但以理书 4
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
尼布甲尼撒的第二个梦
4 尼布甲尼撒王传谕天下各族、各邦、各语种的人：“愿你们大享平安！ 2 我乐意向你们述说至高的上帝对我所行的神迹奇事。
3 “祂的神迹何其伟大！
祂的奇事何其可畏！
祂的国度永远长存，
祂的统治直到万代。
4 “我尼布甲尼撒安居在家，在宫中享受荣华。 5 但我做了一个梦，令我害怕。我躺在床上的时候，脑中出现的情景和异象使我恐惧。 6 我便召巴比伦所有的智者来为我解梦。 7 术士、巫师、占星家和占卜者都来了，我将梦告诉他们，他们却不能给我解梦。 8 最后但以理来到我面前，他又名伯提沙撒——取自我神明的名，他有圣洁神明的灵。我将梦告诉他，说， 9 ‘术士的首领伯提沙撒啊，我知道你有圣洁神明的灵，任何奥秘都难不倒你。请你为我解释我梦中所见的异象。
10 “‘以下是我躺在床上时脑中出现的异象：我看见大地中央有棵非常高大的树。 11 这树长得苍劲有力，高可参天，从地极都能看见。 12 它的叶子美丽，果实累累，可作众生的食物。野兽在它的荫下躺卧，飞鸟在它的枝头栖息，一切生灵都从它那里得到食物。
13 “‘我躺在床上时脑中出现了异象，我看见一位圣洁的守望者从天而降。 14 他大声说，砍倒那棵树，削掉它的枝子，剥光它的叶子，抛散它的果子，使野兽逃离树下，飞鸟离开枝头。 15 但把树丕留在地里，用铁环和铜环箍住他留在野地的青草中，让他被天上的露水浸湿，与野兽一起吃草。 16 要改变他的人心，给他一个兽心，达七年之久。 17 这是守望者的命令，是圣者的决定，要让众生知道至高者主宰世上万国，祂要把国赐给谁就赐给谁，即使是最卑微的人。’
18 “这就是我尼布甲尼撒王所做的梦。伯提沙撒啊，你要为我解梦，因为我国中所有的智者都不能为我解梦。但是你能，因为你有圣洁神明的灵。”
但以理解梦
19 但以理，又名伯提沙撒，一时非常惊讶，惶恐不安。王说：“伯提沙撒啊，不要因为这梦和梦的意思而惶恐不安。”伯提沙撒回答说：“我主啊，愿这梦发生在恨你的人身上，梦的意思应验在你的仇敌身上。 20 你梦见的树苍劲有力，高可参天，从地极都能看见。 21 它的叶子美丽，果实累累，可作众生的食物。野兽住在它的荫下，飞鸟宿在它的枝头。 22 王啊，这苍劲有力的树就是你，你的威名高达穹苍，你的权柄延至地极。 23 王看见圣洁的守望者从天而降，说，‘将这树砍倒、毁灭，但把树丕用铁环和铜环箍住留在野地的青草中，让他被天上的露水浸湿，与野兽一起吃草，达七年之久。’
24 “王啊，以下是梦的意思，是至高者裁定要临到我主我王的事： 25 你必从人群中被赶走，与野兽同住，像牛一样吃草，被天上的露水浸湿，达七年之久，直到你知道至高者主宰世上万国，祂要把国赐给谁就赐给谁。 26 守望者命令留下树丕，表示等到你承认上天掌权后，你将重掌国权。 27 王啊，请接受我的劝谏，你要秉公行义，以断绝罪恶；怜悯穷人，以除掉罪过。这样，你的国运也许可以延续。”
梦兆应验
28 这一切事果然发生在尼布甲尼撒王身上。 29 十二个月后，他在巴比伦王宫的屋顶散步时， 30 说：“这宏伟的巴比伦岂不是我用大能建立为京都，以显我的威严和荣耀吗？” 31 话未说完，天上就有声音说：“尼布甲尼撒王啊，你听着，你已失去王权。 32 你必从人群中被赶走，与野兽同住，像牛一样吃草，达七年之久，直到你知道至高者主宰世上万国，祂要把国赐给谁就赐给谁。” 33 这话立刻应验在尼布甲尼撒身上。他从人群中被赶走，像牛一样吃草，身体被天上的露水浸湿，直到他的头发长如鹰毛，指甲长如鸟爪。
34 “七年后，我尼布甲尼撒举目望天，恢复了神智，便称颂至高者，赞美、尊崇永活者。
“祂的统治永无穷尽，
祂的国度直到万代。
35 世人都微不足道，
祂在天军和世人中独行其道，
无人能拦阻祂的手，
或质问祂的作为。
36 “那时，我恢复了神智，也恢复了我的威严和荣耀，重现我国度的辉煌。我的谋士和大臣都来朝见我，我重掌国权，势力比以前更大。 37 现在我尼布甲尼撒颂赞、尊崇、敬奉天上的王，因为祂的作为公正，祂行事公平，能够贬抑行为骄傲的人。”
Daniel 4
Swedish New Living Bible (Nya Levande Bibeln)
4 Jag, Nebukadnessar, levde i fred och hade framgång,
2 när jag en natt fick en dröm som skrämde mig.
