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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk1CH">
 <div class="chapter ch11" data-usfm="1CH.11">
 <div class="label">11</div><div class="s1">David Becomes King Over Israel</div><div class="p"> 1All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, &#8220;We are your own flesh and blood. 2In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord your God said to you, &#8216;You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.&#8217;&#8198;&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 3When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the Lord had promised through Samuel.</div><div class="s1">David Conquers Jerusalem</div><div class="p"> 4David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites who lived there 5said to David, &#8220;You will not get in here.&#8221; Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion&#8212;which is the City of David.</div><div class="p"> 6David had said, &#8220;Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander in chief.&#8221; Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command.</div><div class="p"> 7David then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David. 8He built up the city around it, from the terraces#11:8 Or the Millo to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city. 9And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord Almighty was with him.</div><div class="s1">David&#8217;s Mighty Warriors</div><div class="p"> 10These were the chiefs of David&#8217;s mighty warriors&#8212;they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised&#8212; 11this is the list of David&#8217;s mighty warriors:</div><div class="p">Jashobeam,#11:11 Possibly a variant of Jashob-Baal a Hakmonite, was chief of the officers#11:11 Or Thirty; some Septuagint manuscripts Three (see also 2 Samuel 23:8); he raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.</div><div class="p"> 12Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty warriors. 13He was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place where there was a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. 14But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.</div><div class="p"> 15Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 17David longed for water and said, &#8220;Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!&#8221; 18So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the Lord. 19&#8220;God forbid that I should do this!&#8221; he said. &#8220;Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?&#8221; Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it.</div><div class="p">Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.</div><div class="p"> 20Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 21He was doubly honored above the Three and became their commander, even though he was not included among them.</div><div class="p"> 22Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab&#8217;s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 23And he struck down an Egyptian who was five cubits#11:23 That is, about 7 feet 6 inches or about 2.3 meters tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver&#8217;s rod in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian&#8217;s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. 25He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="li1"> 26The mighty warriors were:</div><div class="li2">Asahel the brother of Joab,</div><div class="li2">Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,</div><div class="li2"> 27Shammoth the Harorite,</div><div class="li2">Helez the Pelonite,</div><div class="li2"> 28Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,</div><div class="li2">Abiezer from Anathoth,</div><div class="li2"> 29Sibbekai the Hushathite,</div><div class="li2">Ilai the Ahohite,</div><div class="li2"> 30Maharai the Netophathite,</div><div class="li2">Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,</div><div class="li2"> 31Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,</div><div class="li2">Benaiah the Pirathonite,</div><div class="li2"> 32Hurai from the ravines of Gaash,</div><div class="li2">Abiel the Arbathite,</div><div class="li2"> 33Azmaveth the Baharumite,</div><div class="li2">Eliahba the Shaalbonite,</div><div class="li2"> 34the sons of Hashem the Gizonite,</div><div class="li2">Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,</div><div class="li2"> 35Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite,</div><div class="li2">Eliphal son of Ur,</div><div class="li2"> 36Hepher the Mekerathite,</div><div class="li2">Ahijah the Pelonite,</div><div class="li2"> 37Hezro the Carmelite,</div><div class="li2">Naarai son of Ezbai,</div><div class="li2"> 38Joel the brother of Nathan,</div><div class="li2">Mibhar son of Hagri,</div><div class="li2"> 39Zelek the Ammonite,</div><div class="li2">Naharai the Berothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,</div><div class="li2"> 40Ira the Ithrite,</div><div class="li2">Gareb the Ithrite,</div><div class="li2"> 41Uriah the Hittite,</div><div class="li2">Zabad son of Ahlai,</div><div class="li2"> 42Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, who was chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him,</div><div class="li2"> 43Hanan son of Maakah,</div><div class="li2">Joshaphat the Mithnite,</div><div class="li2"> 44Uzzia the Ashterathite,</div><div class="li2">Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,</div><div class="li2"> 45Jediael son of Shimri,</div><div class="li2">his brother Joha the Tizite,</div><div class="li2"> 46Eliel the Mahavite,</div><div class="li2">Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam,</div><div class="li2">Ithmah the Moabite,</div><div class="li2"> 47Eliel, Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk1CH">
 <div class="chapter ch12" data-usfm="1CH.12">
