Scrutatio

Friday, 6 December 2024 - San Nicola ( Letture di oggi)

Daniel 1


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1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.1And they walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing the Lord.2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.2Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said,3And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;3Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore:4Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.4For 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.5And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.5In 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.6Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:6For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from thee.7Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.7In 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.8Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment.8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.9And 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.9Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.10And now we cannot open our mouths, we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants; and to them that worship thee.10And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.11Yet deliver us not up wholly, for thy name's sake, neither disannul thou thy covenant:11Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,12Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.12And 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;13To 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.13Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.14So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.14For we, O Lord, are become less than any nation, and be kept under this day in all the world because of our sins.15And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.15Neither 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.16Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.16Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be accepted.17As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.17Like 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.18Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.18And now we follow thee with all our heart, we fear thee, and seek thy face.19And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.19Put us not to shame: but deal with us after thy lovingkindness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies.20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.20Deliver 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;21And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.21And let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken;22And let them know that thou art God, the only God, and glorious over the whole world.23And the king's servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin, pitch, tow, and small wood;24So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits.25And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the furnace.26But 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;27And 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.28Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed, God in the furnace, saying,29Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.30And blessed is thy glorious and holy name: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.31Blessed art thou in the temple of thine holy glory: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.32Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.33Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy kingdom: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.34Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and above ail to be praised and glorified for ever.35O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise and exalt him above all for ever,36O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord : praise and exalt him above all for ever.37O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.38O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.39O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.40O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.41O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.42O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.43O all ye winds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever,44O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.45O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.460 ye dews and storms of snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.47O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord: bless and exalt him above all for ever.48O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.49O ye ice and cold, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.50O ye frost and snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.51O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.52O let the earth bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.53O ye mountains and little hills, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.54O all ye things that grow in the earth, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.55O ye mountains, bless ye the Lord: Praise and exalt him above all for ever.56O ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.57O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.58O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.59O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.60O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.61O Israel, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.62O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.63O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.64O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.65O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.66O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever: far 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.67O give thanks unto the Lord, because he is gracious: for his mercy endureth for ever.68O all ye that worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise him, and give him thanks: for his mercy endureth for ever.