但以理书 2
Revised Chinese Union Version (Simplified Script) Shen Edition
2 尼布甲尼撒在位第二年，他做了很多梦，心里烦乱，不能睡觉。 2 王吩咐人将术士、巫师、行邪术的和迦勒底人召来，要他们把王的梦告诉王；他们就来，站在王面前。 3 王对他们说：“我做了一个梦，心里烦乱，想要知道这是什么梦。” 4 迦勒底人用亚兰话对王说：“愿王万岁！请将梦告诉仆人，我们就可以讲解。”[a] 5 王回答迦勒底人说：“这事我已决定，你们若不把梦和梦的解释告诉我，就必被凌迟，你们的房屋必成粪堆； 6 但你们若能说出这个梦和梦的解释，就必从我得到礼物、赏赐和殊荣。现在，你们要把梦和梦的解释告诉我。” 7 他们再一次回答说：“请王将梦告诉仆人，我们就可以讲解。” 8 王回答说：“我确实知道你们是故意拖延，因为你们知道这事我已决定。 9 你们若不将梦告诉我，只有一个办法对待你们；因为你们彼此串通，向我胡言乱语，要等候情势改变。现在，你们要将梦告诉我，让我知道你们真能为我解梦。”
10 迦勒底人回答王说：“世上没有人能解释王的事情；从来没有君王、大臣、掌权者向术士、巫师，或迦勒底人问过这样的事。 11 王所问的事很难，除了不与血肉之躯同住的 神，没有人能在王面前解释。”
12 王因这事生气，大大震怒，吩咐灭绝巴比伦所有的智慧人。 13 命令发出，智慧人将要被杀，人就寻找但以理和他的同伴，要杀他们。
神指示但以理
14 王的护卫长亚略奉命去杀巴比伦的智慧人，但以理用婉言和智慧回应， 15 向王的大臣亚略说：“王的命令为何这样紧急呢？”亚略就把事情告诉但以理。 16 于是但以理进去求王宽限，好为王解梦。
17 但以理回到他的居所，把这事告诉他的同伴哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亚撒利雅， 18 要他们祈求天上的 神施怜悯，将这奥秘指明，免得但以理和他的同伴与巴比伦其余的智慧人一同灭亡。 19 这奥秘就在夜间异象中显明给但以理，但以理就称颂天上的 神。
20 但以理说：
“ 神的名是应当称颂的，从亘古直到永远！
因为智慧和能力都属乎他。
21 他改变时间、季节，
他废王，立王；
将智慧赐给智慧人，
将知识赐给聪明人。
22 他显明深奥隐秘的事，
洞悉幽暗中的一切，
光明也与他同住。
23 我列祖的 神啊，我感谢你，赞美你，
因你将智慧才能赐给我，
我们所求问的现在你已指明给我，
把王的事给我们指明。”
但以理解梦
24 于是，但以理进到王所派灭绝巴比伦智慧人的亚略那里去，对他这样说：“不要灭绝巴比伦的智慧人，求你领我到王面前，我可以为王解梦。”
25 亚略就急忙领但以理到王面前，对王这样说：“我在被掳的犹大人中找到一人，能将梦的解释告诉王。” 26 王对那称为伯提沙撒的但以理说：“你能将我所做的梦和梦的解释告诉我吗？” 27 但以理回答王说：“王所问的那奥秘，智慧人、巫师、术士、观兆的都不能告诉王， 28 只有那在天上的 神能显明奥秘。他已把日后将要发生的事指示尼布甲尼撒王。你在床上做的梦和你脑中的异象是这样： 29 你，王啊，你在床上所思想的是关乎日后的事，那显明奥秘的主已把将来要发生的事指示你。 30 至于我，那奥秘显明给我，并非因我智慧胜过一切活着的人，而是为了让王知道梦的解释，知道你心里的意念。
31 “你，王啊，你正观看，看哪，有一个很大的像，这像甚高，极其光耀，立在你面前，形状非常可怕。 32 这像的头是纯金的，胸膛和膀臂是银的，腹部和腰是铜的， 33 腿是铁的，脚是半铁半泥的。 34 你正观看，见有一块非人手凿出来的石头打在它半铁半泥的脚上，把脚砸碎； 35 于是铁、泥、铜、银、金都一同砸得粉碎，如夏天禾场上的糠秕，被风吹散，无处可寻。打碎这像的石头成了一座大山，覆盖全地。
36 “这就是那梦；我们要在王面前讲解那梦。 37 你，王啊，你是诸王之王。天上的 神已将国度、权势、能力、尊荣都赐给你。 38 世人和走兽，并天空的飞鸟，不论居住何处，他都交在你的手中，令你掌管这一切。你就是那金的头。 39 在你以后必兴起另一国，不及于你；又有第三国如铜，必掌管全地。 40 第四国必坚壮如铁，就像铁能打碎砸碎一切；铁怎样压碎一切，那国也必照样打碎压碎。 41 你既看见像的脚和脚趾头，一半是陶匠的泥，一半是铁，那国将来也必分裂。你既看见铁和泥搀杂，那国也必有铁的力量。 42 那脚趾头既是半铁半泥，那国也必半强半弱。 43 你既看见铁和泥搀杂，他们必有混杂的后裔，却不能彼此相合，正如铁和泥不能相合。 44 当诸王在位的时候，天上的 神必另立一个永不败坏的国度，这国度必不归给其他百姓，却要打碎灭绝所有的国度，存立到永远。 45 你既看见非人手凿出来的一块石头从山而出，打碎铁、铜、泥、银、金，那就是至大的 神把将来要发生的事给王指明。这梦是确实的，这解释也是准确的。”
王奖赏但以理
46 当时，尼布甲尼撒王脸伏于地，向但以理下拜，并且吩咐人给他奉上供物和香。 47 王对但以理说：“你既能讲明这奥秘，你们的 神诚然是万神之神、万王之主，是奥秘的启示者。” 48 于是王使但以理高升，赏赐他极多的礼物，派他管理巴比伦全省，又立他为总理，掌管巴比伦所有的智慧人。 49 但以理求王，王就派沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌管理巴比伦省的事务，只是但以理仍在朝中侍立。
Footnotes
- 2．4 从“愿王万岁”开始到第七章结尾，原文是亚兰文。
Daniel 2
New Catholic Bible
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of the Shattered Statue[a]
Chapter 2
The King’s Dream. 1 During the second year of his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him deeply and made sleep impossible. 2 Therefore, the king commanded that the magicians, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans[b] were to be summoned to interpret his dream. When they arrived and stood in his presence, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream, and my mind is troubled because I have been unable to interpret it.” 4 The Chaldeans replied to the king in Aramaic,[c] “May you live forever, O king. Relate your dream to us, your servants, and we will reveal its meaning to you.”
