Old/New Testament
Daniel’s Friends Are Tested
3 [a] King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden[b] statue made.[c] It was 90 feet[d] tall and 9 feet[e] wide. He erected it on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent out a summons to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates,[f] and all the other authorities of the province to attend the dedication of the statue that he[g] had erected. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other provincial authorities assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. They were standing in front of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had erected.[h]
4 Then the herald[i] made a loud[j] proclamation: “To you, O peoples, nations, and language groups, the following command is given:[k] 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither,[l] trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must[m] bow down and pay homage to the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has erected. 6 Whoever does not bow down and pay homage will immediately[n] be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire!” 7 Therefore when they all[o] heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes,[p] and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and language groups began bowing down and paying homage to the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected.
8 Now[q] at that time certain[r] Chaldeans came forward and brought malicious accusations against[s] the Jews. 9 They said[t] to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever![u] 10 You have issued an edict, O king, that everyone must bow down and pay homage to the golden statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music. 11 And whoever does not bow down and pay homage must be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 12 But there are Jewish men whom you appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—and these men[v] have not shown proper respect to you, O king. They don’t serve your gods and they don’t pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in a fit of rage[w] demanded that they bring[x] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego before him. So they brought them[y] before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t serve my gods and that you don’t pay homage to the golden statue that I erected? 15 Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must bow down and pay homage to the statue that I had made. If you don’t pay homage to it, you will immediately be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. Now, who is that god who can rescue you from my power?”[z] 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar,[aa] “We do not need to give you a reply[ab] concerning this. 17 If[ac] our God whom we are serving exists,[ad] he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. 18 But if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and his disposition changed[ae] toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders[af] to heat the furnace seven times hotter than it was normally heated. 20 He ordered strong[ag] soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 So those men were tied up while still wearing their cloaks, trousers, turbans, and other clothes,[ah] and were thrown into the furnace[ai] of blazing fire. 22 But since the king’s command was so urgent, and the furnace was so excessively hot, the men who escorted[aj] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were killed[ak] by the leaping flames.[al] 23 But those three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the furnace[am] of blazing fire while still securely bound.[an]
God Delivers His Servants
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was startled and quickly got up. He said to his ministers, “Wasn’t it three men that we tied up and threw[ao] into[ap] the fire?” They replied to the king, “For sure, O king.” 25 He answered, “But I see four men, untied and walking around in the midst of the fire! No harm has come to them! And the appearance of the fourth is like that of a god!”[aq] 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire. He called out,[ar] “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out! Come here!”
Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged from the fire.[as] 27 Once the satraps, prefects, governors, and ministers of the king had gathered around, they saw that those men were physically[at] unharmed by the fire.[au] The hair of their heads was not singed, nor were their trousers damaged. Not even the smell of fire was to be found on them!
28 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed,[av] “Praised be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent forth his angel[aw] and has rescued his servants who trusted in him, ignoring[ax] the edict of the king and giving up their bodies rather than[ay] serve or pay homage to any god other than their God! 29 I hereby decree[az] that any people, nation, or language group that blasphemes[ba] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, or Abednego will be dismembered and his home reduced to rubble! For there exists no other god who can deliver in this way.” 30 Then Nebuchadnezzar[bb] promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
4 (3:31)[bc] King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and language groups that live in all the land: “Peace and prosperity![bd] 2 I am delighted to tell you about the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me.
3 “How great are his signs!
How mighty are his wonders!
His kingdom will last forever,[be]
and his authority continues from one generation to the next.”
Nebuchadnezzar Dreams of a Tree Chopped Down
4 (4:1)[bf] I, Nebuchadnezzar, was relaxing in my home,[bg] living luxuriously[bh] in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that[bi] frightened me badly. The things I imagined while lying on my bed—these visions of my mind—were terrifying me. 6 So I issued an order[bj] for all the wise men of Babylon to be brought[bk] before me so that they could make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 When the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners entered, I recounted the dream for them. But they were unable to make known its interpretation to me. 8 Later Daniel entered (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god,[bl] and in whom there is a spirit of the holy gods). I recounted the dream for him as well, 9 saying, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, in whom I know there to be a spirit of the holy gods and whom no mystery baffles, consider[bm] my dream that I saw and set forth its interpretation! 10 Here are the visions of my mind[bn] while I was on my bed.
“While I was watching,
there was a tree in the middle of the land.[bo]
It was enormously tall.[bp]
11 The tree grew large and strong.
Its top reached far into the sky;
it could be seen[bq] from the borders of all the land.[br]
12 Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful;
on it there was food enough for all.
Under it the wild animals[bs] used to seek shade,
and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest.
All creatures[bt] used to feed themselves from it.
13 While I was watching in my mind’s visions[bu] on my bed,
a holy sentinel[bv] came down from heaven.
