尼布甲尼撒的梦

尼布甲尼撒在执政第二年做了梦,心里烦乱,无法入睡, 便派人召来术士、巫师、行法术的和占星家[a],为他解梦。他们都来到王面前。 王对他们说:“我做了一个梦,心里烦乱,想知道梦的意思。” 占星家用亚兰话对王说:“愿王万岁!请将梦告诉仆人,仆人好解释梦的意思。” 王对占星家说:“我的旨意已定,你们若不能将梦和梦的意思告诉我,必被碎尸万段,你们的家必沦为废墟。 你们若能将梦和梦的意思告诉我,我必给你们礼物、赏赐和极大的尊荣。所以你们要将梦和梦的意思告诉我。” 他们再次对王说:“请王将梦告诉仆人,仆人好解释梦的意思。” 王说:“我敢肯定,你们是在拖延时间,因为你们知道我的旨意已定, 你们若不将梦告诉我,我必惩治你们。你们串通起来在我面前胡言乱语,期待情况会改变。现在将梦告诉我,我就相信你们能解梦。” 10 占星家说:“王所要求的,世上无人能做到,因为再伟大、再有权势的君王也没问过术士、巫师或占星家这样的事。 11 王问的事太难,除了不在人间居住的神明外,无人能为王解答。” 12 王大怒,下令处死巴比伦所有的智者。 13 于是,处死智者的谕旨发出,但以理和他的同伴都在被杀之列。

14 王的护卫长亚略奉命要处死巴比伦的智者,但以理机智、谨慎地应对。 15 他问王的护卫长亚略:“王的命令为何这样紧急?”亚略就把情况告诉他。 16 但以理便进宫求王宽限,以便为王解梦。 17 然后,他回到居所将这事告诉同伴哈拿尼雅、米沙利和亚撒利雅, 18 要同伴祈求天上的上帝施怜悯,显明这奥秘,以免他们和其他巴比伦的智者一起被杀。 19 这奥秘在夜间的异象中向但以理显明,他便颂赞天上的上帝, 20 说:

“上帝的名永永远远当受称颂,
因为智慧和能力都属于祂。
21 祂改变时令和季节,废王立王,
赐智慧给智者,赐知识给哲士。
22 祂显明深奥隐秘之事,
洞悉暗中的隐情,
有光与祂同住。
23 我祖先的上帝啊,我感谢你,赞美你,
因你赐我智慧和能力,
应允我们的祈求,
使我们明白王的梦。”

但以理解梦

24 于是,但以理去见王指派处死巴比伦智者的亚略,对他说:“不要处死巴比伦的智者,请带我去见王,我要为王解梦。” 25 亚略急忙带但以理去见王,对王说:“我在被掳的犹大人中找到一个能为王解梦的。” 26 王就问又名伯提沙撒的但以理:“你能将我做的梦和梦的意思告诉我吗?” 27 但以理回答说:“没有智者、术士、巫师或占星家可以解答王所问的奥秘, 28-30 但天上的上帝能揭开奥秘,祂已把将来要发生的事告诉了王。王啊,你在床上梦见了将来的事,揭开奥秘的上帝已把将来的事指示给你。上帝将王做的梦启示给我,并非因为我的智慧胜过其他人,而是要让王知道梦的意思和王的心事。以下是王在床上做的梦和脑中出现的异象。

31 “王啊,你梦见一个高大宏伟、极其明亮的塑像站在你面前,相貌可怕, 32 有纯金的头、银的胸和臂、铜的肚腹和大腿、 33 铁的小腿和半铁半泥的脚。 34 在你观看的时候,有一块非人手凿出的石头打在塑像半铁半泥的脚上,砸碎了脚。 35 铁、泥、铜、银、金随即粉碎,犹如夏天麦场上的糠秕,被风吹得无影无踪。但打碎这像的石头变成一座大山,充满整个大地。

36 “这就是梦的内容。现在我们要为王解梦。 37 王啊,你是万王之王,天上的上帝已将国度、权柄、能力和尊荣赐给你, 38 也将居住在各地的世人、走兽和飞禽都交在你手中,让你管理。你就是那金头。 39 在你之后,必有另一国兴起,不及你的国强大。之后是将要统治天下的第三个国,是铜的。 40 接着是坚如铁的第四国,能击垮、打碎列国,正如铁能击垮、打碎一切。 41 你看见半铁半陶泥的脚和脚趾,表示那将是一个分裂的国。正如你看见铁和泥混杂在一起,它必有铁一般的力量。 42 半铁半泥的脚趾表示那国必半强半弱。 43 你看见铁和泥混杂在一起,这表示那国的民族彼此混杂通婚,却不能团结,正如铁和泥无法混合。 44 在以上列王统治的时候,天上的上帝必设立一国——永不灭亡、外族无法夺其政权。这国将击垮、消灭列国,并且永远长存。 45 你看见那块非人手从山中凿出的石头打碎铁、铜、泥、银和金。伟大的上帝已把将来的事告诉了王。这梦是真实的,解释是可靠的。”

46 尼布甲尼撒王俯伏在地,向但以理下拜,并下令给他献供物和香。 47 王对但以理说:“你们的上帝真是万神之神、万王之主、奥秘的启示者,因为你能揭开这个奥秘。” 48 王赐但以理高官及许多贵重的礼物,派他治理巴比伦全省,管理巴比伦所有的智者。 49 王又应允但以理的请求,派沙得拉、米煞和亚伯尼歌负责巴比伦省的事务。但以理仍在朝中供职。

Footnotes

  1. 2:2 占星家”亚兰文作“迦勒底人”,同下2:4510节;3:84:75:711

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams which troubled his spirit, and broke his sleep.

