但以理書 2
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Traditional)
尼布甲尼撒王得夢遺忘迫令術士告之
2 尼布甲尼撒在位第二年,他做了夢,心裡煩亂,不能睡覺。 2 王吩咐人將術士、用法術的、行邪術的和迦勒底人召來,要他們將王的夢告訴王,他們就來站在王前。 3 王對他們說:「我做了一夢,心裡煩亂,要知道這是什麼夢。」 4 迦勒底人用亞蘭的言語對王說:「願王萬歲!請將那夢告訴僕人,僕人就可以講解。」 5 王回答迦勒底人說:「夢我已經忘了[a],你們若不將夢和夢的講解告訴我,就必被凌遲,你們的房屋必成為糞堆。 6 你們若將夢和夢的講解告訴我,就必從我這裡得贈品和賞賜並大尊榮。現在你們要將夢和夢的講解告訴我。」 7 他們第二次對王說:「請王將夢告訴僕人,僕人就可以講解。」 8 王回答說:「我準知道你們是故意遲延,因為你們知道那夢我已經忘了。 9 你們若不將夢告訴我,只有一法待你們。因為你們預備了謊言亂語向我說,要等候時勢改變。現在你們要將夢告訴我,因我知道你們能將夢的講解告訴我。」
術士回奏無人能告
10 迦勒底人在王面前回答說:「世上沒有人能將王所問的事說出來。因為沒有君王、大臣、掌權的向術士,或用法術的,或迦勒底人問過這樣的事。 11 王所問的事甚難,除了不與世人同居的神明,沒有人在王面前能說出來。」
王怒擬殲滅之
12 因此,王氣憤憤地大發烈怒,吩咐滅絕巴比倫所有的哲士。 13 於是命令發出,哲士將要見殺,人就尋找但以理和他的同伴,要殺他們。
但以理求寬限
14 王的護衛長亞略出來,要殺巴比倫的哲士,但以理就用婉言回答他, 15 向王的護衛長亞略說:「王的命令為何這樣緊急呢?」亞略就將情節告訴但以理。 16 但以理遂進去求王寬限,就可以將夢的講解告訴王。
與同儕禱主蒙示以王夢與兆
17 但以理回到他的居所,將這事告訴他的同伴哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亞撒利雅, 18 要他們祈求天上的神施憐憫,將這奧祕的事指明,免得但以理和他的同伴與巴比倫其餘的哲士一同滅亡。 19 這奧祕的事就在夜間異象中給但以理顯明,但以理便稱頌天上的神。 20 但以理說:「神的名是應當稱頌的,從亙古直到永遠!因為智慧能力都屬乎他。 21 他改變時候、日期,廢王、立王,將智慧賜予智慧人,將知識賜予聰明人。 22 他顯明深奧隱祕的事,知道暗中所有的,光明也與他同居。 23 我列祖的神啊,我感謝你,讚美你!因你將智慧、才能賜給我,允准我們所求的,把王的事給我們指明。」 24 於是但以理進去見亞略,就是王所派滅絕巴比倫哲士的,對他說:「不要滅絕巴比倫的哲士,求你領我到王面前,我要將夢的講解告訴王。」
但以理覲王
25 亞略就急忙將但以理領到王面前,對王說:「我在被擄的猶大人中遇見一人,他能將夢的講解告訴王。」 26 王問稱為伯提沙撒的但以理說:「你能將我所做的夢和夢的講解告訴我嗎?」 27 但以理在王面前回答說:「王所問的那奧祕事,哲士、用法術的、術士、觀兆的都不能告訴王。 28 只有一位在天上的神能顯明奧祕的事,他已將日後必有的事指示尼布甲尼撒王。你的夢和你在床上腦中的異象是這樣: 29 王啊,你在床上想到後來的事,那顯明奧祕事的主把將來必有的事指示你。 30 至於那奧祕的事顯明給我,並非因我的智慧勝過一切活人,乃為使王知道夢的講解和心裡的思念。
述王之夢
31 「王啊,你夢見一個大像,這像甚高,極其光耀,站在你面前,形狀甚是可怕。 32 這像的頭是精金的,胸膛和膀臂是銀的,肚腹和腰是銅的, 33 腿是鐵的,腳是半鐵半泥的。 34 你觀看,見有一塊非人手鑿出來的石頭打在這像半鐵半泥的腳上,把腳砸碎。 35 於是金、銀、銅、鐵、泥都一同砸得粉碎,成如夏天禾場上的糠秕,被風吹散,無處可尋。打碎這像的石頭變成一座大山,充滿天下。
詳解夢兆
