Daniel 2
Riveduta 1927
1Il secondo anno del regno di Nebucadnetsar, Nebucadnetsar ebbe dei sogni; il suo spirito ne fu turbato, e il suo sonno fu rotto.
2Il re fece chiamare i magi, gli astrologi, gl’incantatori e i Caldei, perché gli spiegassero i suoi sogni. Ed essi vennero e si presentarono al re.
3E il re disse loro: “Ho fatto un sogno; e il mio spirito è turbato, perché vorrei comprendere il sogno”.
4Allora i Caldei risposero al re, in aramaico: “O re, possa tu vivere in perpetuo! Racconta il sogno ai tuoi servi, e noi ne daremo la interpretazione”.
5Il re replicò, e disse ai Caldei: “La mia decisione è presa: se voi non mi fate conoscere il sogno e la sua interpretazione, sarete fatti a pezzi; e le vostre case saran ridotte in tanti immondezzai;
6ma se mi dite il sogno e la sua interpretazione, riceverete da me doni, ricompense e grandi onori; ditemi dunque il sogno e la sua interpretazione”.
7Quelli risposero una seconda volta, e dissero: “Dica il re il sogno ai suoi servi, e noi ne daremo l’interpretazione”.
8Il re replicò, e disse: “Io m’accorgo che di certo voi volete guadagnar tempo, perché vedete che la mia decisione è presa;
9se dunque non mi fate conoscere il sogno, non c’è che un’unica sentenza per voi; e voi vi siete messi d’accordo per dire davanti a me delle parole bugiarde e perverse, aspettando che mutino i tempi. Perciò ditemi il sogno, e io saprò che siete in grado di darmene l’interpretazione”.
10I Caldei risposero in presenza del re, e dissero: “Non c’è uomo sulla terra che possa far conoscere quello che il re domanda; così non c’è mai stato re, per grande e potente che fosse, il quale abbia domandato una cosa siffatta a un mago, a un astrologo, o a un Caldeo.
11La cosa che il re domanda è ardua; e non v’è alcuno che la possa far conoscere al re, tranne gli dèi, la cui dimora non è fra i mortali”.
12A questo, il re s’adirò, montò in furia, e ordinò che tutti i savi di Babilonia fossero fatti perire.
13E il decreto fu promulgato, e i savi dovevano essere uccisi; e si cercavano Daniele e i suoi compagni per uccidere anche loro.
14Allora Daniele si rivolse in modo prudente e sensato ad Arioc, capo delle guardie del re, il quale era uscito per uccidere i savi di Babilonia.
15Prese la parola e disse ad Arioc, ufficiale del re: “Perché questo decreto così perentorio da parte del re?” Allora Arioc fece sapere la cosa a Daniele.
16E Daniele entrò dal re, e gli chiese di dargli tempo; che avrebbe fatto conoscere al re l’interpretazione del sogno.
17Allora Daniele andò a casa sua, e informò della cosa Hanania, Mishael e Azaria, suoi compagni,
18perché implorassero la misericordia dell’Iddio del cielo, a proposito di questo segreto, onde Daniele e i suoi compagni non fossero messi a morte col resto dei savi di Babilonia.
19Allora il segreto fu rivelato a Daniele in una visione notturna. E Daniele benedisse l’Iddio del cielo.
20Daniele prese a dire: “Sia benedetto il nome di Dio, d’eternità in eternità! poiché a lui appartengono la sapienza e la forza.
21Egli muta i tempi e le stagioni; depone i re e li stabilisce, dà la sapienza ai savi, e la scienza a quelli che hanno intelletto.
22Egli rivela le cose profonde e occulte; conosce ciò ch’è nelle tenebre, e la luce dimora con lui.
23O Dio de’ miei padri, io ti rendo gloria e lode, perché m’hai dato sapienza e forza, e m’hai fatto conoscere quello che t’abbiam domandato, rivelandoci la cosa che il re vuole”.
