1. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, King of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon to Jerusalem, and besieged it. The Lord gave Jehoiakim, King of Judah, into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God, and he carried them into the land of Shinar, to the house of his God, and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his God. The king spoke to Ashpanaz, the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in certain of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles, youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdom and endowed with knowledge and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace, and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans. The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king's dainties, and of the wine which he drank, that they should be nourished three years, that at its end they should stand before the king. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them, to Daniel he gave the name of Balthashezar, and to Hananiah, of Shadrach, and to Mishael, of Meshach, and to Azariah, of Abednego. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself of the king's dainties, nor with the wine which he drank, therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God made Daniel to find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs. The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my Lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink, for why should he see your faces worse looking than the youth who are of your own age? So would you endanger my head with the king? Then said Daniel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, prove your servants I beg you ten days, and let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink.  So he listened to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. At the end of ten days their faces appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate of the king's dainties. So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse. Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill, and all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. At the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore stood they before the king. In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm. Daniel continued even to the first year of King Cyrus. CHAPTER II. In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. Then the king commanded to call the magicians and the enchanters, and the sorcerers and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. The king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream. Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in the Syrian language, O king, live forever, tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. The king answered the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me. If you don't make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dung hill. But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore, show me the dream and its interpretation. They answered the second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me. But if you don't make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you, and you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the time be changed. Therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation. The Chaldeans answered before the king and said, There is not a man on earth who can show the king's matter, because no king, lord, or ruler has asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean. It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. For this cause, the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain, and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain. Then Daniel returned to answer with counsel and prudence to Ariok, the captain of the king's guard, who has gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon. He answered Ariok the king's captain, Why is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Ariok made the thing known to Daniel. Daniel went in and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Michele, and Azariah, his companions, that they would desire mercies of the God of Heaven concerning the secret that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of Heaven. Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever, for wisdom and might are his. He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. I thank you and praise you, you God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter. Therefore Daniel went into Ariach, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him, Don't destroy the wise men of Babylon. Bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation. Then Ariach brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus to him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation. The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar. Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation? Daniel answered before the king and said, The secret which the king has demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he is made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar, what shall be in the latter days.  As for you, O king, your thoughts came into your mind on your bed, what should happen hereafter, and he who reveals secrets has made known to you what shall happen. But as for me, the secret is not revealed to me by any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart. You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you, and its aspect was awesome. As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast in its arms of silver, its belly in its thighs of brass, its legs of iron, its feet part of iron and part of clay. You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors, and the wind carried them away so that no place was found for them, and the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. This is the dream, and we will tell its interpretation before the king. You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the strength and the glory. And wherever the children of men dwell, the animals of the field, and the birds of the sky, has he given into your hand, and has made you to rule over them all.  After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. The fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, because iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things. And as iron that crushes all these, shall it break in pieces and crush. Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potter's clay and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom. But there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, because you saw that the iron mixed with myry clay. As the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly broken. Whereas you saw the iron mixed with myry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men, but they shall not cling to one another, even as iron does not mingle with clay. In the days of those kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what shall happen hereafter. And the dream is certain, and its interpretation sure. Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell in his face and worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him. The king answered to Daniel and said, Of a truth your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, and a revealer of secrets, seeing that you have been able to reveal this secret. Then the king made Daniel great and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, but Daniel was in the gate of the king. Chapter 3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold whose height was sixty cubits, and its breadth six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent together together the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasures, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasures, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered together to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the herald cried aloud, to you it is commanded, peoples, nations, and languages, that whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up, and whoever doesn't fall down and worship shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Therefore at that time, certain Chaldeans came near and brought accusation against the Jews. They answered Nebuchadnezzar the king, O king live forever, you O king have made a decree that every man that shall hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music shall fall down and worship the golden image, and whoever doesn't fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his rage and fury, commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered them, Is it on purpose Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that you don't serve my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if you are ready, whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well. But if you don't worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace, and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our god whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Therefore he spoke and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their pants, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king's commandment was urgent and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar, the king, was astonished and rose up in haste. He spoke and said to his counselors, didn't we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered the king, true, O king. He answered, Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt, and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace. He spoke and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the most high god, come forth and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth out of the midst of the fire. The satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their pants changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them. Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the god of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own god. Therefore I make a decree that every people, nation, and language which speak anything evil against the god of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made to Dunhill, because there is no other god who is able to deliver after this sort. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Chapter 4 Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all of the peoples, nations, and languages who dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied to you. It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the most high god has worked toward me. How great are his signs, and how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is a never-lasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and I told the dream before them, but they did not make known to me its interpretation. But, at the last, Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and I told the dream before him, saying, Belshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation. Thus were the visions of my head on my bed. I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew, and was strong, and its height reached to the sky, and its sight to the end of all the earth. The leaves of it were beautiful, and its fruit much, and in it was food for all. The animals of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. I saw, in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from the sky. He cried aloud, and said thus, Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake its leaves, and scatter its fruit. Let the animals get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches. Nevertheless, leave the stump of its 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 the sky, and let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth. Let his heart be changed from man's, and let an animal's heart be given to him, and let seven times pass over him. The sentence is by 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 rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will, and sets up over at the lowest of men. This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen, and you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you. Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, Belteshazzar, don't let the dreamer the interpretation trouble you. Belteshazzar answered, My Lord, the dream be to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries. The tree that you saw which grew and was strong, whose height reached the sky and its sight to all the earth, whose leaves were beautiful, and its fruit much, and then it was food for all, under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation, it is you, O King, that are grown and become strong, for your greatness is grown and reaches to the sky and your dominion to the end of the earth. Whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the sky and saying, Cut down the tree and destroy it, nevertheless, leave the stump of its 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 the sky, and let his portion be with the animals of the field until seven times pass over him, this is the interpretation, O King, and it is the decree of the most high, which is come on, my Lord, the king, that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the most high rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whoever he will. Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.  All this came on the King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power, and for the glory of my majesty?  The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven from men and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most high, and I praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none could stay his hand or tell him, what do you. At the same time my understanding returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom my majesty and brightness returned to me, and my counselors and my lords sought to me, and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol in honor the king of heaven, for all his works are truth, and his ways justice, and those who walk in pride he is able to abase. Chapter 5 Bel Shazar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords and drank wine before the thousand. Bel Shazar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. 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 lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand and wrote over against the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's face was changed in him and his thoughts troubled him, and the joints of his thighs were loosened and his knees struck one against another. The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, whoever shall read this writing and show me its interpretation shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold about his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. Then came in all the king's wise men, but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation. Then was king Belchazar greatly troubled, and his face was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed. Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house, and the queen spoke and said, O king, live forever, don't let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your face be changed. There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. And in the days of your father, light and understanding wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him, and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say your father, made him master of the magicians and chanters, chaldeans, and soothsayers, because an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belchazar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. Then was Daniel brought in before the king? The king spoke and said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel, who are of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah? I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the thing. But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and dissolve doubts. Now if you can read the writing, and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. Then Daniel answered before the king, Let your gifts speak to yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. You king, the Most High God, gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty, and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him, whom he would he killed, and whom he would he kept alive, and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him, and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed with grass, like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until he knew that the Most High God rules in the Kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whoever he will.  Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed. This is the writing that was inscribed, men, men, tekel, ufarsin. This is the interpretation of the thing. Men, God has numbered your Kingdom and brought it to an end. Tekel, that you are weighed in the balances and are found wanting. Peres, your Kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Then commanded Belchazar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the Kingdom. In that night Belchazar, the Chaldean King, was slain. Darius the Mede received the Kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. Chapter 6 It pleased Darius to set over the Kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole Kingdom, and over them three presidents of whom Daniel was one, that these satraps might give account to them, and that the King should have no damage. Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the King thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the Kingdom, but they could find no occasion nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the King, and said thus to him, King Darius, live forever. All the presidents of the Kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of you, O King, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O King, establish the interdict and sign the writing that it not be changed according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn't alter. Therefore King Darius signed the writing and the interdict. When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, and he kneeled on his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his God as he did before. Then these men assembled together and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. Then they came near and spoke before the King concerning the King's interdict. Haven't you signed an interdict that every man who shall make petition to any God or man within thirty days save to you, O King, shall be cast into the den of lions? The King answered, the thing is true according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn't alter. Then answered they and said before the King, that Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn't regard you, O King, nor the interdict that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day. Then the King, when he heard these words, was sore displeased and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him, and he labored until the going down of the Son to rescue him. Then these men assembled together to the King and said to the King, No, O King, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict nor statute which the King establishes may be changed. Then the King commanded and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. Now the King spoke and said to Daniel, your God, whom you serve continually, he will deliver you. A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the King sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the King went to his palace and passed the night fasting. Neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep fled from him. Then the King arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice. The King spoke and said to Daniel, Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions? Then said Daniel to the King, O King, live forever.  