“‘ The decision is announced by holy messengers. So all who are alive will know that the Most High God is King. He rules over all kingdoms on earth. He gives them to anyone he wants. Sometimes he puts the least important people in charge of them.’

这是守望者所发的命，圣者所出的令，好叫世人知道至高者在人的国中掌权，要将国赐与谁就赐与谁，或立极卑微的人执掌国权。’

这是众守望者所发的命令，是众圣者所作的决定，好叫世人知道至高者在人的国中掌权，要将国赐给谁就赐给谁，并且立极卑微的人执掌国权。’

这是众守望者所发的命令，是众圣者所作的决定，好叫世人知道至高者在人的国中掌权，要将国赐给谁就赐给谁，并且立极卑微的人执掌国权。’

这是守望者的命令，是圣者的决定，要让众生知道至高者主宰世上万国，祂要把国赐给谁就赐给谁，即使是最卑微的人。’

这是守望者宣告的裁决，是圣者颁布的决定，好使世人都知道：至高者在世人的国中掌权，他喜欢把国赐给谁，就赐给谁，甚至立最卑微的人执掌国权。

这是守望者们所宣告的裁决，是圣者们所宣布的决定，为要使活人明白：至高者在人的国中掌权，他愿意把国赐给谁就赐给谁，甚至把最卑微的人立在一国之上。’

這是守望者所發的命，聖者所出的令，好叫世人知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜與誰就賜與誰，或立極卑微的人執掌國權。』

這是眾守望者所發的命令，是眾聖者所作的決定，好叫世人知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜給誰就賜給誰，並且立極卑微的人執掌國權。』

這是眾守望者所發的命令，是眾聖者所作的決定，好叫世人知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜給誰就賜給誰，並且立極卑微的人執掌國權。』

這是守望者的命令，是聖者的決定，要讓眾生知道至高者主宰世上萬國，祂要把國賜給誰就賜給誰，即使是最卑微的人。』

這是守望者宣告的裁決，是聖者頒布的決定，好使世人都知道：至高者在世人的國中掌權，他喜歡把國賜給誰，就賜給誰，甚至立最卑微的人執掌國權。

這件事乃是由那些警衛者所發的命令；這事情是由那些聖者所傳的話，好叫眾生知道：至高者在人國中掌權，他喜歡將國賜給誰、就賜給誰；或是立極卑微的人執掌國權。」

這是守望者們所宣告的裁決，是聖者們所宣布的決定，為要使活人明白：至高者在人的國中掌權，他願意把國賜給誰就賜給誰，甚至把最卑微的人立在一國之上。』

此乃儆醒者所定、聖使所命、使生民咸知至上者治世人之國、隨意畀人、立人間之至卑者主之、

聖使者、巡察者已定命若此、使天下之人、皆知至上者、秉其鈞衡、在乎寰區之內、隨意昇降、以賤為貴、治理民人、

此由守者所定、由聖者所決、使天下人知至上者、主掌人間之國、隨意以國賜人、亦能以人間卑微者立為國主、

“‘ The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’

The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’

For this has been decreed by the messengers; it is commanded by the holy ones, so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses— even to the lowliest of people.”

This word is by decree of the watchers, and the decision is by command from the holy ones. This is so that the living will know that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms. He gives them to anyone he wants and sets the lowliest of people over them.

This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers, And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And He grants it to whomever He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of people.”

‘ This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’

The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men.

This word is by decree of the observers; the matter is a command from the holy ones. This is so the living will know that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men. He gives it to anyone He wants and sets the lowliest of men over it.

This matter[ is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels; this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones, so that those who are alive may understand that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms, and he bestows them on whomever he wishes. He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’

“‘ The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.’

You will be driven away from people. You will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass just as an ox does. You will become wet with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass by for you. Then you will recognize that the Most High God rules over all kingdoms on earth. He gives them to anyone he wants.

He raises poor people up from the trash pile. He lifts needy people out of the ashes. He lets them sit with princes. He gives them places of honor.“ The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord. On them he has set the world.

“ Your Majesty, the Most High God was good to your father Nebuchadnezzar. He gave him authority and greatness and glory and honor.God gave him a high position. Then people from every nation became afraid of the king. That was true no matter what language they spoke. The king put to death anyone he wanted to. He spared anyone he wanted to spare. He gave high positions to anyone he wanted to. And he brought down anyone he wanted to bring down.But his heart became very stubborn and proud. So he was removed from his royal throne. His glory was stripped away from him.He was driven away from people. He was given the mind of an animal. He lived with the wild donkeys. He ate grass just as an ox does. His body became wet with the dew of heaven. He stayed that way until he recognized that the Most High God rules over all kingdoms on earth. He puts anyone he wants to in charge of them.

I reached out my great and powerful arm. I made the earth. I made its people and animals. And I can give the earth to anyone I please.Now I will hand over all your countries to my servant Nebuchadnezzar. He is the king of Babylon. I will put even the wild animals under his control.All the nations will serve him and his son and grandson. After that, I will judge his land. Then many nations and great kings will make him serve them.

He changes times and seasons. He removes some kings from power. He causes other kings to rule. The wisdom of those who are wise comes from him. He gives knowledge to those who have understanding.

No one from east or west or north or south can judge themselves.God is the one who judges. He says to one person,“ You are guilty.” To another he says,“ You are not guilty.”

