< Daniel 2 >

1 In the second year of [his] reign Nabuchodonosor dreamed a dream, and his spirit was amazed, and his sleep departed from him.
וּבִשְׁנַת שְׁתַּיִם לְמַלְכוּת נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּר חָלַם נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּר חֲלֹמוֹת וַתִּתְפָּעֶם רוּחוֹ וּשְׁנָתוֹ נִהְיְתָה עָלָֽיו׃
2 And the king gave orders to call the enchanters, and the magicians, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to declare to the king his dreams. And they came and stood before the king.
וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לִקְרֹא לַֽחַרְטֻמִּים וְלָֽאַשָּׁפִים וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִים וְלַכַּשְׂדִּים לְהַגִּיד לַמֶּלֶךְ חֲלֹמֹתָיו וַיָּבֹאוּ וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ לִפְנֵי הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
3 And the king said to them, I have dreamed, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ חֲלוֹם חָלָמְתִּי וַתִּפָּעֶם רוּחִי לָדַעַת אֶֽת־הַחֲלֽוֹם׃
4 And the Chaldeans spoke to the king in the Syrian language, [saying], O king, live for ever: do thou tell the dream to thy servants, and we will declare the interpretation.
וַֽיְדַבְּרוּ הַכַּשְׂדִּים לַמֶּלֶךְ אֲרָמִית מַלְכָּא לְעָלְמִין חֱיִי אֱמַר חֶלְמָא (לעבדיך) [לְעַבְדָךְ] וּפִשְׁרָא נְחַוֵּֽא׃
5 The king answered the Chaldeans, The thing has departed from me: if ye do not make known to me the dream and the interpretation, ye shall be destroyed, and your houses shall be spoiled.
עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר (לכשדיא) [לְכַשְׂדָּאֵי] מִלְּתָה מִנִּי אַזְדָּא הֵן לָא תְהֽוֹדְעוּנַּנִי חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ הַדָּמִין תִּתְעַבְדוּן וּבָתֵּיכוֹן נְוָלִי יִתְּשָׂמֽוּן׃
6 But if ye make known to me the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and presents and much honour: only tell me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
וְהֵן חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ תְּֽהַחֲוֺן מַתְּנָן וּנְבִזְבָּה וִיקָר שַׂגִּיא תְּקַבְּלוּן מִן־קֳדָמָי לָהֵן חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ הַחֲוֺֽנִי׃
7 They answered the second time, and said, Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will declare the interpretation.
עֲנוֹ תִנְיָנוּת וְאָמְרִין מַלְכָּא חֶלְמָא יֵאמַר לְעַבְדוֹהִי וּפִשְׁרָה נְהַחֲוֵֽה׃
8 And the king answered and said, I verily know that ye are trying to gain time, because ye see that the thing has gone from me.
עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר מִן־יַצִּיב יָדַע אֲנָה דִּי עִדָּנָא אַנְתּוּן זָבְנִין כׇּל־קֳבֵל דִּי חֲזֵיתוֹן דִּי אַזְדָּא מִנִּי מִלְּתָֽא׃
9 If then ye do not tell me the dream, I know that ye have concerted to utter before me a false and corrupt tale, until the time shall have past: tell me my dream, and I shall know that ye will also declare to me the interpretation thereof.
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 Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is no man upon the earth, who shall be able to make known the king’s matter: forasmuch as no great king or ruler asks such a question of an enchanter, magician, or Chaldean.
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 For the question which the king asks is difficult, and there is no one else who shall answer it before the king, but the gods, whose dwelling is not with any flesh.
וּמִלְּתָא דִֽי־מַלְכָּה שָׁאֵל יַקִּירָה וְאׇחֳרָן לָא אִיתַי דִּי יְחַוִּנַּהּ קֳדָם מַלְכָּא לָהֵן אֱלָהִין דִּי מְדָרְהוֹן עִם־בִּשְׂרָא לָא אִיתֽוֹהִי׃
12 Then the king in rage and anger commanded 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 forth, and they began to slay the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to slay [them].