Then was the King exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. The King commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives, and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den. Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth, Peace be multiplied to you, I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom, men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even to the end. He delivers in rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. End of chapters 1 through 6. Chapters 7 through 12 of the Book of Daniel from the World English Bible. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Missy, Guangzhou, China. Daniel from the World English Bible. Chapters 7 through 12. Chapter 7 In the first year of Bel Shazer, King of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions of his head on his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four wings of the sky broke forth on the great sea. Four great animals came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I saw until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on two feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. Behold another animal, a second like a bear, and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth, and they said thus to it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I saw, and behold another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The animal also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and strong exceedingly, and it had great iron teeth. It devoured and broken pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet, and it was diverse from all the animals that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes, like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. I saw until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat.  His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him. Thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was set, and the books were opened. I saw at that time, because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke, I saw even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky, one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. There was given him dominion and glory, and a kingdom that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great animals which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most high shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever. Then I desired to know the truth concerning the first animal, which was diverse from all of them, exceedingly terrible whose teeth were of iron and its nails of brass, which devoured broken pieces and stamped the residue with its feet. And concerning the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows. I saw and the same horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them. Until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most high, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, the fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down and break it in pieces. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise, and another shall arise after them, and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings. He shall speak words against the most high, and shall wear out the saints of the most high, and he shall think to change the times and the law, and they shall be given into his hand, until a time and time and half a time. But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it to the end. The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my face was changed in me, but I kept the matter in my heart. Chapter 8 In the third year of the reign of King Belchazar, a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. I saw in the vision, now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Suza, which is in the province of Elam, and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulay. Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram, which had two horns, and the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward, and no animals could stand before him, neither was there any who could deliver out of his hand. But he did according to his will, and magnified himself. As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west over the surface of the whole earth, and didn't touch the ground, and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. He came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran on him in the fury of his power. I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and struck the ram, and broke his two horns, and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none who could deliver the ram out of his hand. The male goat magnified himself exceedingly, and when he was strong the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of the sky. Out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceeding great, toward the south and toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great even to the army of the sky, and some of the army and of the stars that cast down to the ground and trampled on them. Yes, it magnified itself even to the prince of the army, and it took away from him the continual burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. The army was given over to it together with the continual burnt offering through disobedience, and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered. Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt offering, and the disobedience that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the army to be trod and underfoot? He said to me, to two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. It happened when I, even I, Daniel, had seen the vision that I sought to understand it, and behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulay which called and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, Understand, son of man, for the vision belongs to the time of the end. Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground. But he touched me and set me upright. He said, Behold, I will make you know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation, for it belongs to the appointed time of the end. The ram which you saw that had the two horns, they are the kings of media and Persia. The rough male goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. As for that which was broken in the place where four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation but not with his power. In the latter time of their kingdom when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce faith and understanding dark sentences shall stand up. His power shall be mighty but not by his own power, and he shall destroy wonderfully and shall prosper and do his pleasure, and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people. Through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand, and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security shall he destroy many. He shall also stand up against the prince of princes, but he shall be broken without hand. The vision of the evenings and mornings which had been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it belongs to many days to come. I, Daniel, fainted and was sick certain days. Then I rose up and did the king's business, and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it. Chapter 9 In the first year of Darius the son of a hazardous, of the seed of the mead, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years. I set my face to the Lord God to seek by prayer and petitions with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to Yahweh my God and made confession and said, Oh Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments. We have sinned and have dealt perversely and have done wickedly and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances. Neither have we listened to your servants, the prophets who spoke in your name to our king, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of faith as at this day to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to all Israel, who are near and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you. Lord, to us belongs confusion of faith, to our kings, to our princes and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. Do the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him? Neither have we obeyed the voice of Yahweh our God to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, even turning aside that they should not obey your voice. Therefore has the curse been poured out on us and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against him. He has confirmed his words which he spoke against us and against our judges who judged us by bringing on us a great evil, for under the whole sky has not been done as has been done on Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come on us, yet we have not entreated the favor of Yahweh our God, that we should turn from our iniquities and have discernment in your truth. Therefore has Yahweh watched over the evil and brought it on us, for Yahweh our God is righteous in all his works which he does, and we have not obeyed his voice. Now Lord our God, who has brought your people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have gotten you renowned as at this day we have sinned, we have done wickedly.   