Daniel 2
1 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him.
| וּבִשְׁנַת שְׁתַּיִם לְמַלְכוּת נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּר חָלַם נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּר חֲלֹמוֹת וַתִּתְפָּעֶם רוּחוֹ וּשְׁנָתוֹ נִהְיְתָה עָלָֽיו׃ |
2 So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to explain his dreams. When they came and stood before the king,
| וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לִקְרֹא לַֽחַרְטֻמִּים וְלָֽאַשָּׁפִים וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִים וְלַכַּשְׂדִּים לְהַגִּיד לַמֶּלֶךְ חֲלֹמֹתָיו וַיָּבֹאוּ וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ לִפְנֵי הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ |
3 he said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to understand it.”
| וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ חֲלוֹם חָלָמְתִּי וַתִּפָּעֶם רוּחִי לָדַעַת אֶֽת־הַחֲלֽוֹם׃ |
4 Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “O king, may you live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”
| וַֽיְדַבְּרוּ הַכַּשְׂדִּים לַמֶּלֶךְ אֲרָמִית מַלְכָּא לְעָלְמִין חֱיִי אֱמַר חֶלְמָא (לעבדיך) [לְעַבְדָךְ] וּפִשְׁרָא נְחַוֵּֽא׃ |
5 The king replied to the astrologers, “My word is final: If you do not tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut into pieces and your houses will be reduced to rubble.
| עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר (לכשדיא) [לְכַשְׂדָּאֵי] מִלְּתָה מִנִּי אַזְדָּא הֵן לָא תְהֽוֹדְעוּנַּנִי חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ הַדָּמִין תִּתְעַבְדוּן וּבָתֵּיכוֹן נְוָלִי יִתְּשָׂמֽוּן׃ |
6 But if you tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
| וְהֵן חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ תְּֽהַחֲוֺן מַתְּנָן וּנְבִזְבָּה וִיקָר שַׂגִּיא תְּקַבְּלוּן מִן־קֳדָמָי לָהֵן חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ הַחֲוֺֽנִי׃ |
7 They answered a second time, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will give the interpretation.”
| עֲנוֹ תִנְיָנוּת וְאָמְרִין מַלְכָּא חֶלְמָא יֵאמַר לְעַבְדוֹהִי וּפִשְׁרָה נְהַחֲוֵֽה׃ |
8 The king replied, “I know for sure that you are stalling for time, because you see that my word is final.
| עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר מִן־יַצִּיב יָדַע אֲנָה דִּי עִדָּנָא אַנְתּוּן זָבְנִין כׇּל־קֳבֵל דִּי חֲזֵיתוֹן דִּי אַזְדָּא מִנִּי מִלְּתָֽא׃ |
9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one decree for you. You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words, hoping the situation will change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can give me its interpretation.”
| דִּי הֵן־חֶלְמָא לָא תְהֽוֹדְעֻנַּנִי חֲדָה־הִיא דָֽתְכוֹן וּמִלָּה כִדְבָה וּשְׁחִיתָה (הזמנתון) [הִזְדְּמִנְתּוּן] לְמֵאמַר קׇֽדָמַי עַד דִּי עִדָּנָא יִשְׁתַּנֵּא לָהֵן חֶלְמָא אֱמַרוּ לִי וְֽאִנְדַּע דִּי פִשְׁרֵהּ תְּהַחֲוֻנַּֽנִי׃ |
10 The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can do what the king requests! No king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer.
