Dual Panel1In the second <08147> year <08141> of his reign <04438> Nebuchadnezzar <05019> had many dreams <02472> <02492>. His <05019> mind <07307> was disturbed <06470> and he suffered <01961> <08142> from insomnia <01961> <08142>.
2The king <04428> issued <0559> an order to summon <07121> the magicians <02748>, astrologers <0825>, sorcerers <03784>, and wise men <03778> in order to explain <05046> his dreams <02472> to him <04428>. So they came <0935> and awaited <06440> <05975> the king’s <04428> instructions.
3The king <04428> told <0559> them <01992>, “I have had a dream <02472>, and I am anxious <06470> to understand <03045> the dream <02472>.”
4The wise men <03778> replied <01696> to the king <04428>: [What follows is in Aramaic <0762>] “O king <04430>, live <02418> forever <05957>! Tell <0560> your servants <05649> the dream <02493>, and we will disclose <02324> its interpretation <06591>.”
5The king <04430> replied <06032> to the wise men <03779>, “My decision <04406> is firm <0230>. If <02006> you do not <03809> inform <03046> me of both the dream <02493> and its interpretation <06591>, you will be dismembered <05648> <01917> and your homes <01005> reduced <07761> to rubble <05122>!
6But if <02006> you can disclose <02324> the dream <02493> and its interpretation <06591>, you will receive <06902> from <04481> me gifts <04978>, a reward <05023>, and considerable <07690> honor <03367>. So <02006> disclose <02324> to me the dream <02493> and its interpretation <06591>!”
7They again <08579> replied <06032>, “Let the king <04430> inform <0560> us <05649> of the dream <02493>; then we will disclose <02324> its interpretation <06591>.”
8The king <04430> replied <06032>, “I <0576> know <03046> for <04481> sure <03330> that <01768> you <0608> are attempting to gain <02084> time <05732>, because <06903> <03606> you see <02370> that <01768> my decision <04406> is firm <0230>.
9If <02006> you don’t <03809> inform <03046> me of <01768> the dream <02493>, there is <01932> only one <02298> thing <01882> that is going to happen to you. For you have agreed <02164> among yourselves to report <0560> to me <06925> something <04406> false <03538> and deceitful <07844> until <01768> <05705> such time <05732> as things might change <08133>. So <02006> tell <0560> me the dream <02493>, and I will have confidence <03046> that <01768> you can disclose <02324> its interpretation <06591>.”
10The wise men <03779> replied <06032> to <06925> the king <04430>, “There is <0383> no <03809> man <0606> on <05922> earth <03007> who <01768> is able <03202> to disclose <02324> the king’s <04430> secret <04406>, for <06903> no <03809> <03606> king <04430>, regardless <01768> of his position <07229> and power <07990>, has ever requested <07593> such <01836> a thing <04406> from any <03606> magician <02749>, astrologer <0826>, or wise man <03779>.
11What <01768> the king <04430> is asking <07593> is too difficult <03358>, and no <03809> one <0321> exists <0383> who <01768> can disclose <02324> it to <06925> the king <04430>, except <03861> for <01768> the gods <0426>– but they don’t <03809> live <04070> among <05974> mortals <01321>!”
12Because <06903> <03606> of this <01836> the king <04430> got furiously <07108> angry <01149> and gave orders <0560> to destroy <07> all <03606> the wise men <02445> of Babylon <0895>.
13So a decree <01882> went out <05312>, and the wise men <02445> were about to be executed <06992>. They also sought <01156> Daniel <01841> and his friends <02269> so that they could be executed <06992>.
14Then <0116> Daniel <01841> spoke <08421> with prudent <05843> counsel <02942> to Arioch <0746>, who <01768> was in charge <07229> of the king’s <04430> executioners <02877> and who <01768> had gone out <05312> to execute <06992> the wise men <02445> of Babylon <0895>.
15He inquired <0560> <06032> of Arioch <0746> the king’s <04430> deputy <07990>, “Why <04101> <05922> is the decree <01882> from <06925> <04481> the king <04430> so urgent <02685>?” Then <0116> Arioch <0746> informed <03046> Daniel <01841> about the matter <04406>.
16So Daniel <01841> went in <05954> and requested <01156> the king <04430> to grant <05415> him time <02166>, that <01768> he might disclose <02324> the interpretation <06591> to the king <04430>.
17Then <0116> Daniel <01841> went to <0236> his home <01005> and informed <03046> his friends <02269> Hananiah <02608>, Mishael <04333>, and Azariah <05839> of the matter <04406>.
18He asked <01156> them to <04481> pray for mercy <07359> from <06925> the God <0426> of heaven <08065> concerning <05922> this <01836> mystery <07328> so that <01768> he <01841> and his friends <02269> would not <03809> be destroyed <07> along with <05974> the rest <07606> of the wise men <02445> of Babylon <0895>.
