Page 1233 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

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DECEMBER 1
13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king.
DECEMBER 1 The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you
that Daniel who is one of the captives from
Judah, whom my father the king brought from
Judah? I have heard of you, that the Spirit of
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Daniel 5:1–6:28
God is in you, and that light and understanding
Belshazzar the king made a great feast for and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now
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5 a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the wise men, the astrologers, have been
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the presence of the thousand. While he tasted brought in before me, that they should read this
the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to writing and make known to me its interpreta-
bring the gold and silver vessels which his fa- tion, but they could not give the interpretation of
ther Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the tem- the thing. And I have heard of you, that you can
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ple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if
and his lords, his wives, and his concubines you can read the writing and make known to me
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might drink from them. Then they brought its interpretation, you shall be clothed with pur-
the gold vessels that had been taken from the ple and have a chain of gold around your neck,
temple of the house of God which had been in and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his 17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the
wives, and his concubines drank from them. king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give
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They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold your rewards to another; yet I will read the
and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. writing to the king, and make known to him the
In the same hour the fingers of a man’s interpretation. O king, the Most High God
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hand appeared and wrote opposite the lamp- gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom
stand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s and majesty, glory and honor. And because of
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palace; and the king saw the part of the hand the majesty that He gave him, all peoples,
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that wrote. Then the king’s countenance nations, and languages trembled and feared
changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so before him. Whomever he wished, he exe-
that the joints of his hips were loosened and cuted; whomever he wished, he kept alive;
his knees knocked against each other. The whomever he wished, he set up; and whomev-
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king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, er he wished, he put down. But when his
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the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hard-
spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, ened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly
“Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its throne, and they took his glory from him.
interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and 21 Then he was driven from the sons of men, his
have a chain of gold around his neck; and he heart was made like the beasts, and his
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shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Now dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed
all the king’s wise men came, but they could him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet
not read the writing, or make known to the with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the
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king its interpretation. Then King Belshazzar Most High God rules in the kingdom of men,
was greatly troubled, his countenance was and appoints over it whomever He chooses.
changed, and his lords were astonished. 22 “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not
The queen, because of the words of the
10 humbled your heart, although you knew all
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king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. this. And you have lifted yourself up against
The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forev- the Lord of heaven. They have brought the
er! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor vessels of His house before you, and you and
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let your countenance change. There is a man your lords, your wives and your concubines,
in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the have drunk wine from them. And you have
Holy God. And in the days of your father, light praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and
and understanding and wisdom, like the wis- iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear
dom of the gods, were found in him; and King or know; and the God who holds your breath in
Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the His hand and owns all your ways, you have not
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king—made him chief of the magicians, glorified. Then the fingers of the hand were
astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. In- sent from Him, and this writing was written.
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asmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, “And this is the inscription that was written:
understanding, interpreting dreams, solving
riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
this Daniel, whom the king named Belte-
shazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will 26 This is the interpretation of each word. MENE:
give the interpretation.” God has numbered your kingdom, and finished
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