Day 362 The Bible in a Year (Orthodox canon)

Daniel (Greek) 3

1 In [his] eighteenth year Nabuchodonosor the king made a golden image, its height was sixty cubits, its breadth six cubits: and he set it up in the plain of Deira, in the province of Babylon. 2 And he sent forth to gather the governors, and the captains, and the heads of provinces, chiefs, and princes, and those who were in authority, and all the rulers of districts, to come to the dedication of the image. 3 So the heads of provinces, the governors, the captains, the chiefs, the great princes, those who were in authority, and all the rulers of districts, were gathered to the dedication of the image which king Nabuchodonosor had set up; and they stood before the image. 4 Then a herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, ye peoples, tribes, [and] languages, 5 at what hour ye shall hear the sound of the trumpet, and pipe, and harp, and sackbut, and psaltery, and every kind of music, ye shall fall down and worship the golden image which king Nabuchodonosor has set up. 6 And whosoever shall not fall down and worship, in the same hour he shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace. 7 And it came to pass when the nations heard the sound of the trumpet, and pipe, and harp, and sackbut, and psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the nations, tribes, [and] languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image which king Nabuchodonosor had set up. 8 Then came near [certain] Chaldeans, and accused the Jews to the king, [saying], 9 O king, live for ever. 10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man who shall hear the sound of the trumpet, and pipe, and harp, sackbut, and psaltery, and all kinds of music, 11 and shall not fall down and worship the golden image, shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace. 12 There are [certain] Jews whom thou hast appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Sedrach, Misach, [and] Abdenago, who have not obeyed thy decree, O king: they serve not thy gods, and worship not the golden image which thou hast set up. 13 Then Nabuchodonosor in wrath and anger commanded to bring Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago: and they were brought before the king. 14 And Nabuchodonosor answered and said to them, Is it true, Sedrach, Misach, [and] Abdenago, that ye serve not my gods, and worship not the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now then if ye be ready, whensoever ye shall hear the sound of the trumpet, and pipe, and harp, and sackbut, and psaltery, and harmony, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the golden image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, in the same hour ye shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace; and who is the God that shall deliver you out of my hand? 16 Then answered Sedrach, Misach, [and] Abdenago, and said to king Nabuchodonosor, We have no need to answer thee concerning this matter. 17 For our God whom we serve is in the heavens, able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will rescue us from thy hands, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to thee, O king, that we [will] not serve thy gods, nor worship the image which thou hast set up. 19 Then Nabuchodonosor was filled with wrath, and the form of his countenance was changed toward Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago: and he gave orders to heat the furnace seven times [more than usual], until it should burn to the uttermost. 20 And he commanded mighty men to bind Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and to cast [them] into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then those men were bound with their coats, and caps, and hose, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace, 22 forasmuch as the king's word prevailed; and the furnace was made exceeding hot. 23 Then these three men, Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, fell bound into the midst of the burning furnace, 24 and walked in the midst of the flame, singing praise to God, and blessing the Lord. 25 Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said, 26 Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore: 27 for thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast done to us: yea, true are all thy works, thy ways are right, and all thy judgments truth. 28 In all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, [even] Jerusalem, thou hast executed true judgment: for according to truth and judgment didst thou bring all these things upon us because of our sins. 29 For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from thee. In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed thy commandments, 30 nor kept them, neither done as thou hast commanded us, that it might go well with us. 31 Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment. 32 And thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers [of God], and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world. 33 And now we cannot open our mouths, we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants, and to them that worship thee. 34 Yet deliver us not up wholly, for thy name's sake, neither disannul thou thy covenant: 35 and cause not thy mercy to depart from us, for thy beloved Abraham's sake, for thy servant Isaac's sake, and for thy holy Israel's sake; 36 to whom thou hast spoken and promised, that thou wouldest multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth upon the seashore. 37 For we, O Lord, are become less than any nation, and be kept under this day in all the world because of our sins. 38 Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice before thee, and to find mercy. 39 Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be accepted. Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like as in ten thousands of fat lambs: 40 so let our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, and [grant] that we may wholly go after thee: for they shall not be confounded that put their trust in thee. 41 And now we follow thee with all our heart, we fear thee, and seek thy face. Put us not to shame: 42 but deal with us after thy lovingkindness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies. 43 Deliver us also according to thy marvellous works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord: 44 and let all them that do thy servants hurt be ashamed; and let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken; 45 and let them know that thou art Lord, the only God, and glorious over the whole world. 46 And the king's servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin, pitch, tow, and small wood; 47 so that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits. 48 And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the furnace. 49 But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with Azarias and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the oven; 50 and made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them. 51 Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed, God in the furnace, saying, 52 Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever. And blessed is thy glorious and holy name: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever. 53 Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holy glory: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever. 54 Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubim: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever. 55 Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy kingdom: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever. 56 Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and above all to be praised and glorified for ever. 57 O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 58 O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 59 O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 60 O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 61 O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 62 O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 63 O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 64 O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 65 O all ye winds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 66 O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 71 O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 72 O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 72a O ye frost and heat, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 72b O ye frost and snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 73 O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 74 O let the earth bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 75 O ye mountains and little hills, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 76 O all ye things that grow on the earth, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 77 O ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 78 O ye fountains, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 79 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 80 O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 81 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 82 O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 83 O Israel, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 84 O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 85 O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 86 O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 87 O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 88 O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever: for he hath delivered us from hell, and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the furnace [and] burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire hath he delivered us. 89 O give thanks unto the Lord, because he is gracious: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. 90 O all ye that worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise him and give him thanks: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. 91 And Nabuchodonosor heard them singing praises; and he wondered, and rose up in haste, and said to his nobles, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? and they said to the king, Yes, O king. 92 And the king said, But I see four men loose, and walking in the midst of the fire, and there has no harm happened to them; and the appearance of the fourth is like the Son of God. 93 Then Nabuchodonosor drew near to the door of the burning fiery furnace, and said, Sedrach, Misach, [and] Abdenago, ye servants of the most high God, proceed forth, and come hither. So Sedrach, Misach, [and] Abdenago, came forth out of the midst of the fire. 94 Then were assembled the satraps, and captains, and heads of provinces, and the royal princes; and they saw the men, [and perceived] that the fire had not had power against their bodies, and the hair of their head was not burnt, and their coats were not scorched, nor was the smell of fire upon them. 95 And king Nabuchodonosor answered and said, Blessed be the God of Sedrach, Misach, [and] Abdenago, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants, because they trusted in him; and they have changed the king's word, and delivered their bodies to be burnt, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 96 Wherefore I publish a decree: Every people, tribe, [or] language, that shall speak reproachfully against the God of Sedrach, Misach, [and] Abdenago, shall be destroyed, and their houses shall be plundered: because there is no other God who shall be able to deliver thus. 97 Then the king promoted Sedrach, Misach, [and] Abdenago, in the province of Babylon, and advanced them, and gave them authority to rule over all the Jews who were in his kingdom.

Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three 1

1 And they walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing the Lord. 2 Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said, 3 Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore: 4 For thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast done to us: yea, true are all thy works, thy ways are right, and all thy judgments truth. 5 In all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, even Jerusalem, thou hast executed true judgment: for according to truth and judgment didst thou bring all these things upon us because of our sins. 6 For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from thee. 7 In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed thy commandments, nor kept them, neither done as thou hast commanded us, that it might go well with us. 8 Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment. 9 And thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers of God, and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world. 10 And now we cannot open our mouths, we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants; and to them that worship thee. 11 Yet deliver us not up wholly, for thy name’s sake, neither disannul thou thy covenant: 12 And cause not thy mercy to depart from us, for thy beloved Abraham’s sake, for thy servant Issac’s sake, and for thy holy Israel’s sake; 13 To whom thou hast spoken and promised, that thou wouldest multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth upon the seashore. 14 For we, O Lord, are become less than any nation, and be kept under this day in all the world because of our sins. 15 Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice before thee, and to find mercy. 16 Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be accepted. 17 Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like as in ten thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, and grant that we may wholly go after thee: for they shall not be confounded that put their trust in thee. 18 And now we follow thee with all our heart, we fear thee, and seek thy face. 19 Put us not to shame: but deal with us after thy lovingkindness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies. 20 Deliver us also according to thy marvellous works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord: and let all them that do thy servants hurt be ashamed; 21 And let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken; 22 And let them know that thou art God, the only God, and glorious over the whole world. 23 And the king’s servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin, pitch, tow, and small wood; 24 So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits. 25 And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the furnace. 26 But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with Azarias and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the oven; 27 And made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them. 28 Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed, God in the furnace, saying, 29 Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever. 30 And blessed is thy glorious and holy name: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever. 31 Blessed art thou in the temple of thine holy glory: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever. 32 Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever. 33 Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy kingdom: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever. 34 Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and above all to be praised and glorified for ever. 35 O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever, 36 O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 37 O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 38 O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 39 O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 40 O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 41 O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 42 O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 43 O all ye winds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever, 44 O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 45 O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 46 O ye dews and storms of snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 47 O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord: bless and exalt him above all for ever. 48 O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 49 O ye ice and cold, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 50 O ye frost and snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 51 O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 52 O let the earth bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 53 O ye mountains and little hills, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 54 O all ye things that grow in the earth, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 55 O ye mountains, bless ye the Lord: Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 56 O ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 57 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 58 O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 59 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 60 O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 61 O Israel, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 62 O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 63 O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 64 O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 65 O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 66 O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever: for he hath delivered us from hell, and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire hath he delivered us. 67 O give thanks unto the Lord, because he is gracious: for his mercy endureth for ever. 68 O all ye that worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise him, and give him thanks: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Daniel (Greek) 4

