Daniel 2 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Troubling Dream

1 Now in the second ^H8147 year ^H8141 of the reign ^H4438 of Nebuchadnezzar ^H5019, Nebuchadnezzar ^H5019 [fn]had ^H2492 dreams ^H2472; and his spirit ^H7307 was troubled ^H6470, and his sleep ^H8142 [fn]left ^H1961 him.

2 Then the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to call ^H7121 in the [fn]magicians ^H2748, the conjurers ^H825, the sorcerers ^H3784, and the [fn]Chaldeans ^H3778 to tell ^H5046 the king ^H4428 his dreams ^H2472. So they came ^H935 in ^H935 and stood ^H5975 before ^H6440 the king ^H4428. 3 Then the king ^H4428 said ^H559 to them, “I [fn]had ^H2492 a dream ^H2472, and my spirit ^H7307 is troubled ^H6470 to know ^H3045 the dream ^H2472.”

4 Then the Chaldeans ^H3778 spoke ^H1696 to the king ^H4428 in [fn]Aramaic ^H762: “O king ^H4430, live ^H2418 forever ^H5957! Say ^H560 the dream ^H2493 to your servants ^H5649, and we will declare ^H2324 the interpretation ^H6591.” 5 The king ^H4430 answered ^H6032 and said ^H560 to the Chaldeans ^H3779, “The word ^H4406 from me is firm ^H230: if ^H2006 you do not make ^H3046 known ^H3046 to me the dream ^H2493 and its interpretation ^H6591, you will be [fn]torn ^H5648 limb ^H1917 from limb, and your houses ^H1005 will be made ^H7761 a rubbish ^H5122 heap ^H5122. 6 But if ^H2006 you declare ^H2324 the dream ^H2493 and its interpretation ^H6591, you will receive ^H6902 from me gifts ^H4978 and a reward ^H5023 and great ^H7690 glory ^H3367; therefore ^H3861 declare ^H2324 to me the dream ^H2493 and its interpretation ^H6591.” 7 They answered ^H6032 a second ^H8579 time ^H8579 and said ^H560, “Let the king ^H4430 say ^H560 the dream ^H2493 to his servants ^H5649, and we will declare ^H2324 the interpretation ^H6591.” 8 The king ^H4430 answered ^H6032 and said ^H560, “I know ^H3046 for certain ^H3330 that you are buying ^H2084 time ^H5732, inasmuch ^H6903 H1768 as you have seen ^H2370 that the word ^H4406 from me is firm ^H230, 9 that if ^H2006 you do not make ^H3046 the dream ^H2493 known ^H3046 to me, there is only one ^H2298 law ^H1882 for you. Indeed, you have agreed ^H2164 together ^H2164 to speak ^H560 lying ^H3538 and corrupt ^H7844 [fn]words ^H4406 before ^H6925 me until ^H5705 H1768 the time ^H5732 is changed ^H8133; therefore ^H3861 say ^H560 the dream ^H2493 to me, that I may know ^H3046 that you can declare ^H2324 to me its interpretation ^H6591.” 10 The Chaldeans ^H3779 answered ^H6032 [fn]the king ^H4430 and said ^H560, “There ^H383 is ^H383 not a man ^H606 on earth ^H3007 who ^H1768 is able ^H3202 to declare ^H2324 the matter ^H4406 [fn]for the king ^H4430, inasmuch ^H6903 H1768 as no ^H3606 H3809 great ^H7229 king ^H4430 or powerful ^H7990 ruler ^H7990 has ever asked ^H7593 about a matter ^H4406 like this ^H1836 of any ^H3606 [fn]magician ^H2749, conjurer ^H826, or Chaldean ^H3779. 11 Moreover, the matter ^H4406 which ^H1768 the king ^H4430 asks ^H7593 is [fn]difficult ^H3358, and there ^H383 is ^H383 no ^H3809 one ^H321 else ^H321 who ^H1768 could declare ^H2324 it [fn]to the king ^H4430 except ^H3861 gods ^H426, whose ^H1768 dwelling ^H4070 place ^H4070 is not with flesh ^H1321.”

12 Because ^H6903 of this ^H1836 the king ^H4430 became ^H1149 indignant ^H1149 and very ^H7690 furious ^H7108 and said ^H560 for them to destroy ^H7 all ^H3606 the wise ^H2445 men ^H2445 of Babylon ^H895. 13 So the law ^H1882 went ^H5312 forth ^H5312 that the wise ^H2445 men ^H2445 were to be killed ^H6992; and they sought ^H1156 out ^H1156 Daniel ^H1841 and his friends ^H2269 to [fn]kill ^H6992 them.