My God turn your ear and hear, open your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by your name, for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercy's sake. Lord hear, Lord forgive, Lord listen and do, don't defer for your own sake my God, because your city and your people are called by your name. While I was speaking and praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes while I was speaking in prayer the man Gabriel whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning being caused to fly swiftly touched me about the time of the evening offering. He instructed me and talked with me and said, Daniel I am now come forth to give you wisdom and understanding. At the beginning of your petitions the commandment went forth and I am come to tell you for you are greatly beloved. Therefore consider the matter and understand the vision.  Know therefore and discern that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the anointed one the prince shall be seven weeks and sixty two weeks. It shall be built again with street and moat even in troubled times. After the sixty two weeks the anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary and its end shall be with a flood and even to the end shall be war. Desolations are determined. He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate and even to the full end and that determined shall wrath be poured out on the desolate. Chapter 10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed to Daniel whose name was called Belteshazzar and the thing was true even a great warfare and he understood the thing and had understanding of the vision. In those days I Daniel was mourning three whole weeks. I ate no pleasant bread neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth neither did I anoint myself at all until the three whole weeks were fulfilled. In the four and twentieth day of the first month as I was by the side of the great river which is Hedekal I lifted up my eyes and looked and behold a man clothed in linen whose thighs were girded with pure gold of Uphaz.  I Daniel alone saw the vision for the men who were with me didn't see the vision but a great quaking fell on them and they fled to hide themselves so I was left alone and saw this great vision and there remained no strength in me for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption and I retained no strength yet I heard the voice of his words and when I heard the voice of his words then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face with my face toward the ground behold a hand touched me which set me on my knees and on the palms of my hand he said to me Daniel you man greatly beloved understand the words that I speak to you and stand upright for to you am I now sent when he had spoken this word to me I stood trembling then said he to me don't be afraid Daniel for from the first day that you did set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God your words were heard and I am come for your words sake but the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me 21 days but behold Michael one of the chief princes came to help me and I remained there with the kings of Persia now I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days for the vision is yet for many days and when he had spoken to me according to these words I set my face toward the ground and was mute behold one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who stood before me my lord by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned on me and I retain no strength for how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord for as for me immediately there remained no strength in me neither was their breath left in me then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man and he strengthened me he said greatly beloved man don't be afraid peace be to you be strong yes be strong when he spoke to me I was strengthened and said let my lord speak for you have strengthened me then he said do you know why I have come to you now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia when I go forth behold the prince of Greece shall come but I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth and there is none who holds with me against these but Michael your prince chapter 11 as for me in the first year of Darius the mead I stood up to confirm and strengthen him now will I show you the truth behold there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia and the fourth shall be far richer than they all and when he has grown strong through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece a mighty king shall stand up who shall rule with great dominion and do according to his will when he shall stand up his kingdom shall be broken and shall be divided toward the four winds of the sky but not to his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled for his kingdom shall be plucked up even for others besides these the king of the south shall be strong and one of his princes and he shall be strong above him and have dominion his dominion shall be a great dominion at the end of years they shall join themselves together and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement but she shall not retain the strength of her arm neither shall he stand nor his arm but she shall be given up and those who brought her and he who became the father of her and he who strengthened her in those times but out of a shoot from her roots shall one stand up in his place who shall come to the army and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north and shall deal against them and shall prevail also their gods with their molten images and with their goodly vessels of silver and of gold shall he carry captive into Egypt and he shall refrain some years from the king of the north he shall come into the realm of the king of the south but he shall return into his own land his son shall war and shall assemble a multitude of great forces which shall come on and overflow and pass through and they shall return and war even to his fortress the king of the south shall be moved with anger and shall come forth and fight with him even with the king of the north and he shall set forth a great multitude and the multitude shall be given into his hand the multitude shall be lifted up and his heart shall be exalted and he shall cast down tens of thousands but he shall not prevail the king of the north shall return and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former and he shall come on at the end of the times even of years with a great army and with much substance in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south also the children of the violent among your people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision but they shall fall so the king of the north shall come and cast up a mound and take a well fortified city and the forces of the south shall not stand neither his chosen people neither shall there be any strength to stand but he who comes against him shall do according to his own will and none shall stand before him and he shall stand in the glorious land and in his hand shall be destruction he shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom and with him equitable conditions and he shall perform them and he shall give him the daughter of women to corrupt her but she shall not stand neither before him after this shall he turn his face to the islands and shall take many but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease yes moreover he shall cause his reproach to turn on him then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land but he shall stumble and fall and shall not be found then shall stand up in his place one who shall cause a tax collector to pass through the kingdom to maintain its glory but within a few days he shall be destroyed neither in anger nor in battle in his place shall stand up a contemptible person to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom but he shall come in time of security and shall obtain the kingdom by flattery the overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him and shall be broken yes also the prince of the covenant after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully for he shall come up and shall become strong with a small people in time of security shall he come even on the fattest places of the province and he shall do that which his fathers have not done nor his father's fathers he shall scatter among them pray and spoil and substance yes he shall devise his devices against the stronghold even for a time he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army and the king of the south shall war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army but he shall not stand for they shall devise devices against him yes they who eat of his dainties shall destroy him and his army shall overflow and many shall fall down slain as for both these kings their hearts shall be to do mischief and they shall speak lies at one table but it shall not prosper for yet the end shall be at the time appointed then shall he return into his land with great substance and his heart shall be against the holy covenant and he shall do his pleasure and return to his own land at the time appointed he shall return and come into the south but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former for ships of Kittim shall come against him therefore he shall be grieved and shall return and have indignation against the holy covenant and shall do his pleasure he shall even return and have regard to those who forsake the holy covenant forces shall stand on his part and they shall profane the sanctuary even the fortress and shall take away the continual burnt offering and they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flattery but the people who know their God shall be strong and do exploits those who are wise among the people shall instruct many yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame by