International Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1 AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM NEBUCHADNEZZAR THE KING To the people of all nations and languages who live on earth. Peace and prosperity to you!

1נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר מַלְכָּ֗א לְֽכָל־ עַֽמְמַיָּ֞א אֻמַיָּ֧א וְלִשָּׁנַיָּ֛א דִּֽי־ [דארין] (דָיְרִ֥ין) בְּכָל־ אַרְעָ֖א שְׁלָמְכ֥וֹן יִשְׂגֵּֽא׃

2It gives me great pleasure to tell about the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

2אָֽתַיָּא֙ וְתִמְהַיָּ֔א דִּ֚י עֲבַ֣ד עִמִּ֔י אֱלָהָ֖א [עליא] (עִלָּאָ֑ה) שְׁפַ֥ר קָֽדָמַ֖י לְהַחֲוָיָֽה׃

3How great are his signs! How powerful are his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and his dominion lasts from generation to generation.

3אָת֙וֹהִי֙ כְּמָ֣ה רַבְרְבִ֔ין וְתִמְה֖וֹהִי כְּמָ֣ה תַקִּיפִ֑ין מַלְכוּתֵהּ֙ מַלְכ֣וּת עָלַ֔ם וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֖הּ עִם־ דָּ֥ר וְדָֽר׃

4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was resting in my home and prospering in my palace.

4אֲנָ֣ה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר שְׁלֵ֤ה הֲוֵית֙ בְּבֵיתִ֔י וְרַעְנַ֖ן בְּהֵיכְלִֽי׃

5I had a dream that made me afraid. The thoughts that went through my mind while in bed and the visions in my head terrified me.

5חֵ֥לֶם חֲזֵ֖ית וִֽידַחֲלִנַּ֑נִי וְהַרְהֹרִין֙ עַֽל־ מִשְׁכְּבִ֔י וְחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשִׁ֖י יְבַהֲלֻנַּֽנִי׃

6So I gave an order to bring in all of the advisors of Babylon so they would tell me the interpretation of the dream.

6וּמִנִּי֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם לְהַנְעָלָ֣ה קָֽדָמַ֔י לְכֹ֖ל חַכִּימֵ֣י בָבֶ֑ל דִּֽי־ פְשַׁ֥ר חֶלְמָ֖א יְהֽוֹדְעֻנַּֽנִי׃

7Then the diviners, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers came in, and I told them the dream. But they could not reveal its interpretation to me.

7בֵּאדַ֣יִן [עללין] (עָלִּ֗ין) חַרְטֻמַיָּא֙ אָֽשְׁפַיָּ֔א [כשדיא] (כַּשְׂדָּאֵ֖י) וְגָזְרַיָּ֑א וְחֶלְמָ֗א אָמַ֤ר אֲנָה֙ קֳדָ֣מֵיה֔וֹן וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ לָא־ מְהוֹדְעִ֥ין לִֽי׃

8Eventually, Daniel appeared before me. (He is called Belteshazzar, in accordance with the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is within him.) I told him my dream:

8וְעַ֣ד אָחֳרֵ֡ין עַל֩ קָֽדָמַ֨י דָּנִיֵּ֜אל דִּֽי־ שְׁמֵ֤הּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֙ כְּשֻׁ֣ם אֱלָהִ֔י וְדִ֛י רֽוּחַ־ אֱלָהִ֥ין קַדִּישִׁ֖ין בֵּ֑הּ וְחֶלְמָ֖א קָֽדָמ֥וֹהִי אַמְרֵֽת׃

9"Belteshazzar, chief of the diviners, since I know that the spirit of the holy gods is within you, and no mystery too difficult for you, explain to me the vision of my dream that I saw, along with its interpretation.

9בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֮ רַ֣ב חַרְטֻמַיָּא֒ דִּ֣י ׀ אֲנָ֣ה יִדְעֵ֗ת דִּ֠י ר֣וּחַ אֱלָהִ֤ין קַדִּישִׁין֙ בָּ֔ךְ וְכָל־ רָ֖ז לָא־ אָנֵ֣ס לָ֑ךְ חֶזְוֵ֨י חֶלְמִ֧י דִֽי־ חֲזֵ֛ית וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ אֱמַֽר׃

10This is what I saw in the visions of my head while I was in bed: I was looking and—listen carefully!—I saw a tree in the middle of the earth, the height of which was very great.

10וְחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשִׁ֖י עַֽל־ מִשְׁכְּבִ֑י חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֔ית וַאֲל֥וּ אִילָ֛ן בְּג֥וֹא אַרְעָ֖א וְרוּמֵ֥הּ שַׂגִּֽיא׃

11The tree grew large, became strong, and its top reached the sky. It could be seen to the ends of the earth.