 <div class="label">12</div><div class="s1">Warriors Join David</div><div class="p"> 1These were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle; 2they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed; they were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin):</div><div class="b"></div><div class="mi"> 3Ahiezer their chief and Joash the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berakah, Jehu the Anathothite, 4and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty warrior among the Thirty, who was a leader of the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,#12:4 In Hebrew texts the second half of this verse (Jeremiah&#8230; Gederathite) is numbered 12:5, and 12:5-40 is numbered 12:6-41. 5Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer and Jashobeam the Korahites; 7and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="p"> 8Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.</div><div class="li1"> 9Ezer was the chief,</div><div class="li1">Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,</div><div class="li1"> 10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,</div><div class="li1"> 11Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,</div><div class="li1"> 12Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,</div><div class="li1"> 13Jeremiah the tenth and Makbannai the eleventh.</div><div class="p"> 14These Gadites were army commanders; the least was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand. 15It was they who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight everyone living in the valleys, to the east and to the west.</div><div class="p"> 16Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold. 17David went out to meet them and said to them, &#8220;If you have come to me in peace to help me, I am ready for you to join me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our ancestors see it and judge you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 18Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;We are yours, David!</div><div class="q2">We are with you, son of Jesse!</div><div class="q1">Success, success to you,</div><div class="q2">and success to those who help you,</div><div class="q3">for your God will help you.&#8221;</div><div class="p">So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.</div><div class="p"> 19Some of the tribe of Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (He and his men did not help the Philistines because, after consultation, their rulers sent him away. They said, &#8220;It will cost us our heads if he deserts to his master Saul.&#8221;) 20When David went to Ziklag, these were the men of Manasseh who defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh. 21They helped David against raiding bands, for all of them were brave warriors, and they were commanders in his army. 22Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.#12:22 Or a great and mighty army</div><div class="s1">Others Join David at Hebron</div><div class="p"> 23These are the numbers of the men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul&#8217;s kingdom over to him, as the Lord had said:</div><div class="li1"> 24from Judah, carrying shield and spear&#8212;6,800 armed for battle;</div><div class="li1"> 25from Simeon, warriors ready for battle&#8212;7,100;</div><div class="li1"> 26from Levi&#8212;4,600, 27including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, with 3,700 men, 28and Zadok, a brave young warrior, with 22 officers from his family;</div><div class="li1"> 29from Benjamin, Saul&#8217;s tribe&#8212;3,000, most of whom had remained loyal to Saul&#8217;s house until then;</div><div class="li1"> 30from Ephraim, brave warriors, famous in their own clans&#8212;20,800;</div><div class="li1"> 31from half the tribe of Manasseh, designated by name to come and make David king&#8212;18,000;</div><div class="li1"> 32from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do&#8212;200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;</div><div class="li1"> 33from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty&#8212;50,000;</div><div class="li1"> 34from Naphtali&#8212;1,000 officers, together with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears;</div><div class="li1"> 35from Dan, ready for battle&#8212;28,600;</div><div class="li1"> 36from Asher, experienced soldiers prepared for battle&#8212;40,000;</div><div class="li1"> 37and from east of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, armed with every type of weapon&#8212;120,000.</div><div class="p"> 38All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the Israelites were also of one mind to make David king. 39The men spent three days there with David, eating and drinking, for their families had supplied provisions for them. 40Also, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk1CH">
 <div class="chapter ch13" data-usfm="1CH.13">
 <div class="label">13</div><div class="s1">Bringing Back the Ark</div><div class="p"> 1David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, &#8220;If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. 3Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of#13:3 Or we neglected it#13:3 Or him during the reign of Saul.&#8221; 4The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.</div><div class="p"> 5So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. 6David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim&#8212;the ark that is called by the Name.</div><div class="p"> 7They moved the ark of God from Abinadab&#8217;s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. 8David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets.</div><div class="p"> 9When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 10The Lord&#8217;s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.</div><div class="p"> 11Then David was angry because the Lord&#8217;s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.#13:11 Perez Uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah.</div><div class="p"> 12David was afraid of God that day and asked, &#8220;How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?&#8221; 13He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk1CH">
 <div class="chapter ch14" data-usfm="1CH.14">
 <div class="label">14</div><div class="s1">David&#8217;s House and Family</div><div class="p"> 1Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him. 2And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.</div><div class="p"> 3In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters. 4These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7Elishama, Beeliada#14:7 A variant of Eliada and Eliphelet.</div><div class="s1">David Defeats the Philistines</div><div class="p"> 8When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them. 9Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; 10so David inquired of God: &#8220;Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?&#8221;</div><div class="p">The Lord answered him, &#8220;Go, I will deliver them into your hands.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 11So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, &#8220;As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.&#8221; So that place was called Baal Perazim.#14:11 Baal Perazim means the lord who breaks out. 12The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire.</div><div class="p"> 13Once more the Philistines raided the valley; 14so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, &#8220;Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 15As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.&#8221; 16So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.</div><div class="p"> 17So David&#8217;s fame spread throughout every land, and the Lord made all the nations fear him.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bk1CH">
