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.

Now when the time was expired, that the king had appointed to bring in these young springaldes unto him: the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar,

In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, had Nebuchadnezzar a dream, wherethrough his spirit was vexed, and his sleep brake from him.

And the king said unto them, "I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was so troubled therewith, that I have clean forgotten what I dreamed."

For the which cause the king was wroth with great indignation, and commanded to destroy all the wise men at Babylon:

Then Daniel enquired Arioch the king's steward, of the judgment and sentence that was gone forth already to kill such as were wise at Babylon.

Then was the mystery showed unto Daniel in a vision by night. And Daniel praised the God of heaven.

Then answered the king, and said unto Daniel, whose name was Balteshazzar, "Art thou he, that canst show me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?"

Thou king sawest, and behold: there stood before thee a great Image, whose figure was marvelous great, and his visage grim.

The image head was of fine gold, his breast and arms of silver, his body and loins were of copper,

Thou beheldest it till a stone was cut without hands, which smote the image upon the feet that were both of iron and earth, and brake them to powder.

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.

And whereas thou sawest that without any hands there was cut out of the mount a stone, which brake the iron, the copper, the earth, the silver and gold in pieces: by that hath the great God showed the king, what will come after this. This is a true dream, and the interpretation of it is sure."

Nebuchadnezzar the king caused a golden Image to be made, which was sixty cubits high, and six cubits thick. This he made to be set up in the field of Dura, in the land of Babylon

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of indignation, so that the countenance of his face changed upon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Therefore he charged and commanded, that the oven should be made seven times hotter, than it was wont to be:

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 the dukes, lords and nobles, and the king's counsel came together to see these men, upon whom the fire had no manner of power in their bodies: insomuch that the very hair of their head was not burnt, and their clothes unchanged: Yea, there was no smell of fire felt upon them.

which was very high, great and mighty. The height reached unto the heaven, and the breadth extended to all the ends of the earth:

Then Daniel, whose name was Balteshazzar, held his peace by the space of a hour and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spake, and said, "O Balteshazzar, let neither the dream nor the interpretation thereof fear thee." Balteshazzar answered saying, "O my lord, this dream happen to thine enemies, and the interpretation to thine adversaries!

As for the tree that thou sawest which was so great and mighty, whose height reached unto the heaven, and his breadth into all the world;

Moreover, whereas it was said that the root of the tree should be left still in the ground: it betokeneth that thy kingdom shall remain whole unto thee, after thou hast learned to know that the power cometh from heaven.

The very same hour was this matter fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: so that he was cast out of men's company, and ate grass like an ox; His body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were as great as Eagle's feathers, and his nails like bird's claws.

When this time was past, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lift up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding was restored unto me again. Then gave I thanks to the highest. I magnified and praised him that liveth for evermore, whose power endureth alway, and his kingdom from one generation to another:

At the same time was mine understanding given me again, and I was restored to the honour of my kingdom, to my dignity, and to my own shape again. My great estates and princes sought unto me, and I was set in my kingdom again, so that I had yet greater worship.

and when he was drunken with wine, he commanded to bring him the golden and silver vessels, which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple at Jerusalem: that the king and his lords with his queen and concubines might drink thereout.

So they brought the golden vessel, that was taken out of the temple of the LORD's house at Jerusalem. Then the king and his lords with his queen and concubines drunk out of them.

Then was the king sore afraid in so much, that his color changed, and his lords were sore vexed.

For why? There is a man in thy kingdom, that hath the spirit of the holy gods within him, as it was seen in thy father's days. He hath understanding and wisdom like the gods; Yea, the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father made this man chief of the soothsayers, charmers, Chaldeans and devil conjurers:

because that such an abundant spirit, knowledge and wisdom, to expound dreams, open secrets, and to declare hard doubts, was found in him. Yea, even in Daniel, whom the king named Balteshazzar. Let this same Daniel be sent for, and he shall tell what it meaneth."

Then was Daniel brought before the king. So the king spake unto Daniel, and said, "Art thou that Daniel, one of the prisoners of Judah whom my father the king brought out of Jewry?

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.

He was shot out from among men, his heart was like a beast's heart, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: he was fain to eat grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: till he knew, that the highest had power upon the kingdoms of men, and setteth over them, whom he list.

The very same night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain,

Above these he set three princes - of whom Daniel was one - that the lords might give accounts unto them, and the king to be undiseased.

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.

