Daniel 2 - English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

2 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; (A)his spirit was troubled, and (B)his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that (C)the magicians, (D)the enchanters, the (E)sorcerers, and (F)the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and (G)stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and (H)my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then (I)the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic,[a] (J)“O king, live for ever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to (K)the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be (L)torn limb from limb, (M)and your (N)houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, (O)you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honour. (P)Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” 8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to (Q)gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9 if you do not make the dream known to me, (R)there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till (S)the times change. (T)Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 (U)The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or (V)Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except (W)the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

12 Because of this the king was angry and (X)very furious, and (Y)commanded that all (Z)the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought (AA)Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to (AB)Arioch, the (AC)captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He declared[b] to Arioch, the king's captain, “Why is the decree of the king (AD)so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.

God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to (AE)Hananiah, (AF)Mishael, and (AG)Azariah, his companions, 18 (AH)and told them to seek mercy from the (AI)God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not (AJ)be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in (AK)a vision of the night. Then Daniel (AL)blessed the (AM)God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:

(AN)“Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever,
(AO)to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 (AP)He changes times and seasons;
(AQ)he removes kings and sets up kings;
(AR)he gives wisdom to the wise
(AS)and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 (AT)he reveals deep and hidden things;
(AU)he knows what is in the darkness,
(AV)and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O (AW)God of my fathers,
(AX)I give thanks and praise,
for (AY)you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what (AZ)we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king's matter.”

24 Therefore Daniel went in to (BA)Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”

25 Then (BB)Arioch brought in Daniel before the king (BC)in haste and said thus to him: “I have found (BD)among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” 26 The king declared to Daniel, (BE)whose name was Belteshazzar, (BF)“Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, (BG)enchanters, (BH)magicians, or (BI)astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but (BJ)there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar (BK)what will be in the latter days. Your dream and (BL)the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, (BM)and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But (BN)as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that (BO)you may know the thoughts of your mind.

Daniel Interprets the Dream

31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 (BP)The head of this image was of fine gold, (BQ)its chest and arms of silver, its middle and (BR)thighs of bronze, 33 (BS)its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out (BT)by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and (BU)broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became (BV)like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that (BW)not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became (BX)a great mountain (BY)and filled the whole earth.

36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, (BZ)the king of kings, to whom (CA)the God of heaven (CB)has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, (CC)the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are (CD)the head of gold. 39 (CE)Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom (CF)of bronze, (CG)which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And (CH)there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron (CI)breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall (CJ)break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw (CK)the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the (CL)firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage,[c] but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings (CM)the God of heaven will set up (CN)a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. (CO)It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and (CP)it shall stand for ever, 45 just as (CQ)you saw that (CR)a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that (CS)it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A (CT)great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

Daniel Is Promoted

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar (CU)fell upon his face and (CV)paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that (CW)an offering and (CX)incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your (CY)God is God of gods and (CZ)Lord of kings, and (DA)a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honours and many great (DB)gifts, and made him ruler over the whole (DC)province of Babylon and (DD)chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he (DE)appointed (DF)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of (DG)the province of Babylon. But Daniel (DH)remained at the king's court.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 2:4 The text from this point to the end of chapter 7 is in Aramaic
  2. Daniel 2:15 Aramaic answered and said; also verse 26
  3. Daniel 2:43 Aramaic by the seed of men