 <div class="chapter ch15" data-usfm="1CH.15">
 <div class="label">15</div><div class="s1">The Ark Brought to Jerusalem</div><div class="p"> 1After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2Then David said, &#8220;No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 3David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. 4He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:</div><div class="li1"> 5From the descendants of Kohath,</div><div class="li2">Uriel the leader and 120 relatives;</div><div class="li1"> 6from the descendants of Merari,</div><div class="li2">Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives;</div><div class="li1"> 7from the descendants of Gershon,#15:7 Hebrew Gershom, a variant of Gershon</div><div class="li2">Joel the leader and 130 relatives;</div><div class="li1"> 8from the descendants of Elizaphan,</div><div class="li2">Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives;</div><div class="li1"> 9from the descendants of Hebron,</div><div class="li2">Eliel the leader and 80 relatives;</div><div class="li1"> 10from the descendants of Uzziel,</div><div class="li2">Amminadab the leader and 112 relatives.</div><div class="p"> 11Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 12He said to them, &#8220;You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.&#8221; 14So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.</div><div class="p"> 16David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.</div><div class="p"> 17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah,#15:18 Three Hebrew manuscripts and most Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 20 and 16:5); most Hebrew manuscripts Zechariah son and or Zechariah, Ben and Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel,#15:18 Hebrew; Septuagint (see also verse 21) Jeiel and Azaziah the gatekeepers.</div><div class="p"> 19The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20Zechariah, Jaaziel,#15:20 See verse 18; Hebrew Aziel, a variant of Jaaziel. Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth,#15:20 Probably a musical term 21and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith.#15:21 Probably a musical term 22Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.</div><div class="p"> 23Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. 24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.</div><div class="p"> 25So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. 26Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed. 27Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the musicians, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod. 28So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouts, with the sounding of rams&#8217; horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.</div><div class="p"> 29As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkDAN">
 <div class="chapter ch1" data-usfm="DAN.1">
 <div class="label">1</div><div class="s1">Daniel&#8217;s Training in Babylon</div><div class="p"> 1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia#1:2 Hebrew Shinar and put in the treasure house of his god.</div><div class="p"> 3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king&#8217;s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility&#8212; 4young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king&#8217;s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.#1:4 Or Chaldeans 5The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king&#8217;s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king&#8217;s service.</div><div class="p"> 6Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.</div><div class="p"> 8But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10but the official told Daniel, &#8220;I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your#1:10 The Hebrew for your and you in this verse is plural. food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 11Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12&#8220;Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.&#8221; 14So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.</div><div class="p"> 15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.</div><div class="p"> 17To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.</div><div class="p"> 18At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king&#8217;s service. 20In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.</div><div class="p"> 21And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkDAN">
 <div class="chapter ch2" data-usfm="DAN.2">
 <div class="label">2</div><div class="s1">Nebuchadnezzar&#8217;s Dream</div><div class="p"> 1In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers#2:2 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 4, 5 and 10 to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3he said to them, &#8220;I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.#2:3 Or was&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 4Then the astrologers answered the king,#2:4 At this point the Hebrew text has in Aramaic, indicating that the text from here through the end of chapter 7 is in Aramaic. &#8220;May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 5The king replied to the astrologers, &#8220;This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 6But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 7Once more they replied, &#8220;Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 8Then the king answered, &#8220;I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty 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.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 10The astrologers answered the king, &#8220;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. 11What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 12This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 13So 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.</div><div class="p"> 14When Arioch, the commander of the king&#8217;s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15He asked the king&#8217;s officer, &#8220;Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?&#8221; Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.</div><div class="p"> 17Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20and said:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;</div><div class="q2">wisdom and power are his.</div><div class="q1"> 21He changes times and seasons;</div><div class="q2">he deposes kings and raises up others.</div><div class="q1">He gives wisdom to the wise</div><div class="q2">and knowledge to the discerning.