וְדָתָא נֶפְקַת וְחַכִּֽימַיָּא מִֽתְקַטְּלִין וּבְעוֹ דָּנִיֵּאל וְחַבְרוֹהִי לְהִתְקְטָלָֽה׃
14 Then Daniel answered [with] counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the royal guard, who was gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon; [saying],
בֵּאדַיִן דָּנִיֵּאל הֲתִיב עֵטָא וּטְעֵם לְאַרְיוֹךְ רַב־טַבָּחַיָּא דִּי מַלְכָּא דִּי נְפַק לְקַטָּלָה לְחַכִּימֵי בָּבֶֽל׃
15 Chief magistrate of the king, wherefore has the peremptory command proceeded from the king? So Arioch made known the matter to Daniel.
עָנֵה וְאָמַר לְאַרְיוֹךְ שַׁלִּיטָא דִֽי־מַלְכָּא עַל־מָה דָתָא מְהַחְצְפָה מִן־קֳדָם מַלְכָּא אֱדַיִן מִלְּתָא הוֹדַע אַרְיוֹךְ לְדָנִיֵּֽאל׃
16 And Daniel intreated the king to give him time, and that he might [thus] declare to the king the interpretation of it.
וְדָנִיֵּאל עַל וּבְעָה מִן־מַלְכָּא דִּי זְמָן יִנְתִּן־לֵהּ וּפִשְׁרָא לְהַֽחֲוָיָה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃
17 So Daniel went into his house, and made known the matter to Ananias, and Misael, and Azarias, his friends.
אֱדַיִן דָּֽנִיֵּאל לְבַיְתֵהּ אֲזַל וְלַחֲנַנְיָה מִֽישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה חַבְרוֹהִי מִלְּתָא הוֹדַֽע׃
18 And they sought mercies from the God of heaven concerning this mystery; that Daniel and his friends might not perish 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 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night: and Daniel blessed the God of heaven, and said,
אֱדַיִן לְדָנִיֵּאל בְּחֶזְוָא דִֽי־לֵילְיָא רָזָא גְלִי אֱדַיִן דָּֽנִיֵּאל בָּרִךְ לֶאֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּֽא׃
20 May the name of God be blessed from everlasting and to everlasting: for wisdom and understanding are his.
עָנֵה דָֽנִיֵּאל וְאָמַר לֶהֱוֵא שְׁמֵהּ דִּֽי־אֱלָהָא מְבָרַךְ מִן־עָלְמָא וְעַד עָלְמָא דִּי חׇכְמְתָא וּגְבוּרְתָא דִּי לֵֽהּ־הִֽיא׃
21 And he changes times and seasons: he appoints kings, and removes [them], giving wisdom to the wise, and prudence to them that have understanding:
וְהוּא מְהַשְׁנֵא עִדָּנַיָּא וְזִמְנַיָּא מְהַעְדֵּה מַלְכִין וּמְהָקֵים מַלְכִין יָהֵב חׇכְמְתָא לְחַכִּימִין וּמַנְדְּעָא לְיָדְעֵי בִינָֽה׃
22 he reveals deep and secret [matters]; knowing what is in darkness, and the light is with him.
הוּא גָּלֵא עַמִּיקָתָא וּמְסַתְּרָתָא יָדַע מָה בַחֲשׁוֹכָא (ונהירא) [וּנְהוֹרָא] עִמֵּהּ שְׁרֵֽא׃
23 I give thanks to thee, and praise [thee], O God of my fathers, for thou hast given me wisdom and power, and hast made known to me the things which we asked of thee; and thou hast made known to me the king’s vision.
לָךְ ׀ אֱלָהּ אֲבָהָתִי מְהוֹדֵא וּמְשַׁבַּח אֲנָה דִּי חׇכְמְתָא וּגְבוּרְתָא יְהַבְתְּ לִי וּכְעַן הֽוֹדַעְתַּנִי דִּֽי־בְעֵינָא מִנָּךְ דִּֽי־מִלַּת מַלְכָּא הוֹדַעְתֶּֽנָא׃
24 And Daniel came to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon, but bring me in before the king, and I will declare the interpretation to the king.
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 Then Arioch in haste brought in Daniel before the king, and said to him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judea, who will declare the interpretation to the king.