36 「這就是那夢,我們在王面前要講解那夢。 37 王啊,你是諸王之王,天上的神已將國度、權柄、能力、尊榮都賜給你。 38 凡世人所住之地的走獸,並天空的飛鳥,他都交付你手,使你掌管這一切,你就是那金頭。 39 在你以後必另興一國,不及於你。又有第三國,就是銅的,必掌管天下。 40 第四國,必堅壯如鐵,鐵能打碎剋制百物,又能壓碎一切,那國也必打碎壓制列國。 41 你既見像的腳和腳指頭一半是窯匠的泥,一半是鐵,那國將來也必分開。你既見鐵與泥摻雜,那國也必有鐵的力量。 42 那腳指頭既是半鐵半泥,那國也必半強半弱。 43 你既見鐵與泥摻雜,那國民也必與各種人摻雜,卻不能彼此相合,正如鐵與泥不能相合一樣。 44 當那列王在位的時候,天上的神必另立一國,永不敗壞,也不歸別國的人,卻要打碎滅絕那一切國,這國必存到永遠。 45 你既看見非人手鑿出來的一塊石頭從山而出,打碎金、銀、銅、鐵、泥,那就是至大的神把後來必有的事給王指明。這夢準是這樣,這講解也是確實的。」
王尊崇但以理加以重賚
46 當時尼布甲尼撒王俯伏在地,向但以理下拜,並且吩咐人給他奉上供物和香品。 47 王對但以理說:「你既能顯明這奧祕的事,你們的神誠然是萬神之神,萬王之主,又是顯明奧祕事的。」 48 於是王高抬但以理,賞賜他許多上等禮物,派他管理巴比倫全省,又立他為總理,掌管巴比倫的一切哲士。 49 但以理求王,王就派沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌管理巴比倫省的事務,只是但以理常在朝中侍立。
Footnotes
- 但以理書 2:5 或作:我已定命。8節同。
但以理书 2
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
巴比伦王忘记自己的梦
2 尼布甲尼撒在位第二年,他作了梦,因此心里烦乱,不能入睡。 2 于是王吩咐人把术士、用法术的、行邪术的和迦勒底人都召来,要他们把王的梦告诉王。他们来了,站在王面前。 3 王对他们说:“我作了一个梦,心里烦乱,我要知道这是甚么梦。” 4 迦勒底人用亚兰话对王说:“愿王万岁!请把那梦告诉仆人,我们好解释梦的意思。” 5 王回答迦勒底人说:“我已经定旨:如果你们不把那梦和梦的意思向我说明,就必被碎尸万段,你们的家必成为废墟。 6 如果你们能把那梦和梦的意思向我解释,就必从我这里得礼物、奖赏和大尊荣,所以你们要把梦和梦的意思向我解释。” 7 他们第二次回答王说:“请王把梦告诉仆人,我们好解释梦的意思。” 8 王回答说:“我清楚知道你们企图拖延时间,因为你们看出我已经定旨。 9 如果你们不把那梦向我说明,只有一个办法对付你们。你们串通在我面前胡言乱语,希望时势有所改变。你们现在要把梦告诉我,好使我知道你们真能把梦的意思向我解释。”
迦勒底人无法说出王的梦
10 迦勒底人在王面前回答说:“世上没有人能把王所问的事说出来,因为从来没有一个伟大和有权势的君王向术士、用法术的和迦勒底人询问过这样的事。 11 王所问的事很难答,除了那不和世人同住的神明以外,没有人能在王面前把这事说出来。” 12 因此,王大发烈怒,下令杀绝巴比伦所有的智慧人。 13 于是王的御旨发出,要把智慧人都杀死;人就寻找但以理和他的同伴,要杀死他们。
但以理求王宽限
14 那时,王的护卫长亚略出来,要杀死巴比伦的智慧人,但以理就婉转机敏地向他询问; 15 但以理对王的护卫长亚略说:“王的命令为甚么这样严厉呢?”亚略就把这事告诉但以理。 16 但以理就进去,求王宽限,使他可以把那梦的意思为王解释。
神把梦的意义指示但以理
17 但以理回到自己的家里,把这事告诉他的同伴哈拿尼雅、米沙利和亚撒利雅, 18 要他们为这隐秘的事祈求天上的 神怜悯,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 于是这隐秘的事在夜间的异象中给但以理显明了。但以理就称颂天上的 神。 20 但以理说:
“愿 神的名得称颂,从永远直到永远,
因为智慧和能力都是属他的。
21 他改变时间、季节;
他废王、立王;
他赐智慧给智慧人,
赐知识给聪明人。
22 他显明深奥和隐密的事,
他洞悉暗中的一切,
因为光明与他同住。
23 我列祖的 神啊!我感谢你,赞美你!