19Then <0116> in a night <03916> vision <02376> the mystery <07328> was revealed <01541> to Daniel <01841>. So <0116> Daniel <01841> praised <01289> the God <0426> of heaven <08065>,
20saying <0560>, “Let the name <08036> of <04481> God <0426> be <01934> praised <01289> forever <05957> and <05705> ever <05957>, for <01768> wisdom <02452> and power <01370> belong <01932> to him.
21He <01932> changes <08133> times <05732> and seasons <02166>, deposing <05709> some kings <04430> and establishing <06966> others. He gives <03052> wisdom <02452> to the wise <02445>; he imparts <03046> knowledge <04486> to those with understanding <0999>;
22he reveals <01541> deep <05994> and hidden things <05642>. He knows <03046> what <04101> is in the darkness <02816>, and light <05094> resides <08271> with <05974> him.
23O God <0426> of my fathers <02>, I acknowledge <03029> and glorify <07624> you, for <01768> you have bestowed <03052> wisdom <02452> and power <01370> on me <0576>. Now <03705> you have enabled me to understand <03046> what <01768> I requested <01156> from <04481> you. For <01768> you have enabled me to understand <03046> the king’s <04430> dilemma <04406>.”
24Then <06903> <03606> Daniel <01841> went in <05954> to <05922> see Arioch <0746> (whom <01768> the king <04430> had appointed <04483> to destroy <07> the wise men <02445> of Babylon <0895>). He came <0236> and <03652> said <0560> to him, “Don’t <0409> destroy <07> the wise men <02445> of Babylon <0895>! Escort <05954> me to <06925> the king <04430>, and I will disclose <02324> the interpretation <06591> to him <04430>!”
25So <0116> Arioch <0746> quickly <0927> ushered <05954> Daniel <01841> into <05954> the king’s <04430> presence <06925>, saying <0560> to him, “I have found <07912> a man <01400> from <04481> the captives <01547> of <01768> Judah <03061> who <01768> can make known <03046> the interpretation <06591> to the king <04430>.”
26The king <04430> then asked <0560> Daniel <01841> (whose <01768> name <08036> was also Belteshazzar <01096>), “Are <0383> you able <03546> to make known <03046> to me the dream <02493> that <01768> I saw <02370>, as well as its interpretation <06591>?”
27Daniel <01841> replied <06032> to <06925> the king <04430>, “The mystery <07328> that <01768> the king <04430> is asking <07593> about is such that no <03809> wise men <02445>, astrologers <0826>, magicians <02749>, or diviners <01505> can <03202> possibly disclose <02324> it to the king <04430>.
28However <01297>, there is <0383> a God <0426> in heaven <08065> who reveals <01541> mysteries <07328>, and he has made known <03046> to King <04430> Nebuchadnezzar <05020> what <04101> will happen <01934> in the times <03118> to come <0320>. The dream <02493> and the visions <02376> you had while lying on <05922> your bed <04903> are <01932> as follows <01836>.
29“As for you <0607>, O king <04430>, while you were in <05922> your bed <04903> your thoughts <07476> turned <05559> to future <0311> things. The revealer <01541> of mysteries <07328> has made known <03046> to you what <04101> will take place <01934>.
30As for me <0576>, this <01836> mystery <07328> was revealed <01541> to me not <03809> because <01768> I possess <0383> more wisdom <02452> than <04481> any <03606> other living person <02417>, but <03861> so that <01768> the king <04430> may understand <03046> the interpretation <06591> and comprehend <03046> the thoughts <07476> of your mind <03825>.
31“You <0607>, O king <04430>, were <01934> watching <02370> as <0431> a great <07690> <02298> statue <06755>– one <01797> <06755> of impressive size <07229> and extraordinary <03493> brightness <02122>– was standing before <06966> you. Its appearance <07299> caused <06903> alarm <01763>.
32As for that statue <06755>, its head <07217> was of <01768> fine <02869> gold <01722>, its chest <02306> and arms <01872> were of <01768> silver <03702>, its belly <04577> and thighs <03410> were of <01768> bronze <05174>.
33Its legs <08243> were of <01768> iron <06523>; its feet <07271> were partly <04481> of <01768> iron <06523> and partly <04480> of <01768> clay <02635>.
34You were <01934> watching <02370> as <05705> a stone <069> was cut out <01505>, but <01768> not <03809> by human hands <03028>. It struck <04223> the statue <06755> on <05922> its iron <06523> and clay <02635> feet <07271>, breaking <01994> <01855> them in pieces <01855>.