אֱדַיִן אַרְיוֹךְ בְּהִתְבְּהָלָה הַנְעֵל לְדָנִיֵּאל קֳדָם מַלְכָּא וְכֵן אֲמַר־לֵהּ דִּֽי־הַשְׁכַּחַת גְּבַר מִן־בְּנֵי גָֽלוּתָא דִּי יְהוּד דִּי פִשְׁרָא לְמַלְכָּא יְהוֹדַֽע׃
26 And the king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Baltasar, Canst thou declare to me the dream which I saw, and the interpretation thereof?
עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר לְדָנִיֵּאל דִּי שְׁמֵהּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר (האיתיך) [הַֽאִיתָךְ] כָּהֵל לְהוֹדָעֻתַנִי חֶלְמָא דִֽי־חֲזֵית וּפִשְׁרֵֽהּ׃
27 And Daniel answered before the king, and said, The mystery which the king asks [the explanation of] is not [in the power] of the wise men, magicians, enchanters, [or] soothsayers to declare to the king.
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 revealing mysteries, and he has made known to king Nabuchodonosor what things must come to pass in the last days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are as follows,
בְּרַם אִיתַי אֱלָהּ בִּשְׁמַיָּא גָּלֵא רָזִין וְהוֹדַע לְמַלְכָּא נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּר מָה דִּי לֶהֱוֵא בְּאַחֲרִית יוֹמַיָּא חֶלְמָךְ וְחֶזְוֵי רֵאשָׁךְ עַֽל־מִשְׁכְּבָךְ דְּנָה הֽוּא׃
29 O king: thy thoughts upon thy bed arose [as to] what must come to pass hereafter: and he that reveals mysteries has made known to thee what must come to pass.
(אנתה) [אַנְתְּ] מַלְכָּא רַעְיוֹנָךְ עַל־מִשְׁכְּבָךְ סְלִקוּ מָה דִּי לֶהֱוֵא אַחֲרֵי דְנָה וְגָלֵא רָזַיָּא הוֹדְעָךְ מָה־דִי לֶהֱוֵֽא׃
30 Moreover, this mystery has not been revealed to me by reason of wisdom which is in me beyond all [others] living, but for the sake of making known the interpretation to the king, that thou mightest know the thoughts of thine heart.
וַאֲנָה לָא בְחׇכְמָה דִּֽי־אִיתַי בִּי מִן־כׇּל־חַיַּיָּא רָזָא דְנָה גֱּלִי לִי לָהֵן עַל־דִּבְרַת דִּי פִשְׁרָא לְמַלְכָּא יְהוֹדְעוּן וְרַעְיוֹנֵי לִבְבָךְ תִּנְדַּֽע׃
31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold an image: that image was great, and the appearance of it excellent, standing before thy face; and the form of it was terrible.
(אנתה) [אַנְתְּ] מַלְכָּא חָזֵה הֲוַיְתָ וַאֲלוּ צְלֵם חַד שַׂגִּיא צַלְמָא דִכֵּן רַב וְזִיוֵהּ יַתִּיר קָאֵם לְקׇבְלָךְ וְרֵוֵהּ דְּחִֽיל׃
32 [It was] an image, the head of which was of fine gold, its hands and breast and arms of silver, [its] belly and thighs of brass,
הוּא צַלְמָא רֵאשֵׁהּ דִּֽי־דְהַב טָב חֲדוֹהִי וּדְרָעוֹהִי דִּי כְסַף מְעוֹהִי וְיַרְכָתֵהּ דִּי נְחָֽשׁ׃
33 its legs of iron, its feet, part of iron and part of earthenware.
שָׁקוֹהִי דִּי פַרְזֶל רַגְלוֹהִי (מנהון) [מִנְּהֵין] דִּי פַרְזֶל (ומנהון) [וּמִנְּהֵין] דִּי חֲסַֽף׃
34 Thou sawest until a stone was cut out of a mountain without hands, and it smote the image upon its feet of iron and earthenware, and utterly reduced them to powder.
