< Daniel 2 >

1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, with which his spirit was troubled, and his sleep broke from him.
וּבִשְׁנַת שְׁתַּיִם לְמַלְכוּת נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּר חָלַם נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּר חֲלֹמוֹת וַתִּתְפָּעֶם רוּחוֹ וּשְׁנָתוֹ נִהְיְתָה עָלָֽיו׃
2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to show the king his dream. So 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 a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ חֲלוֹם חָלָמְתִּי וַתִּפָּעֶם רוּחִי לָדַעַת אֶֽת־הַחֲלֽוֹם׃
4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Syriac, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
וַֽיְדַבְּרוּ הַכַּשְׂדִּים לַמֶּלֶךְ אֲרָמִית מַלְכָּא לְעָלְמִין חֱיִי אֱמַר חֶלְמָא לעבדיך לְעַבְדָךְ וּפִשְׁרָא נְחַוֵּֽא׃
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known to me the dream, with the interpretation of it, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר לכשדיא לְכַשְׂדָּאֵי מִלְּתָא מִנִּי אַזְדָּא הֵן לָא תְהֽוֹדְעוּנַּנִי חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ הַדָּמִין תִּתְעַבְדוּן וּבָתֵּיכוֹן נְוָלִי יִתְּשָׂמֽוּן׃
6 But if ye shall show the dream, and the interpretation of it, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore show me the dream, and the interpretation of it.
וְהֵן חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ תְּֽהַחֲוֺן מַתְּנָן וּנְבִזְבָּה וִיקָר שַׂגִּיא תְּקַבְּלוּן מִן־קֳדָמָי לָהֵן חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ הַחֲוֺֽנִי׃
7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it.
עֲנוֹ תִנְיָנוּת וְאָמְרִין מַלְכָּא חֶלְמָא יֵאמַר לְעַבְדוֹהִי וּפִשְׁרָה נְהַחֲוֵֽה׃
8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר מִן־יַצִּיב יָדַע אֲנָה דִּי עִדָּנָא אַנְתּוּן זָבְנִין כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּי חֲזֵיתוֹן דִּי אַזְדָּא מִנִּי מִלְּתָֽא׃
9 But if ye will not make known to 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 show me the interpretation of it.
דִּי הֵן־חֶלְמָא לָא תְהֽוֹדְעֻנַּנִי חֲדָה־הִיא דָֽתְכוֹן וּמִלָּה כִדְבָה וּשְׁחִיתָה הזמנתון הִזְדְּמִנְתּוּן לְמֵאמַר קָֽדָמַי עַד דִּי עִדָּנָא יִשְׁתַּנֵּא לָהֵן חֶלְמָא אֱמַרוּ לִי וֽ͏ְאִנְדַּע דִּי פִשְׁרֵהּ תְּהַחֲוֻנַּֽנִי׃
10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter: therefore [there is] no king, lord, nor ruler, [that] hath asked such things of any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
עֲנוֹ כשדיא כַשְׂדָּאֵי קֳדָם־מַלְכָּא וְאָמְרִין לָֽא־אִיתַי אֲנָשׁ עַל־יַבֶּשְׁתָּא דִּי מִלַּת מַלְכָּא יוּכַל לְהַחֲוָיָה כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּי כָּל־מֶלֶךְ רַב וְשַׁלִּיט מִלָּה כִדְנָה לָא שְׁאֵל לְכָל־חַרְטֹּם וְאָשַׁף וְכַשְׂדָּֽי׃
11 And [it is] a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is no other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
וּמִלְּתָא דִֽי־מַלְכָּה שָׁאֵל יַקִּירָה וְאָחֳרָן לָא אִיתַי דִּי יְחַוִּנַּהּ קֳדָם מַלְכָּא לָהֵן אֱלָהִין דִּי מְדָרְהוֹן עִם־בִּשְׂרָא לָא אִיתֽוֹהִי׃
12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise [men] of Babylon.
