Daniel 2

1 Og i Nebukadnezars andet Regeringsaar drømte Nebukadnezar Drømme, og hans Aand blev bekymret, og det var forbi for ham med hans Søvn.2 Da sagde Kongen, at de skulde kalde Spaamændene og Besværgerne og Troldkarlene og Kaldæerne for at forkynde Kongen hans Drømme; og de kom og stode for Kongens Ansigt.3 Og Kongen sagde til dem: Jeg drømte en Drøm, og min Aand blev bekymret, saa at jeg maa vide Drømmen.4 Da talte Kaldæerne til Kongen paa Syrisk: Kongen leve evindelig! sig dine fjenere Drømmen, og vi skulle kundgøre Udtydningen.5 Kongen svarede og sagde til Kaldæerne: Ordet fra mig staar fast: Dersom I ikke kundgøre mig Drømrnen og Udtydningen derpaa, skulle; I blive huggede. i Stykker og eders Huse blive gjorte til en Møgdynge.6 Men dersom I kundgøre Drømmen og Udtydninger derpaa, da skulle I bekomme Skænk og Gave og stor Ære af mig; derfor kundgører mig Drømmen og Udtydningen derpaa!7 De svarede anden Gang og sagde: Kongen sige sineTjenere Drømmen, saa ville vi kundgøre Udtydningen.8 Kongen svarede og sagde: Sandelig, jeg mærker, at I ville vinde Tid, efterdi I se, at Ur det fra mig staar fast;9 dersom I ikke kundgøre mig Drømmen, da er der een Dom over eder, og I ere komme overens om at sige Iøgnagtig og fordærvelig Tale for mig, indtil Tiden forandrer sig; derfor siger mig Drømmen, saa kan jeg vide; at I kunne kundgøre mig Udtydningen derpaa.10 Kaldæerne svarede Kongen og sagde: Der er intet Menneske paa Jorden, som kan kundgøre det, som Kongen forlanger, efterdi ingen stor og mægtig Konge har begæret saadan Ting af nogen Spaamand eller Besværger eller Kaldæer.11 Og den Ting, som Kongen begærer, er sval, og der er ingen Anden, som kan kundgøre den for Kongen, uden Guderne, hvis Bolig ikke er hos Menneskene.12 Over dette blev Kongen fortørnet og meget vred, og han befalede, at man skulde udrydde alle vise i Babel.13 Og Befalingen udgik, og de vise bleve ihjelslagne; og man ledte efter Daniel og hans Medbrødre, for at de kunde blive ihjelslagne.14 Da gav Daniel et klogt og forstandigt Svar til Ariok, Øversten for Kongens Livvagt, som var gaaet ud for at ihjelslaa de vise i Babel15 Han svarede og sagde til Ariok, Kongens mægtige Mand: Hvorfor kommer denne strenge Befaling fra Kongen? Saa gav Ariok Sagen til Kende for Daniel.16 Og Daniel gik ind og begærede af Kongen, at han vilde give den Tid, og at han maatte kundgøre Kongen Udtydningen.17 Da gik Daniel til sit Hus og kundgjorde Hanania, Misael og Asaria, sine Medbrødre, Sagen,18 og det, for at de skulde begære Barmhjertighed af Gud i Himmelen angaaende denne Hemmelighed, for at de ikke skulde udrydde Daniel og hans Medbrødre tillige med Resten af de vise i Babel.19 Da blev Hemmeligheden aabenbaret for Daniel i et Syn om Natten; da velsignede Daniel Himmelens Gud.20 Daniel svarede og sagde: Velsignet være Guds Navn fra Evighed og indtil Evighed; thi Visdommen og Kraften er hans.21 Og han forandrer Tider og Timer, han afsætter Konger og indsætter Konger; han giver de vise Visdom og de forstandige Kundskab.22 Han aabenbarer de dybe og skjulte Ting; han ved, hvad der er i Mørket, og Lyset bor hos ham.23 Dig, mine Fædres Gud! lover og priser jeg, thi du har givet mig Visdom og Styrke; og du har nu kundgjort mig det, vi begærede af dig, thi du har kundgjort os Kongens Sag.24 Derfor gik Daniel ind til Ariok, som Kongen havde befalet at udrydde de vise i Babel; han gik hen og sagde saaledes til ham: Udryd ikke de vise i Babel; før mig ind for Kongen, saa vil jeg kundgøre Kongen Udtydningen.25 Da førte Ariok Daniel hastelig ind for Kongen og sagde saaledes til ham: Jeg har fundet iblandt det bortførte Folk af Juda en Mand, som vil kundgøre Kongen Udtydningen.26 Kongen svarede og sagde til Daniel, hvis Navn var Beltsazar: Er du i Stand til at kundgøre mig den Drøm, som jeg saa, og