| עֲנוֹ (כשדיא) [כַשְׂדָּאֵי] קֳדָם־מַלְכָּא וְאָמְרִין לָֽא־אִיתַי אֱנָשׁ עַל־יַבֶּשְׁתָּא דִּי מִלַּת מַלְכָּא יוּכַל לְהַחֲוָיָה כׇּל־קֳבֵל דִּי כׇּל־מֶלֶךְ רַב וְשַׁלִּיט מִלָּה כִדְנָה לָא שְׁאֵל לְכׇל־חַרְטֹם וְאָשַׁף וְכַשְׂדָּֽי׃ |
11 What the king requests is so difficult that no one can tell it to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”
| וּמִלְּתָא דִֽי־מַלְכָּה שָׁאֵל יַקִּירָה וְאׇחֳרָן לָא אִיתַי דִּי יְחַוִּנַּהּ קֳדָם מַלְכָּא לָהֵן אֱלָהִין דִּי מְדָרְהוֹן עִם־בִּשְׂרָא לָא אִיתֽוֹהִי׃ |
12 This response made the king so furious with anger that he gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
| כׇּל־קֳבֵל דְּנָה מַלְכָּא בְּנַס וּקְצַף שַׂגִּיא וַאֲמַר לְהוֹבָדָה לְכֹל חַכִּימֵי בָבֶֽל׃ |
13 So the decree went out that the wise men were to be executed, and men went to look for Daniel and his friends to execute them.
| וְדָתָא נֶפְקַת וְחַכִּֽימַיָּא מִֽתְקַטְּלִין וּבְעוֹ דָּנִיֵּאל וְחַבְרוֹהִי לְהִתְקְטָלָֽה׃ |
14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon, Daniel replied with discretion and tact.
| בֵּאדַיִן דָּנִיֵּאל הֲתִיב עֵטָא וּטְעֵם לְאַרְיוֹךְ רַב־טַבָּחַיָּא דִּי מַלְכָּא דִּי נְפַק לְקַטָּלָה לְחַכִּימֵי בָּבֶֽל׃ |
15 “Why is the decree from the king so harsh?” he asked. At this time Arioch explained the situation to Daniel.
| עָנֵה וְאָמַר לְאַרְיוֹךְ שַׁלִּיטָא דִֽי־מַלְכָּא עַל־מָה דָתָא מְהַחְצְפָה מִן־קֳדָם מַלְכָּא אֱדַיִן מִלְּתָא הוֹדַע אַרְיוֹךְ לְדָנִיֵּֽאל׃ |
16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give him the interpretation.
| וְדָנִיֵּאל עַל וּבְעָה מִן־מַלְכָּא דִּי זְמָן יִנְתִּן־לֵהּ וּפִשְׁרָא לְהַֽחֲוָיָה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃ |
17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
| אֱדַיִן דָּֽנִיֵּאל לְבַיְתֵהּ אֲזַל וְלַחֲנַנְיָה מִֽישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה חַבְרוֹהִי מִלְּתָא הוֹדַֽע׃ |
18 urging them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
| וְרַחֲמִין לְמִבְעֵא מִן־קֳדָם אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא עַל־רָזָא דְּנָה דִּי לָא יְהֽוֹבְדוּן דָּנִיֵּאל וְחַבְרוֹהִי עִם־שְׁאָר חַכִּימֵי בָבֶֽל׃ |
19 During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he blessed the God of heaven
| אֱדַיִן לְדָנִיֵּאל בְּחֶזְוָא דִֽי־לֵילְיָא רָזָא גְלִי אֱדַיִן דָּֽנִיֵּאל בָּרִךְ לֶאֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּֽא׃ |
20 and declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.
| עָנֵה דָֽנִיֵּאל וְאָמַר לֶהֱוֵא שְׁמֵהּ דִּֽי־אֱלָהָא מְבָרַךְ מִן־עָלְמָא וְעַד עָלְמָא דִּי חׇכְמְתָא וּגְבוּרְתָא דִּי לֵֽהּ־הִֽיא׃ |
21 He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
| וְהוּא מְהַשְׁנֵא עִדָּנַיָּא וְזִמְנַיָּא מְהַעְדֵּה מַלְכִין וּמְהָקֵים מַלְכִין יָהֵב חׇכְמְתָא לְחַכִּימִין וּמַנְדְּעָא לְיָדְעֵי בִינָֽה׃ |
22 He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.
| הוּא גָּלֵא עַמִּיקָתָא וּמְסַתְּרָתָא יָדַע מָה בַחֲשׁוֹכָא (ונהירא) [וּנְהוֹרָא] עִמֵּהּ שְׁרֵֽא׃ |
23 To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, because You have given me wisdom and power. And now You have made known to me what we have requested, for You have made known to us the dream of the king.”
