Daniel

1Jehoiakim was the king of Judah. In his third year as king, Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon. His army surrounded the city and would not let anyone out.

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

NoteJudah was the land where God's people lived. Babylon was a strong country far away. Nebuchadnezzar brought his army and surrounded Jerusalem so no food could get in.

2The Lord let King Jehoiakim be handed over to Nebuchadnezzar. The Lord also let him have some of the special dishes from God's temple. He carried them far away to the land of Shinar. He put them in the treasure room of his own god's temple.

And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

NoteThe temple was the special house where people came to worship God. The dishes were gold and silver bowls used there. Shinar is another name for Babylon.

3The king spoke to Ashpenaz, the leader of his palace helpers. He told him to bring in some young men from Israel. They were to come from the king's family and from other important families.

And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

NoteThe King James calls these helpers "eunuchs." They were men who worked close to the king inside his palace.

4They had to be young men with healthy, strong bodies and pleasant faces. They had to be smart, full of knowledge, and quick to learn. They had to be ready to work in the king's palace. Then they would be taught the writing and language of the Chaldeans, the people of Babylon.

Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

Note"Well favoured" means good-looking. "Cunning in knowledge" does not mean sneaky here. In 1611 "cunning" meant clever and skilled.

5Every day the king sent them food and wine from his own table. They would be trained this way for three years. After that they would come and serve the king.

And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

NoteThe king's food was the best food in the land. Eating it meant you belonged to the king now.

6Four of these young men came from Judah. Their names were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

7The leader of the palace helpers gave them new names. He called Daniel by the name Belteshazzar. He called Hananiah by the name Shadrach. He called Mishael by the name Meshach. He called Azariah by the name Abednego.

Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

NoteTheir old names each said something about God. The new names came from the gods of Babylon. Changing a name was a way of saying, you are ours now.

8Daniel decided in his heart not to eat the king's food or drink his wine. He believed it would make him unclean. So he asked the leader of the helpers to let him eat something else.

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Note"Defile" means to make dirty or spoiled. God had told his people not to eat certain foods. Daniel wanted to keep obeying, even far from home.

9God had already made the leader of the helpers like Daniel and be kind to him.

Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

Note"Favour" is an old spelling of favor. It means the leader liked Daniel and wanted to help him.

10But the leader said to Daniel, "I am afraid of the king, my master. He is the one who chose your food and drink. What if he sees you looking thinner than the other young men your age? Then the king could take my head off."

And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

NoteThe king could order a person killed if he was displeased. The leader was afraid that would happen to him.

11The leader had put a man named Melzar in charge of the four friends. So Daniel spoke to Melzar about Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

NoteMelzar was the man who brought the young men their meals each day.

12Daniel said, "Please test us for ten days. Give us only plants to eat and water to drink."

Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Note"Pulse" is an old word for plants people eat. It means beans, peas, and grain, not meat.

13"Then look at our faces. Look at the faces of the young men who eat the king's food. Compare us. Then do what you think is best with us."

Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

Note"Countenances" means faces. Daniel wanted the man to look and see who seemed healthier.

14Melzar agreed to do this. He tested them for ten days.

So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

15After the ten days, the four looked healthier and better fed than all the others. The others had been eating the king's rich food.

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

Note"Fatter in flesh" sounds odd today. Back then it meant well fed and healthy, which was a good thing.

16So Melzar took away their fancy food and their wine. He gave them plants to eat instead.

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

17God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in every kind of learning. He made them wise. God also helped Daniel understand dreams and visions, which are pictures God shows a person.

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

NoteA vision is like a dream you have while awake. God used dreams and visions to show people things.

18The training time the king had set finally ended. Then the leader of the helpers brought the young men to Nebuchadnezzar.

Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19The king talked with them. Out of all the young men, none were as good as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So these four stayed to serve the king.

And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

20The king asked them hard questions about wise and difficult things. He found them ten times better than all the magicians and star-readers in his whole kingdom.

And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

NoteMagicians and star-readers were the king's wise men. They tried to learn secrets by magic and by watching the stars.