14 Then ^H116 Daniel ^H1841 replied ^H8421 with discretion ^H5843 and discernment ^H2942 to Arioch ^H746, the captain ^H7229 of the king’s ^H4430 [fn]bodyguard ^H2877, who ^H1768 had gone ^H5312 forth ^H5312 to kill ^H6992 the wise ^H2445 men ^H2445 of Babylon ^H895; 15 he answered ^H6032 and said ^H560 to Arioch ^H746, a powerful ^H7990 [fn]official ^H7990 for the king ^H4430, “For what ^H4101 reason ^H5922 H4101 is the law ^H1882 from the king ^H4430 so [fn]urgent ^H2685?” Then ^H116 Arioch ^H746 made ^H3046 the matter ^H4406 known ^H3046 to Daniel ^H1841. 16 So Daniel ^H1841 went ^H5954 in ^H5954 and sought ^H1156 from the king ^H4430 that he would [fn]give ^H5415 him time ^H2166, in order that he might declare ^H2324 the interpretation ^H6591 to the king ^H4430.

God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

17 Then ^H116 Daniel ^H1841 went ^H236 to his house ^H1005 and made ^H3046 the matter ^H4406 known ^H3046 to his friends ^H2269, to Hananiah ^H2608, Mishael ^H4331, and Azariah ^H5839,

18 so that they might seek ^H1156 compassion ^H7359 from the God ^H426 of heaven ^H8065 concerning ^H5922 this ^H1836 mystery ^H7328, so ^H1768 that ^H1768 Daniel ^H1841 and his friends ^H2269 would not be destroyed ^H7 with the rest ^H7606 of the wise ^H2445 men ^H2445 of Babylon ^H895. 19 Then ^H116 the mystery ^H7328 was revealed ^H1541 to Daniel ^H1841 in a night ^H3916 vision ^H2376. Then ^H116 Daniel ^H1841 blessed ^H1289 the God ^H426 of heaven ^H8065; 20 Daniel ^H1841 answered ^H6030 and said ^H560,

“Let the name ^H8036 of God ^H426 be blessed ^H1289 forever ^H5957 and ever ^H5957,

For wisdom ^H2452 and might ^H1370 belong to Him.

21 “And He changes ^H8133 the times ^H5732 and the seasons ^H2166;

He removes ^H5709 kings ^H4430 and [fn]establishes ^H6966 kings ^H4430;

He gives ^H3052 wisdom ^H2452 to wise ^H2445 men ^H2445

And knowledge ^H4486 to [fn]men of understanding ^H999.

22 “He reveals ^H1541 the deep ^H5994 and hidden ^H5642 things ^H5642;

He knows ^H3046 what ^H4101 is in the darkness ^H2816,

And the light ^H5094 dwells ^H8271 with Him.

23 “To You, O God ^H426 of my fathers ^H2, I give ^H3029 thanks ^H3029 and praise ^H7624,

For You have given ^H3052 me wisdom ^H2452 and might ^H1370;

Even now ^H3705 You have made ^H3046 known ^H3046 to me what ^H1768 we sought ^H1156 from You,

For You have made ^H3046 known ^H3046 to us the king’s ^H4430 matter ^H4406.”

24 Therefore ^H6903 H1836, Daniel ^H1841 went ^H5954 in ^H5954 to Arioch ^H746, whom ^H1768 the king ^H4430 had appointed ^H4483 to destroy ^H7 the wise ^H2445 men ^H2445 of Babylon ^H895; he went ^H236 and said ^H560 thus ^H3652 to him: “Do not destroy ^H7 the wise ^H2445 men ^H2445 of Babylon ^H895! Bring ^H5954 me before ^H6925 the king ^H4430, and I will declare ^H2324 the interpretation ^H6591 to the king ^H4430.”