Then the king commanded to call the enchanters, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to interpret the king’s dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

And the king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream. And my spirit was troubled to know the dream.”

Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in the Aramite’s language, “O king, live forever. Show your servants your dream, and we shall show the interpretation.”

And the king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The thing is spoken. If you will not make me understand the dream, with the interpretation thereof, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.

“But, if you declare the dream and the interpretation thereof, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore, show me the dream and the interpretation of it.”

They answered again, and said, “Let the king show his servants the dream, and we will declare the interpretation thereof.”

Then the king answered, and said, “I know certainly that you would like more time, because you see the thing is spoken.

“But if you will not declare to me the dream, there is but one judgment for you. For you have prepared lying and corrupt words, to speak before me till the time changes. Therefore, tell me the dream, that I may know if you can declare to me the interpretation thereof.”

10 Then the Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is no man upon earth who can declare the king’s matter. Yea, there is neither king nor prince nor lord who asked such things of an enchanter, or astrologer, or Chaldean.

11 For it is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can declare it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

12 For this reason, the king was angry and in a great fury, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babel.

13 And when sentence was given, the wise men were killed. And they sought Daniel and his friends, to be put to death.

14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch, the king’s chief steward, who had gone forth to put to death the wise men of Babel.

15 “Yea,” he answered and said to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the sentence so severe from the king?” Then Arioch explained it to Daniel.

16 So Daniel went and asked the king if he would give him time to show the king the interpretation thereof.

17 Then Daniel went to his house and shared the matter with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,

18 in order that they should ask the God of heaven for grace in this secret, so that Daniel and his friends should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babel.

19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision by night. Therefore, Daniel praised the God of heaven.

20 And Daniel answered and said, “The Name of God be praised forever and ever. For wisdom and strength are his.

21 “And he changes the times and seasons. He takes away kings. He sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and understanding to those who understand.

22 “He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in darkness, and the light dwells with him.

23 “I thank you and praise you, O God of my fathers, that you have given me wisdom and strength, and have shown me now the thing that we desired of you. For you have declared to us the king’s matter.”

24 Therefore, Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babel. He went and said to him, “Do not destroy the wise men of Babel. But bring me before the king, and I will declare to the king the interpretation.”

25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said, “I have found a man of the children of Judah, who were brought as captives, and who will declare to the king the interpretation.”

26 Then answered the king, and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to show me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?”

27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, can neither the wise, nor the astrologers, nor the enchanters, nor the soothsayers declare to the king.

28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and shows the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the things which you have seen in your head upon your bed, is this:

29 “O king, when you were in your bed, thoughts came into your mind, showing what should come to pass hereafter. And he who reveals secrets, tells you what shall come.

30 “As for me, this secret is not shown to me because I have more wisdom than any other living, but only to show the king the interpretation, that you might know the thoughts of your heart.

31 “O king, you saw, and behold, there was a great image. This great image, whose glory was so excellent, stood before you. And the form, therefore, was terrible.

32 “This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,

33 “His legs of iron. And his feet were part iron and part clay.

34 “You beheld it till a stone was cut without hands, which struck the image upon his feet, made of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces.

35 “Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver and the gold broken all together. And they became like the chaff of the summer flowers. And the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

36 “This is the dream, and we will declare before the king the interpretation thereof.

37 “O king, you are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

38 “And in all places where the children of men dwell, he has given into your hand the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, and has made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold.

39 “And after you shall rise another kingdom, inferior to you, of silver. And another, third kingdom shall be of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

40 “And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron. For as iron breaks in pieces, and subdues all things, and as iron bruises all these things, so shall it break in pieces, and bruise all.

41 “Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay, and partly of iron: the kingdom shall be divided. But there shall be in it the strength of the iron, as you saw the iron mixed with the clay and earth.

42 “And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron, and partly of clay, so shall the kingdom be partly strong and partly broken.

43 “And just as you saw iron mixed with clay and earth, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men. But they shall not join one with another, as iron cannot be mixed with clay.

44 “And in the days of these kings, the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. And this kingdom shall not be given to another people. But it shall break and destroy all these kingdoms. And it shall stand forever.

45 “Just as you saw that the stone was cut from the mountain without hands. And that it broke in pieces the iron, and the brass, and the clay, and the silver, and the gold. So the great God has shown the king what shall come to pass hereafter. And the dream is true. And the interpretation thereof is sure.”

46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and bowed himself to Daniel, and commanded that they should offer meat offerings and sweet odors to him.

47 Also, the king answered Daniel, and said, “I know truly that your God is a God of gods; and the Lord of kings; and the revealer of secrets; because I see you can open this secret.”

48 So the king made Daniel a great man; and gave him many and great gifts. He made him governor over the whole province of Babel, and chief of the rulers; and above all the wise men of Babel.

49 Then Daniel made a request of the king, that he may set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in charge of the province of Babel, while Daniel remained in the gate of the king.