21Daniel stayed there many years. He was still there in the first year of King Cyrus.

And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

NoteCyrus was a king who ruled long after Nebuchadnezzar. This means Daniel lived and served in Babylon for many, many years.

1Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon. In the second year he was king, he had dreams. The dreams troubled him, and he could not sleep.

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

NoteBabylon was a big, powerful kingdom far from Daniel's home. Nebuchadnezzar was its king. His name sounds like neb-yoo-kad-NEZ-zar.

2The king sent for his magicians and for men who read the stars. He also sent for men who used magic spells. He wanted them to tell him his dreams. They came and stood in front of the king.

Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

NoteThese men worked for the king. People believed they could explain dreams. Star readers watched the sky and said it told the future.

3The king said to them, "I had a dream. I am upset, and I want to know what it means."

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

4The star readers answered the king in Aramaic. "O king, may you live forever! Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means."

Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

NoteAramaic was the language most people spoke in that land. "O king, live for ever" was just a polite way to greet a king.

5The king answered them, "My word is final. If you do not tell me the dream and what it means, you will be cut in pieces. Your houses will be knocked down into piles of trash."

The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

NoteA king then could order anyone killed. No one was allowed to argue with him.

6"But if you tell me the dream and what it means, I will give you gifts and rewards. I will honor you greatly. So tell me the dream and what it means."

But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

7They answered a second time, "Let the king tell his servants the dream. Then we will tell what it means."

They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

8The king said, "I am sure you are only trying to gain time. You can see that my word will not change."

The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.

9"If you do not tell me the dream, only one thing will happen to you. You have agreed together to tell me lies until things change. So tell me the dream. Then I will know you can tell me what it means."

But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.

10The wise men answered the king, "No one on earth can do what you ask. No king, however great, has ever asked such a thing. No magician or star reader was ever asked this."

The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.

11"What the king asks is too hard. Only the gods could tell it, and they do not live among people."

And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

NoteThe people of Babylon believed in many gods. They thought those gods lived far away, not with people.

12This made the king very angry. He ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be killed.

For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

Note"Wise men" meant the king's helpers. Their job was to explain dreams and signs.

13So the order went out to kill the wise men. Men went to look for Daniel and his friends to kill them too.

And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

NoteDaniel and his friends were being trained as the king's wise men. So this order included them too.

14Arioch was the captain of the king's guard. He went out to kill the wise men of Babylon. Daniel spoke to him wisely and carefully.

Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

NoteThe king's guard were soldiers who kept him safe. They also carried out his orders.

15Daniel asked Arioch, "Why did the king give such a harsh order?" Then Arioch explained the matter to Daniel.

He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

16So Daniel went in to the king. He asked the king to give him some time. Then he would tell the king what the dream meant.

Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

17Daniel went home. He told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened.

Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

NoteThese three were Daniel's friends from home. Babylon had also given them new names.

18He asked them to beg the God of heaven to be kind. They were to pray about this hidden thing. Then Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the other wise men.

That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Note"The God of heaven" was a name the Jewish people used for God. It showed he was not one of Babylon's many gods.

19That night God showed Daniel the secret in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.

Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

NoteA vision was like a picture in his mind.

20Daniel said, "Praise the name of God forever and ever. Wisdom and power belong to him."

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

21"He changes the times and the seasons. He takes kings away, and he puts new kings in their place. He gives wisdom to the wise. He gives knowledge to those who understand."

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

22"He shows things that are deep and hidden. He knows what is in the dark. Light lives with him."

He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

23"God of my fathers, I thank you and praise you. You gave me wisdom and power. You have told me what we asked you for. You have shown us what the king dreamed."

I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

Note"God of my fathers" means the God his parents and grandparents had worshiped.

24Then Daniel went to Arioch, the man the king told to kill the wise men. Daniel said, "Do not kill the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will tell him what the dream means."

Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.

25Arioch hurried and brought Daniel to the king. He said, "I have found a man among the people brought here from Judah. He can tell the king what the dream means."

Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.

NoteJudah was Daniel's homeland. Soldiers from Babylon had taken its people far away from there.

