God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a svision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He tchanges utimes and seasons;
vhe removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 whe reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”
25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found xamong the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” 26 The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 ybut there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and zhe has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the avisions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, bnot because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.
12 I am writing to you, little children,
because kyour sins are lforgiven for his name’s sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know mhim who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you nknow the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God oabides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. pIf anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life1—is not from the Father but is qfrom the world. 17 And rthe world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever sdoes the will of God abides forever.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will lbelieve in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as myou, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one neven as we are one, 23 oI in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and ploved them even as you qloved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me rwhere I am, to see my sglory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, tI know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 uI made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, vthat the love with which you have loved me may be win them, and I in them.”