3 Jag sände bud efter alla visa män i Babylon för att få min dröm uttydd.
4 När spåmännen, trollkonstnärerna, astrologerna och de vise männen kom och jag berättade drömmen för dem, kunde de inte förklara den.
5 Till slut kom Daniel till mig, den man som jag kallar Beltesassar efter min gud. Han har den helige gudens ande i sig.
6 Beltesassar, du som är den främste bland mina spåmän, sa jag, jag vet att den helige gudens ande bor i dig och att ingen hemlighet är så svår att inte du kan lösa den. Tala om för mig vad min dröm betyder!
7-8 Jag såg ett mycket högt träd ute på fältet, och det växte allt högre mot skyn, tills man kunde se det överallt i hela världen.
9 Löven var friska och gröna, och grenarna var nertyngda av frukt, tillräckligt för att alla skulle få att äta. Markens djur vilade sig i dess skugga, fåglar byggde bo i dess lövverk och hela världen fick sin föda av det.
10 Då fick jag i drömmen se hur en Guds ängel kom ner från himlen.
11 Han ropade: 'Hugg ner trädet! Skär av grenarna, skaka av löven och sprid ut frukten. Jaga bort djuren som håller till under det, och fåglarna som sitter på grenarna,
12 men lämna kvar stubben med rötterna i jorden. Bind fast den med en kätting av järn och koppar och låt den stå kvar i gräset på fältet.Han ska dricka av himlens dagg och äta markens gräs!
13 Under sju år ska han leva som ett djur.
14 Detta har änglarna bestämt genom den Heliges befallning. Anledningen till detta är att hela världen ska inse att den Högste råder över världens alla riken och kan ge dem till vem han vill, till och med till den lägsta bland människor!'
15 Så var min dröm, Beltesassar. Tala nu om för mig vad den betyder! Ingen annan kan hjälpa mig. Alla de vise männen i riket har svikit mig. Men du kan tala om innebörden för mig, för gudarnas ande bor i dig.
16 Daniel satt förstummad och var alldeles tyst en lång stund, förskräckt över drömmens innebörd. Slutligen sa kungen till honom: Beltesassar, var inte rädd att tala om för mig vad den betyder!Daniel svarade: Om dessa händelser som förutsägs i drömmen ändå ville drabba dina fiender, Ers Majestät, och inte dig!
17 Trädet som växte så högt att hela världen kunde se det,
18 och som hade så friska, gröna löv och så mycket frukt att den räckte åt alla, och som gav skydd åt vilda djur och lät fåglar bygga bo i sina grenar -
19 det trädet är Ers Majestät själv: Du har vuxit dig så stark och mäktig att din makt når ända upp till himlen, och du regerar över hela världen.
20 Sedan såg Ers Majestät hur Guds ängel kom ner från himlen och sa: 'Hugg ner trädet och förstör det, men lämna stubben och rötterna kvar i jorden, och bind fast den med en kedja av järn och koppar. Låt honom bli våt av himlens dagg! Under sju år ska han äta gräs tillsammans med markens djur.'
