² and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage.

²⁹ Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

¹⁶ But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

⁴⁸ Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.

⁴⁹ And Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel was in the gate of the king.

²² And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?

⁴ for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's damage.

² Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

¹³ And he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said unto them, Trade ye `herewith' till I come.

¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man reign over us.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, when he was come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, unto whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading.

¹⁶ And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more.

¹⁷ And he said unto him, Well done, thou good servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

¹⁸ And the second came, saying, Thy pound, Lord, hath made five pounds.

¹⁹ And he said unto him also, Be thou also over five cities.

²⁰ And another came, saying, Lord, behold, `here is' thy pound, which I kept laid up in a napkin:

²¹ for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow.

²² He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow;

²³ then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?

²⁴ And he said unto them that stood by, Take away from him the pound, and give it unto him that hath the ten pounds.

²⁵ And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.

²⁶ I say unto you, that unto every one that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.

²⁷ But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

² And he called him, and said unto him, What is this that I hear of thee? render the account of thy stewardship; for thou canst be no longer steward.

²³ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.

⁶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off `his own' feet, `and' drinketh in damage.

¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.

³⁰ Therefore Jehovah, the God of Israel, saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now Jehovah saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.