但以理书 2
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
巴比倫王忘記自己的夢
2 尼布甲尼撒在位第二年，他作了夢，因此心裡煩亂，不能入睡。 2 於是王吩咐人把術士、用法術的、行邪術的和迦勒底人都召來，要他們把王的夢告訴王。他們來了，站在王面前。 3 王對他們說：“我作了一個夢，心裡煩亂，我要知道這是甚麼夢。” 4 迦勒底人用亞蘭話對王說：“願王萬歲！請把那夢告訴僕人，我們好解釋夢的意思。” 5 王回答迦勒底人說：“我已經定旨：如果你們不把那夢和夢的意思向我說明，就必被碎屍萬段，你們的家必成為廢墟。 6 如果你們能把那夢和夢的意思向我解釋，就必從我這裡得禮物、獎賞和大尊榮，所以你們要把夢和夢的意思向我解釋。” 7 他們第二次回答王說：“請王把夢告訴僕人，我們好解釋夢的意思。” 8 王回答說：“我清楚知道你們企圖拖延時間，因為你們看出我已經定旨。 9 如果你們不把那夢向我說明，只有一個辦法對付你們。你們串通在我面前胡言亂語，希望時勢有所改變。你們現在要把夢告訴我，好使我知道你們真能把夢的意思向我解釋。”
迦勒底人無法說出王的夢
10 迦勒底人在王面前回答說：“世上沒有人能把王所問的事說出來，因為從來沒有一個偉大和有權勢的君王向術士、用法術的和迦勒底人詢問過這樣的事。 11 王所問的事很難答，除了那不和世人同住的神明以外，沒有人能在王面前把這事說出來。” 12 因此，王大發烈怒，下令殺絕巴比倫所有的智慧人。 13 於是王的御旨發出，要把智慧人都殺死；人就尋找但以理和他的同伴，要殺死他們。
但以理求王寬限
14 那時，王的護衛長亞略出來，要殺死巴比倫的智慧人，但以理就婉轉機敏地向他詢問； 15 但以理對王的護衛長亞略說：“王的命令為甚麼這樣嚴厲呢？”亞略就把這事告訴但以理。 16 但以理就進去，求王寬限，使他可以把那夢的意思為王解釋。
神把夢的意義指示但以理
17 但以理回到自己的家裡，把這事告訴他的同伴哈拿尼雅、米沙利和亞撒利雅， 18 要他們為這隱祕的事祈求天上的 神憐憫，免得但以理和他的同伴與巴比倫其餘的智慧人一同滅亡。 19 於是這隱祕的事在夜間的異象中給但以理顯明了。但以理就稱頌天上的 神。 20 但以理說：
“願 神的名得稱頌，從永遠直到永遠，
因為智慧和能力都是屬他的。
21 他改變時間、季節；
他廢王、立王；
他賜智慧給智慧人，
賜知識給聰明人。
22 他顯明深奧和隱密的事，
他洞悉暗中的一切，
因為光明與他同住。
23 我列祖的 神啊！我感謝你，讚美你！
你把智慧和能力賜了給我；
我們向你所求的，現在你已向我顯明，
把王的事告訴了我們。”
但以理入宮見王
24 於是但以理進去見亞略，就是王委派去殺絕巴比倫的智慧人的，對他這樣說：“不要殺絕巴比倫的智慧人；請把我帶到王面前，我要把夢的意思向王解釋。”
25 亞略就急忙把但以理帶到王面前，對王這樣說：“我在被擄的猶大人中找到一個能把夢的意思向王說明的人。” 26 王問稱為伯提沙撒的但以理說：“你能向我說明我所見的夢和夢的意思嗎？” 27 但以理在王面前回答說：“王所問的那隱祕的事，沒有智慧人、用法術的、術士和占星家能向王解釋； 28 只有一位在天上的 神能把一切隱祕的事顯明；他已經把日後將要發生的事告訴你尼布甲尼撒王了。你的夢和你躺在床上時腦海中出現的異象就是這樣： 29 王啊！你躺在床上時，想到日後將要發生的事，那顯明隱祕事的 神就把將要發生的事向你說明了。 30 現在這隱祕的事向我顯明，並不是因為我的智慧勝過所有的人，而是要使王知道夢的意思和你心想明白的事。
復述夢境
31 “王啊！你正在觀看，看見有一座大像，那像甚高，非常光耀，豎立在你面前，樣貌十分可怕。 32 這像的頭是純金的，胸膛和手臂是銀的，腹和腰是銅的， 33 腿是鐵的，腳是鐵和泥混雜的。 34 你正觀看的時候，有一塊非人手鑿成的石頭，擊在那座大像鐵和泥混雜的腳上，把腳砸碎了。 35 於是鐵、泥、銅、銀、金都一同砸得粉碎，好像夏天禾場上的糠秕，被風吹散，無處可尋；那打碎這像的石頭卻變成一座大山，充滿全地。
詳解夢義
