<p class="bodytext">Then Nebuchadnezzar in a fit of rage<n id="1" /> demanded that they bring<n id="2" /> Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego before him. So they brought them<n id="3" /> before the king.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar,<n id="1" /> &#8220;We do not need to give you a reply<n id="2" /> concerning this.

He ordered strong<n id="1" /> soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire.

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.

They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven<n id="1" /> rules.

The king uttered these words: &#8220;Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence<n id="1" /> by my own mighty strength<n id="2" /> and for my majestic honor?&#8221;

While these words were still on the king&#8217;s lips,<n id="1" /> a voice came down from heaven: &#8220;It is hereby announced to you,<n id="2" /> King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingdom has been removed from you!

<t /><p class="bodytext">But Daniel replied to the king, &#8220;Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else! However, I will read the writing for the king and make known its<n id="1" /> interpretation.

<p class="bodytext">Then, on Belshazzar&#8217;s orders,<n id="1" /> Daniel was clothed in purple, a golden collar was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed third ruler in the kingdom.

So these men concluded,<n id="1" /> &#8220;We won&#8217;t find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is<n id="2" /> in connection with the law of his God.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">So these supervisors and satraps came by collusion<n id="1" /> to the king and said<n id="2" /> to him, &#8220;O King Darius, live forever!

<t /><p class="bodytext">In the first<n id="1" /> year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had<n id="2" /> a dream filled with visions<n id="3" /> while he was lying on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream in summary fashion.<n id="4" />

Daniel explained:<n id="1" /> &#8220;I was watching in my vision during the night as<n id="2" /> the four winds of the sky<n id="3" /> were stirring up the great sea.<n id="4" />

I approached one of those standing nearby and asked him about the meaning<n id="1" /> of all this. So he spoke with me and revealed<n id="2" /> to me the interpretation of the vision:<n id="3" />

<p class="poetry">&#8220;This is what he told me:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;The fourth beast means that there will be a fourth kingdom on earthp> <p class="poetry">that will differ from all the other kingdoms.p> <p class="poetry">It will devour all the earthp> <p class="poetry">and will trample and crush it.p>

So they approached the king and said to him,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Did you not issue an edict to the effect that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than to you, O king, would be thrown into a den of lions?&#8221; The king replied, &#8220;That is correct,<n id="2" /> according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">At that time Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues came to them and asked, &#8220;Who gave you authority<n id="1" /> to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?&#8221;<n id="2" />

They responded to us in the following way: &#8216;We are servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple which was previously built many years ago. A great king<n id="1" /> of Israel built it and completed it.

The king replied, &#8220;I know for sure that you are attempting to gain time, because you see that my decision is firm.

<p class="bodytext">The wise men replied to the king, &#8220;There is no man on earth who is able to disclose the king&#8217;s secret,<n id="1" /> for no king, regardless of his position and power, has ever requested such a thing from any magician, astrologer, or wise man.