Study Desk

The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in [certain] of the children of Yisra'el, even of the seed royal and of the nobles;

But Daniyel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's dainties, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.

In the second year of the reign of Nevukhadnetztzar, Nevukhadnetztzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him.

Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Kasdim, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.

They answered the second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.

So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain; and they sought Daniyel and his companions to be slain.

Then Daniyel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananyah, Misha'el, and `Azaryah, his companions:

that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniyel and his companions should nor perish with the rest of the wise men of Bavel.

Daniyel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.

Then the king Nevukhadnetztzar fell on his face, and worshiped Daniyel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him.

Then Nevukhadnetztzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrakh, Meshakh, and `Aved-Nego. Then they brought these men before the king.

Then was Nevukhadnetztzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrakh, Meshakh, and `Aved-Nego: [therefore] he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrakh, Meshakh, and `Aved-Nego, [and] to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Then Nevukhadnetztzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spoke and said to his counselors, Didn't we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered the king, True, O king.

Nevukhadnetztzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrakh, Meshakh, and `Aved-Nego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

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.

Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the eretz, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of the sky: and let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the eretz:

let his heart be changed from man's, and let a animal's heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him.

Then Daniyel, whose name was Belteshatztzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, Belteshatztzar, don't let the dream, or the interpretation, trouble you. Belteshatztzar answered, My lord, the dream be to those who hate you, and the interpretation of it to your adversaries.