11רְבָ֥ה אִֽילָנָ֖א וּתְקִ֑ף וְרוּמֵהּ֙ יִמְטֵ֣א לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א וַחֲזוֹתֵ֖הּ לְס֥וֹף כָּל־ אַרְעָֽא׃

12Its foliage was beautiful, its fruit bountiful, and its food sufficient for everyone. The animals of the field found shade under it, the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and every creature was fed from it.

12עָפְיֵ֤הּ שַׁפִּיר֙ וְאִנְבֵּ֣הּ שַׂגִּ֔יא וּמָז֨וֹן לְכֹ֖לָּא־ בֵ֑הּ תְּחֹת֜וֹהִי תַּטְלֵ֣ל ׀ חֵיוַ֣ת בָּרָ֗א וּבְעַנְפ֙וֹהִי֙ [ידרון] (יְדוּרָן֙) צִפֲּרֵ֣י שְׁמַיָּ֔א וּמִנֵּ֖הּ יִתְּזִ֥ין כָּל־ בִּשְׂרָֽא׃

13"Then I saw in the visions of my head while I was in bed—and take careful notice!—I saw a holy observer descend from heaven.

13חָזֵ֥ה הֲוֵ֛ית בְּחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשִׁ֖י עַֽל־ מִשְׁכְּבִ֑י וַאֲלוּ֙ עִ֣יר וְקַדִּ֔ישׁ מִן־ שְׁמַיָּ֖א נָחִֽת׃

14He called out aloud: 'Cut down the tree and cut off its branches. Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit. Let the animals get out from under it, and let the birds leave its branches.

14קָרֵ֨א בְחַ֜יִל וְכֵ֣ן אָמַ֗ר גֹּ֤דּוּ אִֽילָנָא֙ וְקַצִּ֣צוּ עַנְפ֔וֹהִי אַתַּ֥רוּ עָפְיֵ֖הּ וּבַדַּ֣רוּ אִנְבֵּ֑הּ תְּנֻ֤ד חֵֽיוְתָא֙ מִן־ תַּחְתּ֔וֹהִי וְצִפְּרַיָּ֖א מִן־ עַנְפֽוֹהִי׃

15Nevertheless, leave the stump and its roots in the ground, but bind it with iron and bronze in the field grass. Let him be drenched with dew from the sky, and let him graze with the animals in the grass of the earth.

15בְּרַ֨ם עִקַּ֤ר שָׁרְשׁ֙וֹהִי֙ בְּאַרְעָ֣א שְׁבֻ֔קוּ וּבֶֽאֱסוּר֙ דִּֽי־ פַרְזֶ֣ל וּנְחָ֔שׁ בְּדִתְאָ֖א דִּ֣י בָרָ֑א וּבְטַ֤ל שְׁמַיָּא֙ יִצְטַבַּ֔ע וְעִם־ חֵיוְתָ֥א חֲלָקֵ֖הּ בַּעֲשַׂ֥ב אַרְעָֽא׃

16Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of an animal until seven seasons of time pass by for him.

16לִבְבֵהּ֙ מִן־ [אנושא] (אֲנָשָׁ֣א) יְשַׁנּ֔וֹן וּלְבַ֥ב חֵיוָ֖ה יִתְיְהִ֣ב לֵ֑הּ וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה עִדָּנִ֖ין יַחְלְפ֥וּן עֲלֽוֹהִי׃

17This order is announced by the observers, and the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over human kingdoms and grants them to whomever he desires, and he places the least important of men over them.'

17בִּגְזֵרַ֤ת עִירִין֙ פִּתְגָמָ֔א וּמֵאמַ֥ר קַדִּישִׁ֖ין שְׁאֵֽלְתָ֑א עַד־ דִּבְרַ֡ת דִּ֣י יִנְדְּע֣וּן חַ֠יַּיָּא דִּֽי־ שַׁלִּ֨יט [עליא] (עִלָּאָ֜ה) בְּמַלְכ֣וּת [אנושא] (אֲנָשָׁ֗א‪‬) וּלְמַן־ דִּ֤י יִצְבֵּא֙ יִתְּנִנַּ֔הּ וּשְׁפַ֥ל אֲנָשִׁ֖ים יְקִ֥ים [עליה] (עֲלַֽהּ׃)

18"This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Belteshazzar, tell me its meaning, since none of the advisors in my kingdom can tell me its interpretation. But you are able to do so because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