21 Detta är tolkningen: Den högste Guden har beslutat
22 att ditt folk ska driva ut dig ur ditt palats. Du ska bo på marken som ett djur och äta gräs som en oxe, och din rygg ska bli våt av dagg. Så ska det vara under sju år, tills du har lärt dig att den högste Guden regerar över människors riken och ger makt åt den han vill.
23 Men stubben och rötterna rycktes inte upp och förstördes! Det betyder att du ska få tillbaka ditt rike igen, när du har lärt dig att det är himlen som regerar.
24 Jag önskar att Ers Majestät ville lyda mitt råd och sluta att synda! Gör det som du vet är rätt! Var barmhärtig mot de fattiga! Då kanske Gud kan fortsätta att ge dig framgång!
25 Allt som Daniel sagt slog in.
26 Tolv månader efter drömmen gick Nebukadnessar omkring på taket till det kungliga palatset i Babylon
27 och sa för sig själv: I egen kraft har jag lyckats bygga denna vackra stad. Den är huvudstad i mitt rike, och detta är mitt kungliga residens.
28 Medan han talade hördes en röst från himlen: Kung Nebukadnessar, lyssna! Detta är till dig: Du regerar inte längre över detta rike.
29 Du ska tvingas lämna palatset och bo tillsammans med djuren ute på fälten och äta gräs som en oxe under sju år, tills du äntligen inser att Gud delar ut människors riken åt den han själv väljer.
30 I samma stund gick orden i uppfyllelse. Nebukadnessar blev driven ut ur sitt palats och fick äta gräs som en oxe, och hans kropp blev våt av daggen. Hans hår växte och blev så långt som en örns fjädrar och hans naglar som fågelklor.
31 När sju år hade gått, lyfte jag, Nebukadnessar, min blick mot himlen. Mitt förstånd återvände, och jag prisade och tillbad den högste Guden och ärade honom som förblir i evighet och vars rike varar från släkte till släkte.
32 Människorna på jorden är ingenting i jämförelse med honom. Han gör vad han vill med både himlens krafter och jordens alla folk. Ingen kan hindra honom eller säga: 'Vad menar du med att göra på det sättet?'
33 När jag fick tillbaka mitt förstånd, fick jag också tillbaka min makt och härlighet och mitt rike. Mina rådgivare och tjänstemän kom tillbaka till mig, jag fick tillbaka min tron och blev till och med mäktigare än tidigare.
34 Jag, Nebukadnessar, prisar nu och ärar himlens kung, allas domare, som bara gör det som är rätt och riktigt. Han har makt att krossa alla högmodiga!
但以理書 4
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
尼布甲尼撒的第二個夢
4 尼布甲尼撒王傳諭天下各族、各邦、各語種的人：「願你們大享平安！ 2 我樂意向你們述說至高的上帝對我所行的神蹟奇事。
3 「祂的神蹟何其偉大！
祂的奇事何其可畏！
祂的國度永遠長存，
祂的統治直到萬代。
4 「我尼布甲尼撒安居在家，在宮中享受榮華。 5 但我做了一個夢，令我害怕。我躺在床上的時候，腦中出現的情景和異象使我恐懼。 6 我便召巴比倫所有的智者來為我解夢。 7 術士、巫師、占星家和占卜者都來了，我將夢告訴他們，他們卻不能給我解夢。 8 最後但以理來到我面前，他又名伯提沙撒——取自我神明的名，他有聖潔神明的靈。我將夢告訴他，說， 9 『術士的首領伯提沙撒啊，我知道你有聖潔神明的靈，任何奧秘都難不倒你。請你為我解釋我夢中所見的異象。