24Daniele entrò quindi da Arioc, a cui il re aveva dato l’incarico di far perire i savi di Babilonia; entrò, e gli disse così: “Non far perire i savi di Babilonia! Conducimi davanti al re, e io darò al re l’interpretazione”.
25Allora Arioc menò in tutta fretta Daniele davanti al re, e gli parlò così: “Io ha trovato, fra i Giudei che sono in cattività, un uomo che darà al re l’interpretazione”.
26Il re prese a dire a Daniele, che si chiamava Beltsatsar: “Sei tu capace di farmi conoscere il sogno che ho fatto e la sua interpretazione?”
27Daniele rispose in presenza del re, e disse: “Il segreto che il re domanda, né savi, né incantatori, né magi, né astrologi possono svelarlo al re;
28Ma v’è nel cielo un Dio che rivela i segreti, ed egli ha fatto conoscere al re Nebucadnetsar quello che avverrà negli ultimi giorni. Ecco quali erano il tuo sogno e le visioni della tua mente quand’eri a letto.
29I tuoi pensieri, o re, quand’eri a letto, si riferivano a quello che deve avvenire da ora innanzi; e colui che rivela i segreti t’ha fatto conoscere quello che avverrà.
30E quanto a me, questo segreto m’è stato rivelato, non per una sapienza ch’io possegga superiore a quella di tutti gli altri viventi, ma perché l’interpretazione ne sia data al re, e tu possa conoscere quel che preoccupava il tuo cuore.
31Tu, o re, guardavi, ed ecco una grande statua; questa statua, ch’era immensa e d’uno splendore straordinario, si ergeva dinanzi a te, e il suo aspetto era terribile.
32La testa di questa statua era d’oro fino; il suo petto e le sue braccia eran d’argento; il suo ventre e le sue cosce, di rame;
33le sue gambe, di ferro; i suoi piedi, in parte di ferro e in parte d’argilla.
34Tu stavi guardando, quand’ecco una pietra si staccò, senz’opera di mano, e colpì i piedi di ferro e d’argilla della statua, e li frantumò.
35Allora il ferro, l’argilla, il rame, l’argento e l’oro furon frantumati insieme, e diventarono come la pula sulle aie d’estate; il vento li portò via, e non se ne trovò più traccia; ma la pietra che aveva colpito la statua diventò un gran monte, che riempì tutta la terra.
36Questo è il sogno; ora ne daremo l’interpretazione davanti al re.
37Tu, o re, sei il re dei re, al quale l’Iddio del cielo ha dato l’impero, la potenza, la forza e la gloria;
38e dovunque dimorano i figliuoli degli uomini, le bestie della compagna e gli uccelli del cielo, egli te li ha dati nelle mani, e t’ha fatto dominare sopra essi tutti. La testa d’oro sei tu;
39e dopo di te sorgerà un altro regno, inferiore al tuo; poi un terzo regno, di rame, che dominerà sulla terra;
40poi vi sarà un quarto regno, forte come il ferro; poiché, come il ferro spezza ed abbatte ogni cosa, così, pari al ferro che tutto frantuma, esso spezzerà ogni cosa.
41E come hai visto i piedi e le dita, in parte d’argilla di vasaio e in parte di ferro, così quel regno sarà diviso; ma vi sarà in lui qualcosa della consistenza del ferro, giacché tu hai visto il ferro mescolato con la molle argilla.
42E come le dita de’ piedi erano in parte di ferro e in parte d’argilla, così quel regno sarà in parte forte e in parte fragile.
43Tu hai visto il ferro mescolato con la molle argilla, perché quelli si mescoleranno mediante connubi umani; ma non saranno uniti l’un all’altro, nello stesso modo che il ferro non s’amalgama con l’argilla.
44E al tempo di questi re, l’Iddio del cielo farà sorgere un regno, che non sarà mai distrutto, e che non passerà sotto la dominazione d’un altro popolo; quello spezzerà e annienterà tutti quei regni; ma esso sussisterà in perpetuo,
45nel modo che hai visto la pietra staccarsi dal monte, senz’opera di mano, e spezzare il ferro, il rame, l’argilla, l’argento e l’oro. Il grande Iddio ha fatto conoscere al re ciò che deve avvenire d’ora innanzi; il sogno è verace, e la interpretazione n’è sicura”.
