¹ Godine treće carovanja Joakima, cara Judinog dođe Navuhodonosor, car vavilonski na Jerusalim, i opkoli ga.

² I Gospod mu dade u ruku Joakima, cara Judinog i deo sudova doma Božijeg, i odnese ih u zemlju Senar u dom boga svog, i metnu sudove u riznicu boga svog.

³ I reče car Asfenazu starešini svojih dvorana da dovede između sinova Izrailjevih, i od carskog semena i od knezova,

⁴ Mladiće na kojima nema mane, i koji su lepog lica i naučeni svakoj mudrosti i vešti znanju i razumni i koji mogu stajati u carskom dvoru, pa da ih uči knjigu i jezik haldejski.

⁵ I odredi im car obrok na dan od jela carskog i od vina koje on pijaše, da se hrane tri godine, a posle da stoje pred carem.

⁶ A među njima behu od sinova Judinih Danilo, Ananija, Misailo i Azarija.

⁷ A starešina nad dvoranima dade im imena, i Danilu nade ime Valtasar, a Ananiji Sedrah, a Misailu Misah, a Azariji Avdenago.

⁸ Ali Danilo naumi da se ne skvrni obrokom jela carevog i vinom koje on pijaše, i zamoli se starešini nad dvoranima da se ne skvrni.

⁹ I dade Bog Danilu te nađe milost i ljubav u starešine nad dvoranima.

¹⁰ I reče starešina nad dvoranima Danilu: Bojim se gospodara svog cara, koji vam je odredio jelo i piće; jer kad car vidi lica vaša lošija nego u ostalih mladića, vaših vrsnika, zašto da mi učinite da budem glavom kriv caru?

¹¹ A Danilo reče Amelsaru, kog starešina nad dvoranima postavi nad Danilom, Ananijom, Misailom i Azarijom:

¹² Ogledaj sluge svoje za deset dana, neka nam se daje varivo da jedemo i voda da pijemo.

¹³ Pa onda neka nam se vide lica pred tobom i lica mladića koji jedu carsko jelo, pa kako vidiš, onako čini sa slugama svojim.

¹⁴ I posluša ih u tom, i ogleda ih za deset dana.

¹⁵ A posle deset dana lica im dođoše lepša i mesnatija nego u svih mladića koji jeđahu carsko jelo.

¹⁶ I Amelsar uzimaše jelo njihovo i vino koje njima trebaše piti, i davaše im variva.

¹⁷ I dade Bog svoj četvorici mladića znanje i razum u svakoj knjizi i mudrosti; a Danilu dade da razume svaku utvaru i sne.

¹⁸ I kad prođe vreme po kome car beše rekao da ih izvedu, izvede ih starešina nad dvoranima pred Navuhodonosora.

¹⁹ I govori car s njima, i ne nađe se među svima njima ni jedan kao Danilo, Ananija, Misailo i Azarija; i stajahu pred carem.

²⁰ I u svemu čemu treba mudrost i razum, za šta ih car zapita, nađe da su deset puta bolji od svih vrača i zvezdara što ih beše u svemu carstvu njegovom.

²¹ I osta Danilo do prve godine cara Kira.

¹ I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.

² He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land.

³ He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.

⁴ When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don't write them."

⁵ The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky,

⁶ and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay,

⁷ but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets.

⁸ The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, "Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land."

⁹ I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, "Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."

¹⁰ I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.

¹¹ They told me, "You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings."