Daniel 4:17-19
New English Translation
17 This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels;
this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones,
so that[a] those who are alive may understand
that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms,[b]
and he bestows them on whomever he wishes.
He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its[c] interpretation, for none of the wise men in[d] my kingdom are able to make known to me the interpretation. But you can do so, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
19 Then Daniel (whose name is also Belteshazzar) was upset for a brief time;[e] his thoughts were alarming him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream and its interpretation alarm you.” But Belteshazzar replied, “Sir,[f] if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries!
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Daniel 4:17 tc The present translation follows an underlying reading of עַל־דִּבְרַת (ʿal divrat, “so that”) rather than MT עַד־דִּבְרַת (ʿad divrat, “until”).
- Daniel 4:17 tn Aram “the kingdom of man”; NASB “the realm of mankind”; NCV “every kingdom on earth.”
- Daniel 4:18 tc The present translation, as also in the next verse, reads פִּשְׁרֵהּ (pishreh, “its interpretation”) with the Qere and many medieval Hebrew mss; the Kethib is פִּשְׁרָא (pishraʾ, “the interpretation”).
- Daniel 4:18 tn Aram “of.”
- Daniel 4:19 tn Aram “about one hour.” The expression refers idiomatically to a brief period of time of undetermined length.
- Daniel 4:19 tn Aram “my lord.”
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