5 The king answered the Chaldeans, “This is what I have decided to do. If you are unable to tell me both the dream I had and its meaning, I will command that you be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be totally destroyed. 6 However, if you are able to tell me what I dreamed and its meaning, I will present you with gifts, rewards, and great honors. Therefore, tell me the content of the dream and its meaning.”
7 They replied a second time, “Let the king first reveal his dream to his servants, and we shall interpret its meaning for you.” 8 But the king responded, “It is clear to me that you are stalling for time, since you know what I have already resolved to do. 9 If you are unable to interpret my dream for me, there will only be one verdict for you. You have obviously decided to stall for time in the hope that some compromise may be reached. Therefore, relate the content of my dream to me so that I will be able to determine whether you can interpret it correctly.”
10 The Chaldeans answered the king, “There is not a man on earth who can do what you request, O king. Never has there been a king, no matter how great or powerful, who has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 What you are requiring of us is much too difficult, and no one can satisfy the king’s demand except for the gods, whose dwelling is not among mortals.”
12 On hearing this, the king flew into a violent rage and ordered that all the wise men of Babylon were to be put to death. 13 There-fore, the decree was issued for their execution, and a search was also made for Daniel and his companions so that they also might be executed.
14 As Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, prepared to execute the wise men of Babylon, Daniel approached him, and with prudent words and discretion 15 he said to him, “May I ask you why the king has issued such a harsh decree?” When Arioch explained what had occurred, 16 Daniel went off and asked the king to decree a stay of execution so that he might have the opportunity to offer his interpretation to the king.
17 The Prayer of Daniel. Then Daniel went home and informed his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, what had happened. 18 He also asked them to implore the God of heaven[d] for his mercy in regard to the mystery so that he and his companions might not perish along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision during the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 This is what Daniel said,
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
for wisdom and power are his.
21 He directs the changes of the times and seasons;
he controls the appointment and the removal of kings.
He endows the wise with wisdom
and confers knowledge on those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and hidden mysteries
and knows what lies in the darkness,
for light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
I offer thanks and praise
because you have given me wisdom and power.
Now you have made known to me
what we asked of you;
you have revealed to us the king’s dream.”