</div><div class="q1"> 22He reveals deep and hidden things;</div><div class="q2">he knows what lies in darkness,</div><div class="q2">and light dwells with him.</div><div class="q1"> 23I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:</div><div class="q2">You have given me wisdom and power,</div><div class="q1">you have made known to me what we asked of you,</div><div class="q2">you have made known to us the dream of the king.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Daniel Interprets the Dream</div><div class="p"> 24Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, &#8220;Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 25Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, &#8220;I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 26The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), &#8220;Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 27Daniel replied, &#8220;No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:</div><div class="p"> 29&#8220;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. 30As for me, this mystery has been revealed 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.</div><div class="p"> 31&#8220;Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue&#8212;an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35Then 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 without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.</div><div class="p"> 36&#8220;This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38in 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. You are that head of gold.</div><div class="p"> 39&#8220;After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron&#8212;for iron breaks and smashes everything&#8212;and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41Just 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. 42As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43And 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.</div><div class="p"> 44&#8220;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 all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands&#8212;a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.</div><div class="p">&#8220;The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47The king said to Daniel, &#8220;Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 48Then the king placed Daniel in a high 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. 49Moreover, at Daniel&#8217;s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.</div>
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 <div class="label">3</div><div class="s1">The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace</div><div class="p"> 1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,#3:1 That is, about 90 feet high and 9 feet wide or about 27 meters high and 2.7 meters wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3So 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.</div><div class="p"> 4Then the herald loudly proclaimed, &#8220;Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 7Therefore, 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.</div><div class="p"> 8At this time some astrologers#3:8 Or Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. 9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, &#8220;May the king live forever! 10Your Majesty has issued a decree 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, 11and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon&#8212;Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego&#8212;who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 13Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, &#8220;Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15Now 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 will be able to rescue you from my hand?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, &#8220;King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us#3:17 Or If the God we serve is able to deliver us, then he will deliver us from the blazing furnace and from Your Majesty&#8217;s hand. 18But 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.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 19Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22The king&#8217;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, 23and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.</div><div class="p"> 24Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, &#8220;Weren&#8217;t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?&#8221;</div><div class="p">They replied, &#8220;Certainly, Your Majesty.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 25He said, &#8220;Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 26Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, &#8220;Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!&#8221;</div><div class="p">So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire 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.</div><div class="p"> 28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, &#8220;Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king&#8217;s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29Therefore I decree 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, for no other god can save in this way.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.</div>
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 <div class="chapter ch4" data-usfm="DAN.4">
 <div class="label">4</div><div class="s1">Nebuchadnezzar&#8217;s Dream of a Tree</div><div class="pmo"> # 4:0 In Aramaic texts 4:1-3 is numbered 3:31-33, and 4:4-37 is numbered 4:1-34. 1King Nebuchadnezzar,</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pmo">To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pmo">May you prosper greatly!</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pm"> 2It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.</div><div class="qm1"> 3How great are his signs,</div><div class="qm2">how mighty his wonders!</div><div class="qm1">His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;</div><div class="qm2">his dominion endures from generation to generation.</div><div class="pm"> 4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 5I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. 6So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers#4:7 Or Chaldeans and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)</div><div class="pm"> 9I said, &#8220;Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12Its 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; from it every creature was fed.</div><div class="pm"> 13&#8220;In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger,#4:13 Or watchman; also in verses 17 and 23 coming down from heaven. 