Cross references

  1. Daniel 2:1 : [ch. 4:5; 5:9; Gen. 41:8]
  2. Daniel 2:1 : [ch. 6:18; Esth. 6:1]
  3. Daniel 2:2 : [See ch. 1:20 above]; [ch. 2:27; Gen. 41:8, 24; Ex. 7:11, 22; 8:7, 18, 19; 9:11]
  4. Daniel 2:2 : [See ch. 1:20 above]; ch. 2:2, 10, 27; 4:7; 5:7, 11, 15
  5. Daniel 2:2 : Deut. 18:10, 11; 2 Chr. 33:6; Isa. 47:9, 12
  6. Daniel 2:2 : See ch. 1:4
  7. Daniel 2:2 : See ch. 1:5
  8. Daniel 2:3 : [See ver. 1 above]; [ch. 4:5; 5:9; Gen. 41:8]
  9. Daniel 2:4 : [See ver. 2 above]; See ch. 1:4
  10. Daniel 2:4 : ch. 3:9; 5:10; 6:6, 21; See 1 Kgs. 1:31
  11. Daniel 2:5 : [See ver. 2 above]; See ch. 1:4
  12. Daniel 2:5 : ch. 3:29
  13. Daniel 2:5 : ch. 3:29
  14. Daniel 2:5 : Ezra 6:11; [2 Kgs. 10:27]
  15. Daniel 2:6 : [ch. 5:7, 16]
  16. Daniel 2:6 : [ver. 7, 9]
  17. Daniel 2:8 : Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5
  18. Daniel 2:9 : Esth. 4:11
  19. Daniel 2:9 : [ver. 21; ch. 7:25]
  20. Daniel 2:9 : ver. 6; [ver. 7]
  21. Daniel 2:10 : See ch. 1:4
  22. Daniel 2:10 : See ch. 1:4
  23. Daniel 2:11 : [ch. 5:11, 14]
  24. Daniel 2:12 : [ch. 3:19]
  25. Daniel 2:12 : [ver. 24]
  26. Daniel 2:12 : ch. 4:6
  27. Daniel 2:13 : See ch. 1:4-7
  28. Daniel 2:14 : ver. 24, 25
  29. Daniel 2:14 : [Gen. 37:36]
  30. Daniel 2:15 : ch. 3:22
  31. Daniel 2:17 : ch. 1:6
  32. Daniel 2:17 : ch. 1:6
  33. Daniel 2:17 : ch. 1:6
  34. Daniel 2:18 : [Matt. 18:19]
  35. Daniel 2:18 : ver. 19, 28, 37, 44; Rev. 11:13
  36. Daniel 2:18 : [ver. 12, 24]
  37. Daniel 2:19 : [Num. 12:6; Job 33:15, 16]
  38. Daniel 2:19 : See Josh. 22:33
  39. Daniel 2:19 : [See ver. 18 above]; ver. 19, 28, 37, 44; Rev. 11:13
  40. Daniel 2:20 : 1 Chr. 29:10; Ps. 72:18; 113:2; 115:18; Luke 1:68
  41. Daniel 2:20 : [Isa. 28:29]
  42. Daniel 2:21 : [ver. 9; ch. 7:25]
  43. Daniel 2:21 : [ch. 4:17; 5:20; Job 12:18; Ps. 75:7; Rom. 13:1]
  44. Daniel 2:21 : See ch. 1:17
  45. Daniel 2:21 : See ch. 1:17
  46. Daniel 2:22 : Job 12:22; [Ps. 25:14; 139:12; Amos 4:13; Heb. 4:13]
  47. Daniel 2:22 : Job 12:22; [Ps. 25:14; 139:12; Amos 4:13; Heb. 4:13]
  48. Daniel 2:22 : 1 Tim. 6:16; James 1:17; 1 John 1:5; [John 1:4, 5]
  49. Daniel 2:23 : Deut. 26:7; 1 Chr. 12:17; 29:18
  50. Daniel 2:23 : [ch. 6:10]
  51. Daniel 2:23 : [ver. 20]; See ch. 1:17
  52. Daniel 2:23 : [ver. 18]
  53. Daniel 2:24 : ver. 14, 15
  54. Daniel 2:25 : [See ver. 24 above]; ver. 14, 15
  55. Daniel 2:25 : ch. 3:24
  56. Daniel 2:25 : ch. 5:13; Ezra 4:1; 6:16, 19, 20; 10:7, 16
  57. Daniel 2:26 : See ch. 1:7
  58. Daniel 2:26 : [ch. 5:16]
  59. Daniel 2:27 : See ch. 1:20
  60. Daniel 2:27 : See ch. 1:20
  61. Daniel 2:27 : ch. 4:7; 5:7
  62. Daniel 2:28 : See ver. 22
  63. Daniel 2:28 : ch. 10:14; Hos. 3:5
  64. Daniel 2:28 : ch. 4:5; 7:15
  65. Daniel 2:29 : ver. 45
  66. Daniel 2:30 : [Gen. 41:16; Acts 3:12]
  67. Daniel 2:30 : [Eccles. 3:18]
  68. Daniel 2:32 : [ver. 38]
  69. Daniel 2:32 : [ver. 39]
  70. Daniel 2:32 : [ver. 39]
  71. Daniel 2:33 : [ver. 40]
  72. Daniel 2:34 : [ch. 8:25; Job 34:20; Lam. 4:6; 2 Cor. 5:1]
  73. Daniel 2:34 : ver. 35, 40, 44, 45; Isa. 8:9; [Matt. 21:44; Luke 20:18]
  74. Daniel 2:35 : Ps. 1:4
  75. Daniel 2:35 : [Rev. 20:11]
  76. Daniel 2:35 : [Isa. 2:2]