46Allora il re Nebucadnetsar cadde sulla sua faccia, si prostrò davanti a Daniele, e ordinò che gli fossero presentati offerte e profumi.
47Il re parlò a Daniele, e disse: “In verità il vostro Dio è l’Iddio degli dèi, il Signore dei re, e il rivelatore dei segreti, giacché tu hai potuto rivelare questo segreto”.
48Allora il re elevò Daniele in dignità, lo colmò di numerosi e ricchi doni, gli diede il comando di tutta la provincia di Babilonia, e lo stabilì capo supremo di tutti i savi di Babilonia.
49E Daniele ottenne dal re che Shadrac, Meshac e Abed-nego fossero preposti agli affari della provincia di Babilonia; ma Daniele stava alla corte del re.
Reina-Valera 1909
1Y EN el segundo año del reinado de Nabucodonosor, soñó Nabucodonosor sueños, y perturbóse su espíritu, y su sueño se huyó de él.
2Y mandó el rey llamar magos, astrólogos, y encantadores, y Caldeos, para que mostrasen al rey sus sueños. Vinieron pues, y se presentaron delante del rey.
3Y el rey les dijo: He soñado un sueño, y mi espíritu se ha perturbado por saber del sueño.
4Entonces hablaron los Caldeos al rey en lengua aramea: Rey, para siempre vive: di el sueño á tus siervos, y mostraremos la declaración.
5Respondió el rey y dijo á los Caldeos: El negocio se me fué: si no me mostráis el sueño y su declaración, seréis hechos cuartos, y vuestras casas serán puestas por muladares.
6Y si mostrareis el sueño y su declaración, recibiréis de mí dones y mercedes y grande honra: por tanto, mostradme el sueño y su declaración.
7Respondieron la segunda vez, y dijeron: Diga el rey el sueño á sus siervos, y mostraremos su declaración.
8El rey respondió, y dijo: Yo conozco ciertamente que vosotros ponéis dilaciones, porque veis que el negocio se me ha ido.
9Si no me mostráis el sueño, una sola sentencia será de vosotros. Ciertamente preparáis respuesta mentirosa y perversa que decir delante de mí, entre tanto que se muda el tiempo: por tanto, decidme el sueño, para que yo entienda que me podéis mostrar su declaración.
10Los Caldeos respondieron delante del rey, y dijeron: No hay hombre sobre la tierra que pueda declarar el negocio del rey: demás de esto, ningún rey, príncipe, ni señor, preguntó cosa semejante á ningún mago, ni astrólogo, ni Caldeo.
11Finalmente, el negocio que el rey demanda, es singular, ni hay quien lo pueda declarar delante del rey, salvo los dioses cuya morada no es con la carne.
12Por esto el rey con ira y con grande enojo, mandó que matasen á todos los sabios de Babilonia.
13Y publicóse el mandamiento, y los sabios eran llevados á la muerte; y buscaron á Daniel y á sus compañeros para matarlos.
14Entonces Daniel habló avisada y prudentemente á Arioch, capitán de los de la guarda del rey, que había salido para matar los sabios de Babilonia.
15Habló y dijo á Arioch capitán del rey: ¿Qué es la causa que este mandamiento se publica de parte del rey tan apresuradamente? Entonces Arioch declaró el negocio á Daniel.
16Y Daniel entró, y pidió al rey que le diese tiempo, y que él mostraría al rey la declaración.
17Fuése luego Daniel á su casa, y declaró el negocio á Ananías, Misael, y Azarías, sus compañeros,
18Para demandar misericordias del Dios del cielo sobre este misterio, y que Daniel y sus compañeros no pereciesen con los otros sabios de Babilonia.
19Entonces el arcano fué revelado á Daniel en visión de noche; por lo cual bendijo Daniel al Dios del cielo.