captivity and by spoil many days now when they shall fall they shall be helped with a little help but many shall join themselves to them with flattery some of those who are wise shall fall to refine them and to purify and to make them white even to the time of the end because it is yet for the time appointed the king shall do according to his will and he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every God and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods and he shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished for that which is determined shall be done neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers nor the desire of women nor regard any God for he shall magnify himself above all but in his place shall he honor the God of fortresses and a God whom his fathers didn't know shall he honor with gold and silver and with precious stones and pleasant things he shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign God whoever acknowledges him he will increase with glory and he shall cause them to rule over many and shall divide the land for a price at the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind with chariots and with horsemen and with many ships and he shall enter into the countries and shall overflow and pass through he shall enter also into the glorious land and many countries shall be overthrown but these shall be delivered out of his hand Edom and Moab and the chief of the children of Alman he shall stretch forth his hand also on the countries and the land of Egypt shall not escape but he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps but news out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many he shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him chapter 12 at that time shall Michael stand up the great prince who stands for the children of your people and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time and at that time your people shall be delivered everyone who shall be found written in the book many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expand and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever but you Daniel shut up the words and seal the book even to the time of the end many shall run back and forth and knowledge shall be increased then I Daniel looked and behold there stood other two the one on the brink of the river on this side and the other on the brink of the river on that side one said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river how long shall it be to the end of these wonders I heard the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time time and a half and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people all these things shall be finished I heard but I didn't understand then said I my lord what shall be the issue of these things he said go your way Daniel for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand but those who are wise shall understand from the time that the continual burnt offering shall be taken away and the abomination that makes desolate set up there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days blessed is he who waits and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty five days but go you your way until the end be for you shall rest and shall stand in your lot at the end of the days end of Daniel the book of Hosea from the world English Bible this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the book of Hosea from the world English Bible chapter one the word of Yahweh that came to Hosea the son of Biri in the days of Uzziah Jotham Ahaz and Hezekiah kings of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel when Yahweh spoke at the first by Hosea Yahweh said under Hosea go take for yourself a wife of prostitution and children of unfaithfulness for the land commits great adultery for saking Yahweh so he went and took Homer the son of Diablum and she conceived and bore him a son Yahweh said to him call his name Jezreel for yet a little while and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu and I will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease it will happen in the day that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel she conceived again and bore a daughter then he said unto him call her name low Ruhama for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel that I should in any way pardon them but I will have mercy on the house of Judah and will save them by Yahweh their God and will not save them by bow sword battle horses or horsemen now when she had weaned low Ruhama she conceived and bore a son he said call his name low Ammi for you are not my people and I will not be yours yet the number of the children of Israel will be as the sand of the sea which can't be measured nor numbered and it will come to pass that in the place where it was said to them you are not my people they will be called the sons of the living God the children of Judah and the children of Israel will be gathered together and they will appoint themselves one head and will go up from the land for great will be the day of Jezreel chapter two say to your brothers my people and to your sisters my loved one contend with your mother contend for she is not my wife neither I'm high her husband and let her put away her prostitution from her face and her adulteries from between her breasts lest I strip her naked and make her bear as in the day that she was born and to make her like a wilderness and set her like a dry land and kill her with thirst indeed on her children I will have no mercy for they are children of unfaithfulness for their mother has played the prostitute she who conceived them has done shamefully for she said I will go after my lovers who give me my bread and my water my wool and my flax my oil and my drink therefore behold I will hedge up your way with thorns and I will build a wall against her that she can't find her way she will follow after her lovers but she won't overtake them and she will seek them but won't find them then she will say I will go and return to my first husband for then was it better with me than now for she did not know that I gave her the grain the new wine and the oil and multiplied her silver and gold which they used for Baal therefore I will take back my grain in its time and my new wine in its season and will pluck away my wool and my flax which should have covered her nakedness now I will uncover her ludeness in the side of her lovers and no one will deliver her out of my hand I will also cause her celebrations to cease her feasts her new moons her Sabbaths and all her solemn assemblies I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees about which she has said these are my wages that my lovers have given me and I will make them a forest and the animals of the field shall eat them I will visit her on the days of the Baals to which she burned incense when she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels and went after her lovers and forgot me says Yawa therefore behold I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her I will give her her vineyards from there and the valley of Acor for a door of hope and she will respond there as in the days of her youth and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt it will be in that day says Yawa that you will call me my husband and no longer call me my master for I will take away the names of the Baals out of her mouth and they will no longer be mentioned by name in that day I will make a covenant for them with the animals of the field and with the birds of the sky and with the creeping things of the ground I will break the bow the sword and the battle out of the land and I will make them lie down safely I will betroth you to me forever yes I will betroth you to me in righteousness injustice in loving kindness and in compassion I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness and you shall know Yawa it will happen in that day I will respond says Yawa I will respond to the heavens and they will respond to the earth and the earth will respond to the grain and the new wine and the oil and they will respond to Jezreel I will sow her to me in the earth and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy and I will tell those people who are not my people you are my people and they will say my god chapter three Yawa said to me go again love a woman loved by another and an adulteress even as Yawa loves the children of Israel although they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins so I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a Homer and a half of barley I said to her you shall stay with me many days you shall not play the prostitute and you shall not be with any other man I will also be so toward you for the children of Israel shall buy many days without a king and without prince and without sacrifice and without sacred stone and without Effed or idols afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek Yawa their God and David their king and shall come with trembling to Yawa and to his blessings in the last days chapter four hear the word of Yawa you children of Israel for Yawa has a charge against the inhabitants of the land indeed there is no truth nor goodness nor knowledge of God in the land there is cursing lying murder stealing and committing adultery they break boundaries and bloodshed causes bloodshed therefore the land will mourn and everyone who dwells therein will waste away all living things in her even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky yes the fish of the sea also die yet let no man bring a charge neither let any man accuse for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest you will stumble in the day and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night and I will destroy your mother my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because you have rejected