1 King Nabuchodonosor to all nations, tribes, and tongues, who dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied to you. 2 It seemed good to me to declare to you the signs and wonders which the most high God has wrought with me, 3 how great and mighty [they are]: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his power to all generations. 4 I Nabuchodonosor was thriving in my house, and prospering. 5 I saw a vision, and it terrified me, and I was troubled on my bed, and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 And I made a decree to bring in before me all the wise men of Babylon, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 So the enchanters, magicians, soothsayers, [and] Chaldeans came in: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me the interpretation thereof; 8 until Daniel came, whose name is Baltasar, according to the name of my God, who has within him the Holy Spirit of God; to whom I said, 9 O Baltasar, chief of the enchanters, of whom I know that the Holy Spirit of God is in thee, and no mystery is too hard for thee, hear the vision of my dream which I had, and tell me the interpretation of it. 10 I had a vision upon my bed; and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew large and strong, and its height reached to the sky, and its extent to the extremity of the whole earth: 12 its leaves were fair, and its fruit abundant, and in it was meat for all; and under it the wild beasts of the field took shelter, and the birds of the sky lodged in the branches of it, and all flesh was fed of it. 13 I beheld in the night vision upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven, and cried aloud, and thus he said, 14 Cut down the tree, and pluck off its branches, and shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the wild beasts be removed from under it, and the birds from its branches. 15 Only leave the stump of its roots in the earth, and [bind it] with an iron and brass band; and it shall lie in the grass that is without and in the dew of heaven, and its portion [shall be] with the wild beasts in the grass of the field. 16 His heart shall be changed from that of man, and the heart of a wild beast shall be given to him; and seven times shall pass over him. 17 The matter is by the decree of the watcher, and the demand is a word of the holy ones; that the living may know that the Lord is most high [over] the kingdom of men, and he will give it to whomsoever he shall please, and will set up over it that which is set at nought of men. 18 This is the vision which I king Nabuchodonosor saw: and do thou, Baltasar, declare the interpretation, for none of the wise men of my kingdom are able to shew me the interpretation of it: but thou, Daniel, art able; for the Holy Spirit of God is in thee. 19 Then Daniel, whose name is Baltasar, was amazed about one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. And Baltasar answered and said, [My] lord, let the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation of it to thine enemies. 20 The tree which thou sawest, that grew large and strong, whose height reached to the sky and its extent to all the earth; 21 and whose leaves were flourishing, and its fruit abundant, (and it was meat for all; under it the wild beasts lodged, and the birds of the sky took shelter in its branches:) 22 is thyself, O king; for thou art grown great and powerful, and thy greatness has increased and reached to heaven, and thy dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and he said, Strip the tree, and destroy it; only leave the stump of its roots in the ground, and [bind it] with a band of iron and brass; and it shall lie in the grass that is without, and in the dew of heaven, and its portion shall be with wild beasts, until seven times have passed over it; 24 this is the interpretation of it, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king. 25 And they shall drive thee forth from men, and thy dwelling shall be with wild beasts, and they shall feed thee with grass as an ox, and thou shalt have thy lodging under the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High is Lord of the kingdom of men, and will give it to whom he shall please. 26 And whereas they said, Leave the stumps of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom abides [sure] to thee from the time that thou shalt know the power of the heavens. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel please thee, and atone for thy sins by alms, and [thine] iniquities by compassion on the poor: it may be God will be long-suffering to thy trespasses. 28 All these things came upon king Nabuchodonosor. 29 After a twelvemonth, as he walked in his palace in Babylon, 30 the king answered and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for a royal residence, by the might of my power, for the honour of my glory? 31 While the word was yet in the king's mouth, there came a voice from heaven, [saying], To thee, king Nabuchodonosor, they say, The kingdom has departed from thee. 32 And they [shall] drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the wild beasts of the field, and they shall feed thee with grass as an ox: and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High is Lord of the kingdom of men, and he will give it to whomsoever he shall please. 33 In the same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nabuchodonosor: and he was driven forth from men, and he ate grass as an ox, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hairs were grown like lions' [hairs], and his nails as birds' [claws]. 34 And at the end of the time I Nabuchodonosor lifted up mine eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised him that lives for ever, and gave [him] glory; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [lasts] to all generations: 35 and 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 there is none who shall withstand his power, and say to him, What hast thou done? 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and I came to the honour of my kingdom; and my [natural] form returned to me, and my princes, and my nobles, sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and more abundant majesty was added to me. 37 Now therefore I Nabuchodonosor praise and greatly exalt and glorify the King of heaven; for all his works are true, and his paths are judgment: and all that walk in pride he is able to abase.