CHAPTER1
1AndkingAstyageswasgatheredtohisfathers,and CyrusofPersiareceivedhiskingdom
2AndDanielconversedwiththeking,andwashonoured aboveallhisfriends.
3NowtheBabylonshadanidol,calledBel,andtherewere spentuponhimeverydaytwelvegreatmeasuresoffine flour,andfortysheep,andsixvesselsofwine.
4Andthekingworshippeditandwentdailytoadoreit: butDanielworshippedhisownGodAndthekingsaid untohim,WhydostnotthouworshipBel?
5Whoansweredandsaid,BecauseImaynotworshipidols madewithhands,butthelivingGod,whohathcreatedthe heavenandtheearth,andhathsovereigntyoverallflesh.
6Thensaidthekinguntohim,ThinkestthounotthatBelis alivingGod?seestthounothowmuchheeatethand drinketheveryday?
7ThenDanielsmiled,andsaid,Oking,benotdeceived: forthisisbutclaywithin,andbrasswithout,anddidnever eatordrinkanything.
8Sothekingwaswroth,andcalledforhispriests,andsaid untothem,Ifyetellmenotwhothisisthatdevoureththese expences,yeshalldie.
9ButifyecancertifymethatBeldevoureththem,then Danielshalldie:forhehathspokenblasphemyagainstBel AndDanielsaiduntotheking,Letitbeaccordingtothy word
10NowthepriestsofBelwerethreescoreandten,beside theirwivesandchildrenAndthekingwentwithDaniel intothetempleofBel
11SoBel'spriestssaid,Lo,wegoout:butthou,Oking, setonthemeat,andmakereadythewine,andshutthe doorfastandsealitwiththineownsignet;
12Andtomorrowwhenthoucomestin,ifthoufindestnot thatBelhatheatenupall,wewillsufferdeath:orelse Daniel,thatspeakethfalselyagainstus
13Andtheylittleregardedit:forunderthetabletheyhad madeaprivyentrance,wherebytheyenteredincontinually, andconsumedthosethings
14Sowhentheyweregoneforth,thekingsetmeatsbefore BelNowDanielhadcommandedhisservantstobring ashes,andthosetheystrewedthroughoutallthetemplein thepresenceofthekingalone:thenwenttheyout,andshut thedoor,andsealeditwiththeking'ssignet,andso departed
15Nowinthenightcamethepriestswiththeirwivesand children,astheywerewonttodo,anddideatanddrinkup all
16Inthemorningbetimethekingarose,andDanielwith him
17Andthekingsaid,Daniel,arethesealswhole?Andhe said,Yea,Oking,theybewhole.
18Andassoonashehadopenedthedour,thekinglooked uponthetable,andcriedwithaloudvoice,Greatartthou, OBel,andwiththeeisnodeceitatall.
19ThenlaughedDaniel,andheldthekingthatheshould notgoin,andsaid,Beholdnowthepavement,andmark wellwhosefootstepsarethese.
20Andthekingsaid,Iseethefootstepsofmen,women, andchildrenAndthenthekingwasangry,
21Andtookthepriestswiththeirwivesandchildren,who shewedhimtheprivydoors,wheretheycamein,and consumedsuchthingsaswereuponthetable.
22Thereforethekingslewthem,anddeliveredBelinto Daniel'spower,whodestroyedhimandhistemple
23Andinthatsameplacetherewasagreatdragon,which theyofBabylonworshipped
24AndthekingsaiduntoDaniel,Wiltthoualsosaythat thisisofbrass?lo,heliveth,heeatethanddrinketh;thou canstnotsaythatheisnolivinggod:thereforeworship him
25ThensaidDanieluntotheking,IwillworshiptheLord myGod:forheisthelivingGod
26Butgivemeleave,Oking,andIshallslaythisdragon withoutswordorstaff.Thekingsaid,Igivetheeleave.
27ThenDanieltookpitch,andfat,andhair,anddidseethe themtogether,andmadelumpsthereof:thisheputinthe dragon'smouth,andsothedragonburstinsunder:and Danielsaid,Lo,thesearethegodsyeworship
28WhentheyofBabylonheardthat,theytookgreat indignation,andconspiredagainsttheking,saying,The kingisbecomeaJew,andhehathdestroyedBel,hehath slainthedragon,andputtheprieststodeath.
29Sotheycametotheking,andsaid,DeliverusDaniel,or elsewewilldestroytheeandthinehouse
30Nowwhenthekingsawthattheypressedhimsore, beingconstrained,hedeliveredDanieluntothem:
31Whocasthimintothelions'den:wherehewassixdays 32Andinthedenthereweresevenlions,andtheyhad giventhemeverydaytwocarcases,andtwosheep:which thenwerenotgiventothem,totheintenttheymight devourDaniel.
33NowtherewasinJewryaprophet,calledHabbacuc, whohadmadepottage,andhadbrokenbreadinabowl, andwasgoingintothefield,fortobringittothereapers.
34ButtheangeloftheLordsaiduntoHabbacuc,Go,carry thedinnerthatthouhastintoBabylonuntoDaniel,whois inthelions'den.
35AndHabbacucsaid,Lord,IneversawBabylon;neither doIknowwherethedenis
36ThentheangeloftheLordtookhimbythecrown,and barehimbythehairofhishead,andthroughthe vehemencyofhisspiritsethiminBabylonovertheden 37AndHabbacuccried,saying,ODaniel,Daniel,takethe dinnerwhichGodhathsentthee
38AndDanielsaid,Thouhastrememberedme,OGod: neitherhastthouforsakenthemthatseektheeandlovethee. 39SoDanielarose,anddideat:andtheangeloftheLord setHabbacucinhisownplaceagainimmediately 40UpontheseventhdaythekingwenttobewailDaniel: andwhenhecametotheden,helookedin,andbehold, Danielwassitting
41Thencriedthekingwithaloudvoice,saying,Greatart LordGodofDaniel,andthereisnoneotherbesidethee 42Andhedrewhimout,andcastthosethatwerethecause ofhisdestructionintotheden:andtheyweredevouredina momentbeforehisface