36 “這就是那夢，現在我們要在王面前講解那夢的意思。 37 王啊！你是萬王之王，天上的 神已經把國度、權柄、能力和尊榮都賜給你； 38 也把散居在各處的世人、田野的走獸和空中的飛鳥，都交在你手裡，使你管理這一切。你就是那金頭。 39 在你以後，另一國將興起，不及於你。後有第三國，就是那銅的，要統治全地。 40 還有第四國，堅強如鐵，因為鐵能砸碎擊破萬物；鐵怎樣壓碎一切，那國也要照樣砸碎一切。 41 正如你看見那像的腳和腳趾是窯匠的泥和鐵混雜的，那國也必分裂；正如你看見鐵和陶泥混合在一起，那國也必有鐵的堅硬。 42 那些腳趾是鐵和泥混雜的，那國也必是部分堅強，部分脆弱。 43 你怎樣看見鐵和陶泥混合在一起，那國的人也必和列國的人通婚混雜，卻不能彼此聯合，正如鐵和泥不能混雜一樣。 44 那些王在位的時候，天上的 神必興起另一個永不滅亡的國，國權必不歸給別族的人。這國必砸碎毀滅其他各國；並且這國必存到永遠。 45 正如你看見那塊從山而出，非人手鑿成的石頭，把鐵、銅、泥、銀和金都砸碎了，偉大的 神已把日後必有的結局都告訴王了。這夢是確實的，夢的意思也是準確的。”
王高抬並重賞但以理
46 尼布甲尼撒王俯伏在地，向但以理下拜，又下令向但以理獻上供物和香品。 47 王對但以理說：“你們的 神真是萬神之神，萬王之王，又是顯明隱祕事的，因為你能把這隱祕的事顯明出來。” 48 於是王提升但以理，賜他許多貴重的禮物，使他管理巴比倫全省，又立他為總長，管理巴比倫所有的智慧人。 49 但以理求王，王就委派沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌管理巴比倫省的政務；但以理卻在朝中侍立。
Daniel 2
Expanded Bible
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
2 During Nebuchadnezzar’s second year as king [603–602 bc], ·he had dreams that bothered [L his spirit agitated] him and ·kept him awake at night [L his sleep left him]. 2 So the king ·called for [summoned] his ·magicians [enchanters], ·fortune-tellers [diviners], ·wizards [sorcerers], and ·wise men [L Chaldeans; C a group of astrologers], because he wanted them to tell him what he had dreamed. They came in and stood in front of the king.
3 Then the king said to them, “I had a dream ·that bothers me [L and my spirit is agitated], and I want to know ·what it means [L the dream].”
4 The ·wise men [astrologers; L Chaldeans] answered the king in the Aramaic language [C the language of the text shifts to Aramaic until the end of chapter 7; Aramaic was the everyday language of Babylon at this time], “O king, live forever! Please tell us, your servants, your dream. Then we will ·tell you what it means [interpret it].”
5 King Nebuchadnezzar said to ·them [the astrologers/L Chaldeans], “·I meant what I said [L The matter has been determined by me]. You must tell me the dream and what it means. If you don’t, I will have you torn ·apart [limb from limb], and I will turn your houses into piles of stones [Ezra 6:11]. 6 But if you tell me my dream and its ·meaning [interpretation], I will reward you with gifts, a reward, and great honor. So tell me the dream and ·what it means [its interpretation].”