14He called in a loud voice: &#8216;Cut down the tree 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. 15But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.</div><div class="pm">&#8220;&#8198;&#8216;Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times#4:16 Or years; also in verses 23, 25 and 32 pass by for him.</div><div class="pm"> 17&#8220;&#8198;&#8216;The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.&#8217;</div><div class="pm"> 18&#8220;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. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Daniel Interprets the Dream</div><div class="pm"> 19Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, &#8220;Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.&#8221;</div><div class="pm">Belteshazzar answered, &#8220;My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21with 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&#8212; 22Your Majesty, you are that tree! 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.</div><div class="pm"> 23&#8220;Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, &#8216;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.&#8217;</div><div class="pm"> 24&#8220;This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. 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. 26The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27Therefore, 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. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Dream Is Fulfilled</div><div class="pm"> 28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30he said, &#8220;Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?&#8221;</div><div class="pm"> 31Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, &#8220;This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32You 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.&#8221;</div><div class="pm"> 33Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pm"> 34At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.</div><div class="qm1">His dominion is an eternal dominion;</div><div class="qm2">his kingdom endures from generation to generation.</div><div class="qm1"> 35All the peoples of the earth</div><div class="qm2">are regarded as nothing.</div><div class="qm1">He does as he pleases</div><div class="qm2">with the powers of heaven</div><div class="qm2">and the peoples of the earth.</div><div class="qm1">No one can hold back his hand</div><div class="qm2">or say to him: &#8220;What have you done?&#8221;</div><div class="pm"> 36At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.</div>
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 <div class="book bkDAN">
 <div class="chapter ch5" data-usfm="DAN.5">
 <div class="label">5</div><div class="s1">The Writing on the Wall</div><div class="p"> 1King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. 2While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father#5:2 Or ancestor; or predecessor; also in verses 11, 13 and 18 had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. 3So 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. 4As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.</div><div class="p"> 5Suddenly 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. 6His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.</div><div class="p"> 7The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers#5:7 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 11 and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, &#8220;Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 8Then all the king&#8217;s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. 9So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.</div><div class="p"> 10The queen,#5:10 Or queen mother hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. &#8220;May the king live forever!&#8221; she said. &#8220;Don&#8217;t be alarmed! Don&#8217;t look so pale! 11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. 12He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 13So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, &#8220;Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? 14I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. 15The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. 16Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. 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, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 17Then Daniel answered the king, &#8220;You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.</div><div class="p"> 18&#8220;Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. 19Because 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; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. 20But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21He 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 over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.</div><div class="p"> 22&#8220;But you, Belshazzar, his son,#5:22 Or descendant; or successor have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. 23Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives 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. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. 24Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.</div><div class="p"> 25&#8220;This is the inscription that was written:</div><div class="pc">mene, mene, tekel, parsin</div><div class="p"> 26&#8220;Here is what these words mean:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="li3"> Mene # 5:26 Mene can mean numbered or mina (a unit of money). : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.</div><div class="li3"> 27 Tekel # 5:27 Tekel can mean weighed or shekel. : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.</div><div class="li3"> 28 Peres # 5:28 Peres (the singular of Parsin) can mean divided or Persia or a half mina or a half shekel. : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.&#8221;</div><div class="b"></div><div class="p"> 29Then at Belshazzar&#8217;s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.</div><div class="p"> 30That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians,#5:30 Or Chaldeans was slain, 31and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.#5:31 In Aramaic texts this verse (5:31) is numbered 6:1.</div>
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 <div class="chapter ch6" data-usfm="DAN.6">
