Then he gave Daniel a high position, presented him with many splendid gifts, put him in charge of the province of Babylon, and made him the head of all the royal advisers.

At Daniel's request the king put Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon; Daniel, however, remained at the royal court.

Now I have heard that you can find hidden meanings and explain mysteries. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be dressed in robes of royal purple, wear a gold chain of honor around your neck, and be the third in power in the kingdom."

Immediately Belshazzar ordered his servants to dress Daniel in a robe of royal purple and to hang a gold chain of honor around his neck. And he made him the third in power in the kingdom.

I, the LORD God of Israel, promised in the past that your family and your clan would serve me as priests for all time. But now I say that I won't have it any longer! Instead, I will honor those who honor me, and I will treat with contempt those who despise me.

Wisdom offers you long life, as well as wealth and honor.

because the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts.

so he called him in and said, 'What is this I hear about you? Turn in a complete account of your handling of my property, because you cannot be my manager any longer.'

Do this at once, so that no more harm may be done to my interests."

My people and I have been sold for slaughter. If it were nothing more serious than being sold into slavery, I would have kept quiet and not bothered you about it; but we are about to be destroyed---exterminated!"

If you let a fool deliver a message, you might as well cut off your own feet; you are asking for trouble.

Before he left, he called his ten servants and gave them each a gold coin and told them, 'See what you can earn with this while I am gone.'

"The man was made king and came back. At once he ordered his servants to appear before him, in order to find out how much they had earned.

'Well done,' he said; 'you are a good servant! Since you were faithful in small matters, I will put you in charge of ten cities.'

To this one he said, 'You will be in charge of five cities.'

I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what is not yours and reap what you did not plant.'

Well, then, why didn't you put my money in the bank? Then I would have received it back with interest when I returned.'

But they said to him, 'Sir, he already has ten coins!'

Now, as for those enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and kill them in my presence!' "

The one thing required of such servants is that they be faithful to their master.