26The king said to Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar, "Can you tell me the dream I saw? Can you tell me what it means?"

The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

NoteBelteshazzar was the new name Babylon gave Daniel. People taken from other lands were often given new names.

27Daniel answered the king, "No wise man can tell the king this secret. No star reader, magician, or fortune teller can tell it either."

Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

NoteA fortune teller was someone who claimed to know what would happen later.

28"But there is a God in heaven who tells secrets. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Here is the dream you saw while lying in bed."

But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

Note"Days to come" means a long time in the future.

29"O king, as you lay in bed, you thought about what would happen later. God, who tells secrets, has shown you what will come."

As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.

30"This secret was not shown to me because I am wiser than other people. It was shown so the king could be told what it means. It was shown so you could understand your own thoughts."

But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

31"O king, you looked and saw a huge statue. It was tall and shining bright. It stood in front of you, and it looked frightening."

Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

NoteA statue is a figure shaped like a person. This one was huge and made of metal.

32"The statue's head was made of pure gold. Its chest and arms were silver. Its stomach and upper legs were bronze."

This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,

NoteThese metals were worth different amounts. Gold was worth the most, then silver, then bronze. Bronze is a hard metal made from copper and tin.

33"Its lower legs were iron. Its feet were part iron and part clay."

His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

NoteClay is soft earth that people shape and then bake hard. Baked clay cracks and breaks easily.

34"As you watched, a stone was cut out. No human hands cut it. It hit the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them."

Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

NoteNo person cut this stone loose. It came away by itself.

35"Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold all broke into bits. They became like dry straw blown away from a field in summer. The wind carried them off, and nothing was left. But the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth."

Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

NoteFarmers beat cut grain to loosen the seeds. The light, dry bits are called chaff. The wind blew the chaff away.

36"That was the dream. Now we will tell the king what it means."

This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.

37"O king, you are the greatest of kings. The God of heaven gave you your kingdom, your power, your strength, and your glory."

Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

Note"King of kings" means a king who ruled over other kings too.

38"Wherever people live, and the wild animals and the birds, he has put them in your hand. He made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold."

And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

39"After you, another kingdom will rise. It will not be as great as yours. Then a third kingdom, the bronze one, will rule the whole earth."

And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

40"Then there will be a fourth kingdom, as strong as iron. Iron smashes and crushes everything. That kingdom will smash and crush all the others."

And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

41"You saw the feet and toes made partly of baked clay and partly of iron. So this kingdom will be split apart. But some of the strength of iron will still be in it, as you saw iron mixed with wet clay."

And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.

NoteA divided kingdom is one broken into parts. Different rulers hold the different parts.

42"The toes were part iron and part clay. So the kingdom will be partly strong and partly easy to break."

And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

43"You saw iron mixed with wet clay. In the same way, the people will mix with one another. But they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay."

And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

NotePeople mixing may mean rulers marrying into each other's families. Kings did that to join their kingdoms together.

44"In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom. It will never be destroyed. It will never be handed over to other people. It will break all these kingdoms and end them. It will stand forever."

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

45"You saw a stone cut from the mountain, but not by human hands. It broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has shown the king what will happen later. The dream is true, and what it means is sure."

Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

46Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed with his face to the ground before Daniel. He gave orders that a gift and sweet-smelling smoke be offered to Daniel.

Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.

NoteBowing with your face on the ground showed the greatest respect. Burning sweet-smelling smoke was how people honored a god.

47The king said to Daniel, "Your God is truly the God above all gods. He is the Lord over kings, and he tells secrets. You were able to tell me this secret."

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

NoteThe king means Daniel's God is greater than every god Babylon believed in.

48Then the king gave Daniel a high place and many fine gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon. He put Daniel in charge of all the wise men there.

Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.

NoteA province is a big part of a kingdom, a bit like a state.

49Daniel asked the king for one thing. The king put Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in charge of the work of the province. Daniel himself stayed at the king's court.

Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

NoteThese are the Babylonian names for Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The king's gate was where leaders met and settled important matters.

