Daniel the prophet: he was of the tribe of Judah, of a family of the most eminent of the royal service; but while still an infant he was brought to Babylon out of Judea.
2He was born in Upper Bethbeoron, near Jerusalem; and he was a man so self-controlled that the Jews supposed him to be a eunuch.
3He mourned greatly over Jerusalem, and practiced asceticism with fasting from every desirable food; and he was a man very withered in appearance, yet beautiful in the grace of God.
4And he prayed much for Nebuchadnezzar, that he had become a beast and cattle, lest he perish.
5For his forepart was like an ox, with the head, and his feet, with his hind parts, like a lion.
6For rulers have these in their youth: being like an ox, under the yoke of Belial, through their love of pleasure, and at the end becoming beasts, seizing, destroying, smiting, and killing.
7So this holy man knew that he ate grass like an ox, and that it became for him the food of human nature.
8Therefore also Nebuchadnezzar, after the sending of his scourge, having come to a human heart, wept and besought God every day and night, forty times, praying to the God of Beemon, that is, the God of Israel.
9For the spirit of Satan came upon him, and it escaped him that he had become a man.
10His tongue was bound from speaking, and the voice of a beast was given him; and making signs, he immediately wept, and his eyes became like flesh from weeping.
11And many rulers and citizens, going out of the city, gazed upon him.
12But Daniel alone did not wish to see him; because during all the time of his alteration he was in prayers for him, and he said: "He will become a man again, and will hold his kingdom."
13And they did not believe him, as he entreated the Lord concerning him that the seven years should become seven months.
14The mystery of the seven times was fulfilled upon him, for the mediator restored him after the seven.
15Six years, then, and six months he fell down before the Lord God, and confessed his impiety against himself.
16And after the forgiveness of his lawlessness, God gave him back his kingdom.
17And he neither ate meat nor drank wine, confessing to God, because Daniel had commanded him to propitiate the Lord with pulse, or greens, or soaked food.
18For this reason also Nebuchadnezzar called Daniel Baltasar, after the name of his only-begotten son; and he wished to make him a joint heir with his children; but the holy man said: "Be gracious to me: let me not abandon the inheritance of my fathers and be joined to the inheritance of the uncircumcised."
19And under the kings of the Persians he wrought many wonders, such as we have not written in this book; but they are written in the book of Daniel.
20This prophet gave a sign on the high mountains of Babylon, saying: "When you see the mountain in the north smoking, the end of Babylon will come; and when you see it burning as in fire, the end of the whole earth will come; but if the mountain in the south pours forth waters, the people will return to their land; Jerusalem will be built broad and spacious, as indeed came to pass through Jesus the high priest and Zerubbabel the son of Salathiel.
21But if the mountain flows with blood, there will be slaughter by Belial in all the earth, and the Lord will come upon the earth, having become man."
22There, then, the holy Daniel fell asleep in Babylon in peace, and was buried in the royal cave with honor; and his tomb is known to all in Babylon to this very day.