"Thou son of man, these that dwell in the wasted land of Israel say, 'Abraham was but one man, and he had the land in possession: now are we many, and the land is given us to possess also.'

These come unto thee, after the manner of a great people: yea, my people sit down before thee, and hear thy words, but they do not thereafter: for in their mouths they show themselves, as though they were fervent, but their heart goeth after their own covetous lucre.

And as a ballad that hath a sweet tune, and is pleasant to sing, so shalt thou be unto them: thy words shall they hear, but they will not do thereafter.

Ye have eaten up the fat, ye have clothed you with the wool: the best fed have ye slain, but the flock have ye not nourished.

The weak have ye not holden up, the sick have ye not healed: the broken have ye not bound together, the outcasts have ye not brought again. The lost have ye not sought, but churlishly and cruelly have ye ruled them.

Thus sayeth the LORD God: As truly as I live, forsomuch as my sheep are robbed, and devoured of all the wild beasts of the field, having no shepherd: and seeing that my shepherds take no regard of my sheep, but feed themselves only, and not my sheep:

"'And as for you, O my sheep, sayeth the LORD God: I will put a difference among the sheep, among the wethers and the goats.

Was it not enough for you, to eat up the good pasture, but ye must tread down the residue of your pastures with your feet also? Was it not enough for you to drink clear water, but ye must trouble the residue also with your feet?

They shall no more be spoiled of the Heathen, nor devoured with the beasts of the land: but safely shall they dwell, and no man shall fray them.

And I will give you a new heart, and will put a new spirit in you. And will take away that stony heart out of your flesh, and give you a fleshly heart.

And I will put my spirit in you, and will make that ye shall walk in mine ordinances and keep my laws and do them.

But I will not do this for your sakes, sayeth the LORD God: Be ye sure of it. Therefore, O ye house of Israel, be ashamed of your sins.

Thus sayeth the LORD God unto these bones: Behold, I will put breath into you, that ye may live.

Now when I had looked, behold, they had sinews, and flesh grew upon them: and above they were covered with skin, but there was no breath in them.

My spirit also will I put in you, and ye shall live: I will set you again in your own land, and ye shall know that I am the LORD which have said it, and fulfilled it indeed.'"

Then give them this answer, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God: Behold, I will take the stock of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them to the stock of Judah, and make them one stock, and they shall be one in my hand.'

Yea, I will make one people of them in the land, upon the mountains of Israel, and they all shall have but one king. They shall no more be two peoples from henceforth, neither be divided into two kingdoms:

and will turn thee about, and put a bit in thy jaws. I will bring thee forth and all thine host, both horse and horsemen, which be all weaponed of the best fashion; a great people, that handle all together spears, shields, and swords:

I will make also the name of my holiness to be known among my people of Israel: and I will not let my holy name be evil spoken of any more: but the very Heathen also shall know that I am the LORD, the holy one of Israel.

then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which suffered them to be led into captivity among the Heathen, but now have brought them again into their own land, and not left one of them yonder.

After that will I hide my face no more from them, but will pour out my spirit upon the house of Israel, sayeth the LORD God."

Then went he in, and measured the door posts, which were two cubits thick: but the door itself was six cubits, and the breadth of the door was seven cubits.

and one stood hard upon another, whereof there were thirty three. And there stood posts beneath by the walls round about the house, to bear them up: but in the wall of the house they were not fastened.

for the length of the utmost chambers in the fore court was fifty cubits also: but the length thereof before the temple was a hundred cubits.

When the priests come therein, they shall not go out in to the fore court: but, seeing they be holy, they shall leave their clothes of their ministration, and put on other garments, when they have any thing to do with the people."

but the glory of the LORD came into the house through the East door.

which have builded their thresholds in manner hard upon my thresholds, and their posts almost at my posts: so that there is but a bare wall betwixt me and them. Thus have they defiled my holy name with their abominations, that they have committed. Wherefore I have destroyed them in my wrath:

But now they shall put away their whoredom, and the dead bodies of their kings out of my sight, that I may dwell among them for evermore.

from the ground to the lower steps the length is two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lower steps to the higher are four cubits, and the breadth but one cubit.

Then said the LORD unto me, "This door shall be still shut, and not opened for any man to go through it, but only for the LORD God of Israel: Yea he shall go through it, else shall it be shut still.

and not kept the holy ordinances of my Sanctuary, but set keepers of my Sanctuary, even after your own mind.

But the Priests, the Levites the sons of Zadok, that kept the holy ordinances of my Sanctuary, when the children of Israel were gone from me: shall come to me, to do me service, to stand before me, and to offer me the fat and the blood, sayeth the LORD God.

"Now when they go in at the doors of the innermore court: they shall put on linen clothes, so that no woolen come upon them, while they do service under the doors of the innermore court, and within.

They shall have fair linen bonnets upon their heads, and linen breeches upon their loins, which in their labour they shall not put about them.

And when they go forth to the people in to the outward court, they shall put off their clothes, wherein they have ministered, and lay them in the habitation of the Sanctuary, and put on other apparel, lest they unhallow the people with their clothes.