你把智慧和能力赐了给我;
我们向你所求的,现在你已向我显明,
把王的事告诉了我们。”
但以理入宫见王
24 于是但以理进去见亚略,就是王委派去杀绝巴比伦的智慧人的,对他这样说:“不要杀绝巴比伦的智慧人;请把我带到王面前,我要把梦的意思向王解释。”
25 亚略就急忙把但以理带到王面前,对王这样说:“我在被掳的犹大人中找到一个能把梦的意思向王说明的人。” 26 王问称为伯提沙撒的但以理说:“你能向我说明我所见的梦和梦的意思吗?” 27 但以理在王面前回答说:“王所问的那隐秘的事,没有智慧人、用法术的、术士和占星家能向王解释; 28 只有一位在天上的 神能把一切隐秘的事显明;他已经把日后将要发生的事告诉你尼布甲尼撒王了。你的梦和你躺在床上时脑海中出现的异象就是这样: 29 王啊!你躺在床上时,想到日后将要发生的事,那显明隐秘事的 神就把将要发生的事向你说明了。 30 现在这隐秘的事向我显明,并不是因为我的智慧胜过所有的人,而是要使王知道梦的意思和你心想明白的事。
复述梦境
31 “王啊!你正在观看,看见有一座大像,那像甚高,非常光耀,竖立在你面前,样貌十分可怕。 32 这像的头是纯金的,胸膛和手臂是银的,腹和腰是铜的, 33 腿是铁的,脚是铁和泥混杂的。 34 你正观看的时候,有一块非人手凿成的石头,击在那座大像铁和泥混杂的脚上,把脚砸碎了。 35 于是铁、泥、铜、银、金都一同砸得粉碎,好象夏天禾场上的糠秕,被风吹散,无处可寻;那打碎这像的石头却变成一座大山,充满全地。
详解梦义
36 “这就是那梦,现在我们要在王面前讲解那梦的意思。 37 王啊!你是万王之王,天上的 神已经把国度、权柄、能力和尊荣都赐给你; 38 也把散居在各处的世人、田野的走兽和空中的飞鸟,都交在你手里,使你管理这一切。你就是那金头。 39 在你以后,另一国将兴起,不及于你。后有第三国,就是那铜的,要统治全地。 40 还有第四国,坚强如铁,因为铁能砸碎击破万物;铁怎样压碎一切,那国也要照样砸碎一切。 41 正如你看见那像的脚和脚趾是窑匠的泥和铁混杂的,那国也必分裂;正如你看见铁和陶泥混合在一起,那国也必有铁的坚硬。 42 那些脚趾是铁和泥混杂的,那国也必是部分坚强,部分脆弱。 43 你怎样看见铁和陶泥混合在一起,那国的人也必和列国的人通婚混杂,却不能彼此联合,正如铁和泥不能混杂一样。 44 那些王在位的时候,天上的 神必兴起另一个永不灭亡的国,国权必不归给别族的人。这国必砸碎毁灭其他各国;并且这国必存到永远。 45 正如你看见那块从山而出,非人手凿成的石头,把铁、铜、泥、银和金都砸碎了,伟大的 神已把日后必有的结局都告诉王了。这梦是确实的,梦的意思也是准确的。”
王高抬并重赏但以理
46 尼布甲尼撒王俯伏在地,向但以理下拜,又下令向但以理献上供物和香品。 47 王对但以理说:“你们的 神真是万神之神,万王之王,又是显明隐秘事的,因为你能把这隐秘的事显明出来。” 48 于是王提升但以理,赐他许多贵重的礼物,使他管理巴比伦全省,又立他为总长,管理巴比伦所有的智慧人。 49 但以理求王,王就委派沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌管理巴比伦省的政务;但以理却在朝中侍立。
Daniel 2
New International Version
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
2 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams;(A) his mind was troubled(B) and he could not sleep.(C) 2 So the king summoned the magicians,(D) enchanters, sorcerers(E) and astrologers[a](F) to tell him what he had dreamed.(G) When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles(H) me and I want to know what it means.[b]”
4 Then the astrologers answered the king,[c](I) “May the king live forever!(J) Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
5 The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided:(K) If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces(L) and your houses turned into piles of rubble.(M) 6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.(N) So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”
7 Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
8 Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty(O) for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”(P)
10 The astrologers(Q) answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.(R) 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods,(S) and they do not live among humans.”