כָּל־קֳבֵל דְּנָה מַלְכָּא בְּנַס וּקְצַף שַׂגִּיא וַאֲמַר לְהוֹבָדָה לְכֹל חַכִּימֵי בָבֶֽל׃
13 And the decree went forth that the wise [men] should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
וְדָתָא נֶפְקַת וְחַכִּֽימַיָּא מִֽתְקַטְּלִין וּבְעוֹ דָּנִיֵּאל וְחַבְרוֹהִי לְהִתְקְטָלָֽה׃
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, who had gone forth to slay the wise [men] of Babylon:
בֵּאדַיִן דָּנִיֵּאל הֲתִיב עֵטָא וּטְעֵם לְאַרְיוֹךְ רַב־טַבָּחַיָּא דִּי מַלְכָּא דִּי נְפַק לְקַטָּלָה לְחַכִּימֵי בָּבֶֽל׃
15 He 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.
עָנֵה וְאָמַר לְאַרְיוֹךְ שַׁלִּיטָא דִֽי־מַלְכָּא עַל־מָה דָתָא מְהַחְצְפָה מִן־קֳדָם מַלְכָּא אֱדַיִן מִלְּתָא הוֹדַע אַרְיוֹךְ לְדָנִיֵּֽאל׃
16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
וְדָנִיֵּאל עַל וּבְעָה מִן־מַלְכָּא דִּי זְמָן יִנְתֵּן־לֵהּ וּפִשְׁרָא לְהַֽחֲוָיָה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
אֱדַיִן דָּֽנִיֵּאל לְבַיְתֵהּ אֲזַל וְלַחֲנַנְיָה מִֽישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה חַבְרוֹהִי מִלְּתָא הוֹדַֽע׃
18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise [men] of Babylon.
וְרַחֲמִין לְמִבְעֵא מִן־קֳדָם אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא עַל־רָזָה דְּנָה דִּי לָא יְהֹֽבְדוּן דָּנִיֵּאל וְחַבְרוֹהִי עִם־שְׁאָר חַכִּימֵי בָבֶֽל׃
19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
אֱדַיִן לְדָנִיֵּאל בְּחֶזְוָא דִֽי־לֵילְיָא רָזָה גֲלִי אֱדַיִן דָּֽנִיֵּאל בָּרִךְ לֶאֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּֽא׃
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
עָנֵה דָֽנִיֵּאל וְאָמַר לֶהֱוֵא שְׁמֵהּ דִּֽי־אֱלָהָא מְבָרַךְ מִן־עָלְמָא וְעַד־עָלְמָא דִּי חָכְמְתָא וּגְבוּרְתָא דִּי לֵֽהּ־הִֽיא׃
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
וְהוּא מְהַשְׁנֵא עִדָּנַיָּא וְזִמְנַיָּא מְהַעְדֵּה מַלְכִין וּמְהָקֵים מַלְכִין יָהֵב חָכְמְתָא לְחַכִּימִין וּמַנְדְּעָא לְיָדְעֵי בִינָֽה׃
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
הוּא גָּלֵא עַמִּיקָתָא וּמְסַתְּרָתָא יָדַע מָה בַחֲשׁוֹכָא ונהירא וּנְהוֹרָא עִמֵּהּ שְׁרֵֽא׃
23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known to me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast [now] made known to us the king's matter.
לָךְ ׀ אֱלָהּ אֲבָהָתִי מְהוֹדֵא וּמְשַׁבַּח אֲנָה דִּי חָכְמְתָא וּגְבוּרְתָא יְהַבְתְּ לִי וּכְעַן הֽוֹדַעְתַּנִי דִּֽי־בְעֵינָא מִנָּךְ דִּֽי־מִלַּת מַלְכָּא הוֹדַעְתֶּֽנָא׃
24 Therefore Daniel went into Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise [men] of Babylon: he went and said thus to him; Destroy not the wise [men] of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation.
כָּל־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 brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus to him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known to 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 answered and said to Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation of it?
עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר לְדָנִיֵּאל דִּי שְׁמֵהּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר האיתיך הַֽאִיתָךְ כָּהֵל לְהוֹדָעֻתַנִי חֶלְמָא דִֽי־חֲזֵית וּפִשְׁרֵֽהּ׃
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded, the wise [men], the astrologers, the magicians, the sooth-sayers, cannot show to the king;
עָנֵה דָנִיֵּאל קֳדָם מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר רָזָה דִּֽי־מַלְכָּא שָׁאֵל לָא חַכִּימִין אָֽשְׁפִין חַרְטֻמִּין גָּזְרִין יָכְלִין לְהַֽחֲוָיָה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃
28 But 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;
בְּרַם אִיתַי אֱלָהּ בִּשְׁמַיָּא גָּלֵא רָזִין וְהוֹדַע לְמַלְכָּא נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּר מָה דִּי לֶהֱוֵא בְּאַחֲרִית יוֹמַיָּא חֶלְמָךְ וְחֶזְוֵי רֵאשָׁךְ עַֽל־מִשְׁכְּבָךְ דְּנָה הֽוּא׃