20Y Daniel habló, y dijo: Sea bendito el nombre de Dios de siglo hasta siglo: porque suya es la sabiduría y la fortaleza:
21Y él es el que muda los tiempos y las oportunidades: quita reyes, y pone reyes: da la sabiduría á los sabios, y la ciencia á los entendidos:
22El revela lo profundo y lo escondido: conoce lo que está en tinieblas, y la luz mora con él.
23A ti, oh Dios de mis padres, confieso y te alabo, que me diste sabiduría y fortaleza, y ahora me enseñaste lo que te pedimos; pues nos has enseñado el negocio del rey.
24Después de esto Daniel entró á Arioch, al cual el rey había puesto para matar á los sabios de Babilonia; fué, y díjole así: No mates á los sabios de Babilonia: llévame delante del rey, que yo mostraré al rey la declaración.
25Entonces Arioch llevó prestamente á Daniel delante del rey, y díjole así: Un varón de los trasportados de Judá he hallado, el cual declarará al rey la interpretación.
26Respondió el rey, y dijo á Daniel, al cual llamaban Beltsasar: ¿Podrás tú hacerme entender el sueño que vi, y su declaración?
27Daniel respondió delante del rey, y dijo: El misterio que el rey demanda, ni sabios, ni astrólogos, ni magos, ni adivinos lo pueden enseñar al rey.
28Mas hay un Dios en los cielos, el cual revela los misterios, y él ha hecho saber al rey Nabucodonosor lo que ha de acontecer á cabo de días. Tu sueño, y las visiones de tu cabeza sobre tu cama, es esto:
29Tú, oh rey, en tu cama subieron tus pensamientos por saber lo que había de ser en lo por venir; y el que revela los misterios te mostró lo que ha de ser.
30Y á mí ha sido revelado este misterio, no por sabiduría que en mí haya más que en todos los vivientes, sino para que yo notifique al rey la declaración, y que entendieses los pensamientos de tu corazón.
31Tú, oh rey, veías, y he aquí una grande imagen. Esta imagen, que era muy grande, y cuya gloria era muy sublime, estaba en pie delante de ti, y su aspecto era terrible.
32La cabeza de esta imagen era de fino oro; sus pechos y sus brazos, de plata; su vientre y sus muslos, de metal;
33Sus piernas de hierro; sus pies, en parte de hierro, y en parte de barro cocido.
34Estabas mirando, hasta que una piedra fué cortada, no con mano, la cual hirió á la imagen en sus pies de hierro y de barro cocido, y los desmenuzó.
35Entonces fué también desmenuzado el hierro, el barro cocido, el metal, la plata y el oro, y se tornaron como tamo de las eras del verano: y levantólos el viento, y nunca más se les halló lugar. Mas la piedra que hirió á la imagen, fué hecha un gran monte, que hinchió toda la tierra.
36Este es el sueño: la declaración de él diremos también en presencia del rey.
37Tú, oh rey, eres rey de reyes; porque el Dios del cielo te ha dado reino, potencia, y fortaleza, y majestad.
38Y todo lo que habitan hijos de hombres, bestias del campo, y aves del cielo, él ha entregado en tu mano, y te ha hecho enseñorear sobre todo ello: tú eres aquella cabeza de oro.
39Y después de ti se levantará otro reino menor que tú; y otro tercer reino de metal, el cual se enseñoreará de toda la tierra.
40Y el reino cuarto será fuerte como hierro; y como el hierro desmenuza y doma todas las cosas, y como el hierro que quebranta todas estas cosas, desmenuzará y quebrantará.
41Y lo que viste de los pies y los dedos, en parte de barro cocido de alfarero, y en parte de hierro, el reino será dividido; mas habrá en él algo de fortaleza de hierro, según que viste el hierro mezclado con el tiesto de barro.
42Y por ser los dedos de los pies en parte de hierro, y en parte de barro cocido, en parte será el reino fuerte, y en parte será frágil.