knowledge I will also reject you that you may be no priest to me because you have forgotten your God's law I will also forget your children as they were multiplied so they sinned against me I will change their glory into shame they feed on the sin of my people and set their heart on their iniquity it will be like people like priest and I will punish them for their ways and will repay them for their deeds they will eat and not have enough they will play the prostitute and will not increase because they have abandoned giving to Yahweh prostitution wine and new wine take away understanding my people consult with their wooden idol and answer to the stick of wood indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray and they have been unfaithful to their God they sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn incense on the hills under oaks and poplars and terberants because its shade is good therefore your daughters play the prostitute and your brides committed adultery I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute nor your brides when they commit adultery because the men can sort with prostitutes and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes so the people without understanding will come to ruin though you Israel play the prostitute yet don't let you to offend and don't come to Gilgal neither go up to Beth Avon nor swear as Yahweh lives for Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly like a stubborn heifer then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow Ephraim is joined to idols leave him alone their drink has become sour they play the prostitute continually her rulers dearly love their shameful way the wind has wrapped her up in its wings and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices chapter five listen to this you priests listen house of Israel and give ear house of the king for the judgment is against you for you have been a snare at Mizpa and a net spread on Tabor the rebels are deep in slaughter but I discipline all of them I know Ephraim and Israel is not hidden from me for now Ephraim you have played the prostitute Israel is defiled their deeds won't allow them to turn to their god for the spirit of prostitution is within them and they don't know Yahweh the pride of Israel testifies to his face therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity Judah also will stumble with them they will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Yahweh but they won't find him he has withdrawn himself from them they are unfaithful to Yahweh for they have born illegitimate children now the new moon will devour them with their fields blow the cornet in gibbia and the trumpet in Rama sound a battle cry at Beth Avon behind you Benjamin Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke among the tribes of Israel I have made known that which will surely be the princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark I will pour out my wrath on them like water Ephraim is oppressed he is crushed in judgment because he is intent on his pursuit of idols therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth and to the house of Judah like rottenness when Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jerob but he is not able to heal you neither will he cure you of your wound for I will be to Ephraim like a lion and like a young lion to the house of Judah I myself will tear in pieces and go away I will carry off and there will be no one to deliver I will go and return to my place until they acknowledge their offense and seek my face in their affliction they will seek me earnestly chapter six come and let us return to Yahweh for he has torn us to pieces and he will heal us he has injured us and he will bind up our wounds after two days he will revive us on the third day he will raise us up and we will live before him let us acknowledge Yahweh let us press on to know Yahweh as surely as the sun rises Yahweh will appear he will come to us like the rain like the spring rain that waters the earth Ephraim what shall I do to you Judah what shall I do to you for your love is like a morning cloud and like the dew that disappears early therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets I killed them with the words of my mouth your judgments are like a flash of lightning for I desire mercy and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings but they like Adam have broken the covenant they were unfaithful to me there Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity it is stained with blood as gangs of robbers way to ambush a man so the company of priests murder in the way towards Shechem committing shameful crimes in the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing there is prostitution in Ephraim Israel is defiled also Judah there is a harvest appointed for you when I restored the fortunes of my people chapter seven when I would heal Israel then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered also the wickedness of Samaria for they commit falsehood and the thief enters in and the gangs of robbers ravages outside they don't consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness now their own deeds have engulfed them they are before my face they make the king glad with their wickedness and the princes with their lies they are all adulterers they are burning like an oven that the baker stops stirring from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened on the day of our king the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine he joined his hand with mockers for they have made ready their heart like an oven while they lie in wait their baker sleeps all the night in the morning it burns as a flaming fire they are all hot as an oven and devour the judges all their kings have fallen there is no one among them who calls to me Ephraim he mixes himself among the nations Ephraim is a pancake not turned over strangers have devoured his strength and he doesn't realize it indeed gray hairs are here and there on him and he doesn't realize it the pride of Israel testifies to his face yet they haven't returned to Yahweh their God nor sought him for all this Ephraim is like an easily deceased dove without understanding they call to Egypt they go to Assyria when they go I will spread my net on them I will bring them down like the birds of the sky I will chastise them as their congregation has heard woe to them for they wandered from me destruction to them for they trespassed against me though I would redeem them yet they have spoken lies against me they haven't cried to me with their heart but they howl on their beds they assemble themselves for grain and new wine they turn away for me though I have taught and strengthened their arms yet they plot evil against me they return but not to the most high they are like a faulty bow their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue this will be their derision in the land of Egypt chapter eight put the trumpet to your lips something like an eagle is over Yahweh's house because they have broken my covenant and rebelled against my law they cry to me my God we Israel acknowledge you Israel has cast off that which is good the enemy will pursue him they have set up kings but not by me they have made princes and I didn't approve of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols that they may be cut off let Samaria throw out his calf idol my anger burns against them how long will it be until they are capable of purity for this is even from Israel the workmen made it and it is no God indeed the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces for they sow the wind and they will reap the whirlwind he has no standing grain the stock will yield no head if it does strangers will swallow it up Israel is swallowed up now they are among the nations like a worthless thing for they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey wandering alone Ephraim has hired lovers for himself but although they sold themselves among the nations I will now gather them and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones because Ephraim has multiplied alters for sinning they became for him alters for sinning I wrote for him the many things of my law but they were regarded as a strange thing as for the sacrifices of my offerings they sacrifice flesh and eat it but Yahweh doesn't accept them now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins they will return to Egypt for Israel has forgotten his maker and built palaces and Judah has multiplied fortified cities but I will send a fire on his cities and it will defour its fortresses chapter nine don't rejoice Israel to jubilation like the nations for you were unfaithful to your God you love the wages of a prostitute at every grain threshing floor the threshing floor and the wine press won't feed them and the new wine will fail her they won't dwell in Yahweh's land but Ephraim will return to Egypt and they will eat unclean food in Assyria they won't pour out wine offerings to Yahweh neither will they be pleasing to him their sacrifices will be to them like the bread of mourners all who eat of it will be polluted for their bread will be for their appetite it will not come into the house of Yahweh what will you do in the day of solemn assembly and in the day of the feast of Yahweh for behold they have gone away from destruction Egypt will gather them up Memphis will bury them nettles will possess their pleasant things of silver thorns will be in their tents the days of visitation have come the days of reckoning have come Israel will consider the prophet to be a fool and the man who is inspired to be insane because of the abundance of your sins because your hostility is great a prophet watches over Ephraim with my God a fowler snares on all of his paths and hostility in the house of his God they have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gbea