The kingrepliedto the Chaldeans,"The commandfrom me is firm:ifyou do not makeknownto me the dreamand its interpretation,you will be tornlimbfrom limb and your houseswill be madea rubbishheap.
They also brokedownthe [sacred] pillarof Baaland brokedownthe houseof Baal,and madeit a latrineto this day.
"And I issueda decreethat anymanwhoviolatesthisedict,a timbershall be drawnfrom his houseand he shall be impaledon it and his houseshall be madea refuseheapon accountof this.
"Nowconsiderthis,you who forgetGod,OrI will tear[you] in pieces, and therewill be noneto deliver.
Let them flowaway likewaterthat runsoff;[When] he aimshis arrows,let them be as headlessshafts.
Becauseof thisthe kingbecameindignantand veryfuriousand gaveordersto destroyallthe wisemenof Babylon.
"Therefore I makea decreethat anypeople,nationor tonguethat speaksanything offensiveagainstthe Godof Shadrach,Meshachand Abed-negoshall be tornlimbfrom limb and their housesreducedto a rubbishheap,inasmuchas thereis noothergodwhois ableto deliverin thisway."
O Belteshazzar,chiefof the magicians,sinceI knowthat a spiritof the holygodsis in you and nomysterybafflesyou, tell[me] the visionsof my dreamwhichI have seen,along with its interpretation.
"Then you shall gatherallits bootyinto the middleof its opensquareand burnthe cityand allits bootywith fireas a wholeburntofferingto the LORDyour God;and it shall be a ruinforever.It shall neverbe rebuilt.
Then Joshuamade them takean oathat that time,saying,"Cursedbeforethe LORDis the manwhorisesup and buildsthiscityJericho;with [the loss of] his firstbornhe shall layits foundation,and with [the loss of] his youngestsonhe shall setup its gates."
But Samuelsaid,"As your swordhas madewomenchildless,soshall your motherbe childlessamongwomen."And SamuelhewedAgagto piecesbeforethe LORDat Gilgal.