14 He called out loudly[bw] as follows:[bx]
‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches!
Strip off its foliage
and scatter its fruit!
Let the animals flee from under it
and the birds from its branches.
15 But leave its taproot[by] in the ground,
with a band of iron and bronze around it[bz]
surrounded by the grass of the field.
Let it become damp with the dew of the sky,
and let it live with[ca] the animals in the grass of the land.
16 Let his mind[cb] be altered from that of a human being,
and let an animal’s mind be given to him,
and let seven periods of time[cc] go by for[cd] him.
17 This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels;
this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones,
so that[ce] those who are alive may understand
that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms,[cf]
and he bestows them on whomever he wishes.
He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its[cg] interpretation, for none of the wise men in[ch] my kingdom are able to make known to me the interpretation. But you can do so, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
19 Then Daniel (whose name is also Belteshazzar) was upset for a brief time;[ci] his thoughts were alarming him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream and its interpretation alarm you.” But Belteshazzar replied, “Sir,[cj] if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries! 20 The tree that you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky, and that could be seen[ck] in all the land, 21 whose foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful, and from which there was food available for all, under whose branches wild animals[cl] used to live, and in whose branches birds of the sky used to nest— 22 it is you,[cm] O king! For you have become great and strong. Your greatness is such that it reaches to heaven, and your authority to the ends of the earth. 23 As for the king seeing a holy sentinel coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its taproot in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, surrounded by the grass of the field. Let it become damp with the dew of the sky, and let it live with the wild animals, until seven periods of time go by for him’— 24 this is the interpretation, O king. It is the decision of the Most High that this has happened to my lord the king. 25 You will be driven[cn] from human society,[co] and you will live[cp] with the wild animals. You will be fed[cq] grass like oxen,[cr] and you will become damp with the dew of the sky. Seven periods of time will pass by for you, before[cs] you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes. 26 They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven[ct] rules. 27 Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged.”[cu]
28 Now all this happened[cv] to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 After twelve months, he happened to be walking around on the battlements[cw] of the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king uttered these words: “Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence[cx] by my own mighty strength[cy] and for my majestic honor?” 31 While these words were still on the king’s lips,[cz] a voice came down from heaven: “It is hereby announced to you,[da] King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingdom has been removed from you! 32 You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before[db] you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.”
33 Now in that very moment[dc] this pronouncement about[dd] Nebuchadnezzar came true.[de] He was driven from human society, he ate grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until his hair became long like an eagle’s feathers, and his nails like a bird’s claws.[df]
34 But at the end of the appointed time[dg] I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up[dh] toward heaven, and my sanity returned to me.
I extolled the Most High,
and I praised and glorified the one who lives forever.
For his authority is an everlasting authority,
and his kingdom extends from one generation to the next.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing.[di]
He does as he wishes with the army of heaven
and with those who inhabit the earth.
No one slaps[dj] his hand
and says to him, ‘What have you done?’
36 At that time my sanity returned to me. I was restored[dk] to the honor of my kingdom, and my splendor returned to me. My ministers and my nobles were seeking me out, and I was reinstated[dl] over my kingdom. I became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all his deeds are right and his ways are just. He is able to bring down those who live[dm] in pride.
5 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ[a] has been fathered[b] by God, and everyone who loves the father[c] loves the child fathered by him.[d] 2 By this[e] we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For[f] this is the love of God:[g] that we keep his commandments.[h] And his commandments do not weigh us down, 4 because[i] everyone[j] who has been fathered by God[k] conquers[l] the world.[m]
Testimony About the Son
This[n] is the conquering power[o] that has conquered[p] the world: our faith. 5 Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that[q] Jesus is the Son of God? 6 Jesus Christ is the one who came by water and blood—not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because[r] the Spirit is the truth. 7 For[s] there are three that testify,[t] 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three are in agreement.
9 If we accept the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, because[u] this[v] is the testimony of God that[w] he has testified concerning his Son. 10 (The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning his Son.)[x] 11 And this is the testimony: God[y] has given us eternal life,[z] and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son[aa] has this[ab] eternal[ac] life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this[ad] eternal[ae] life.
Assurance of Eternal Life
13 I have written these things[af] to you who believe[ag] in the name of the Son of God so that[ah] you may know that you have eternal life.
14 And this is the confidence that we have before him: that[ai] whenever[aj] we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know[ak] that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him. 16 If[al] anyone sees his fellow Christian[am] committing a sin not resulting in death,[an] he should ask, and God[ao] will grant[ap] life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death.[aq] There is a sin[ar] resulting in death.[as] I do not say that he should ask about that. 17 All unrighteousness[at] is sin, but there is sin not resulting in death.[au]
18 We know that everyone fathered[av] by God does not sin, but God[aw] protects[ax] the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him. 19 We know that we are from God,[ay] and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know[az] him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one[ba] is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.[bb]
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