18דְּנָה֙ חֶלְמָ֣א חֲזֵ֔ית אֲנָ֖ה מַלְכָּ֣א נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֑ר [ואנתה] (וְאַ֨נְתְּ) בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֜ר פִּשְׁרֵ֣א ׀ אֱמַ֗ר כָּל־ קֳבֵל֙ דִּ֣י ׀ כָּל־ חַכִּימֵ֣י מַלְכוּתִ֗י לָֽא־ יָכְלִ֤ין פִּשְׁרָא֙ לְהוֹדָ֣עֻתַ֔נִי [ואנתה] (וְאַ֣נְתְּ) כָּהֵ֔ל דִּ֛י רֽוּחַ־ אֱלָהִ֥ין קַדִּישִׁ֖ין בָּֽךְ׃

19Then Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was greatly troubled for a while and was terrified by his thoughts. The king said, "Belteshazzar, don't let the dream or its meaning terrify you." Belteshazzar responded, "Your majesty, if only the dream were about your enemies and its meaning about those who oppose you!

19אֱדַ֨יִן דָּֽנִיֵּ֜אל דִּֽי־ שְׁמֵ֣הּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֗ר אֶשְׁתּוֹמַם֙ כְּשָׁעָ֣ה חֲדָ֔ה וְרַעְיֹנֹ֖הִי יְבַהֲלֻנֵּ֑הּ עָנֵ֨ה מַלְכָּ֜א וְאָמַ֗ר בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֙ חֶלְמָ֤א וּפִשְׁרֵא֙ אַֽל־ יְבַהֲלָ֔ךְ עָנֵ֤ה בֵלְטְשַׁאצַּר֙ וְאָמַ֔ר [מראי] (מָרִ֕י) חֶלְמָ֥א [לשנאיך] (לְשָֽׂנְאָ֖ךְ) וּפִשְׁרֵ֥הּ [לעריך] (לְעָרָֽךְ׃)

20The tree that you saw, which grew large and strong until its top reached the sky and became visible to the whole earth

20אִֽילָנָא֙ דִּ֣י חֲזַ֔יְתָ דִּ֥י רְבָ֖ה וּתְקִ֑ף וְרוּמֵהּ֙ יִמְטֵ֣א לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א וַחֲזוֹתֵ֖הּ לְכָל־ אַרְעָֽא׃

21with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit—enough food for everyone—and under which wild animals of the field found shelter and the birds of the air had nests in its branches—

21וְעָפְיֵ֤הּ שַׁפִּיר֙ וְאִנְבֵּ֣הּ שַׂגִּ֔יא וּמָז֨וֹן לְכֹ֖לָּא־ בֵ֑הּ תְּחֹת֗וֹהִי תְּדוּר֙ חֵיוַ֣ת בָּרָ֔א וּבְעַנְפ֕וֹהִי יִשְׁכְּנָ֖ן צִפֲּרֵ֥י שְׁמַיָּֽא׃

22it's you, your majesty! You've become great and strong, your greatness has grown to the heavens, and your dominion reaches to the distant parts of the earth.

22[אנתה־] (אַנְתְּ־) ה֣וּא מַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֥י רְבַ֖ית וּתְקֵ֑פְתְּ וּרְבוּתָ֤ךְ רְבָת֙ וּמְטָ֣ת לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א וְשָׁלְטָנָ֖ךְ לְס֥וֹף אַרְעָֽא׃

23"Your majesty saw a holy observer descending from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump in the ground, along with its roots, bound with iron and bronze in the field grass. Let him be soaked with the dew of the sky and live with the wild animals of the field until seven seasons pass over him.'

23וְדִ֣י חֲזָ֣ה מַלְכָּ֡א עִ֣יר וְקַדִּ֣ישׁ נָחִ֣ת ׀ מִן־ שְׁמַיָּ֡א וְאָמַר֩ גֹּ֨דּוּ אִֽילָנָ֜א וְחַבְּל֗וּהִי בְּרַ֨ם עִקַּ֤ר שָׁרְשׁ֙וֹהִי֙ בְּאַרְעָ֣א שְׁבֻ֔קוּ וּבֶאֱסוּר֙ דִּֽי־ פַרְזֶ֣ל וּנְחָ֔שׁ בְּדִתְאָ֖א דִּ֣י בָרָ֑א וּבְטַ֧ל שְׁמַיָּ֣א יִצְטַבַּ֗ע וְעִם־ חֵיוַ֤ת בָּרָא֙ חֲלָקֵ֔הּ עַ֛ד דִּֽי־ שִׁבְעָ֥ה עִדָּנִ֖ין יַחְלְפ֥וּן עֲלֽוֹהִי׃

24"This is the meaning, your majesty, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against his majesty, the king:

24דְּנָ֥ה פִשְׁרָ֖א מַלְכָּ֑א וּגְזֵרַ֤ת [עליא] (עִלָּאָה֙) הִ֔יא דִּ֥י מְטָ֖ת עַל־ [מראי] (מָרִ֥י) מַלְכָּֽא׃

25You'll be driven from people, and you'll live among wild animals of the field. You'll eat grass like cattle and be soaked with the dew of the sky while seven years pass you by —until you realize that the Most High is sovereign over human kingdoms and grants them to whomever he desires.