43Cuanto á aquello que viste, el hierro mezclado con tiesto de barro, mezclaránse con simiente humana, mas no se pegarán el uno con el otro, como el hierro no se mistura con el tiesto.
44Y en los días de estos reyes, levantará el Dios del cielo un reino que nunca jamás se corromperá: y no será dejado á otro pueblo este reino; el cual desmenuzará y consumirá todos estos reinos, y él permanecerá para siempre.
45De la manera que viste que del monte fué cortada una piedra, no con manos, la cual desmenuzó al hierro, al metal, al tiesto, á la plata, y al oro; el gran Dios ha mostrado al rey lo que ha de acontecer en lo por venir: y el sueño es verdadero, y fiel su declaración.
46Entonces el rey Nabucodonosor cayó sobre su rostro, y humillóse á Daniel, y mandó que le sacrificasen presentes y perfumes.
47El rey habló á Daniel, y dijo: Ciertamente que el Dios vuestro es Dios de dioses, y el Señor de los reyes, y el descubridor de los misterios, pues pudiste revelar este arcano.
48Entonces el rey engrandeció á Daniel, y le dió muchos y grandes dones, y púsolo por gobernador de toda la provincia de Babilonia, y por príncipe de los gobernadores sobre todos los sabios de Babilonia.
49Y Daniel solicitó del rey, y él puso sobre los negocios de la provincia de Babilonia á Sadrach, Mesach, y Abed-nego: y Daniel estaba á la puerta del rey.
King James Version
1And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
2Then 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.
3And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
4Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
5The 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.
6But 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.
7They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
8The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
9But 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.
10The 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.
11And 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.
12For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
14Then 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:
15He 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.
16Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
17Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
18That 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.
19Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21And 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:
22He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
23I 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.
24Therefore 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.
25Then 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.
26The 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?
27Daniel 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;
28But 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;
29As 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.
30But 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.
31Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.
32This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
33His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
34Thou 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.
35Then 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.
36This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
37Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
38And 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.
39And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
40And 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.
41And 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.
42And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
43And 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.
44And 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.
45Forasmuch 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.
46Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
47The 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.
48Then 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.
49Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
World English Bible
1In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him.
2Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be called to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
3The king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.”
4Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in the Syrian language, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”
5The king answered the Chaldeans, “The thing has gone from me. If you don’t make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut in pieces, and your houses will be made a dunghill.
6But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.”
7They answered the second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”
8The king answered, “I know of a certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see the thing has gone from me.
9But if you don’t make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the situation changes. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can show me its interpretation.”
10The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on the earth who can show the king’s matter, because no king, lord, or ruler has asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or Chaldean.
11It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12Because of this, the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
13So the decree went out, and the wise men were to be slain. They sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.
14Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.
15He answered Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree so urgent from the king?” Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
16Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
17Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
18that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret, that Daniel and his companions would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.
21He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding.
22He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23I thank you and praise you, O God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
24Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said this to him: “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon. Bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation.”
25Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said this to him: “I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah who will make known to the king the interpretation.”
26The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”
27Daniel answered before the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded can’t be shown to the king by wise men, enchanters, magicians, or soothsayers;
28but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head on your bed are these:
29“As for you, O king, your thoughts came on your bed, what should happen hereafter; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you what will happen.
30But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.
31“You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and its appearance was terrifying.
32As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze,
33its legs of iron, its feet part of iron and part of clay.
34You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
35Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
36“This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king.
37You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory.
38Wherever the children of men dwell, he has given the animals of the field and the birds of the sky into your hand, and has made you rule over them all. You are the head of gold.
39“After you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to you; and another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
40The fourth kingdom will be strong as iron, because iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things; and as iron that crushes all these, it will break in pieces and crush.
41Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay and part of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but there will be in it of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed with miry clay.
42As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.
43Whereas you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they will mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they won’t cling to one another, even as iron does not mix with clay.
44“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever.
45Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will happen hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him.
47The king answered to Daniel, and said, “Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.”
48Then the king made Daniel great and gave him many great gifts, and made him rule over the whole province of Babylon and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.
49Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, but Daniel was in the king’s gate.