They shall not shave their heads, nor nourish the bush of their hair, but round their heads only.

They shall marry no widow, neither one that is put from her husband: but a maiden of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that hath had a priest before.

But no dead carrion shall the priest eat, nor such as is devoured of wild beasts, fouls or cattle."

When ye divide the land by the lot, ye shall put aside one part for the LORD, to be holy from other lands: namely twenty five thousand measuring rods long, and ten thousand broad. This shall be holy, as wide as it is round about.

Thus sayeth the LORD God: the door of the innermore court toward the East shall be shut the six working days: but in the Sabbath and in the day of the new Moon, it shall be opened.

Then shall the prince come under the door porch, and stand still without by the door check. So the priests shall offer up his burnt and health offerings. And he shall worship at the door post, and go his way forth again: but the door shall no more be shut till the evening.

With the bullock he shall give an Ephah, and with the ram an Ephah also for a meat offering; but to the lambs, what he may come by. And ever an Hin of oil to an Ephah.

But when the people of the land come before the LORD in the high solemn feast, as many as come in by the North door to do worship, shall go out again at the South door. And they that come in at the South door shall go forth again at the North door. There shall none go out at the door where he came in, but shall go forth right over on the other side,

Upon the solemn and high feast days, this shall be the meat offering: an Ephah to a bullock and an Ephah to a ram, and to the lambs: as many as he will, but ever a Hin of oil to an Ephah.

But if he will give one of his servants some of his heritage, it shall be his to the free year, and then to return again unto the prince: for his heritage shall be his sons' only.

The prince also shall take none of the people's inheritance, nor put them from their possession: but to his own sons shall he give his possession, that my people be not scattered abroad, but that every man may have his own."

By this river upon both the sides of the shore, there shall grow all manner of fruitful trees, whose leaves shall not fall off, neither shall their fruit perish: but ever be ripe at their months, for their water runneth out of the Sanctuary. His fruit is good to eat, and his leaf profitable for medicine.

All that is separated of the twenty five thousand long and twenty five thousand broad on the four parts, that shall ye put aside for the separated portion of the Sanctuary, and for the possession of the city.

young springaldes without any blemish, but fair and well favored, instructed in all wisdom, cunning and understanding: which were able to stand in the king's palace, to read and to learn for to speak Chaldeish.

But Daniel was at a point with himself, that he would not be defiled through the king's meat, nor the wine which he drunk. And this he desired of the chief chamberlain, lest he should defile himself.

"O prove but ten days with thy servants, and let us have pottage to eat, and water to drink:

God gave now these four springaldes cunning and learning in all scripture and wisdom: but unto Daniel specially, he gave understanding of all visions and dreams.

and the king communed with them. But among them all were found none such as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

But if ye tell me the dream and the meaning thereof, ye shall have of me gifts, rewards and great honour. Only, show me the dream, and the signification of it."

Then the king answered, saying, "I perceive of a truth, that ye do but prolong the time: forsomuch as ye see, that the thing is gone from me.

Therefore, if ye will not tell me the dream, ye shall all have one judgment: But ye feign and dissemble with vain words which ye speak before me, to put off the time. Therefore tell me the dream, and so shall I know - if ye can show me - what it meaneth."

Upon this went Daniel in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise at Babylon: he went unto him, and said, "Destroy not such as are wise in Babylon, but bring me in unto the king, and I shall show the king the interpretation."

Only God in heaven can open secrets; and he it is, that showeth the king Nebuchadnezzar what is for to come in the latter days. Thy dream, and that which thou hast seen in thine head upon thy bed, is this:

As for me, this secret is not showed me, for any wisdom that I have, more than any other living: but only that I might show the king the interpretation, that he might know the thoughts of his own heart.

Then was the iron, the earth, the copper, the silver and gold broken altogether in pieces: and became like the chaff of corn, that the wind bloweth away from the summer floors, that they can no more be found. But the stone that smote the Image, became a great mountain, which fulfilleth the whole earth.

The fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron. For like as iron bruiseth and breaketh all things: Yea even as iron beateth everything down, so shall it beat down and destroy.

In the days of these kings, shall the God of heaven set up an everlasting kingdom, which shall not perish, and his kingdom shall not be given over to another people. Yea, the same shall break and destroy all these kingdoms, but it shall endure forever.

Now Daniel intreated the king for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, so that he made them rulers over all the offices in the land of Babylon: But Daniel himself remained still in the court by the king.

Well, be ready hereafter, when ye hear the noise of the trumpets blow with the harps, shawmes psalteries, symphonies and all the other melodies: that ye fall down, and worship the Image which I have made. But if ye worship it not, ye shall be cast immediately in to a hot burning oven. Let's see what God is there, that may deliver you out of my hands!"

For the king's commandment was so straight, and the oven was exceeding hot. As for the men that put in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the flame of the fire destroyed them.

Then spake Nebuchadnezzar, and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: which hath sent his angel, and defended his servants that put their trust in him: that have altered the king's commandment, and jeopardized their bodies thereupon, rather than they would serve or worship any other god except their own God only.

saw a dream, which made me afraid: and the thoughts that I had upon my bed, with the visions of mine head, troubled me.