35Then <0116> the iron <06523>, clay <02635>, bronze <05174>, silver <03702>, and gold <01722> were broken in pieces <01855> without distinction <02298> and became <01934> like chaff <05784> from <04481> the summer <07007> threshing floors <0147> that the wind <07308> carries away <05376>. Not <03809> <03606> a trace <0870> of them <01994> could be found <07912>. But the stone <069> that <01768> struck <04223> the statue <06755> became <01934> a large <07229> mountain <02906> that filled <04391> the entire <03606> earth <0772>.
36This <01836> was the dream <02493>. Now we will set forth <0560> before <06925> the king <04430> its interpretation <06591>.
37“You <0607>, O king <04430>, are the king <04430> of kings <04430>. The God <0426> of heaven <08065> has granted <03052> you sovereignty <04437>, power <02632>, strength <08632>, and honor <03367>.
38Wherever <01768> <03606> human beings <0606> <01123>, wild <01251> animals <02423>, and birds <05776> of the sky <08065> live <01753>– he has given <03052> them into your power <03028>. He has given <07981> you <0607> authority over <07981> them all <03606>. You <0607> are the head <07217> of <01768> gold <01722>.
39Now after <0870> you another <0317> kingdom <04437> will arise <06966>, one inferior <0772> to yours. Then <04481> a third <08523> kingdom <04437>, one <0317> of bronze <05174>, will rule <07981> in all <03606> the earth <0772>.
40Then there will be <01934> a fourth <07244> kingdom <04437>, one strong <08624> like iron <06523>. Just like <06903> iron <06523> breaks in pieces <01855> and shatters <02827> everything <03606>, and as iron <06523> breaks <07490> in pieces <07490> all <03606> of these <0459> metals, so it will break in pieces <01855> and crush <07490> the others.
41In that <01768> you were seeing <02370> feet <07271> and toes <0677> partly <04481> of <01768> wet <06353> clay <02635> and partly <04480> of iron <06523>, so this will be <01934> a divided <06386> kingdom <04437>. Some <04481> of the strength <05326> of <01768> iron <06523> will be <01934> in it, for <06903> <03606> you saw <02370> iron <06523> mixed <06151> with wet <02917> clay <02635>.
42In that the toes <0677> of the feet <07271> were partly <04481> of iron <06523> and partly <04480> of clay <02635>, the latter <07118> stages <04481> of this kingdom <04437> will be <01934> partly strong <08624> and partly <04481> fragile <08406>.
43And in that <01768> you saw <02370> iron <06523> mixed <06151> with wet <02917> clay <02635>, so people <0606> will be <01934> mixed <06151> with one another without <01934> <03809> adhering <01693> to <05974> one <01836> another <01836>, just <01888> as <01768> iron <06523> does not <03809> mix <06151> with <05974> clay <02635>.
44In the days <03118> of <01768> those <0581> kings <04430> the God <0426> of heaven <08065> will raise up <06966> an everlasting <05957> kingdom <04437> that <01768> will not <03809> be destroyed <02255> and a kingdom <04437> that will not <03809> be left <07662> to another <0321> people <05972>. It will break in pieces <01855> and bring about the demise <05487> of all <03606> these <0459> kingdoms <04437>. But it will <01932> stand <06966> forever <05957>.
45You saw <02370> that <01768> a stone <069> was cut from <01505> a mountain <02906>, but not <03809> by human hands <03028>; it smashed <01855> the iron <06523>, bronze <05174>, clay <02635>, silver <03702>, and gold <01722> into pieces <01855>. The great <07229> God <0426> has made known <03046> to the king <04430> what <04101> will occur <01934> in the future <0311>. The dream <02493> is certain <03330>, and its interpretation <06591> is reliable <0540>.”
46Then <0116> King <04430> Nebuchadnezzar <05020> bowed down <05308> with <05922> his face <0600> to the ground and paid homage <05457> to Daniel <01841>. He gave orders <0560> to offer <05260> sacrifice <04504> and incense <05208> to him.
47The king <04430> replied <06032> to Daniel <01841>, “Certainly <07187> <04481> your God <0426> is <01932> a God <0426> of gods <0426> and Lord <04756> of kings <04430> and revealer <01541> of mysteries <07328>, for <01768> you were able <03202> to reveal <01541> this <01836> mystery <07328>!”
48Then <0116> the king <04430> elevated <07236> Daniel <01841> to high position <07236> and bestowed <03052> on him many <07690> marvelous <07260> gifts <04978>. He granted him authority <07981> over <05922> the entire <03606> province <04083> of Babylon <0895> and made him the main <07229> prefect <05460> over <05922> all <03606> the wise men <02445> of Babylon <0895>.
49And at <04481> Daniel’s <01841> request <01156>, the king <04430> appointed <04483> Shadrach <07715>, Meshach <04336>, and Abednego <05665> over <05922> the administration <05673> of <01768> the province <04083> of Babylon <0895>. Daniel <01841> himself served in the king’s <04430> court <08651>.