חָזֵה הֲוַיְתָ עַד דִּי הִתְגְּזֶרֶת אֶבֶן דִּי־לָא בִידַיִן וּמְחָת לְצַלְמָא עַל־רַגְלוֹהִי דִּי פַרְזְלָא וְחַסְפָּא וְהַדֵּקֶת הִמּֽוֹן׃
35 Then once for all the earthenware, the iron, the brass, the silver, the gold, were ground to powder, and became as chaff from the summer threshingfloor; and the violence of the wind carried them away, and no place was found for them: and the stone which had smitten the image became a great mountain, and filled all the 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 is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
דְּנָה חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ נֵאמַר קֳדָם־מַלְכָּֽא׃
37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given a powerful and strong and honourable kingdom,
(אנתה) [אַנְתְּ] מַלְכָּא מֶלֶךְ מַלְכַיָּא דִּי אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא מַלְכוּתָא חִסְנָא וְתׇקְפָּא וִֽיקָרָא יְהַב־לָֽךְ׃
38 in every place where the children of men dwell: and he has given into thine hand the wild beasts of the field, and the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and he has made thee lord of all.
וּבְכׇל־דִּי (דארין) [דָֽיְרִין] בְּֽנֵי־אֲנָשָׁא חֵיוַת בָּרָא וְעוֹף־שְׁמַיָּא יְהַב בִּידָךְ וְהַשְׁלְטָךְ בְּכׇלְּהוֹן (אנתה) [אַנְתְּ־]הוּא רֵאשָׁה דִּי דַהֲבָֽא׃
39 Thou art the head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and a third kingdom which is the brass, which shall have dominion over all the earth;
וּבָתְרָךְ תְּקוּם מַלְכוּ אׇחֳרִי (ארעא) [אֲרַע] מִנָּךְ וּמַלְכוּ (תליתיא) [תְלִיתָאָה] אׇחֳרִי דִּי נְחָשָׁא דִּי תִשְׁלַט בְּכׇל־אַרְעָֽא׃
40 and a fourth kingdom, which shall be strong as iron: as iron beats to powder and subdues all things, so shall it beat to powder and subdue.
וּמַלְכוּ (רביעיה) [רְבִיעָאָה] תֶּהֱוֵא תַקִּיפָה כְּפַרְזְלָא כׇּל־קֳבֵל דִּי פַרְזְלָא מְהַדֵּק וְחָשֵׁל כֹּלָּא וּֽכְפַרְזְלָא דִּֽי־מְרָעַע כׇּל־אִלֵּן תַּדִּק וְתֵרֹֽעַ׃
41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and the toes, part of earthenware and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet there shall be in it of the strength of iron, as thou sawest the iron mixed with earthenware.
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 [whereas] the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of earthenware, part of the kingdom shall be strong, and [part] of it shall be broken.
וְאֶצְבְּעָת רַגְלַיָּא (מנהון) [מִנְּהֵין] פַּרְזֶל (ומנהון) [וּמִנְּהֵין] חֲסַף מִן־קְצָת מַלְכוּתָא תֶּהֱוֵה תַקִּיפָה וּמִנַּהּ תֶּהֱוֵא תְבִירָֽה׃
43 Whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with earthenware, they shall be mingled with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave together, as the iron does not mix itself with earthenware.
(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 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and his kingdom shall not be left to another people, [but] it shall beat to pieces and grind to powder all [other] kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
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 Whereas thou sawest that a stone was cut out of a mountain without hands, and it beat to pieces the earthenware, the iron, the brass, the silver, the gold; the great God has made known to the king what must happen hereafter: and the dream is true, and the interpretation thereof sure.
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 Then king Nabuchodonosor fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and gave orders to offer to him gifts and incense.
בֵּאדַיִן מַלְכָּא נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּר נְפַל עַל־אַנְפּוֹהִי וּלְדָנִיֵּאל סְגִד וּמִנְחָה וְנִיחֹחִין אֲמַר לְנַסָּכָה לֵֽהּ׃
47 And the king answered and said to Daniel, Of a truth your God is a God of gods, and Lord of kings, who reveals mysteries; for thou hast been 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 And the king promoted Daniel, and gave him great and abundant gifts, and set him over the whole province of Babylon, and [made him] chief satrap 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 Daniel asked of the king, and he appointed Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel was in the king’s palace.
וְדָנִיֵּאל בְּעָא מִן־מַלְכָּא וּמַנִּי עַל עֲבִֽידְתָּא דִּי מְדִינַת בָּבֶל לְשַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגוֹ וְדָנִיֵּאל בִּתְרַע מַלְכָּֽא׃

< Daniel 2 >