“ After him, another king will take his place. Many people will hate him. He will not be honored as a king should be. He will lead an army into the kingdom when its people feel secure. He will make clever plans to capture it.

But I had a special reason for making you king. I decided to show you my power. I wanted my name to become known everywhere on earth.

God chose the things of this world that are common and looked down on. God chose things considered unimportant to do away with things considered important.

The Lord is known to be fair by the things he does. Evil people are trapped by what they have done.

He raises poor people up from the trash pile. He lifts needy people out of the ashes.He causes them to sit with princes. He causes them to sit with the princes of his people.

There was never anyone like Ahab. He gave himself over to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord. His wife Jezebel talked him into it.

Each of the four living creatures had six wings. Each creature was covered all over with eyes. It had eyes even under its wings. Day and night, they never stop saying,“‘ Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God who rules over all.’( Isaiah 6:3) He was, and he is, and he will come.”

Proud and sinful people walk around openly when the evil they do is praised by the human race.

You can be sure that I will pay them back. I will punish them because my anger against them is great. When I pay them back, they will know that I am the Lord.”

When King Ahaz was in trouble, he became even more unfaithful to the Lord.

Micaiah continued,“ Listen to the Lord’ s message. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne. All the angels of heaven were standing around him. Some were standing at his right side. The others were standing at his left side.The Lord said,‘ Who will get Ahab to attack Ramoth Gilead? I want him to die there.’“ One angel suggested one thing. Another suggested something else.

They were calling out to one another. They were saying,“ Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who rules over all. The whole earth is full of his glory.”

You will be driven away from people. You will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass just as an ox does. Seven periods of time will pass by for you. Then you will recognize that the Most High God rules over all kingdoms on earth. He gives them to anyone he wants.”What had been said about King Nebuchadnezzar came true at once. He was driven away from people. He ate grass just as an ox does. His body became wet with the dew of heaven. He stayed that way until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle. His nails became like the claws of a bird.At the end of that time I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven. My mind became clear again. Then I praised the Most High God. I gave honor and glory to the God who lives forever. His rule will last forever. His kingdom will never end.He considers all the nations on earth to be nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven. He does what he wants with the nations of the earth. No one can hold back his hand. No one can say to him,“ What have you done?”

I command you to follow these instructions. I command you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels. Treat everyone the same. Don’t favor one person over another.

He sacrificed his own son in the fire to another god. He practiced all kinds of evil magic. He got messages from those who had died. He talked to the spirits of the dead. He did many things that were evil in the eyes of the Lord. Manasseh made the Lord very angry.Manasseh had carved a pole used to worship the female god named Asherah. He put it in the temple. The Lord had spoken to David and his son Solomon about the temple. He had said,“ My Name will be in this temple and in Jerusalem forever. Out of all the cities in the tribes of Israel I have chosen Jerusalem.I gave this land to your people who lived long ago. I will not make the Israelites wander away from it again. But they must be careful to do everything I commanded them. They must obey the whole Law that my servant Moses gave them.”But the people didn’t pay any attention. Manasseh led them astray. They did more evil things than the nations the Lord had destroyed. He had destroyed them to make room for the Israelites.The Lord spoke through his servants the prophets. He said,“ Manasseh, the king of Judah, has committed terrible sins. I hate them. Manasseh has done more evil things than the Amorites who were in the land before him. And he has led Judah to commit sin by worshiping his statues of gods.I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I tell you,‘ I am going to bring trouble on Jerusalem and Judah. It will be so horrible that the ears of everyone who hears about it will tingle.I will measure out punishment against Jerusalem, just as I did against Samaria. I used a plumb line against the royal family of Ahab. I used it to prove that they did not measure up to my standards. I will use the same plumb line against Jerusalem. I will wipe out Jerusalem, just as someone wipes a dish. I will wipe it and turn it upside down.I will desert those who remain among my people. I will hand them over to their enemies. All their enemies will rob them.That’s because my people have done what is evil in my sight. They have made me very angry. They have done that from the day their own people came out of Egypt until this day.’ ”Manasseh also spilled the blood of many people who weren’t guilty of doing anything wrong. He spilled so much blood that he filled Jerusalem with it from one end of the city to the other. And he caused Judah to commit sin. So they also did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord.The other events of the rule of Manasseh are written down. That includes the sin he committed. Everything he did is written in the official records of the kings of Judah.Manasseh joined the members of his family who had already died. He was buried in his palace garden. It was called the garden of Uzza. Manasseh’s son Amon became the next king after him.

“ While I was still lying in bed, I looked up. In my visions, I saw a holy one. He was a messenger. He was coming down from heaven.He called out in a loud voice. He said,‘ Cut down the tree. Break off its branches. Strip off its leaves. Scatter its fruit. Let the animals under it run away. Let the birds in its branches fly off.

I will bring the most evil nations against them. They will take over the houses in the city. I will put an end to the pride of those who are mighty. Their holy places will be made“ unclean.”

Then I heard the voice of the Lord. He said,“ Who will I send? Who will go for us?” I said,“ Here I am. Send me!”

Finally, Daniel came to me. He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god. The spirit of the holy gods is in him. I told him my dream.I said,“ Belteshazzar, you are chief of the magicians. I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you. No mystery is too hard for you to figure out. Here is my dream. Tell me what it means.

May they always be filled with terror and shame. May they die in dishonor.May you, the Lord, let your enemies know who you are. You alone are the Most High God over the whole earth.