his friends might not be killed with the other wise men of Babylon.

So Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had told to kill the wise men of Babylon. He went and said to him, "Do not kill the wise men of Babylon! Take me to the king, and I will tell him what his dream means."

Then Arioch brought Daniel to the king in a hurry, and said to him, "I have found a man among those brought out of Judah who can tell the king the meaning of his dream!"

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and gave honor to Daniel. He had a gift and special perfume brought to him.

You yourself, O king, have made a law that every man who hears the sound of the horns and harps and all kinds of music is to get down on his knees and worship the object of gold.

And he told certain powerful soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, and to throw them into the fire.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was very surprised and stood up in a hurry. He said to his leaders, "Did we not throw three men who were tied up into the fire?" They answered, "That is true, O king."

Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He has sent His angel and saved His servants who put their trust in Him. They changed the king's word and were ready to give up their lives instead of serving or worshiping any god except their own God.

How great are the special things He shows us! How powerful are His wonderful works! His nation lasts forever, and His rule is for all people for all time.

Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and for seven years let him have the mind of an animal.

"Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was afraid for a while. His thoughts filled him with fear. The king said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not be afraid of the dream or its meaning.' Belteshazzar answered, ‘My lord, if only the dream and its meaning had to do with those who hate you and fight against you!

Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of his beautiful house in Babylon.

At once these words about Nebuchadnezzar came true. He was driven away from all people and began eating grass like cattle. His body became wet with the water from heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers and his nails like those of birds.