he will remember their iniquity he will punish them for their sins I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season but they came to bow pure and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing and became abominable like that which they loved as for Ephraim their glory will fly away like a bird there will be no birth none with child and no conception though they bring up their children yet I will believe them so that not a man shall be left indeed woe also to them when I depart from them I have seen Ephraim like tire planted in a pleasant place but Ephraim will bring his children to the murderer give them Yahweh what will you give give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts all their wickedness is in Gilgal for there I hated them because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house I will love them no more all their princes are rebels Ephraim is struck their root has dried up they will bear no fruit even though they bring forth yet I will kill the beloved ones of their womb my God will cast them away because they did not listen to him and they will be wanderers among the nations chapter 10 Israel is a luxuriant vine that puts forth his fruit according to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars as their land has prospered they have adorned their sacred stones their heart is divided now they will be found guilty he will demolish their altars he will destroy their sacred stones surely now they will say we have no king for we don't fear Yahweh and the king what can he do for us they make promises swearing falsely in making covenants therefore judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field the inhabitants of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth Alvin for its people will mourn over it along with its priests who rejoiced over it for its glory because it has departed from it it also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king Ephraim will receive shame and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel Samaria and her king float away like a twig on the water the high places also of Avin the sin of Israel will be destroyed the thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars they will tell the mountains cover us and the hills fall on us Israel you have sinned from the days of Gibea where they remained the battle against the children of iniquity doesn't overtake them in Gibea when it is my desire I will chastise them and the nations will be gathered against them when they are bound to their two transgressions Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck I will set a rider on Ephraim Judah will plow Jacob will break his clods so to yourselves in righteousness reap according to kindness break up your fellow ground for it is time to seek Yahweh until he comes and reigns righteousness on you you have plowed wickedness you have reaped iniquity you have eaten the fruit of lies for you trusted in your way in the multitude of your mighty men therefore a battle roar will rise among your people and all your fortresses will be destroyed as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle the mother was dashed in pieces with her children so Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness at daybreak the king of Israel will be destroyed chapter 11 when Israel was a child then I loved him and called my son out of Egypt they called to them so they went from them they sacrificed to the balls and burned incense to engraved images yet I taught Ephraim to walk I took them by his arms but they didn't know that I healed them I drew them with cords of a man with ties of love and I was to them like those who lift up the yokes on their neck and I bent down to him and I fed him they won't return into the land of Egypt but the Assyrian will be their king because they refuse to repent the sword will fall on their cities and will destroy the bars of their gates and will put an end to their plans my people are determined to turn from me though they call to the most high he certainly won't exalt them how can I give you up Ephraim how can I hand you over Israel how can I make you like Adma how can I make you like Sabaum my heart is turned within me my compassion is aroused I will not execute the fierceness of my anger I will not return to destroy Ephraim for I am God and not man the Holy One in the midst of you and I will not come in wrath they will walk after Yawa who will roar like a lion for he will roar and the children will come trembling from the west they will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt and like a dove out of the land of Assyria and I will settle them in their houses says Yawa Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood and the house of Israel with deceit Judah strays from God and is unfaithful to the Holy One Chapter 12 Ephraim feeds on wind and chases the east wind he continually multiplies lies and desolation they make a covenant with Assyria and oil is carried into Egypt Yawa also has a controversy with Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways according to his deeds he will repay him in the womb he took his brother by the heel and in his manhood he contended with God indeed he struggled with the angel and prevailed he wept and made a supplication to him he found him at Bethel and there he spoke with us even Yahweh the God of armies Yahweh is his name of renown therefore turn to your God keep kindness and justice and wait continually for your God a merchant has dishonest scales in his hand he loves to defraud Ephraim said surely I have become rich I have found myself wealth in all my wealth they won't find in me any iniquity that is sin but I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt I will yet again make you dwell in twins as in the days of the solemn feast I have also spoken to the prophets and I have multiplied visions and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables if Gilead is wicked surely they are worthless in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls indeed their alters are like heaps in the furrows of the field Jacob fled into the country of Aram and Israel served to get a wife and for a wife he tended flocks and herds by a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt and by a prophet he was preserved Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger therefore his blood will be left on him and his Lord will repay his contempt chapter 13 when Ephraim spoke there was trembling he exalted himself in Israel but when he became guilty in Baal he died now they sin more and more and have made themselves molten images of their silver even idols according to their own understanding all of them the work of the craftsmen they say of them they offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves therefore they will be like the morning mist and like the dew that passes away early like the chafe that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor and like the smoke out of the chimney yet I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt and you shall acknowledge no God but me and besides me there is no savior I knew you in the wilderness in the land of great drought according to their pasture so where they filled and they were filled and their heart was exalted therefore they have forgotten me therefore I am like a lion to them like a leopard I will lurk by the path I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs and will tear the covering of their heart there I will devour them like a lioness the wild animal will tear them you are destroyed Israel because you are against me against your help where is your king now that he may save you in all your cities and your judges of whom you said give me a king and princes I have given you a king in my anger and have taken him away in my wrath the guilt of Ephraim is stored up his sin is stored up the sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him he is an unwise son for when it is time he doesn't come to the opening of the womb I will ransom them from the power of Sheol I will redeem them from death death where are your plagues Sheol where is your destruction compassion will be hidden from my eyes though he is fruitful among his brothers and east wind will come the breath of Yahweh coming up from the wilderness and his spring will become dry and his fountain will be dried up he will plunder the storehouse of treasure Samaria will bear her guilt for she has rebelled against her God they will fall by the sword their infants will be dashed in pieces and their pregnant women will be ripped open Chapter 14 Israel returned to Yahweh your God for you have fallen because of your sin take words with you and return to Yahweh tell him forgive all our sins and accept that which is good so we offer our lips like bulls Assyria can't save us we won't ride on horses neither will we say any more of the work of our hands our gods for in you the fatherless finds mercy I will heal their waywardness I will love them freely for my anger is turned away from him I will be like the due to Israel he will blossom like the lily and send down his roots like Lebanon his branches will spread and his beauty will be like the olive tree and his fragrance like Lebanon men will dwell in his shade they will revive like the grain and blossom like the vine their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon Ephraim what have I to do any more with idols I answer and will take care of him I am like a green fir tree for me your fruit is found who is wise that he may understand these things who is prudent that he may know them for the ways of Yahweh are right and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them and of the book of Hosea the book of Joel from the world English Bible this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the book of Joel from the world