25וְלָ֣ךְ טָֽרְדִ֣ין מִן־ אֲנָשָׁ֡א וְעִם־ חֵיוַ֣ת בָּרָא֩ לֶהֱוֵ֨ה מְדֹרָ֜ךְ וְעִשְׂבָּ֥א כְתוֹרִ֣ין ׀ לָ֣ךְ יְטַֽעֲמ֗וּן וּמִטַּ֤ל שְׁמַיָּא֙ לָ֣ךְ מְצַבְּעִ֔ין וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה עִדָּנִ֖ין יַחְלְפ֣וּן עֲלָ֑יךְ‪‬‪‬ עַ֣ד דִּֽי־ תִנְדַּ֗ע דִּֽי־ שַׁלִּ֤יט עִלָּיָא֙‪‬‪‬ בְּמַלְכ֣וּת אֲנָשָׁ֔א וּלְמַן־ דִּ֥י יִצְבֵּ֖א יִתְּנִנַּֽהּ׃

26Just as it was ordered to leave the stump of the tree in the ground along with its roots, so your kingdom will be restored to you when you realize that Heaven rules over everything.

26וְדִ֣י אֲמַ֗רוּ לְמִשְׁבַּ֞ק עִקַּ֤ר שָׁרְשׁ֙וֹהִי֙ דִּ֣י אִֽילָנָ֔א מַלְכוּתָ֖ךְ לָ֣ךְ קַיָּמָ֑ה מִן־ דִּ֣י תִנְדַּ֔ע דִּ֥י שַׁלִּטִ֖ן שְׁמַיָּֽא׃

27Therefore, your majesty, may my advice be acceptable to you: Stop your sinning, do what's right, and put a stop to your wickedness by showing kindness to the oppressed. Perhaps your tranquility will continue."

27לָהֵ֣ן מַלְכָּ֗א מִלְכִּי֙ יִשְׁפַּ֣ר [עליך] (עֲלָ֔ךְ) [וחטיך] (וַחֲטָאָךְ֙) בְּצִדְקָ֣ה פְרֻ֔ק וַעֲוָיָתָ֖ךְ בְּמִחַ֣ן עֲנָ֑יִן הֵ֛ן תֶּהֱוֵ֥א אַרְכָ֖ה לִשְׁלֵוְתָֽךְ׃

28All of this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

28כֹּ֣לָּא מְּטָ֔א עַל־ נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֖ר מַלְכָּֽא׃ פ

29About a year later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,

29לִקְצָ֥ת יַרְחִ֖ין תְּרֵֽי־ עֲשַׂ֑ר עַל־ הֵיכַ֧ל מַלְכוּתָ֛א דִּ֥י בָבֶ֖ל מְהַלֵּ֥ךְ הֲוָֽה׃

30he commented to himself, "Isn't Babylon great? I've built a royal palace in it by my own might and power, for the sake of my majesty."

30עָנֵ֤ה מַלְכָּא֙ וְאָמַ֔ר הֲלָ֥א דָא־ הִ֖יא בָּבֶ֣ל רַבְּתָ֑א דִּֽי־ אֲנָ֤ה בֱנַיְתַהּ֙ לְבֵ֣ית מַלְכ֔וּ בִּתְקַ֥ף חִסְנִ֖י וְלִיקָ֥ר הַדְרִֽי׃

31As these words were being spoken by the king, a voice came out of heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, this is declared to you: 'The kingdom has been taken from you!

31ע֗וֹד מִלְּתָא֙ בְּפֻ֣ם מַלְכָּ֔א קָ֖ל מִן־ שְׁמַיָּ֣א נְפַ֑ל לָ֤ךְ אָֽמְרִין֙ נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר מַלְכָּ֔א מַלְכוּתָ֖ה עֲדָ֥ת מִנָּֽךְ׃

32You're to be driven away from people. You're to live with the wild animals of the field. You are to be made to eat grass like cattle, and seven years will pass you by until you realize that the Most High is sovereign over human kingdoms and grants them to whomever he desires.'"