10 「『以下是我躺在床上時腦中出現的異象：我看見大地中央有棵非常高大的樹。 11 這樹長得蒼勁有力，高可參天，從地極都能看見。 12 它的葉子美麗，果實纍纍，可作眾生的食物。野獸在它的蔭下躺臥，飛鳥在它的枝頭棲息，一切生靈都從它那裡得到食物。
13 「『我躺在床上時腦中出現了異象，我看見一位聖潔的守望者從天而降。 14 他大聲說，砍倒那棵樹，削掉它的枝子，剝光它的葉子，拋散它的果子，使野獸逃離樹下，飛鳥離開枝頭。 15 但把樹丕留在地裡，用鐵環和銅環箍住他留在野地的青草中，讓他被天上的露水浸濕，與野獸一起吃草。 16 要改變他的人心，給他一個獸心，達七年之久。 17 這是守望者的命令，是聖者的決定，要讓眾生知道至高者主宰世上萬國，祂要把國賜給誰就賜給誰，即使是最卑微的人。』
18 「這就是我尼布甲尼撒王所做的夢。伯提沙撒啊，你要為我解夢，因為我國中所有的智者都不能為我解夢。但是你能，因為你有聖潔神明的靈。」
但以理解夢
19 但以理，又名伯提沙撒，一時非常驚訝，惶恐不安。王說：「伯提沙撒啊，不要因為這夢和夢的意思而惶恐不安。」伯提沙撒回答說：「我主啊，願這夢發生在恨你的人身上，夢的意思應驗在你的仇敵身上。 20 你夢見的樹蒼勁有力，高可參天，從地極都能看見。 21 它的葉子美麗，果實纍纍，可作眾生的食物。野獸住在它的蔭下，飛鳥宿在它的枝頭。 22 王啊，這蒼勁有力的樹就是你，你的威名高達穹蒼，你的權柄延至地極。 23 王看見聖潔的守望者從天而降，說，『將這樹砍倒、毀滅，但把樹丕用鐵環和銅環箍住留在野地的青草中，讓他被天上的露水浸濕，與野獸一起吃草，達七年之久。』
24 「王啊，以下是夢的意思，是至高者裁定要臨到我主我王的事： 25 你必從人群中被趕走，與野獸同住，像牛一樣吃草，被天上的露水浸濕，達七年之久，直到你知道至高者主宰世上萬國，祂要把國賜給誰就賜給誰。 26 守望者命令留下樹丕，表示等到你承認上天掌權後，你將重掌國權。 27 王啊，請接受我的勸諫，你要秉公行義，以斷絕罪惡；憐憫窮人，以除掉罪過。這樣，你的國運也許可以延續。」
夢兆應驗
28 這一切事果然發生在尼布甲尼撒王身上。 29 十二個月後，他在巴比倫王宮的屋頂散步時， 30 說：「這宏偉的巴比倫豈不是我用大能建立為京都，以顯我的威嚴和榮耀嗎？」 31 話未說完，天上就有聲音說：「尼布甲尼撒王啊，你聽著，你已失去王權。 32 你必從人群中被趕走，與野獸同住，像牛一樣吃草，達七年之久，直到你知道至高者主宰世上萬國，祂要把國賜給誰就賜給誰。」 33 這話立刻應驗在尼布甲尼撒身上。他從人群中被趕走，像牛一樣吃草，身體被天上的露水浸濕，直到他的頭髮長如鷹毛，指甲長如鳥爪。
34 「七年後，我尼布甲尼撒舉目望天，恢復了神智，便稱頌至高者，讚美、尊崇永活者。
「祂的統治永無窮盡，
祂的國度直到萬代。
35 世人都微不足道，
祂在天軍和世人中獨行其道，
無人能攔阻祂的手，
或質問祂的作為。
36 「那時，我恢復了神智，也恢復了我的威嚴和榮耀，重現我國度的輝煌。我的謀士和大臣都來朝見我，我重掌國權，勢力比以前更大。 37 現在我尼布甲尼撒頌讚、尊崇、敬奉天上的王，因為祂的作為公正，祂行事公平，能夠貶抑行為驕傲的人。」
Daniel 4
New English Translation
4 (3:31)[a] King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and language groups that live in all the land: “Peace and prosperity![b] 2 I am delighted to tell you about the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me.
3 “How great are his signs!
How mighty are his wonders!
His kingdom will last forever,[c]
and his authority continues from one generation to the next.”
Nebuchadnezzar Dreams of a Tree Chopped Down
4 (4:1)[d] I, Nebuchadnezzar, was relaxing in my home,[e] living luxuriously[f] in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that[g] frightened me badly. The things I imagined while lying on my bed—these visions of my mind—were terrifying me. 6 So I issued an order[h] for all the wise men of Babylon to be brought[i] before me so that they could make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 When the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners entered, I recounted the dream for them. But they were unable to make known its interpretation to me. 8 Later Daniel entered (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god,[j] and in whom there is a spirit of the holy gods). I recounted the dream for him as well, 9 saying, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, in whom I know there to be a spirit of the holy gods and whom no mystery baffles, consider[k] my dream that I saw and set forth its interpretation! 10 Here are the visions of my mind[l] while I was on my bed.