English Bible chapters one through three chapter one the word of Yahweh that came to Joel the son of Bethul hear this you elders and listen all you inhabitants of the land has this ever happened in your days or in the days of your fathers tell your children about it and have your children tell their children and their children another generation what the swarming locust has left the great locust has eaten what the great locust has left the grasshopper has eaten what the grasshopper has left the caterpillar has eaten wake up you drunkards and weep wail all you drinkers of wine because of the sweet wine for it is cut off from your mouth for a nation has come up on my land strong and without number his teeth are the teeth of a lion and he has the fangs of a lioness he has laid my vine waste and stripped my fig tree he has stripped its bark and thrown it away its branches are made white mourn like a virgin dressed in sackcloth for the husband of her youth the meal offering and the drink offering are cut off from Yahweh's house the priests Yahweh's ministers mourn the field is laid waste the land mourns for the grain is destroyed the new wine has dried up and the oil languishes be confounded you farmers wail you vineyard keepers for the wheat and for the barley for the harvest of the field has perished the vine has dried up and the fig tree withered the pomegranate tree the palm tree also and the apple tree even all of the trees of the field are withered for joy has withered away from the sons of men put on sackcloth and mourn you priests wail you ministers of the altar come lie all night in sackcloth you ministers of my god for the meal offering and the drink offering are withheld from your god's house sanctify a fast call a solemn assembly gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of Yahweh your god and cry to Yahweh alas for the day for the day of Yahweh is at hand and it will come as destruction from the almighty isn't the food cut off before our eyes joy and gladness from the house of our god the seeds rot under their clods the grainries are laid desolate the barns are broken down for the grain has withered how the animals grown the herds of livestock are perplexed because they have no pasture yes the flocks of sheep are made desolate Yahweh I cry to you for the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness and the flame has burned all the trees of the field yes the animals of the field pant to you for the water bricks have dried up and the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness chapter two blow the trumpet in Zion and sound an alarm in my holy mountain let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of Yahweh comes for it is close at hand a day of darkness and gloominess a day of clouds and thick darkness as the dawn spreading on the mountains a great and strong people there has never been the like neither will there be any more after them even to the years of many generations a fire devours before them and behind them a flame burns the land is as the garden of Eden before them and behind them a desolate wilderness yes and no one has escaped them the appearance of them is as the appearance of horses and as horsemen so do they run like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap like the noise of a flame a fire that devours the stubble as a strong people set in battle array at their presence the peoples are in anguish all faces have grown pale they run like mighty men they climb the wall like warriors they each march in his line and they don't swerve off course neither does one jostle another they march everyone in his path and they burst through the defenses and don't break ranks they rush on the city they run on the wall they climb up into the houses they enter in at the windows like thieves the earth quakes before them the heavens tremble the sun and the moon are darkened and the stars withdraw their shining Yahweh thunders his voice before his army for his forces are very great for he is strong who obeys his command for the day of Yahweh is great and very awesome and who can endure it yet even now says Yahweh turn to me with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning tear your heart and not your garments and turn to Yahweh your God for he is gracious and merciful slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness and relents from sending calamity who knows he may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him even a meal offering and a drink offering to Yahweh your God blow the trumpet in Zion sanctify a fast call a solemn assembly gather the people sanctify the assembly assemble the elders gather the children and those who suck the breasts let the bridegroom go forth from his room and the bride out of her chamber let the priests the ministers of Yahweh weep between the porch and the altar and let them say spare your people Yahweh and don't give your heritage to reproach that the nations should rule over them why should they say among the peoples where is their God then Yahweh was jealous for his land and had pity on his people Yahweh answered his people behold I will send you grain new wine and oil and you will be satisfied with them and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations but I will remove the northern army far away from you and will drive it into a barren and desolate land its front into the eastern sea and its back into the western sea and its stench will come up and its bad smell will rise surely he has done great things land don't be afraid be glad and rejoice for Yahweh has done great things don't be afraid you animals of the field for the pastures of the wilderness spring up for the tree bears its fruit the fig tree and the vine yield their strength be glad then you children of Zion and rejoice in Yahweh your God for he gives you the former rain in just measure and he causes the rain to come down for you the former rain and the latter rain as before the threshing floors will be full of wheat and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten the great locust the grasshopper and the caterpillar my great army which I sent among you you will have plenty to eat and be satisfied and will praise the name of Yahweh your God who has dealt wondrously with you and my people will never again be disappointed you will know that I am in the midst of Israel and that I am Yahweh your God and there is no one else and my people will never again be disappointed it will happen afterward that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and your daughters will prophesy your old men will dream dreams your young men will see visions and also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days I will pour out my spirit I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth blood fire and pillars of smoke the sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes it will happen that whoever will call on the name of Yahweh shall be saved for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape as Yahweh has said and among the remnant those whom Yahweh calls chapter three for behold in those days and in that time when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem I will gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat and I will execute judgment on them there for my people and for my heritage Israel whom they have scattered among the nations they have divided my land and have cast lots for my people and have given a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine that they may drink yes and what are you to me tire and siden and all the regions of Philistia will you repay me and if you repay me I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head because you have taken my silver and my gold and have carried my finest treasures into your temples and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the sons of the Greeks that you may remove them far from their border behold I will stir them up out of the place where you have sold them and will return your repayment on your own head and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah and they will sell them to the men of Sheba to a far away nation for Yahweh has spoken it proclaim this among the nations prepare for war stir up the mighty men let all the warriors draw near let them come up beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears let the weak say I am strong hurry and come all you surrounding nations and gather yourselves together cause your mighty ones to come down there Yahweh let the nations arouse themselves and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations put in the sickle for the harvest is ripe come tread for the winepress is full the vats overflow for their wickedness is great multitudes multitudes in the valley of decision for the day of Yahweh is near in the valley of decision the sun and the moon are darkened and the stars withdraw their shining Yahweh will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem and the heavens and the earth will shake but Yahweh will be a refuge to his people and a stronghold to the children of Israel so you will know that I am Yahweh your God dwelling in Zion my holy mountain then Jerusalem will be holy and no strangers will pass through her anymore it will happen in that day that the mountains will drop down sweet wine the hills will flow with milk all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters and a fountain will come forth from the house of Yahweh and will water the valley of Shidem Egypt will be a desolation and Eden will be a desolate wilderness for the violence done to the children of Judah because they have shed innocent blood in their land but Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem from generation to generation I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed for Yahweh dwells in Zion end of the book of Joel from the world English Bible