youths in whom was no blemish, but comely of countenance, and skilful in all wisdom, and possessed of knowledge, and able to impart instruction, and who had vigour in them, to stand in the palace of the king, - and that they should be taught the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

Then said Daniel, unto the overseer whom the ruler of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

Therefore, Daniel entered in unto Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, - he went in, and, thus, he said unto him, The wise men of Babylon, do not thou destroy, bring me in before the king, and, the interpretation - unto the king, will I declare.

There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the business of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, - these men, have made thee, O king, of no account, thy god, they serve not, and, the image of gold which thou hast set up, do they not adore.

If it is, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us, - out of the burning furnace of fire, and out of thy hand, O king, he will deliver.

Howbeit, at last, came before me - Daniel, whose, name, was Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and, the dream - before him, I told saying :

Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, am praising and extolling and honouring the King of the Heavens, all whose works, are truth, and, his ways, right; and, them who walk in pride, he is able to abase,

There is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and, in the days of thy father, light, and intelligence, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him, - and, King Nebuchadnezzar thy father, appointed him, chief of the sacred scribes, the magicians, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers, - thy father, O king!

Forasmuch as, a distinguished spirit, and knowledge and intelligence, ability to interpret dreams and solve riddles and unravel knotty points, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let, Daniel, be called, and, the interpretation, will he declare.

Then, Daniel, was brought in before the king, - the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art, thou, that Daniel, that is of the sons of the exile of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?

and, for the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, races and tongues, used to tremble and to withdraw falteringly from before him, - Whom he would, he slew, and, whom he would, he kept alive, and, whom he would, he set up, and, whom he would, he put down.

and, over these, three confidential ministers, of whom, Daniel, was first, - that, to them, these satraps should render an account, and, the king, not be suffering loss.

Then, the king, gave word, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. The king spake and said to Daniel, - Thy God, whom thou art serving continually, he, will deliver thee.

and, when he drew near to the den, unto Daniel, with distressed voice, made he outcry, - the king spake and said unto Daniel, O Daniel! servant of the Living God! Thy God, whom thou art serving continually, hath he been able to deliver thee from the lions?

while yet I was speaking in prayer, then, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in vision at the beginning, wearied with rapid flight, touched me, about the time of the evening present.

At the beginning of thy supplications, came forth a word, I, therefore, am arrived to tell, because, a man delighted in, thou art, - mark then the word, and have understanding in the revelation: -

Then said he unto me, O Daniel! man greatly delighted in! have understanding in the words which, I, am about to speak unto thee, and stand up where thou art, for, now, have I been sent unto thee. And, when he had spoken with me this word, I stood up trembling.

Then said he unto me, Do not fear, Daniel, for, from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard; and, I, am come, by reason of thy words.

So then I am come to let thee understand that which shall befall thy people in the afterpart of the days, - for yet is the vision for those days.

And he said, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? But, now, must I return to fight with the ruler of Persia; I, therefore am going forth, and lo! the ruler of Greece, is coming.

Howbeit, to the god of the fortresses, in his place, will he give honour, - even to a god whom his fathers, knew not, will he give honour, with gold and with silver and with precious stones and with articles of delight.

And he will prepare, for the strongholds of the fortress of the sea, the people of an alien god, whom he will acknowledge - will greatly honour, - and will give them authority over the many, and, the soil, will he apportion for a price.