“While I was watching,
there was a tree in the middle of the land.[m]
It was enormously tall.[n]
11 The tree grew large and strong.
Its top reached far into the sky;
it could be seen[o] from the borders of all the land.[p]
12 Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful;
on it there was food enough for all.
Under it the wild animals[q] used to seek shade,
and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest.
All creatures[r] used to feed themselves from it.
13 While I was watching in my mind’s visions[s] on my bed,
a holy sentinel[t] came down from heaven.
14 He called out loudly[u] as follows:[v]
‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches!
Strip off its foliage
and scatter its fruit!
Let the animals flee from under it
and the birds from its branches.
15 But leave its taproot[w] in the ground,
with a band of iron and bronze around it[x]
surrounded by the grass of the field.
Let it become damp with the dew of the sky,
and let it live with[y] the animals in the grass of the land.
16 Let his mind[z] be altered from that of a human being,
and let an animal’s mind be given to him,
and let seven periods of time[aa] go by for[ab] him.
17 This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels;
this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones,
so that[ac] those who are alive may understand
that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms,[ad]
and he bestows them on whomever he wishes.
He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its[ae] interpretation, for none of the wise men in[af] my kingdom are able to make known to me the interpretation. But you can do so, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
19 Then Daniel (whose name is also Belteshazzar) was upset for a brief time;[ag] his thoughts were alarming him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream and its interpretation alarm you.” But Belteshazzar replied, “Sir,[ah] if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries! 20 The tree that you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky, and that could be seen[ai] in all the land, 21 whose foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful, and from which there was food available for all, under whose branches wild animals[aj] used to live, and in whose branches birds of the sky used to nest— 22 it is you,[ak] O king! For you have become great and strong. Your greatness is such that it reaches to heaven, and your authority to the ends of the earth. 23 As for the king seeing a holy sentinel coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its taproot in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, surrounded by the grass of the field. Let it become damp with the dew of the sky, and let it live with the wild animals, until seven periods of time go by for him’— 24 this is the interpretation, O king. It is the decision of the Most High that this has happened to my lord the king. 25 You will be driven[al] from human society,[am] and you will live[an] with the wild animals. You will be fed[ao] grass like oxen,[ap] and you will become damp with the dew of the sky. Seven periods of time will pass by for you, before[aq] you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes. 26 They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven[ar] rules. 27 Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged.”[as]
28 Now all this happened[at] to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 After twelve months, he happened to be walking around on the battlements[au] of the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king uttered these words: “Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence[av] by my own mighty strength[aw] and for my majestic honor?” 31 While these words were still on the king’s lips,[ax] a voice came down from heaven: “It is hereby announced to you,[ay] King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingdom has been removed from you! 32 You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before[az] you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.”
33 Now in that very moment[ba] this pronouncement about[bb] Nebuchadnezzar came true.[bc] He was driven from human society, he ate grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until his hair became long like an eagle’s feathers, and his nails like a bird’s claws.[bd]
34 But at the end of the appointed time[be] I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up[bf] toward heaven, and my sanity returned to me.
I extolled the Most High,
and I praised and glorified the one who lives forever.
For his authority is an everlasting authority,
and his kingdom extends from one generation to the next.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing.[bg]
He does as he wishes with the army of heaven
and with those who inhabit the earth.
No one slaps[bh] his hand
and says to him, ‘What have you done?’
36 At that time my sanity returned to me. I was restored[bi] to the honor of my kingdom, and my splendor returned to me. My ministers and my nobles were seeking me out, and I was reinstated[bj] over my kingdom. I became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all his deeds are right and his ways are just. He is able to bring down those who live[bk] in pride.
