Daniel 2
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015
Nebukadnessars dröm
2 (A) I sitt andra regeringsår[a] hade Nebukadnessar drömmar som gjorde honom orolig och sömnlös. 2 (B) Då kallade kungen till sig sina spåmän, besvärjare, trollkarlar och kaldeer[b] för att de skulle tala om för honom vad han hade drömt. Och de kom och trädde fram inför kungen.
3 Kungen sade till dem: ”Jag har haft en dröm, och min ande är orolig. Jag vill veta vad jag drömt.” 4 (C) Då sade kaldeerna till kungen på arameiska[c]: ”Må kungen leva för evigt! Berätta drömmen för dina tjänare så ska vi tyda den.” 5 (D) Kungen svarade kaldeerna: ”Detta är mitt fasta beslut: Om ni inte förklarar drömmen för mig och tyder den ska ni huggas i stycken och era hus göras till sophögar. 6 Men om ni berättar drömmen för mig och tyder den ska ni få gåvor och lön och stor ära av mig. Säg mig därför drömmen och dess tydning.” 7 De svarade för andra gången: ”Kungen bör berätta drömmen för sina tjänare, så ska vi tala om vad den betyder.”
8 Kungen svarade: ”Jag märker tydligt att ni vill vinna tid, eftersom ni ser att detta är mitt fasta beslut. 9 Om ni inte säger mig drömmen kan domen över er bara bli en. Ni har kommit överens om att ljuga och bedra i hopp om att tiderna ska förändras. Säg mig nu vad jag drömt, så vet jag att ni också kan tyda det för mig.”
10 Kaldeerna svarade kungen: ”Det finns ingen människa på jorden som kan säga det kungen vill veta. Ingen kung, hur stor och mäktig han än varit, har någonsin begärt något sådant av någon spåman, besvärjare eller kaldé. 11 Det som kungen begär är för svårt. Det finns ingen som kan berätta det för kungen, ingen utom gudarna. Men de bor inte bland de dödliga.”
12 Detta gjorde kungen så vred och rasande att han befallde att alla de vise i Babel skulle förgöras.[d] 13 När befallningen hade gått ut och man skulle döda de vise männen, sökte man också efter Daniel och hans vänner för att döda dem.
14 Då vände sig Daniel med kloka och förståndiga ord till Arjok, översten för kungens livvakter[e] som hade gått ut för att döda de vise i Babel. 15 Han frågade Arjok, kungens befälhavare: ”Varför har kungen gett en så sträng befallning?” Arjok talade om för Daniel hur det var. 16 Daniel gick då in till kungen och bad att få tid på sig, så skulle han ge kungen tydningen.
17 Sedan gick Daniel hem och förklarade saken för sina vänner Hananja, Mishael och Asarja. 18 Han uppmanade dem att be om nåd från himlens Gud, så att hemligheten skulle uppenbaras och Daniel och hans vänner inte skulle dödas tillsammans med de övriga vise i Babel.
19 Då uppenbarades hemligheten för Daniel i en syn om natten, och Daniel prisade himlens Gud 20 (E) och sade:
”Lovat är Guds namn
från evighet till evighet,
för vishet och makt tillhör honom.
21 (F) Han låter tider och stunder skifta,
han avsätter kungar
och tillsätter kungar,
han ger de visa deras vishet
och de förståndiga
deras förstånd.
22 (G) Han uppenbarar
det som är djupt och fördolt,
han vet vad som finns i mörkret
och ljuset bor hos honom.
23 Dig, mina fäders Gud,
tackar och prisar jag
för att du gett mig vishet
och förmåga
och uppenbarat för mig
det vi bad dig om.
Du har visat oss
vad kungen ville veta.”
24 Sedan gick Daniel till Arjok som hade fått order av kungen att förgöra de vise i Babel. Han kom in och sade till honom: ”Döda inte de vise i Babel. För mig till kungen, så ska jag ge honom tydningen.” 25 Genast förde Arjok Daniel till kungen och sade till honom: ”Jag har funnit en man bland de judiska fångarna som kan ge kungen tydningen.” 26 (H) Kungen sade till Daniel, som hade fått namnet Belteshassar: ”Kan du verkligen berätta drömmen för mig, vad jag såg och vad det betyder?” 27 Daniel svarade kungen:
”Den hemlighet som kungen vill veta kan inga vise män, besvärjare, spåmän eller stjärntydare[f] berätta för kungen. 28 Men det finns en Gud i himlen som kan uppenbara hemligheter, och han har låtit kung Nebukadnessar veta vad som ska ske i kommande dagar. Detta var din dröm och synen du såg på din bädd: 29 När du, o konung, låg på din bädd, började du tänka på vad som ska ske i framtiden, och han som uppenbarar hemligheter lät dig veta vad som ska ske. 30 (I) Denna hemlighet har uppenbarats för mig, inte för att jag har mer vishet än alla andra levande varelser, utan för att kungen skulle få veta tydningen så att du förstår ditt hjärtas tankar.
31 O konung, du såg i din syn en stor staty, hög och med strålande glans. Den stod framför dig, och den var skrämmande att se. 32 Huvudet på statyn var av fint guld, bröstet och armarna av silver, buken och höfterna av koppar.[g] 33 Benen var av järn, och fötterna delvis av järn och delvis av lera.