29 As 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.
אַנְתְּה מַלְכָּא רַעְיוֹנָךְ עַל־מִשְׁכְּבָךְ סְלִקוּ מָה דִּי לֶהֱוֵא אַחֲרֵי דְנָה וְגָלֵא רָזַיָּא הוֹדְעָךְ מָה־דִי לֶהֱוֵֽא׃
30 But 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 mayest know the thoughts of thy heart.
וַאֲנָה לָא בְחָכְמָה דִּֽי־אִיתַי בִּי מִן־כָּל־חַיַּיָּא רָזָא דְנָה גֱּלִי לִי לָהֵן עַל־דִּבְרַת דִּי פִשְׁרָא לְמַלְכָּא יְהוֹדְעוּן וְרַעְיוֹנֵי לִבְבָךְ תִּנְדַּֽע׃
31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness [was] excellent, stood before thee; and its form [was] terrible.
אַנְתְּה מַלְכָּא חָזֵה הֲוַיְתָ וַאֲלוּ צְלֵם חַד שַׂגִּיא צַלְמָא דִּכֵּן רַב וְזִיוֵהּ יַתִּיר קָאֵם לְקָבְלָךְ וְרֵוֵהּ דְּחִֽיל׃
32 The head of this image [was] of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
הוּא צַלְמָא רֵאשֵׁהּ דִּֽי־דְהַב טָב חֲדוֹהִי וּדְרָעוֹהִי דִּי כְסַף מְעוֹהִי וְיַרְכָתֵהּ דִּי נְחָֽשׁ׃
33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
שָׁקוֹהִי דִּי פַרְזֶל רַגְלוֹהִי מנהון מִנְּהֵין דִּי פַרְזֶל ומנהון וּמִנְּהֵין דִּי חֲסַֽף׃
34 Thou sawest till a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet [that were] of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces.
חָזֵה הֲוַיְתָ עַד דִּי הִתְגְּזֶרֶת אֶבֶן דִּי־לָא בִידַיִן וּמְחָת לְצַלְמָא עַל־רַגְלוֹהִי דִּי פַרְזְלָא וְחַסְפָּא וְהַדֵּקֶת הִמּֽוֹן׃
35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; 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.
בֵּאדַיִן דָּקוּ כַחֲדָה פַּרְזְלָא חַסְפָּא נְחָשָׁא כַּסְפָּא וְדַהֲבָא וַהֲווֹ כְּעוּר מִן־אִדְּרֵי־קַיִט וּנְשָׂא הִמּוֹן רוּחָא וְכָל־אֲתַר לָא־הִשְׁתֲּכַח לְהוֹן וְאַבְנָא ׀ דִּֽי־מְחָת לְצַלְמָא הֲוָת לְטוּר רַב וּמְלָת כָּל־אַרְעָֽא׃
36 This [is] the dream; and we will tell the interpretation of it before the king.
דְּנָה חֶלְמָא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ נֵאמַר קֳדָם־מַלְכָּֽא׃
37 Thou, O king, [art] a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
אַנְתְּה מַלְכָּא מֶלֶךְ מַלְכַיָּא דִּי אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא מַלְכוּתָא חִסְנָא וְתָקְפָּא וִֽיקָרָא יְהַב־לָֽךְ׃
38 And wherever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou [art] this head of gold.
וּבְכָל־דִּי דארין דָֽיְרִין בְּֽנֵי־אֲנָשָׁא חֵיוַת בָּרָא וְעוֹף־שְׁמַיָּא יְהַב בִּידָךְ וְהַשְׁלְטָךְ בְּכָלְּהוֹן אַנְתְּה־הוּא רֵאשָׁה דִּי דַהֲבָֽא׃
39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
וּבָתְרָךְ תְּקוּם מַלְכוּ אָחֳרִי אֲרַעארעא מִנָּךְ וּמַלְכוּ תליתיא תְלִיתָאָה אָחֳרִי דִּי נְחָשָׁא דִּי תִשְׁלַט בְּכָל־אַרְעָֽא׃