25 Then ^H116 Arioch ^H746 hurriedly ^H927 brought ^H5954 Daniel ^H1841 before ^H6925 the king ^H4430 and said ^H560 thus ^H3652 to him: “I have found ^H7912 a man ^H1400 among ^H4481 H1123 the [fn]exiles ^H1123 H1547 from Judah ^H3061 who ^H1768 can make ^H3046 the interpretation ^H6591 known ^H3046 to the king ^H4430!” 26 The king ^H4430 answered ^H6030 and said ^H560 to Daniel ^H1841, whose ^H1768 name ^H8036 was Belteshazzar ^H1096, “Are you able ^H3546 to make ^H3046 known ^H3046 to me the dream ^H2493 which ^H1768 I have seen ^H2370 and its interpretation ^H6591?” 27 Daniel ^H1841 answered ^H6032 before ^H6925 the king ^H4430 and said ^H560, “As for the mystery ^H7328 about which ^H1768 the king ^H4430 is asking ^H7593, neither ^H3809 wise ^H2445 men ^H2445, conjurers ^H826, [fn]magicians ^H2749, nor diviners ^H1505 are able ^H3202 to declare ^H2324 it to the king ^H4430. 28 However ^H1297, there ^H383 is ^H383 a God ^H426 in heaven ^H8065 who ^H1768 reveals ^H1541 mysteries ^H7328, and He has made ^H3046 known ^H3046 to King ^H4430 Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020 what ^H4101 will take ^H1934 place ^H1934 in the [fn]last ^H320 days ^H3118. This ^H1836 was your dream ^H2493 and the visions ^H2376 of your head ^H7217 while on your bed ^H4903. 29 As for you, O king ^H4430, while on your bed ^H4903 your thoughts ^H7476 [fn]turned ^H5559 to what ^H4101 would happen ^H1934 [fn]in the future ^H311; and He who reveals ^H1541 mysteries ^H7328 has made ^H3046 known ^H3046 to you what ^H4101 will happen ^H1934. 30 But as for me, this ^H1836 mystery ^H7328 has not been revealed ^H1541 to me by any wisdom ^H2452 which is ^H383 in me more ^H4481 than ^H4481 in any ^H3606 other living ^H2417 man ^H2417, but for the purpose ^H1701 of making ^H3046 the interpretation ^H6591 known ^H3046 to the king ^H4430, and that you may know ^H3046 the thoughts ^H7476 of your heart ^H3825.

Daniel Interprets the Dream

31 “You, O king ^H4430, were looking ^H2370, and behold ^H431, there was a single ^H2298 great ^H7690 [fn]image ^H6755; that image ^H6755, which was large ^H7229 and [fn]of extraordinary ^H3493 splendor ^H2122, was rising ^H6966 up ^H6966 in front ^H6903 of you, and its appearance ^H7299 was [fn]awesome ^H1763.

32 The head ^H7217 of that image ^H6755 was made of fine ^H2869 gold ^H1722, its breast ^H2306 and its arms ^H1872 of silver ^H3702, its belly ^H4577 and its thighs ^H3410 of bronze ^H5174, 33 its legs ^H8243 of iron ^H6523, its feet ^H7271 partly ^H4481 of iron ^H6523 and partly ^H4481 of clay ^H2635. 34 You [fn]continued ^H1934 looking ^H2370 until ^H5705 H1768 a stone ^H69 was cut ^H1505 out without ^H3809 hands ^H3028, and it struck ^H4223 the image ^H6755 on its feet ^H7271 of iron ^H6523 and clay ^H2635 and crushed ^H1855 them. 35 Then ^H116 the iron ^H6523, the clay ^H2635, the bronze ^H5174, the silver ^H3702, and the gold ^H1722 were crushed ^H1855 [fn]all ^H3606 at the same ^H2298 time ^H2298 and became ^H1934 like chaff ^H5784 from the summer ^H7007 threshing ^H147 floors ^H147; and the wind ^H7308 carried ^H5376 them away so that not a trace ^H870 of them was found ^H7912. But the stone ^H69 that struck ^H4223 the image ^H6755 became ^H1934 a great ^H7229 mountain ^H2906 and filled ^H4391 the whole ^H3606 earth ^H772.