| לָךְ ׀ אֱלָהּ אֲבָהָתִי מְהוֹדֵא וּמְשַׁבַּח אֲנָה דִּי חׇכְמְתָא וּגְבוּרְתָא יְהַבְתְּ לִי וּכְעַן הֽוֹדַעְתַּנִי דִּֽי־בְעֵינָא מִנָּךְ דִּֽי־מִלַּת מַלְכָּא הוֹדַעְתֶּֽנָא׃ |
24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation.”
| כׇּל־קֳבֵל דְּנָה דָּֽנִיֵּאל עַל עַל־אַרְיוֹךְ דִּי מַנִּי מַלְכָּא לְהוֹבָדָה לְחַכִּימֵי בָבֶל אֲזַל ׀ וְכֵן אֲמַר־לֵהּ לְחַכִּימֵי בָבֶל אַל־תְּהוֹבֵד הַעֵלְנִי קֳדָם מַלְכָּא וּפִשְׁרָא לְמַלְכָּא אֲחַוֵּֽא׃ |
25 Arioch hastily brought Daniel before the king and said to him, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who will tell the king the interpretation.”
| אֱדַיִן אַרְיוֹךְ בְּהִתְבְּהָלָה הַנְעֵל לְדָנִיֵּאל קֳדָם מַלְכָּא וְכֵן אֲמַר־לֵהּ דִּֽי־הַשְׁכַּחַת גְּבַר מִן־בְּנֵי גָֽלוּתָא דִּי יְהוּד דִּי פִשְׁרָא לְמַלְכָּא יְהוֹדַֽע׃ |
26 The king responded to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me what I saw in the dream, as well as its interpretation?”
| עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר לְדָנִיֵּאל דִּי שְׁמֵהּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר (האיתיך) [הַֽאִיתָךְ] כָּהֵל לְהוֹדָעֻתַנִי חֶלְמָא דִֽי־חֲזֵית וּפִשְׁרֵֽהּ׃ |
27 Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires.
| עָנֵה דָנִיֵּאל קֳדָם מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר רָזָא דִּֽי־מַלְכָּא שָׁאֵל לָא חַכִּימִין אָֽשְׁפִין חַרְטֻמִּין גָּזְרִין יָכְלִין לְהַֽחֲוָיָה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃ |
28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these:
| בְּרַם אִיתַי אֱלָהּ בִּשְׁמַיָּא גָּלֵא רָזִין וְהוֹדַע לְמַלְכָּא נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּר מָה דִּי לֶהֱוֵא בְּאַחֲרִית יוֹמַיָּא חֶלְמָךְ וְחֶזְוֵי רֵאשָׁךְ עַֽל־מִשְׁכְּבָךְ דְּנָה הֽוּא׃ |
29 As you lay on your bed, O king, your thoughts turned to the future, and the Revealer of Mysteries made known to you what will happen.
| (אנתה) [אַנְתְּ] מַלְכָּא רַעְיוֹנָךְ עַל־מִשְׁכְּבָךְ סְלִקוּ מָה דִּי לֶהֱוֵא אַחֲרֵי דְנָה וְגָלֵא רָזַיָּא הוֹדְעָךְ מָה־דִי לֶהֱוֵֽא׃ |
30 And to me this mystery has been revealed, not because I have more wisdom than any man alive, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.
| וַאֲנָה לָא בְחׇכְמָה דִּֽי־אִיתַי בִּי מִן־כׇּל־חַיַּיָּא רָזָא דְנָה גֱּלִי לִי לָהֵן עַל־דִּבְרַת דִּי פִשְׁרָא לְמַלְכָּא יְהוֹדְעוּן וְרַעְיוֹנֵי לִבְבָךְ תִּנְדַּֽע׃ |
31 As you, O king, were watching, a great statue appeared. A great and dazzling statue stood before you, and its form was awesome.