32וּמִן־ אֲנָשָׁא֩ לָ֨ךְ טָֽרְדִ֜ין וְֽעִם־ חֵיוַ֧ת בָּרָ֣א מְדֹרָ֗ךְ עִשְׂבָּ֤א כְתוֹרִין֙ לָ֣ךְ יְטַעֲמ֔וּן וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה עִדָּנִ֖ין יַחְלְפ֣וּן [עליך] (עֲלָ֑ךְ) עַ֣ד דִּֽי־ תִנְדַּ֗ע דִּֽי־ שַׁלִּ֤יט עִלָּיָא֙‪‬‪‬ בְּמַלְכ֣וּת אֲנָשָׁ֔א וּלְמַן־ דִּ֥י יִצְבֵּ֖א יִתְּנִנַּֽהּ׃

33The decree was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar immediately. He was driven away from people to eat grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws."

33בַּהּ־ שַׁעֲתָ֗א מִלְּתָא֮ סָ֣פַת עַל־ נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר֒ וּמִן־ אֲנָשָׁ֣א טְרִ֔יד וְעִשְׂבָּ֤א כְתוֹרִין֙ יֵאכֻ֔ל וּמִטַּ֥ל שְׁמַיָּ֖א גִּשְׁמֵ֣הּ יִצְטַבַּ֑ע עַ֣ד דִּ֥י שַׂעְרֵ֛הּ כְּנִשְׁרִ֥ין רְבָ֖ה וְטִפְר֥וֹהִי כְצִפְּרִֽין׃

34"When that period of time was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven and my sanity returned to me. I blessed the Most High, praising and honoring the one who lives forever: For his sovereignty is eternal, and his kingdom continues from generation to generation.

34וְלִקְצָ֣ת יֽוֹמַיָּה֩ אֲנָ֨ה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֜ר עַיְנַ֣י ׀ לִשְׁמַיָּ֣א נִטְלֵ֗ת וּמַנְדְּעִי֙ עֲלַ֣י יְת֔וּב [ולעליא] (וּלְעִלָּאָה֙) בָּרְכֵ֔ת וּלְחַ֥י עָלְמָ֖א שַׁבְּחֵ֣ת וְהַדְּרֵ֑ת דִּ֤י שָׁלְטָנֵהּ֙ שָׁלְטָ֣ן עָלַ֔ם וּמַלְכוּתֵ֖הּ עִם־ דָּ֥ר וְדָֽר׃

35All who live on the earth are nothing compared to him. He does what he wishes with the heavenly armies and with those who live on earth. No one can hold back his power or say to him, 'What did you do?'

35וְכָל־ [דארי] (דָּיְרֵ֤י) אַרְעָא֙ כְּלָ֣ה חֲשִׁיבִ֔ין וּֽכְמִצְבְּיֵ֗הּ עָבֵד֙ בְּחֵ֣יל שְׁמַיָּ֔א [ודארי] (וְדָיְרֵ֖י) אַרְעָ֑א וְלָ֤א אִיתַי֙ דִּֽי־ יְמַחֵ֣א בִידֵ֔הּ וְיֵ֥אמַר לֵ֖הּ מָ֥ה עֲבַֽדְתְּ׃

36At that moment I recovered my sanity, and my honor and majesty returned to me, for the sake of my kingdom. My advisors and officials sought me out, my throne was restored, and even more greatness than I had before was added to me.

36בֵּהּ־ זִמְנָ֞א מַנְדְּעִ֣י ׀ יְת֣וּב עֲלַ֗י וְלִיקַ֨ר מַלְכוּתִ֜י הַדְרִ֤י וְזִוִי֙ יְת֣וּב עֲלַ֔י וְלִ֕י הַדָּֽבְרַ֥י וְרַבְרְבָנַ֖י יְבַע֑וֹן וְעַל־ מַלְכוּתִ֣י הָתְקְנַ֔ת וּרְב֥וּ יַתִּירָ֖ה ה֥וּסְפַת לִֽי׃

37In conclusion, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and give glory to the King of heaven: For everything he does is true, his ways are just, and he is able to humble those who walk in pride."

37כְּעַ֞ן אֲנָ֣ה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר מְשַׁבַּ֨ח וּמְרוֹמֵ֤ם וּמְהַדַּר֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ שְׁמַיָּ֔א דִּ֤י כָל־ מַעֲבָד֙וֹהִי֙ קְשֹׁ֔ט וְאֹרְחָתֵ֖הּ דִּ֑ין וְדִי֙ מַהְלְכִ֣ין בְּגֵוָ֔ה יָכִ֖ל לְהַשְׁפָּלָֽה׃ פ

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.