 <div class="label">6</div><div class="s1">Daniel in the Den of Lions</div><div class="p"> # In Aramaic texts 6:1-28 is numbered 6:2-29. 1It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3Now 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. 4At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges 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. 5Finally these men said, &#8220;We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 6So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: &#8220;May King Darius live forever! 7The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors 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&#8217; den. 8Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered&#8212;in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.&#8221; 9So King Darius put the decree in writing.</div><div class="p"> 10Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: &#8220;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&#8217; den?&#8221;</div><div class="p">The king answered, &#8220;The decree stands&#8212;in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 13Then they said to the king, &#8220;Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.&#8221; 14When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.</div><div class="p"> 15Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, &#8220;Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions&#8217; den. The king said to Daniel, &#8220;May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel&#8217;s situation might not be changed. 18Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.</div><div class="p"> 19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions&#8217; den. 20When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, &#8220;Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 21Daniel answered, &#8220;May the king live forever! 22My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.</div><div class="p"> 24At the king&#8217;s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions&#8217; den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.</div><div class="p"> 25Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:</div><div class="pmo">&#8220;May you prosper greatly!</div><div class="b"></div><div class="pm"> 26&#8220;I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.</div><div class="qm1">&#8220;For he is the living God</div><div class="qm2">and he endures forever;</div><div class="qm1">his kingdom will not be destroyed,</div><div class="qm2">his dominion will never end.</div><div class="qm1"> 27He rescues and he saves;</div><div class="qm2">he performs signs and wonders</div><div class="qm2">in the heavens and on the earth.</div><div class="qm1">He has rescued Daniel</div><div class="qm2">from the power of the lions.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus#6:28 Or Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus the Persian.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkJAS">
 <div class="chapter ch1" data-usfm="JAS.1">
 <div class="label">1</div><div class="p"> 1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,</div><div class="b"></div><div class="p">To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="p">Greetings.</div><div class="s1">Trials and Temptations</div><div class="p"> 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,#1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God&#8217;s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19. whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.</div><div class="p"> 9Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10But the rich should take pride in their humiliation&#8212;since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.</div><div class="p"> 12Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.</div><div class="p"> 13When tempted, no one should say, &#8220;God is tempting me.&#8221; For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.</div><div class="p"> 16Don&#8217;t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.</div><div class="s1">Listening and Doing</div><div class="p"> 19My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.</div><div class="p"> 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it&#8212;not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it&#8212;they will be blessed in what they do.</div><div class="p"> 26Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkJAS">
 <div class="chapter ch2" data-usfm="JAS.2">
 <div class="label">2</div><div class="s1">Favoritism Forbidden</div><div class="p"> 1My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, &#8220;Here&#8217;s a good seat for you,&#8221; but say to the poor man, &#8220;You stand there&#8221; or &#8220;Sit on the floor by my feet,&#8221; 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?</div><div class="p"> 5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?</div><div class="p"> 8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, &#8220;Love your neighbor as yourself,&#8221;#2:8 Lev. 19:18 you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, &#8220;You shall not commit adultery,&#8221;#2:11 Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18 also said, &#8220;You shall not murder.&#8221;#2:11 Exodus 20:13; Deut. 5:17 If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.</div><div class="p"> 12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.</div><div class="s1">Faith and Deeds</div><div class="p"> 14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, &#8220;Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,&#8221; but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.</div><div class="p"> 18But someone will say, &#8220;You have faith; I have deeds.&#8221;</div><div class="p">Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that&#8212;and shudder.</div><div class="p"> 20You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless#2:20 Some early manuscripts dead? 21Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, &#8220;Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,&#8221;#2:23 Gen. 15:6 and he was called God&#8217;s friend. 24You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.</div><div class="p"> 25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkJAS">
 <div class="chapter ch3" data-usfm="JAS.3">
 <div class="label">3</div><div class="s1">Taming the Tongue</div><div class="p"> 1Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.</div><div class="p"> 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one&#8217;s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.</div><div class="p"> 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.</div><div class="p"> 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God&#8217;s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.</div><div class="s1">Two Kinds of Wisdom</div><div class="p"> 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such &#8220;wisdom&#8221; does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.</div><div class="p"> 17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.</div>
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