The Time of the Judgment and the Resurrection of Two Groups

12 “Now at that time, Michael, the great prince, will arise, ⌊the protector⌋a over the sons of your people, and it will be a time of distress that has not been since your people ⌊have been⌋b a nation until that time. And at that time your people will escape, ⌊everyone who is found⌋c written in the scroll.d 2 And many from those sleeping ⌊in the dusty ground⌋e will awake, some to ⌊everlasting life⌋f and some to disgrace and ⌊everlasting contempt⌋.g 3 But the ones having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse, and the ones providing justice for the manyh will be like the stars ⌊forever and ever⌋.i 4 But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and seal the scrollj until the time of the end; many will run back and forth and knowledge will increase.”

5 Then I looked, I myself, Daniel, and look, there were two others standing: ⌊one on this bank of the stream and one on the other⌋.k 6 Then he said to the man who was clothed in linen who was abovel the water of the stream,m “⌊How long until⌋n the end of the wonders?” 7 And I heard the man who was clothed in linen who was aboveo the water of the stream,p and he raised his right hand and his left hand to heaven and he swore ⌊by the one who lives forever⌋q that an appointed time, appointed times, and half an appointed time would pass when the shattering of ⌊the power of the holy people⌋r ⌊would be completed⌋;s then all these things will be accomplished.

Daniel Seeks Additional Insights

8 Now I myself heard, but I did not understand, and I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?” 9 And he said, “Go, Daniel, for the words are secret and are sealed up until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified and will be cleansed and will be refined, but the wicked will act wickedly ⌊and none of the wicked will understand⌋,t but ⌊those who have insight⌋u will understand. 11 And from the time the regular burnt offering is removed and the abomination that causes desolation ⌊is set up⌋v there will be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Happy is the one who is persevering, and attains to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 But you, go on to the end and rest, and you will arise for your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.”

The Faithfulness of Three Young Israelites and God’s Deliverance

3 Nebuchadnezzar the king made a statue of gold. Its height was sixty cubits and its width was six cubits; he set it up in the valley of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent directions to assemble the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all of the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the province were assembled for the dedication of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up, and were standing ⌊before⌋a the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then the herald proclaimed ⌊aloud⌋,b “To you ⌊it is commanded⌋,c O peoples, ⌊nations and people of all languages⌋,d 5 that at the time that you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the trigon, the harp, the drum and all kinds of music, you must fall down and you must worship the statue of golde that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6 And ⌊whoever⌋f does not fall down and worship will be thrown ⌊immediately⌋g into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.” 7 ⌊Therefore⌋,h ⌊at that time⌋,i ⌊as soon as⌋j all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the trigon, the harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, ⌊the nations and people of all languages⌋k were falling down and were worshiping the statue of goldl that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

8 ⌊Therefore⌋m ⌊at this time⌋n some ⌊astrologers⌋o came forward and ⌊they denounced the Jews⌋.p 9 ⌊They responded and said⌋q to Nebuchadnezzar the king, “O king, may you live ⌊forever⌋!r 10 You, O king, have made a decree that ⌊everyone⌋s who hears the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the trigon, the harp and the drum and all kinds of music, he shall fall down and shall worship the statue of gold.t 11 ⌊And whoever⌋u ⌊does not fall down⌋v and worship shall be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 12 However there are Judean men whom you have appointedw over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—these men, O king, ⌊pay you no heed⌋x and were not serving your god, and the statue of goldy that you set up they are not worshiping.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar said in rage and anger to bring in Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; then they brought in these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you are not serving my god, and you are not worshiping the statue of goldz that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready so that ⌊when⌋a you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the trigon, the harp and the drum and all kinds of music, you fall down and you worship the statue that I have made, that will be good. But if you do not worship it, ⌊immediately⌋b you will be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire, and ⌊who is the god⌋c whod will rescue you from my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, “We have no need on this matter ⌊to present a defense to you⌋.e 17 ⌊If it is so⌋,f our God, whom we serve, is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire. And from your hand, O king, let him rescue us. 18 And if not, let it be known to you, O king, that ⌊we will not serve your gods⌋,g and the statue of goldh that you have set up we will not worship.”

The Wrath of the King and His Fiery Furnace of Death

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with anger and the image of his face was changed ⌊toward⌋i Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, so he ⌊ordered and said⌋j to heat up the one furnace seven times what was usual to heat it up. 20 And he commanded ⌊the strongest men of the guards⌋k who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 Then these men were bound with their garments, their trousers and their turbans and their other clothing, and they were thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 ⌊Therefore⌋l ⌊because⌋m the word of the king was severe and the furnace was exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed these men who lifted up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. 23 But these men, the three of them, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell down into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire, and they were bound.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and he rose up in haste and he asked, saying to his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, bound, into the midst of the fire? They answered, saying to the king, “Certainly, O king!” 25 ⌊He answered⌋,n saying, “Look, I see four men unbound walking in the midst of the fire and there is no damage to them, and theo appearance of the fourth man resembles the son of a god.” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the …