12 This made the king so angry and furious(T) that he ordered the execution(U) of all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.(V)
14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15 He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.(W) 18 He urged them to plead for mercy(X) from the God of heaven(Y) concerning this mystery,(Z) so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery(AA) was revealed to Daniel in a vision.(AB) Then Daniel praised the God of heaven(AC) 20 and said:
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;(AD)
wisdom and power(AE) are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;(AF)
he deposes(AG) kings and raises up others.(AH)
He gives wisdom(AI) to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.(AJ)
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;(AK)
he knows what lies in darkness,(AL)
and light(AM) dwells with him.
23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:(AN)
You have given me wisdom(AO) and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.(AP)”
Daniel Interprets the Dream
24 Then Daniel went to Arioch,(AQ) whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”
25 Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles(AR) from Judah(AS) who can tell the king what his dream means.”
26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar),(AT) “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”
27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,(AU) 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.(AV) He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.(AW) Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind(AX) as you were lying in bed(AY) are these:(AZ)
29 “As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.(BA) 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed(BB) to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
31 “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue,(BC) awesome(BD) in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands.(BE) It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed(BF) them.(BG) 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away(BH) without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain(BI) and filled the whole earth.(BJ)
36 “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.(BK) 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings.(BL) The God of heaven has given you dominion(BM) and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all.(BN) You are that head of gold.
39 “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth.(BO) 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.(BP) 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush(BQ) all those kingdoms(BR) and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.(BS) 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock(BT) cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands(BU)—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.
“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future.(BV) The dream is true(BW) and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate(BX) before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering(BY) and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods(BZ) and the Lord of kings(CA) and a revealer of mysteries,(CB) for you were able to reveal this mystery.(CC)”
48 Then the king placed Daniel in a high(CD) position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.(CE) 49 Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon,(CF) while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.(CG)
Footnotes
- Daniel 2:2 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 4, 5 and 10
- Daniel 2:3 Or was
- Daniel 2:4 At this point the Hebrew text has in Aramaic, indicating that the text from here through the end of chapter 7 is in Aramaic.
Daniel 2
New King James Version
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
2 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; (A)and his spirit was so troubled that (B)his sleep left him. 2 (C)Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to [a]know the dream.”
4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, (D)“O[b] king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My [c]decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be (E)cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. 6 (F)However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
7 They answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.”
8 The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm: 9 if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the [d]time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can [e]give me its interpretation.”
10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 It is a [f]difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king (G)except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought (H)Daniel and his companions, to kill them.
God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
14 Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon; 15 he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so [g]urgent?” Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.
16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation. 17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 (I)that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel (J)in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said:
(K)“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
(L)For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes (M)the times and the seasons;
(N)He removes kings and raises up kings;
(O)He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 (P)He reveals deep and secret things;
(Q)He knows what is in the darkness,
And (R)light dwells with Him.
23 “I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
You have given me wisdom and might,
And have now made known to me what we (S)asked of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s [h]demand.”
Daniel Explains the Dream
24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”
25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have found a man of the [i]captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.”
26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. 28 (T)But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar (U)what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these: 29 As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; (V)and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. 30 (W)But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, (X)and that you may [j]know the thoughts of your heart.
31 “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. 32 (Y)This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and [k]thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of [l]clay. 34 You watched while a stone was cut out (Z)without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 (AA)Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became (AB)like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that (AC)no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image (AD)became a great mountain (AE)and filled the whole earth.
36 “This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. 37 (AF)You, O king, are a king of kings. (AG)For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; 38 (AH)and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—(AI)you are this head of gold. 39 But after you shall arise (AJ)another kingdom (AK)inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And (AL)the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. 41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, (AM)so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly [m]fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings (AN)the God of heaven will set up a kingdom (AO)which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; (AP)it shall [n]break in pieces and [o]consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 (AQ)Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
Daniel and His Friends Promoted
46 (AR)Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering (AS)and incense to him. 47 The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly (AT)your God is the God of (AU)gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” 48 (AV)Then the king promoted Daniel (AW)and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and (AX)chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Also Daniel petitioned the king, (AY)and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel (AZ)sat in [p]the gate of the king.
Footnotes
- Daniel 2:3 Or understand
- Daniel 2:4 The original language of Daniel 2:4b through 7:28 is Aramaic.
- Daniel 2:5 The command
- Daniel 2:9 Situation
- Daniel 2:9 Or declare to me
- Daniel 2:11 Or rare
- Daniel 2:15 Or harsh
- Daniel 2:23 Lit. word
- Daniel 2:25 Lit. sons of the captivity
- Daniel 2:30 Understand
- Daniel 2:32 Or sides
- Daniel 2:33 Or baked clay, also vv. 34, 35, 42
- Daniel 2:42 Or brittle
- Daniel 2:44 Or crush
- Daniel 2:44 Lit. put an end to
- Daniel 2:49 The king’s court
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