Footnotes
- Daniel 4:1 sn Beginning with 4:1, the verse numbers through 4:37 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Aramaic text (BHS), with 4:1 ET = 3:31 AT, 4:2 ET = 3:32 AT, 4:3 ET = 3:33 AT, 4:4 ET = 4:1 AT, etc., through 4:37 ET = 4:34 AT. Thus Dan 3:31-33 of the Aramaic text appears as Dan 4:1-3 in the English Bible, and the corresponding verses of ch. 4 differ accordingly. In spite of the division of the Aramaic text, a good case can be made that 3:31-33 AT (= 4:1-3 ET) is actually the introduction to ch. 4.
- Daniel 4:1 tn Aram “May your peace increase!”
- Daniel 4:3 tn Aram “His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.”
- Daniel 4:4 sn This verse marks the beginning of chap. 4 in the Aramaic text of Daniel (see the note on 4:1). The Greek OT (LXX) has the following addition: “In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign he said.” This date would suggest a link to the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 b.c. In general, the LXX of chapters 4-6 is very different from the MT, so much so that the following notes will call attention only to selected readings. In Daniel 4 the LXX lacks sizable portions of material in the MT (e.g., vv. 3-6, 31-32), includes sizable portions of material not in the MT (e.g., v. 14a, parts of vv. 16, 28), has a different order of some material (e.g., v. 8 after v. 9), and in some instances is vastly different from the MT (e.g., vv. 30, 34). Whether these differences are due to an excessively paraphrastic translation technique adopted for these chapters in the LXX, or are due to differences in the underlying Vorlage of the LXX, is a disputed matter. The latter seems more likely. There is a growing trend in modern scholarship to take the LXX of chapters 4-6 much more seriously than was the case in most earlier text-critical studies that considered this issue.
- Daniel 4:4 tn Aram “my house.”
- Daniel 4:4 tn Aram “happy.”
- Daniel 4:5 tn Aram “and it.”
- Daniel 4:6 tn Aram “from me there was placed a decree.”
- Daniel 4:6 tn The Aramaic infinitive here is active.
- Daniel 4:8 sn This explanation of the meaning of the name Belteshazzar may be more of a paronomasia than a strict etymology. See the note at 1:7. The king's god was Marduk, who was called Bel (“Lord”).
- Daniel 4:9 tc The present translation assumes the reading חֲזִי (khazi, “consider”) rather than the MT חֶזְוֵי (khezve, “visions”). The MT implies that the king required Daniel to disclose both the dream and its interpretation, as in chapter 2. But in the following verses Nebuchadnezzar recounts his dream, while Daniel presents only its interpretation.
- Daniel 4:10 tc The LXX lacks the first two words (Aram “the visions of my head”) of the Aramaic text.
- Daniel 4:10 tn Instead of “in the middle of the land,” some English versions render this phrase “a tree at the center of the earth” (NRSV); NAB, CEV “of the world”; NLT “in the middle of the earth.” The Hebrew phrase can have either meaning.
- Daniel 4:10 tn Aram “its height was great.”
- Daniel 4:11 tn Aram “its sight,” as also v. 17.
- Daniel 4:11 tn Or “to the end of all the earth” (so KJV, ASV); NCV, CEV “from anywhere on earth.”
- Daniel 4:12 tn Aram “the beasts of the field.”
- Daniel 4:12 tn Aram “all flesh.”
- Daniel 4:13 tn Aram “the visions of my head.”
- Daniel 4:13 tn Aram “a watcher and a holy one.” The expression is a hendiadys, as also in v. 23. This “watcher” is apparently an angel. The Greek OT (LXX) in fact has ἄγγελος (angelos, “angel”) here. Theodotion simply transliterates the Aramaic word (ʿir). The term is sometimes rendered “sentinel” (NAB) or “messenger” (NIV, NLT).
- Daniel 4:14 tn Aram “in strength.”
- Daniel 4:14 tn Aram “and thus he was saying.”
- Daniel 4:15 tn Aram “the stock of its root,” as also in v. 23. The implication here is that although the tree is chopped down, it is not killed. Its life-giving root is spared. The application to Nebuchadnezzar is obvious.
- Daniel 4:15 sn The function of the band of iron and bronze is not entirely clear, but it may have had to do with preventing the splitting or further deterioration of the portion of the tree that was left after being chopped down. By application it would then refer to the preservation of Nebuchadnezzar’s life during the time of his insanity.