40 And 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.
וּמַלְכוּ רביעיה רְבִיעָאָה תֶּהֱוֵא תַקִּיפָה כְּפַרְזְלָא כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּי פַרְזְלָא מְהַדֵּק וְחָשֵׁל כֹּלָּא וּֽכְפַרְזְלָא דִּֽי־מְרָעַע כָּל־אִלֵּין תַּדִּק וְתֵרֹֽעַ׃
41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter's 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 the miry clay.
וְדִֽי־חֲזַיְתָה רַגְלַיָּא וְאֶצְבְּעָתָא מנהון מִנְּהֵן חֲסַף דִּֽי־פֶחָר ומנהון וּמִנְּהֵין פַּרְזֶל מַלְכוּ פְלִיגָה תֶּהֱוֵה וּמִן־נִצְבְּתָא דִי פַרְזְלָא לֶֽהֱוֵא־בַהּ כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּי חֲזַיְתָה פַּרְזְלָא מְעָרַב בַּחֲסַף טִינָֽא׃
42 And [as] the toes of the feet [were] part of iron, and part of clay, [so] the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
וְאֶצְבְּעָת רַגְלַיָּא מנהון מִנְּהֵין פַּרְזֶל ומנהון וּמִנְּהֵין חֲסַף מִן־קְצָת מַלְכוּתָא תֶּהֱוֵה תַקִּיפָה וּמִנַּהּ תֶּהֱוֵה תְבִירָֽה׃
43 And 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.
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 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.
וּֽבְיוֹמֵיהוֹן דִּי מַלְכַיָּא אִנּוּן יְקִים אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא מַלְכוּ דִּי לְעָלְמִין לָא תִתְחַבַּל וּמַלְכוּתָה לְעַם אָחֳרָן לָא תִשְׁתְּבִק תַּדִּק וְתָסֵיף כָּל־אִלֵּין מַלְכְוָתָא וְהִיא תְּקוּם לְעָלְמַיָּֽא׃
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain, without hands, and that it broke 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 of it sure.
כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּֽי־חֲזַיְתָ דִּי מִטּוּרָא אִתְגְּזֶרֶת אֶבֶן דִּי־לָא בִידַיִן וְהַדֶּקֶת פַּרְזְלָא נְחָשָׁא חַסְפָּא כַּסְפָּא וְדַהֲבָא אֱלָהּ רַב הוֹדַע לְמַלְכָּא מָה דִּי לֶהֱוֵא אַחֲרֵי דְנָה וְיַצִּיב חֶלְמָא וּמְהֵימַן פִּשְׁרֵֽהּ׃
46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors to him.
בֵּאדַיִן מַלְכָּא נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּר נְפַל עַל־אַנְפּוֹהִי וּלְדָנִיֵּאל סְגִד וּמִנְחָה וְנִיחֹחִין אֲמַר לְנַסָּכָה לֵֽהּ׃
47 The king answered to 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 couldst reveal this secret.
עָנֵה מַלְכָּא לְדָנִיֵּאל וְאָמַר מִן־קְשֹׁט דִּי אֱלָהֲכוֹן הוּא אֱלָהּ אֱלָהִין וּמָרֵא מַלְכִין וְגָלֵה רָזִין דִּי יְכֵלְתָּ לְמִגְלֵא רָזָה דְנָֽה׃
48 Then 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.
אֱדַיִן מַלְכָּא לְדָנִיֵּאל רַבִּי וּמַתְּנָן רַבְרְבָן שַׂגִּיאָן יְהַב־לֵהּ וְהַשְׁלְטֵהּ עַל כָּל־מְדִינַת בָּבֶל וְרַב־סִגְנִין עַל כָּל־חַכִּימֵי בָבֶֽל׃
49 Then 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.
וְדָנִיֵּאל בְּעָא מִן־מַלְכָּא וּמַנִּי עַל עֲבִֽידְתָּא דִּי מְדִינַת בָּבֶל לְשַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגוֹ וְדָנִיֵּאל בִּתְרַע מַלְכָּֽא׃

< Daniel 2 >