7 Again the wise men said to the king, “Tell us, your servants, the dream, and we will tell you ·what it means [its interpretation].”
8 ·King Nebuchadnezzar [L The king] answered, “I know you are ·trying to get more [stalling for] time, because you know that ·I meant what I said [L the matter has been determined by me]. 9 If you don’t tell me my dream, ·you will be punished [L there is one ordinance/verdict for you]. You have all agreed to tell me lies and wicked things, hoping things will change. Now, tell me the dream so that I will know you can tell me ·what it really means [its interpretation]!”
10 The ·wise men [astrologers; L Chaldeans] answered the king, saying, “No one on earth can ·do [reveal] what the king asks! No great and powerful king has ever asked the ·magicians [enchanters], ·fortune tellers [diviners], or ·wise men [astrologers; L Chaldeans] to do this [C normally the dreamer would tell the dream, and the interpreter would interpret it using a dream commentary]; 11 the king is asking something that is too hard. Only the gods could tell the king this, but ·the gods do not live among people [L their home/dwelling is not with flesh].”
12 When the king heard their answer, he became very angry. He ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be killed. 13 So King Nebuchadnezzar’s ·order [decree; edict] to kill the wise men was announced, and men ·were sent to look [searched] for Daniel and his friends to kill them [C since they were also wise men].
14 Arioch, the ·commander of the king’s guards [L chief butcher], was going to kill the wise men of Babylon. But Daniel spoke to him with ·wisdom [prudence] and ·skill [deference], 15 saying to Arioch, the royal official, “Why did the king order such a ·terrible [severe] punishment?” Then Arioch explained everything to Daniel. 16 So Daniel went to King Nebuchadnezzar and asked for ·an appointment [or some time] so that he could tell the king what his dream meant.
17 Then Daniel went to his house and ·explained the whole story [L made the matter known] to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 18 Daniel asked his friends to ·pray [ask] that the God of heaven would show them ·mercy [compassion] and help them understand this ·secret [mystery] so he and his friends would not ·be killed [perish] with the other wise men of Babylon.
19 During the night God ·explained [revealed] the ·secret [mystery] to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel ·praised [blessed] the God of heaven. 20 Daniel said:
“·Praise [Blessed be] ·God [L the name of God] forever and ever,
because he has wisdom and ·power [might].
21 He changes the times and seasons of the year.
He ·takes away the power of [removes; deposes] kings
and ·gives their power to new [sets up] kings.
He gives wisdom to those who are wise
and knowledge to those who understand.
22 He ·makes known [reveals] ·secrets that are deep and hidden [L deep and secret things];
he knows what is hidden in darkness,
and light ·is all around [dwells with] him.
23 I thank you and praise you, God of my ·ancestors [fathers],
because you have given me wisdom and ·power [might].
You told me what we asked of you;
you told us about the king’s ·dream [L matter].”
The Meaning of the Dream
24 Then Daniel went to Arioch, the man King Nebuchadnezzar had ·chosen [assigned; delegated] to ·kill [put to death; destroy] the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, “Don’t ·put the wise men of Babylon to death [kill/destroy the wise men of Babylon]. Take me to the king, and I will ·tell him what his dream means [L give him its interpretation].”
25 Very quickly Arioch took Daniel to the king and said, “I have found a man among the ·captives [L sons of the exiles] from Judah who can tell the king ·what his dream means [its interpretation].”
26 The king asked Daniel, ·who was also called [L whose name was] Belteshazzar [1:7], “Are you able to tell me what I dreamed and ·what it means [its interpretation]?”
27 Daniel answered, “No wise man, magician [enchanter], ·fortune-teller [diviner], or exorcist can explain to the king the ·secret [mystery; v. 11] he has asked about. 28 But there is a God in heaven who ·explains [reveals] ·secret things [mysteries], and he has ·shown [made known to] King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen ·at a later time [in the future; L in the latter days]. This is your dream, the vision ·you saw [L of your head] while lying on your bed: 29 O king, as you were lying ·there [L on your bed], you thought about things to come. God, who can ·tell people about [L reveal] ·secret things [mysteries], ·showed [made known to] you what is going to happen. 30 God also ·told [revealed] this ·secret [mystery] to me, not because I have greater wisdom than any other living person, but so that you may know ·what it means [its interpretation]. In that way you will understand ·what went through your mind [L the thoughts of your heart/mind].