Udtydningen derpaa?27 Daniel svarede Kongen og sagde: Hemmeligheden, som Kongen begærer, kunne de vise, Besværgerne, Spaamændene og Sandsigerne ikke kundgøre Kongen.28 Men der er en Gud i Himmelen; som aabenbarer hemmelige Ting, han har kundgjort Kong Nebukadnezar, hvad der skal ske i de sidste Dage; din Drøm: og dit Hoveds Syner paa dit Leje ere disse:29 Du Konge! dine Tanker opstege paa dit Leje om, hvad der skulde ske herefter; og han, som aabenbarer hemmelige Ting, har kundgjort dig, hvad der skal ske.30 Og mig er denne Hemmelighed aabenbaret, ikke af den Visdom, som er i mig, fremfor alle dem, der leve; men for at Udtydningen skulde gives Kongen til Kende, og du maatte komme til at vide dit Hjertes Tanker.31 Du, Konge! saa, og se, der var et højt Billede; samme Billede var stort, og dets Glans var herlig; det stod foran dig, og dets Udseende var forfærdeligt.32 Dette Billedes Hoved var af fint Guld, dets Bryst og dets Arme af Sølv; dets Bug og dets Lænder af Kobber,33 dets Ben vare af Jern, dets Fødder til Dels af Jern og til Dels af Ler.34 Du saa, indtil der blev en Sten løsreven, og det ikke ved Hænder, og den slog Billedet paa dets Fødder, som vare af Jern og Ler, og knuste dem.35 Da blev Jernet, Leret, Kobberet, Sølvet og Guldet knuste paa een, Gang og bleve ligesom Avner fra Tærskepladserne om Sommeren, og Vinden borttog dem, og intet Sted blev fundet for dem; men den Sten, som sønderslog Billedet, blev til et stort Bjerg og opfyldte hele Jorden:36 Det er Drømmen, og Udtydningen derpaa skulle vi sige Kongen.37 Du, Konge, Kongernes Konge, hvem Himmelens Gud har givet Riget, Magten og Styrken og Æren,38 og har allesteds, hvor Mennesker bo, Dyrene paa Marken og Fuglene under Himmelen, givet dem i din Haand og ladet dig herske over dem alle: Du selv er, Guldhovedet.39 Og efter dig skal opkomme et andet Rige, ringere end dit, og et tredje Rige endnu, ef Kobber, som skal herske over hele Jorden.40 Og et fjerde Rige skal være stærkt som Jernet; eftersom Jernet knuser og sønderslaar alt, skal det som Jernet, der sønderslaar, knuse og sønderslaa alle hine.41 Men at du saa Fødderne og Tæerne til Dels at være af Pottemagerler og til Dels af Jern, betyder, at det skal blive et delt Rige, og at der skal blive noget af Jernets Styrke derudi, efter di du saa, at Jernet var blandet med Leret.42 Og at Tæerne paa Fødderne vare til Dels af Jern og til Dels af Ler, betyder, at Riget for en Del skal være stærkt og for en Del skrøbeligt.43 At du saa Jernet blandet med Leret, betyder, at de skulle blande sig ved Slægtskabsforbindelser; men dog ikke indbyrdes holde sammen; se, ligesom Jernet ikke kan blandes med Leret.44 Men i disse Kongers Dage skal Himmelens Gud oprette et Rige, som i al Evighed ikke skal forgaa, og hvis Regering ikke skal overlades til noget andet Folk; det skal knuse og tilintetgøre alle hine Riger; men selv skal det bestaa evindelig,45 efterdi du saa, at en Sten blev løsrevet fra Bjerget, og det ikke ved Hænder, og at den knuste Jernet, Kobberet, Leret, Sølvet og Guldet. Den store Gud har ladet Kongen vide, hvad der skal ske herefter, og Drømmen staar fast, og Udtydningen derpaa er vis.46 Da faldt Kong Nebukadnezar paa sit Ansigt og nedbøjede sig for Daniel, og han befalede, at man skulde ofre ham Madofre og Røgelse.47 Kongen svarede Daniel og sagde: Sandt er det, at eders Gud, han er en Gud over Guder og en Herre over Konger, og Hemmeligheders Aabenbarer, efterdi du har kunnet aabenbare denne Hemmelighed.48 Da gjorde Kongen Daniel stor og gav ham mange store Gaver og gjorde ham til Fyrste over hele Landskabet Babel og til øverste Forstander for alle de vise i Babel.49 Og Daniel begærede af Kongen, at han til Bestyrelsen over Landskabet Babel vilde beskikke Sadrak, Mesak og Abed-Nego; men Daniel blev ved Kongens Hof.