- Daniel 4:15 tn Aram “its lot be.”
- Daniel 4:16 tn Aram “its heart.” The metaphor of the tree begins to fade here and the reality behind the symbol (the king) begins to emerge.
- Daniel 4:16 sn The seven periods of time probably refer to seven years.
- Daniel 4:16 tn Aram “over” (also in vv. 23, 25, 32).
- Daniel 4:17 tc The present translation follows an underlying reading of עַל־דִּבְרַת (ʿal divrat, “so that”) rather than MT עַד־דִּבְרַת (ʿad divrat, “until”).
- Daniel 4:17 tn Aram “the kingdom of man”; NASB “the realm of mankind”; NCV “every kingdom on earth.”
- Daniel 4:18 tc The present translation, as also in the next verse, reads פִּשְׁרֵהּ (pishreh, “its interpretation”) with the Qere and many medieval Hebrew mss; the Kethib is פִּשְׁרָא (pishraʾ, “the interpretation”).
- Daniel 4:18 tn Aram “of.”
- Daniel 4:19 tn Aram “about one hour.” The expression refers idiomatically to a brief period of time of undetermined length.
- Daniel 4:19 tn Aram “my lord.”
- Daniel 4:20 tn Aram “its sight.”
- Daniel 4:21 tn Aram “the beasts of the field” (also in vv. 23, 25, 32).
- Daniel 4:22 sn Much of modern scholarship views this chapter as a distortion of traditions that were originally associated with Nabonidus rather than with Nebuchadnezzar. A Qumran text, the Prayer of Nabonidus, is often cited for parallels to these events.
- Daniel 4:25 tn The Aramaic indefinite active plural is used here like the English passive, as also in vv. 28, 29, and 32.
- Daniel 4:25 tn Aram “from mankind,” as also in v. 32.
- Daniel 4:25 tn Aram “your dwelling will be,” as also in v. 32.
- Daniel 4:25 tn Or perhaps: “be made to eat.”
- Daniel 4:25 sn Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity has features that are associated with the mental disorder boanthropy, in which the person so afflicted imagines himself to be an ox or a similar animal and behaves accordingly.
- Daniel 4:25 tn Aram “until.”
- Daniel 4:26 sn The reference to heaven here is a circumlocution for God. There was a tendency in Jewish contexts to avoid direct reference to God. Compare the expression “kingdom of heaven” in the NT and such statements as: “I have sinned against heaven and in your sight” (Luke 15:21).
- Daniel 4:27 tn Aram “if there may be a lengthening to your prosperity.”
- Daniel 4:28 tn Aram “reached.”
- Daniel 4:29 tn The word “battlements” is not in the text but is supplied from context. Many English versions supply “roof” here (e.g., NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV); cf. NLT “on the flat roof.”
- Daniel 4:30 tn Aram “house.”
- Daniel 4:30 tn Aram “by the might of my strength.”
- Daniel 4:31 tn Aram “in the mouth of the king.”
- Daniel 4:31 tn Aram “to you they say.”
- Daniel 4:32 tn Aram “until.”
- Daniel 4:33 tn Aram “hour.”
- Daniel 4:33 tn Or “on.”
- Daniel 4:33 tn Aram “was fulfilled.”
- Daniel 4:33 tn The words “feathers” and “claws” are not present in the Aramaic text, but have been added in the translation for clarity.
- Daniel 4:34 tn Aram “days.”
- Daniel 4:34 tn Aram “lifted up my eyes.”
- Daniel 4:35 tc The present translation reads כְּלָא (kelaʾ), with many medieval Hebrew mss, rather than כְּלָה (kelah) of BHS.
- Daniel 4:35 tn Aram “strikes against.”
- Daniel 4:36 tc The translation reads הַדְרֵת (hadret, “I returned”) rather than the MT הַדְרִי (hadri, “my honor”); cf. Theodotion.
- Daniel 4:36 tc The translation reads הָתְקְנֵת (hotqenet, “I was established”) rather than the MT הָתְקְנַת (hotqenat, “it was established”). The MT could read: “And regarding my kingdom, it was established.”
- Daniel 4:37 tn Aram “walk.”
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