4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was resting at home. Everything was going well for me in my palace.

I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

5Then I had a dream that scared me. The pictures I saw in bed worried me.

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

NoteLong ago, people believed some dreams carried important messages. That is why a scary dream worried a king so much.

6So I gave an order. All the wise men of Babylon were to come to me. I wanted them to tell me what my dream meant.

Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

NoteThe wise men were the king's helpers. Their job was to explain dreams and strange signs to him.

7In came the magicians and the men who studied the stars. Other men came who tried to explain hidden things. I told them my dream. Not one of them could tell me what it meant.

Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

NoteMagicians said spells. Astrologers watched the stars to guess what would happen. The Chaldeans and soothsayers also tried to explain hidden things. All of them worked for the king.

8At last Daniel came in to me. My people call him Belteshazzar, after the name of my god. I said the spirit of the holy gods is in him. I told him my dream. I said:

But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

NoteKings often gave new names to people they took from other lands. Daniel came from Judah, and Babylon named him Belteshazzar. The king prayed to many gods, so he says "gods" here.

9"Belteshazzar, you are the leader of my magicians. I know the spirit of the holy gods is in you. No secret is too hard for you. Tell me what I saw in my dream. Tell me what it means.

O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

10This is what I saw while I lay in my bed. A tree stood in the middle of the land. It was very, very tall.

Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

NoteDreams like this one use pictures. The tree in the dream stands for something real.

11The tree grew big and strong. Its top reached the sky. People could see it from far away, everywhere on earth.

The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

12Its leaves were pretty. It had lots of fruit. There was food on it for everyone. Wild animals rested in its shade. Birds built nests in its branches. Every living thing ate from it.

The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

13As I lay in my bed I saw more. A watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.

I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

NoteA watcher is an angel. Angels are messengers who come from God in heaven.

14He called out in a loud voice. He said, 'Chop down the tree. Cut off its branches. Shake off its leaves. Throw its fruit around. Make the animals run out from under it. Make the birds leave its branches.

He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

15But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Put a band of iron and bronze around it. Leave it in the soft grass of the field. Let him get wet with the dew of heaven. Let him live out in the grass with the animals.

Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

NoteDew is tiny drops of water. It forms on the grass during the night. Brass here means bronze, a hard metal much like copper.

16Let his mind stop being a man's mind. Give him the mind of an animal instead. Let seven times pass over him.

Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

Note"Seven times" most likely means seven years. The book does not say for sure.

17The watchers have decided this. The holy ones have given this word. It is so that living people will learn one thing. The Most High God rules over the kingdoms of people. He gives a kingdom to anyone he wants. He even puts the lowest person in charge of it.'

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Note"The basest of men" means a person nobody thinks is important. God can still make that person a king.

18That is the dream I saw, King Nebuchadnezzar. Now tell me what it means, Belteshazzar. None of my wise men can tell me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

19Then Daniel, who is also called Belteshazzar, sat still and upset for a while. His own thoughts frightened him. The king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream upset you. Do not let its meaning upset you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, I wish this dream were about the people who hate you. I wish it were about your enemies.

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

NoteThe King James says Daniel was "astonied." That old word means he was too shocked to speak. Calling the king "my lord" was a polite way to talk to him.

20You saw a tree that grew big and strong. Its top reached the sky. People everywhere on earth could see it.

The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

21Its leaves were pretty and it had lots of fruit. There was food on it for everyone. Wild animals lived under it. Birds made their homes in its branches.

Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

22King, that tree is you! You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has grown as high as the sky. You rule far away, to the ends of the earth.

It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

23King, you saw a watcher, a holy one, come down from heaven. He said, 'Chop the tree down and ruin it. But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Put a band of iron and bronze around it. Leave it in the soft grass of the field. Let him get wet with the dew of heaven. Let him live out in the grass with the animals, until seven times pass over him.'

And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

NoteDew is tiny drops of water. It forms on the grass during the night.

24Here is what it means, king. This is what the Most High God has decided about you, my lord.