So there came the soothsayers, charmers, Chaldeans and conjurers of devils: to whom I told the dream. But what it betokened, they could not show me:

I saw a vision in my head upon my bed: and behold, there stood a tree upon the ground,

I saw in my head a vision upon my bed: and behold, a watcher, and a holy one, came down from heaven

This is the dream, that I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Therefore O Balteshazzar, tell thou me what it signifieth: forsomuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to show me, what it meaneth. But thou canst do it, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee."

But whereas the king saw a watcher, even a holy angel, that came down from heaven, and said, 'Hew down the tree, and destroy it: yet leave the ground of the root in the earth, and bind him upon the plain field with chains of iron and steel: He shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and his part shall be with the beasts of the field, till seven years be come and gone upon him.'

Upon this, came all the king's wise men: but they could neither read the writing, nor show the king what it signified.

Now have there been brought me, wise and conjuring charmers, to read this writing, and to show me the meaning thereof: but they could not tell me, what this matter signified.

So that all people, kindreds and tongues stood in awe and fear of him, by reason of the high estate that he had sent him. For why? He slew whom he would; he smote, whom it pleased him. Again: whom he would, he set up; and whom he list, he put down.

But because his heart was so proud, and his stomach set so fast unto wilfulness: he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his majesty was taken from him.

but hast magnified thyself above the LORD of heaven, so that the vessels of his house were brought before thee: that thou, and thy lords, with thy queen and concubines, might drink wine thereout: and hast praised the Idols of silver and gold, copper and iron, of wood and stone. As for the God in whose hand consisteth thy breath and all thy ways: thou hast not loved him.

But Daniel exceeded all these princes and lords, for the spirit of God was plenteous in him: so that the king was minded to set him over the whole realm.

All the great estates of the realm - as the princes, dukes, senators and judges - are determined to put out a commandment of the king, and to make a sure statute. Namely, that whoso desireth any petition, either of any god or man within this thirty days, except it be only of thee, O king: the same person may be cast into the lions' den.

So they came to the king, and spake before him concerning his commandment, saying, "O king, hast thou not subscribed the statute, that within thirty days whoso requireth his petition of any god or man, but only of thyself, O king, he shall be cast into the den of the lions?" The king answered, and said, "It is true. It must be as a law of the Medes and Persians, that may not be broken."

Then answered they, and said unto the king, "Daniel one of the prisoners of Judah, O king, regardeth neither thee nor thy statute that thou hast made, but maketh his petition three times a day."

When the king heard these words, he was sore grieved, and would have excused Daniel, to deliver him, and put off the matter until the sun went down, to the intent that he might save him.

But betimes in the morning, at the break of the day, the king arose, and went in all haste unto the den of the Lions.

Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was brought out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him; For he put his trust in his God.

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, saw Daniel a dream, and a vision was in his head upon his bed. Which dream he wrote, and the sum of the matter is this:

As for the power of the other beasts also, it was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a time and season.

Then gave he him power and dignity regal, that all people, tribes and tongues should serve him. His power is an everlasting power, which shall never be put down: and his kingdom endureth uncorrupt.

But the high saints shall receive a kingdom, and possess a kingdom, forever: even for ever and ever.'

But the judgment shall be kept, so that his power shall be taken from him: for he shall be destroyed, and perish at the last.

Thus far extend the words. Nevertheless, I Daniel was so vexed in my thoughts, that my countenance changed, but the words I kept still in my heart."

Then I looked up, and saw, and behold, there stood before the river, a ram, which had horns: and these horns were high, but one was higher than another, and the highest came up last.

I saw that this ram pushed with his horns, against the west, against the north and against the south: so that no beasts might stand before him, nor defend them from his power: but he did as him listed, and waxed great.

I saw him draw nigh unto the ram, being very fierce upon him: yea he gave him such a stroke, that he brake his two horns. Neither had the ram so much strength as to stand before him: but he cast him down, trod him under his feet: and no man was able to deliver the ram out of his power.

So he came, and stood by me. But I was afraid at his coming, and fell down upon my face. Then said he unto me, "O thou son of man, mark well, for in the last time shall this vision be fulfilled."

Now as he was speaking unto me, I waxed faint, so that I sunk down to the ground. But he took hold upon me, and set me up again,

but the goat is the king of Greek land: the great horn that stood betwixt his eyes, that is the principal king.

But whereas it brake, and four others rose up in the stead: it signifieth that out of this people shall stand up four kingdoms, but not so mighty as it.

He shall be mighty and strong, but not in his own strength. He shall destroy above measure, and all that he goeth about, shall prosper: he shall slay the strong and holy people.

And through his craftiness, falsity shall prosper in his hand; his heart shall be proud, and many a one shall he put to death in his wealthiness. He shall stand up against the Prince of Princes, but he shall be destroyed without hand.

Upon this was I, Daniel, very faint, so that I lay sick certain days: but when I rose up, I went about the king's business, and marveled at the vision. Nevertheless, no man knew of it.