| (אנתה) [אַנְתְּ] מַלְכָּא חָזֵה הֲוַיְתָ וַאֲלוּ צְלֵם חַד שַׂגִּיא צַלְמָא דִכֵּן רַב וְזִיוֵהּ יַתִּיר קָאֵם לְקׇבְלָךְ וְרֵוֵהּ דְּחִֽיל׃ |
32 The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze,
| הוּא צַלְמָא רֵאשֵׁהּ דִּֽי־דְהַב טָב חֲדוֹהִי וּדְרָעוֹהִי דִּי כְסַף מְעוֹהִי וְיַרְכָתֵהּ דִּי נְחָֽשׁ׃ |
33 its legs were iron, and its feet were part iron and part clay.
| שָׁקוֹהִי דִּי פַרְזֶל רַגְלוֹהִי (מנהון) [מִנְּהֵין] דִּי פַרְזֶל (ומנהון) [וּמִנְּהֵין] דִּי חֲסַֽף׃ |
34 As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them.
| חָזֵה הֲוַיְתָ עַד דִּי הִתְגְּזֶרֶת אֶבֶן דִּי־לָא בִידַיִן וּמְחָת לְצַלְמָא עַל־רַגְלוֹהִי דִּי פַרְזְלָא וְחַסְפָּא וְהַדֵּקֶת הִמּֽוֹן׃ |
35 Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
| בֵּאדַיִן דָּקוּ כַחֲדָה פַּרְזְלָא חַסְפָּא נְחָשָׁא כַּסְפָּא וְדַהֲבָא וַהֲווֹ כְּעוּר מִן־אִדְּרֵי־קַיִט וּנְשָׂא הִמּוֹן רוּחָא וְכׇל־אֲתַר לָא־הִשְׁתְּכַח לְהוֹן וְאַבְנָא ׀ דִּֽי־מְחָת לְצַלְמָא הֲוָת לְטוּר רַב וּמְלָאת כׇּל־אַרְעָֽא׃ |
36 This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation.
| דְּנָה חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ נֵאמַר קֳדָם־מַלְכָּֽא׃ |
37 You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory.
| (אנתה) [אַנְתְּ] מַלְכָּא מֶלֶךְ מַלְכַיָּא דִּי אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא מַלְכוּתָא חִסְנָא וְתׇקְפָּא וִֽיקָרָא יְהַב־לָֽךְ׃ |
38 Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
| וּבְכׇל־דִּי (דארין) [דָֽיְרִין] בְּֽנֵי־אֲנָשָׁא חֵיוַת בָּרָא וְעוֹף־שְׁמַיָּא יְהַב בִּידָךְ וְהַשְׁלְטָךְ בְּכׇלְּהוֹן (אנתה) [אַנְתְּ־]הוּא רֵאשָׁה דִּי דַהֲבָֽא׃ |
39 But after you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule the whole earth.
| וּבָתְרָךְ תְּקוּם מַלְכוּ אׇחֳרִי (ארעא) [אֲרַע] מִנָּךְ וּמַלְכוּ (תליתיא) [תְלִיתָאָה] אׇחֳרִי דִּי נְחָשָׁא דִּי תִשְׁלַט בְּכׇל־אַרְעָֽא׃ |
40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; for iron shatters and crushes all things, and like iron that crushes all things, it will shatter and crush all the others.
| וּמַלְכוּ (רביעיה) [רְבִיעָאָה] תֶּהֱוֵא תַקִּיפָה כְּפַרְזְלָא כׇּל־קֳבֵל דִּי פַרְזְלָא מְהַדֵּק וְחָשֵׁל כֹּלָּא וּֽכְפַרְזְלָא דִּֽי־מְרָעַע כׇּל־אִלֵּן תַּדִּק וְתֵרֹֽעַ׃ |
41 And just as you saw that the feet and toes were made partly of fired clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom, yet some of the strength of iron will be in it—just as you saw the iron mixed with clay.