24 The Statue Turned Upside Down.[e]Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had designated to execute the wise men of Babylon, and he said to him, “Do not put the wise men of Babylon to death. Bring me into the presence of the king, and I will reveal to him the interpretation of the dream.”
25 Arioch immediately brought Daniel to the king and said to him, “Among the exiles from Judah I have located a man who can reveal the meaning of the dream to the king.” 26 The king said to Daniel, “Are you able to tell me the dream that I experienced and to reveal its meaning to me?”
27 Daniel stood in the king’s presence and replied, “None of the wise men, the enchanters, the sorcerers, or the astrologers has been able to explain to the king the dream about which you have been so disturbed. 28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has disclosed to King Nebuchadnezzar what is to take place at the end of this age. These were the dreams and the visions that passed through your head as you lay in your bed.
29 “While you were lying there, O king, thoughts came to you about what would happen in the future, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what will take place. 30 This mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than any living person, but for the sole purpose that the interpretation may be made known to you and also that you may understand the thoughts that have entered your mind.
31 “In the vision that you had, Your Majesty, you beheld a huge statue that was dazzling in its brightness. It stood before you, frightening in its appearance. 32 The head of the statue was of fine gold, its chest and its arms were of silver, its belly and its thighs were of bronze, 33 its legs were of iron, and its feet were partly of iron and partly of clay.
34 “While you were gazing at the statue, a stone broke away, untouched by any human hand, and struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, shattering them to pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were all shattered into pieces as fine as the chaff on the threshing floor during the summer. The wind carried them away without leaving a trace. However, the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the entire earth.
36 “That was the dream. Now we shall offer to the king its interpretation. 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom with its power, its might, and its glory. 38 He has entrusted to your care men, wild beasts, and birds of the air, wherever they may dwell. You are the head of gold.
39 “After you another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours, followed by a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over the whole earth. 40 There will then be a fourth kingdom, as strong as iron. Just as iron crushes and smashes everything to pieces, it will crush and pulverize all the other kingdoms.
41 “Like the feet and the toes that you saw, composed partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but it will have some of the strength of iron just as you saw the iron mixed with the clay tile. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly potter’s clay, the kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with the clay, so will the people mix together in marriage, but they will not remain united, just as iron does not mix with clay.
44 “In the times of those kings, the God of heaven shall establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom fall under the power of another people. It shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of your vision of the stone untouched by human hands being hewn from the mountain and crushing the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
46 Nebuchadnezzar Prostrates Himself before God. Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate and paid homage to Daniel, and he gave orders that a grain offering and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and the revealer of mysteries. That is why you were able to reveal this mystery.”
48 Then the king conferred a high rank on Daniel and gave him many handsome gifts. He also appointed him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Furthermore, at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as administrators of the province of Babylon. However, Daniel remained at the king’s court.
Footnotes
- Daniel 2:1 How was the author to circulate subversive writings on the coming end of the reign of Antiochus IV, without naming the king? How was he to proclaim the coming of God’s reign, when a pagan prince was in control? Here is one of the stories that, doubtless, circulated behind the king’s back. To a small extent it makes use of the story of Joseph at the pharaoh’s court (Gen 41), but draws more direct and important conclusions. In this allegory, dreams, which the ancients considered a means used by divinities to communicate with human beings, play an important part. Dreams serve chiefly as a literary device for writers of apocalypses, such as the Book of Daniel.
- Daniel 2:2 Chaldeans: some Chaldeans studied astrology.
- Daniel 2:4 Aramaic: from this verse to the end of chapter 7, the original is written in Aramaic, the current language of the period.
- Daniel 2:18 God of heaven: a title frequently used in the Persian period for the true God, Yahweh; Daniel and his companions ask mercy from this God.
- Daniel 2:24 This odd statue, the parts of which are listed in order of decreasing value, may simply illustrate the sequence of the ages of the world. The present story describes the succession of human empires from Nebuchadnezzar to Antiochus IV. The last of these regimes is the weakest, and the linking by marriage of the Greek sovereigns of Egypt (the Ptolemies) and those of Antioch (the Seleucids) is unable to restore a balance among the successors of Alexander. God will finally destroy these regimes and establish another kingdom, his own, which will be everlasting.
和合本修訂版經文 © 2006, 2010, 2017 香港聖經公會。蒙允許使用。 Scripture Text of Revised Chinese Union Version © 2006, 2010, 2017 Hong Kong Bible Society. www.hkbs.org.hk/en/ Used by permission.