Daniel 2

Nebuchadnezzar Has a Disturbing Dream

1 In the second year of hist reign Nebuchadnezzar had many dreams.t His mindt was disturbed and he suffered from insomnia.t

2 The king issued an ordert to summon the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and wise ment in order to explain his dreams to him.t So they came and awaited the king’s instructions.t
3 The king told them, “I have had a dream,t and It am anxious to understand the dream.”4 The wise men replied to the king: [What follows is in Aramaics] “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will disclose itst interpretation.”5 The king repliedt to the wise men, “My decision is firm.t If you do not inform me of both the dream and its interpretation, you will be dismemberedt and your homes reduced to rubble!6 But if you can disclose the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts, a reward, and considerable honor. So disclose to me the dream and its interpretation!”7 They again replied, “Let the king inform ust of the dream; then we will disclose itst interpretation.”8 The king replied, “I know for sure that you are attempting to gain time, because you see that my decision is firm.

9 If you don’t inform me of the dream, there is only one thing that is going to happen to you.t For you have agreed among yourselves to report to me something false and deceitfult until such time as things might change. So tell me the dream, and I will have confidencet that you can disclose its interpretation.”
10 The wise men replied to the king, “There is no man on earth who is able to disclose the king’s secret,t for no king, regardless of his position and power, has ever requested such a thing from any magician, astrologer, or wise man.

11 What the king is asking is too difficult, and no one exists who can disclose it to the king, except for the gods – but they don’t live among mortals!”t
12 Because of this the king got furiously angryt and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

13 So a decree went out, and the wise men were aboutt to be executed. They also soughtt Daniel and his friends so that they could be executed.
14 Then Daniel spoke with prudent counselt to Arioch, who was in charge of the king’s executioners and who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon.15 He inquired of Arioch the king’s deputy, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?”t Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.16 So Daniel went in ands requested the king to grant him time, that he might disclose the interpretation to the king.17 Then Daniel went to his home and informed his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter.18 He asked them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery so that het and his friends would not be destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.19 Then in a night vision the mystery was revealed to Daniel. So Daniel praisedt the God of heaven,

20 saying,t
“Let the name of Gods be praisedt forever and ever,
for wisdom and power belong to him.

21 He changes times and seasons,
deposing some kings
and establishing others.t
He gives wisdom to the wise;
he imparts knowledge to those with understanding;t

22 he reveals deep and hidden things.
He knows what is in the darkness,
and light resides with him.

23 O God of my fathers, I acknowledge and glorify you,
for you have bestowed wisdom and power on me.
Now you have enabled me to understand what It requested from you.
For you have enabled me to understand the king’s dilemma.”t

24 Then Daniel went in to sees Arioch (whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon). He cames and said to him, “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon! Escort met to the king, and I will disclose the interpretation to him!”t
25 So Arioch quickly ushered Daniel into the king’s presence, saying to him, “Is have found a man from the captives of Judah who can make known the interpretation to the king.”26 The king then asked Daniel (whose name was also Belteshazzar), “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I saw, as well as its interpretation?”27 Daniel replied to the king, “The mystery that the king is asking about is such that no wise men, astrologers, magicians, or diviners can possibly disclose it to the king.

28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries,t and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the times to come.t The dream and the visions you had while lying on your bedt are as follows.
29 “As for you, O king, while you were in your bed your thoughts turned to future things.t The revealer of mysteries has made known to you what will take place.

30 As for me, this mystery was revealed to me not because I possess more wisdomt than any other living person, but so that the king may understandt the interpretation and comprehend the thoughts of your mind.t
31 “You, O king, were watching as a great statue – onet of impressive size and extraordinary brightness – was standing before you. Its appearance caused alarm.32 As for that statue, its head was of fine gold, its chest and arms were of silver, its belly and thighs were of bronze.33 Its legs were of iron; its feet were partly of iron and partly of clay.s34 You were watching ast a stone was cut out,s but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces.35 Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were broken in pieces without distinctiont and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors that the wind carries away. Not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain that filled the entire earth.

36 This was the dream. Now wet will set forth before the king its interpretation.

Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

37 “You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has granted you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor.38 Wherever human beings,t wild animals,t and birds of the sky live – he has given them into your power.t He has given you authority over them all. You are the head of gold.39 Now after you another kingdoms will arise, one inferior to yours. Then a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule in all the earth.40 Then there will be a fourth kingdom, one strong like iron. Just like iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything, and as iron breaks in piecess all of these metals,t so it will break in pieces and crush the others.t41 In that you were seeing feet and toess partly of wet clayt and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom. Some of the strength of iron will be in it, for you saw iron mixed with wet clay.t42 In that the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, the latter stages of this kingdom will be partly strong and partly fragile.43 Ands in that you saw iron mixed with wet clay, so people will be mixeds with one anothert without adhering to one another, just ass iron does not mix with clay.44 In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever.

45 You saw that a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands; it smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to the king what will occur in the future.t The dream is certain, and its interpretation is reliable.”
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed down with his face to the groundt and paid homage to Daniel. He gave orders to offer sacrifice and incense to him.47 The king replied to Daniel, “Certainly your God is a God of gods and Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery!”48 Then the king elevated Daniel to high position and bestowed on him many marvelous gifts. He granted him authority over the entire province of Babylon and made him the main prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.

49 And at Daniel’s request, the kingt appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the administration of the province of Babylon. Daniel himself served in the king’s court.t