Wherefore the princes and lords sought to pick out in Daniel some quarrel against the kingdom: yet could they find none occasion nor fault upon him. For why? He was so faithful, that there was no blame nor dishonesty found in him.

Now when Daniel understood that the writing was made, he went into his house: and the windows of his hall toward Jerusalem stood open. There kneeled he down upon his knees, three times a day: there he made his petition, and praised his God, like as his manner was to do afore time.

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.

And there was brought a stone, and laid upon the hole of the den: this the king sealed with his own ring, and with the signet of his princes: that the king's commandment concerning Daniel, should not be broken.

So the king went in to his palace, and kept him sober all night, so that there was no table spread before him, neither could he take any sleep.

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:

The first was as a Lion, and yet had he Eagle's wings. I saw, that his wings were plucked from him, and he taken away from the earth: that he stood upon his feet as a man, and that there was given him a man's heart.

Behold, the second beast was like a Bear, and stood upon the one side. Among his teeth in his mouth he had three great long teeth, and it was said unto him, 'Arise, eat up, much flesh.'

Then I looked, and behold, there was another like unto a leopard: this had wings as a fowl, even four upon the back. This beast had four heads, and there was power given him.

After this I saw in a vision by night, and behold, the fourth beast was grim and horrible, and marvelous strong. It had great iron teeth, it devoured and destroyed, and stamped the residue under feet. It was far unlike the other beasts that were before it: for it had ten horns, whereof I took good heed.

"I looked till the seats were prepared, and till the Ancient of Days sat him down. His clothing was white as snow, and the hairs of his head like the pure wool. His throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as the burning fire.

There drew forth a fiery stream, and went out from him. A thousand times a thousand served him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was set, and the books opened.

Then took I heed there unto, because of the voice of the proud words, which the horn spake. I beheld, till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given over to be burnt in the fire.

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

"My heart was vexed, and I, Daniel, had a troubled spirit within me, and the visions of my head made me afraid:

After this, I required diligently to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was so far unlike the other beasts, and so horrible: whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass: which devoured and destroyed, and stamped the residue under his feet.

till the time that the Ancient of Days came, that the judgment was given to the chiefest saints; and till the time that the saints had the kingdom in possession.

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."

I saw in a vision, and when I saw it, I was at Susa in the chief city, which lieth in the land of Elam, and in the vision me thought I was by the river of Ulai.

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 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.

The goat waxed exceedingly great, and when he was at the strongest, his great horn was broken also. Then grew there another four such like in the stead, toward the four winds of the heaven.

Yea it grew up unto the prince of the host, from whom the daily offering was taken, and the place of his Sanctuary casten down.

And a certain season was given unto it, against the daily offering, because of wickedness: that it might cast down the verity to the ground, and so to prosper in all things that it went about.

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,

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.

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, which was of the seed of the Medes, and was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans:

And he hath performed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us: to bring upon us such a great plague, as never was under heaven, like as it is now come to pass in Jerusalem.

As I was yet speaking at my prayers, knowledging mine own sins, and the sins of my people, making so mine intercession before the LORD my God, for the holy hill's sake of my God:

Yea, while I was yet speaking in my prayer, behold, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen afore in the vision, came flying to me, and touched me about the offering time in the evening.

For as soon as thou begannest to make thy prayer, it was so devised, and therefore am I come to show thee. And why? For thou art a man greatly beloved. Wherefore, ponder the matter well, that thou mayest learn to understand the vision.

In the third year of king Cyrus of Persia, there was showed unto Daniel, otherwise called Balteshazzar, a matter: yea, a true matter, but it is yet a long time unto it. He understood the matter well, and perceived what the vision was.

Upon the twenty fourth day of the first month, I was by the great flood called Tigris.

His body was like the Chrisolite stone; his face, to look upon, was like lightning; his eyes as the flame of fire; his arms and feet were like fair glistering metal; but the voice of his words was like the voice of a multitude.

I was left there myself alone, and saw this great vision, so long till there remained no more strength within me: Yea I lost my colour clean, I wasted away, and my strength was gone.

The time will come also, that the great prince Michael, which standeth on thy people side, shall arise up, for there shall come a time of trouble, such as never was, since there began to be any people, unto that same time. Then shall thy people be delivered, yea all those that be found written in the book.

And one of them said, unto him which was clothed in linen and stood above upon the waters of the flood, "How long shall it be to the end of these wondrous works?"