| וְדִֽי־חֲזַיְתָה רַגְלַיָּא וְאֶצְבְּעָתָא (מנהון) [מִנְּהֵן] חֲסַף דִּֽי־פֶחָר (ומנהון) [וּמִנְּהֵין] פַּרְזֶל מַלְכוּ פְלִיגָה תֶּהֱוֵה וּמִן־נִצְבְּתָא דִֽי־פַרְזְלָא לֶֽהֱוֵא־בַהּ כׇּל־קֳבֵל דִּי חֲזַיְתָה פַּרְזְלָא מְעָרַב בַּחֲסַף טִינָֽא׃ |
42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.
| וְאֶצְבְּעָת רַגְלַיָּא (מנהון) [מִנְּהֵין] פַּרְזֶל (ומנהון) [וּמִנְּהֵין] חֲסַף מִן־קְצָת מַלְכוּתָא תֶּהֱוֵה תַקִּיפָה וּמִנַּהּ תֶּהֱוֵא תְבִירָֽה׃ |
43 As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so the peoples will mix with one another, but will not hold together any more than iron mixes with clay.
| (די) [וְדִי] חֲזַיְתָ פַּרְזְלָא מְעָרַב בַּחֲסַף טִינָא מִתְעָרְבִין לֶהֱוֺן בִּזְרַע אֲנָשָׁא וְלָֽא־לֶהֱוֺן דָּבְקִין דְּנָה עִם־דְּנָה הֵֽא־כְדִי פַרְזְלָא לָא מִתְעָרַב עִם־חַסְפָּֽא׃ |
44 In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever.
| וּֽבְיוֹמֵיהוֹן דִּי מַלְכַיָּא אִנּוּן יְקִים אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא מַלְכוּ דִּי לְעָלְמִין לָא תִתְחַבַּל וּמַלְכוּתָה לְעַם אׇחֳרָן לָא תִשְׁתְּבִק תַּדִּק וְתָסֵיף כׇּל־אִלֵּין מַלְכְוָתָא וְהִיא תְּקוּם לְעָלְמַיָּֽא׃ |
45 And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
| כׇּל־קֳבֵל דִּֽי־חֲזַיְתָ דִּי מִטּוּרָא אִתְגְּזֶרֶת אֶבֶן דִּי־לָא בִידַיִן וְהַדֵּקֶת פַּרְזְלָא נְחָשָׁא חַסְפָּא כַּסְפָּא וְדַהֲבָא אֱלָהּ רַב הוֹדַע לְמַלְכָּא מָה דִּי לֶהֱוֵא אַחֲרֵי דְנָה וְיַצִּיב חֶלְמָא וּמְהֵימַן פִּשְׁרֵֽהּ׃ |
46 At this, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, paid homage to Daniel, and ordered that an offering of incense be presented to him.
| בֵּאדַיִן מַלְכָּא נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּר נְפַל עַל־אַנְפּוֹהִי וּלְדָנִיֵּאל סְגִד וּמִנְחָה וְנִיחֹחִין אֲמַר לְנַסָּכָה לֵֽהּ׃ |
47 The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
| עָנֵה מַלְכָּא לְדָנִיֵּאל וְאָמַר מִן־קְשֹׁט דִּי אֱלָהֲכוֹן הוּא אֱלָהּ אֱלָהִין וּמָרֵא מַלְכִין וְגָלֵה רָזִין דִּי יְכֵלְתָּ לְמִגְלֵא רָזָא דְנָֽה׃ |
48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
| אֱדַיִן מַלְכָּא לְדָנִיֵּאל רַבִּי וּמַתְּנָן רַבְרְבָן שַׂגִּיאָן יְהַב־לֵהּ וְהַשְׁלְטֵהּ עַל כׇּל־מְדִינַת בָּבֶל וְרַב־סִגְנִין עַל כׇּל־חַכִּימֵי בָבֶֽל׃ |
49 And at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to manage the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.
| וְדָנִיֵּאל בְּעָא מִן־מַלְכָּא וּמַנִּי עַל עֲבִֽידְתָּא דִּי מְדִינַת בָּבֶל לְשַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגוֹ וְדָנִיֵּאל בִּתְרַע מַלְכָּֽא׃ |