31 “O king, in your ·dream [L vision] you saw a ·huge [great], ·shiny [extraordinarily bright], and frightening statue in front of you. 32 The head of the statue was made of ·pure [fine] gold. Its chest and arms were made of silver. Its ·stomach [middle; torso] and ·the upper part of its legs [its thighs] were made of bronze. 33 ·The lower part of the [L Its] legs were made of iron, while its feet were made partly of iron and partly of ·baked clay [pottery; terra cotta]. 34 While you were looking at the statue, you saw a rock cut free [C from a mountain, perhaps “the mountain of the God’s temple”; Is. 2:2; Mic. 4:1], but ·no human being touched the rock [L not by hands; C implying God did it]. It hit the statue on its feet of iron and ·clay [pottery; terra cotta; C its weak point] and ·smashed them [broke them in pieces]. 35 Then the iron, ·clay [pottery; terra cotta], bronze, silver, and gold broke to pieces ·at the same time [or totally]. They became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summertime; the wind blew them away, and there was nothing left. Then the rock that hit the statue became a very large mountain that filled the whole earth.
36 “That was your dream. Now we will tell the king ·what it means [its interpretation]. 37 O king, you are the ·greatest king [L king of kings]. God of heaven has given you a kingdom, ·power [sovereignty], strength, and ·glory [honor]. 38 Wherever people, wild animals, and birds live, God made you ruler over them. King Nebuchadnezzar, you are the head of gold.
39 “Another kingdom will ·come [rise up] after you, but ·it will not be as great as [inferior to] yours [C perhaps the Medes or the Medo-Persians]. Next a third kingdom, the bronze part, will rule over the earth [C perhaps the Persians or the Greeks]. 40 Then there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron [C perhaps the Greeks or the Romans]. In the same way that iron crushes and smashes things to pieces, the fourth kingdom will smash and crush all the other kingdoms [C these kingdoms might not be specific kingdoms but symbolic of a series of unnamed oppressive nations].
41 “You saw that the statue’s feet and toes were partly ·baked [pottery] clay and partly iron. That means the fourth kingdom will be a divided kingdom. It will have some of the strength of iron in it, just as you saw iron was mixed with ·clay [or pottery; or terra cotta]. 42 The toes of the statue were partly iron and partly ·clay [or pottery; or terra cotta]. So the fourth kingdom will be partly strong [C like iron] and partly ·breakable [brittle; C like baked clay]. 43 You saw the iron mixed with ·clay [pottery; terra cotta], but iron and ·clay [pottery; terra cotta] do not hold together. In the same way the people of the fourth kingdom will be a mixture, but they will not be united as one people.
44 “During the ·time [L days] of those kings, the God of heaven will set up another kingdom that will never be destroyed [C the kingdom of God] or given to another group of people. This kingdom will crush all the other kingdoms and bring them to an end [v. 40], but it will ·continue [stand] forever.
45 “King Nebuchadnezzar, you saw a rock cut from a mountain, but ·no human being touched it [L not by hand]. The rock broke the iron, bronze, ·clay [or pottery; or terra cotta], silver, and gold to pieces. In this way the great God ·showed [made known to] you what will happen. The dream is ·true [certain], and you can trust this ·explanation [interpretation].”
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell ·facedown on the ground [L on his face] in front of Daniel. The king ·honored [or worshiped] him and commanded that an ·offering [or grain/gift/tribute offering] and incense be ·presented [offered] to him. 47 Then the king said to Daniel, “Truly I know your God is the ·greatest of all [L God of] gods, the Lord of all the kings. He ·tells people about things they cannot know [reveals mysteries]. I know this is true, because you were able to ·tell [reveal] these ·secret things [mysteries] to me.”
48 Then the king gave Daniel many gifts plus an important position in his kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar made him ruler over the ·whole area [L province] of Babylon and put him in charge of all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel asked the king to ·make [appoint] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego leaders over the ·area [L province] of Babylon, so the king did as Daniel asked. Daniel ·himself became one of the people who stayed [stayed] at the royal court.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.