36 “This ^H1836 was the dream ^H2493; now we will say ^H560 its interpretation ^H6591 before ^H6925 the king ^H4430. 37 You, O king ^H4430, are the king ^H4430 of kings ^H4430, to whom ^H1768 the God ^H426 of heaven ^H8065 has given ^H3052 the [fn]kingdom ^H4437, the power ^H2632, the strength ^H8632, and the glory ^H3367; 38 and wherever ^H3606 H1768 the sons ^H1123 of men ^H606 inhabit ^H1753, or the beasts ^H2423 of the field ^H1251, or the birds ^H5776 of the sky ^H8065, He has given ^H3052 them into your hand ^H3028 and has made you rule ^H7981 with power ^H7981 over them all ^H3606. You are the head ^H7217 of gold ^H1722. 39 But after ^H892 you there will arise ^H6966 another ^H321 kingdom ^H4437 inferior ^H772 to you, then another ^H321 third ^H8523 kingdom ^H4437 of bronze ^H5174, which ^H1768 will rule ^H7981 with power ^H7981 over all ^H3606 the earth ^H772. 40 Then there will be a fourth ^H7244 kingdom ^H4437 as strong ^H8624 as iron ^H6523; inasmuch ^H6903 H1768 as iron ^H6523 crushes ^H1855 and shatters ^H2827 all ^H3606 things ^H3606, so, like iron ^H6523 that breaks ^H7490 in pieces ^H7490, it will crush ^H1855 and break ^H7490 all ^H3606 these ^H459 in pieces ^H7490. 41 Now in that you saw ^H2370 the feet ^H7271 and toes ^H677, partly ^H4481 of potter’s ^H6353 clay ^H2635 and partly ^H4481 of iron ^H6523; it will be a divided ^H6386 kingdom ^H4437; but it will have ^H1934 in it the toughness ^H5326 of iron ^H6523, inasmuch ^H6903 H1768 as you saw ^H2370 the iron ^H6523 mixed ^H6151 with [fn]common ^H2917 clay ^H2635. 42 And as the toes ^H677 of the feet ^H7271 were partly ^H4481 of iron ^H6523 and partly ^H4481 of clay ^H2635, so some ^H4481 H7118 of the kingdom ^H4437 will be strong ^H8624 and part ^H4481 of it will be brittle ^H8406. 43 And in that you saw ^H2370 the iron ^H6523 mixed ^H6151 with [fn]common ^H2917 clay ^H2635; they will combine ^H6151 with one another [fn]in the seed ^H2234 of men ^H606; but they will not cling ^H1693 to one ^H1836 H5974 another ^H1836 H5974, even ^H1888 as iron ^H6523 does not combine ^H6151 with clay ^H2635. 44 And in the days ^H3118 of those ^H581 kings ^H4430 the God ^H426 of heaven ^H8065 will cause ^H6966 a kingdom ^H4437 to rise ^H6966 up ^H6966 which ^H1768 will never ^H5957 H3809 be destroyed ^H2255, and that kingdom ^H4437 will not be ^H7662 [fn]left ^H7662 for another ^H312 people ^H5972; it will crush ^H1855 and put ^H5487 an ^H5487 end ^H5487 to ^H5487 all ^H3606 these ^H459 kingdoms ^H4437, but it will itself ^H1932 stand ^H6966 forever ^H5957. 45 Inasmuch ^H6903 H1768 as you saw ^H2370 that a stone ^H69 was cut ^H1505 out of the mountain ^H2906 without ^H3809 hands ^H3028 and that it crushed ^H1855 the iron ^H6523, the bronze ^H5174, the clay ^H2635, the silver ^H3702, and the gold ^H1722, the great ^H7229 God ^H426 has made ^H3046 known ^H3046 to the king ^H4430 what ^H4101 will happen ^H1934 [fn]in the future ^H311; so the dream ^H2493 is certain ^H3330, and its interpretation ^H6591 is trustworthy ^H540.”

Daniel and Friends Promoted

46 Then ^H116 King ^H4430 Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020 fell ^H5308 on his face ^H600 and did ^H5457 homage ^H5457 to Daniel ^H1841 and said ^H560 for them to present ^H5260 to him an offering ^H4504 and [fn]fragrant ^H5208 incense ^H5208.

47 The king ^H4430 answered ^H6032 Daniel ^H1841 and said ^H560, “Truly ^{H4481 H7187 H1768} your God ^H426 is a God ^H426 of gods ^H426 and a Lord ^H4756 of kings ^H4430 and a revealer ^H1541 of mysteries ^H7328 since ^H1768 you have been ^H3202 able ^H3202 to reveal ^H1541 this ^H1836 mystery ^H7328.” 48 Then ^H116 the king ^H4430 [fn]promoted ^H7236 Daniel ^H1841 and gave ^H3052 him many ^H7690 great ^H7229 gifts ^H4978, and he made ^H7981 him rule ^H7981 with power ^H7981 over ^H5922 the whole ^H3606 province ^H4083 of Babylon ^H895 and chief ^H7229 [fn]prefect ^H5460 over ^H5922 all ^H3606 the wise ^H2445 men ^H2445 of Babylon ^H895. 49 And Daniel ^H1841 sought ^H1156 of the king ^H4430, and he appointed ^H4483 Shadrach ^H7715, Meshach ^H4336, and Abed-nego ^H5665 over ^H5922 the administration ^H5673 of the province ^H4083 of Babylon ^H895, while Daniel ^H1841 was at the king’s ^H4430 [fn]court ^H8651.