34 Medan du såg på den revs en sten loss, men inte av människohänder, och den träffade statyns fötter av järn och lera och krossade dem. 35 (J) Då krossades alltsammans, järnet, leran, kopparn, silvret och guldet. Allt blev som agnar från tröskplatserna[h] om sommaren, och vinden förde bort det så att inte ett spår fanns kvar. Men stenen[i] som hade träffat statyn blev ett stort berg som uppfyllde hela jorden.
36 Det var drömmen, och nu vill vi säga kungen vad den betyder[j]: 37 (K) Du, o konung, är kungarnas kung. Himlens Gud[k] har gett dig rike, styrka, makt och ära. 38 (L) I din hand har han gett människorna, markens djur och himlens fåglar, var de än bor, och han har satt dig att härska över dem alla. Du är det gyllene huvudet. 39 Men efter dig ska det uppstå ett annat rike, svagare än ditt, och därefter ett tredje rike av koppar som ska härska över hela jorden. 40 Det fjärde riket ska vara starkt som järn, för järn krossar och slår sönder allt. Så som järn förstör allt annat ska det krossa och förstöra.
41 Och att du såg fötterna och tårna vara delvis av krukmakarlera och delvis av järn, det betyder att det ska vara ett splittrat rike. Men det ska ha något av järnets fasthet, eftersom du såg att leran var blandad med järn. 42 Tårna på fötterna var delvis av järn och delvis av lera, och det betyder att riket ska vara delvis starkt och delvis svagt. 43 Att du såg järnet blandat med lera betyder att människor ska blanda sig med varandra genom giftermål men ändå inte hålla samman, lika lite som järn kan förenas med lera.
44 (M) Men i de kungarnas dagar ska himlens Gud upprätta ett rike som aldrig i evighet ska gå under och vars makt inte ska överlämnas till något annat folk. Det ska krossa och göra slut på alla de andra rikena, men självt ska det bestå för evigt. 45 (N) Du såg ju att en sten revs loss från berget, men inte av människohänder, och att den krossade järnet, kopparn, leran, silvret och guldet.
Den store Guden har nu uppenbarat för kungen vad som ska ske i framtiden. Drömmen är sann och tydningen tillförlitlig.”
46 (O) Då föll kung Nebukadnessar ner på sitt ansikte och tillbad Daniel och befallde att man skulle bära fram matoffer och rökelseoffer åt honom. 47 (P) Och kungen sade till Daniel: ”Er Gud är i sanning en Gud över andra gudar, en Herre över kungar och en som uppenbarar hemligheter, eftersom du kunde uppenbara denna hemlighet.”
48 (Q) Därefter upphöjde kungen Daniel och gav honom många stora gåvor och satte honom till herre över hela Babels provins och till högste föreståndare för alla de vise i Babel. 49 (R) På Daniels begäran utsåg kungen Shadrak, Meshak och Abed-Nego att förvalta Babels provins, medan Daniel själv stannade vid kungens hov.
Footnotes
- 2:1 andra regeringsår I början av år 603 f Kr.
- 2:2 spåmän, besvärjare, trollkarlar och kaldeer Spåmännen var drömtydare (1 Mos 41:8) medan besvärjarna var exorcister. Nationsbeteckningen ”kaldeer” kom att användas om stjärntydare (jfr de vise männen i Matt 2:1 med not).
- 2:4 på arameiska Från 2:4-7:28 är boken skriven på kaldeernas språk arameiska.
- 2:12 alla de vise … förgöras En liknande massavrättning av spåmän utfördes hundra år senare av Darejavesh I (jfr Esra 6:11).
- 2:14 livvakter Annan översättning: ”slaktare”.
- 2:27 stjärntydare Annan översättning (Vulgata): ”teckentydare” (även i 4:4, 5:7, 11).
- 2:32 guld … silver … koppar En staty av dessa tre material hade rests ca 70 år tidigare av kung Esarhaddon (2 Kung 19:37), som också började bygga upp Mardukstemplet Esagila (1:2 med not). Enklare material användes särskilt för de delar som skulle täckas av tyg.
- 2:35 agnar från tröskplatserna På tröskplatsen skilde man agnarna från vetet och lät vinden blåsa bort de lättviktiga agnarna (jfr Ps 1:4, Matt 3:12).
- 2:35 stenen Profetisk bild för Messias (jfr Sak 3:9, Apg 4:11, 1 Petr 2:4f, 1 Kor 10:4).
- 2:36 vad den betyder De fyra rikena tolkas ofta som Babel (500-tal f Kr), Medien-Persien (500-tal till 300-tal f Kr), Grekland (300-tal till första århundradet f Kr) och Rom (första århundradet f Kr och framåt). Tidsåldrar liknades ofta vid metaller, t ex redan på 700-talet f Kr av den grekiske författaren Hesiodos. Jfr synen i kap 7.
- 2:37 himlens Gud Ett vanligt gudsnamn i zoroastrismen som spred sig vid denna tid.
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.
Daniel 2
King James Version
2 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto 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 hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof 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, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
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