This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

25You will be sent away from other people. You will live outside with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox. The dew of heaven will make you wet. Seven times will pass over you. This will last until you know the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people. He gives a kingdom to anyone he wants.

That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

NoteAn ox is a big farm animal, a lot like a cow. Oxen eat grass out in the fields all day. Dew is tiny drops of water. It forms on the grass during the night.

26The order said to leave the stump and its roots. That means your kingdom will be given back to you. It will happen once you know that Heaven rules.

And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

NoteHere "the heavens do rule" is a polite way of saying God rules. People sometimes said it that way instead of saying God's name.

27So please take my advice, king. Stop doing wrong and start doing what is right. Turn from your sins by being kind to poor people. Then maybe your good times will last longer."

Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

NoteSins and iniquities are the wrong things a person does. Daniel is asking the king to stop and change.

1King Belshazzar made a big feast for a thousand of his important men. He drank wine in front of them all.

Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

NoteA feast is a very big party with lots of food and drink. Belshazzar was the king of Babylon, a large and rich city. The thousand important men were his officers and leaders.

2While he drank, Belshazzar gave an order about the gold and silver cups. His father Nebuchadnezzar had taken them from God's temple in Jerusalem. The king wanted to drink from them with his officials, his wives, and the other women of his palace.

Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

NoteThe temple in Jerusalem was the special building where God's people worshiped him. The gold and silver cups there were used only for worshiping God. Years before this, Babylon's army took them away. Nebuchadnezzar was a king before Belshazzar. In that language, calling him "his father" could also mean his grandfather or an earlier king.

3So they brought in the gold cups taken from God's temple in Jerusalem. The king drank from them, and so did his officials, his wives, and the other women.

Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

NoteKings back then had more than one wife. Other women lived in the palace too and belonged to the king. The King James Version calls them "concubines".

4They drank the wine. They praised their gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

NoteThese gods were statues that people made with their own hands. Some were gold or silver, some were wood or stone. People bowed to them and asked them for help. Bronze is a hard metal made by mixing copper and tin.

5Right then the fingers of a human hand appeared. They wrote on the plaster wall of the palace, near the lampstand. The king watched the hand as it wrote.

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

NotePlaster is the smooth coating that covers a wall. A lampstand held little lamps that burned oil. There were no electric lights, so lamps gave the room its light.

6The king's face turned pale. His thoughts frightened him. His legs went weak, and his knees knocked together.

Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

NotePale means his face lost its color and went white. That happens to people when they are very afraid.

7The king shouted for his wise men to come in. These were men who watched the stars and said they knew secrets. He told them, "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will get a royal purple robe. He will get a gold chain for his neck. He will be the third most powerful ruler in my kingdom."

The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

NoteKings kept wise men who studied the stars and old books. People believed they could explain strange signs and dreams. Purple cloth cost a great deal of money. Only kings and very important people wore it. Belshazzar himself was only second in charge, because his father was still king. So third place was the highest job he could give away.

8All the king's wise men came in. But they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.

Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.

9Then King Belshazzar grew even more afraid. His face turned even more pale. His important men did not know what to think.

Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.

10The queen heard the king and his men shouting. She came into the feast room. She said, "O king, may you live forever! Do not let your thoughts frighten you. Do not let your face turn pale.

Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:

NoteThis queen was most likely the king's mother. She was older, and she remembered the days of King Nebuchadnezzar. "O king, may you live forever" was a polite way to greet a king. It was like saying hello with great respect.

11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. When your father was king, this man showed understanding and wisdom like the gods. Your own father, King Nebuchadnezzar, put him in charge of all the wise men and star watchers.

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 understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

NoteThe people of Babylon believed in many gods. That is why the queen says "gods" and not God.

12Your father did this because Daniel was found to have a special spirit, knowledge, and understanding. The king gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar. Daniel can explain dreams, solve riddles, and untangle hard problems. Send for Daniel. He will tell you what the writing means."

Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

NoteWhen boys from Judah were taken to Babylon, they were given new Babylonian names. Belteshazzar was the new name given to Daniel. It sounds a lot like the king's name, Belshazzar, but it is a different name.