  77. Daniel 2:35 : [Ps. 80:9]
  78. Daniel 2:37 : Ezra 7:12; Ezek. 26:7
  79. Daniel 2:37 : ver. 19
  80. Daniel 2:37 : ch. 5:18; [Ezra 1:2]; See ver. 21
  81. Daniel 2:38 : ch. 4:21; Jer. 27:6
  82. Daniel 2:38 : [ver. 32]
  83. Daniel 2:39 : [ver. 32; ch. 5:28, 31]
  84. Daniel 2:39 : [See ver. 38 above]; [ver. 32]
  85. Daniel 2:39 : [ch. 7:6]
  86. Daniel 2:40 : [ch. 7:7, 23]
  87. Daniel 2:40 : See ver. 34
  88. Daniel 2:40 : See ver. 34
  89. Daniel 2:41 : [ver. 33]
  90. Daniel 2:41 : [See ver. 40 above]; [ch. 7:7, 23]
  91. Daniel 2:44 : ver. 19
  92. Daniel 2:44 : ch. 4:3, 34; 6:26; 7:14, 27; Mic. 4:7; [Matt. 3:2; Luke 1:33; John 18:36]
  93. Daniel 2:44 : [Isa. 60:12]; See ver. 34
  94. Daniel 2:44 : ch. 4:3, 34; 6:26; 7:14, 27; Mic. 4:7; [Matt. 3:2; Luke 1:33; John 18:36]
  95. Daniel 2:45 : [ver. 34]
  96. Daniel 2:45 : [Isa. 28:16]
  97. Daniel 2:45 : [See ver. 44 above]; [Isa. 60:12]; See ver. 34
  98. Daniel 2:45 : ver. 28
  99. Daniel 2:46 : [2 Sam. 14:22]
  100. Daniel 2:46 : [Matt. 8:2; Acts 10:25]
  101. Daniel 2:46 : [Acts 14:13]
  102. Daniel 2:46 : [Ezra 6:10]
  103. Daniel 2:47 : Deut. 10:17
  104. Daniel 2:47 : [1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16]
  105. Daniel 2:47 : See ver. 22
  106. Daniel 2:48 : [ver. 6]
  107. Daniel 2:48 : ch. 3:1, 12, 30; [Esth. 1:1]
  108. Daniel 2:48 : ch. 5:11; [ch. 4:9]
  109. Daniel 2:49 : ch. 3:12
  110. Daniel 2:49 : [ch. 1:7]
  111. Daniel 2:49 : [See ver. 48 above]; ch. 3:1, 12, 30; [Esth. 1:1]
  112. Daniel 2:49 : Esth. 2:19

You Might Also Like:

Daniel 2 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

2 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, dreamed hath Nebuchadnezzar dreams, and his spirit doth move itself, and his sleep hath been against him; 2 and the king saith to call for scribes, and for enchanters, and for sorcerers, and for Chaldeans, to declare to the king his dreams. An...
Read More

Daniel 2 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

2 In the second year of the realm of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar saw a dream; and his spirit was afeared, and his dream fled away from him. (In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream; and his spirit was afraid, and then his dream fled away from him.) 2 Therefore the...
Read More

Daniel 2 - World English Bible (WEB)

2 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be called to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and sto...
Read More

Daniel 2 - The Voice (VOICE)

Cyrus allows some of the Judean exiles to return home around 538 b.c.2 In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign,[a] the king had a dream that disturbed him so much that he was unable to fall asleep. 2 So the king sent for his usual advisors—magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and other Chaldean w...
Read More

Daniel 2 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

The King’s Dream and Demand2 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams. His spirit was troubled and sleep escaped him. 2 So the king issued an order to summon the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans in order to explain to the king his dreams. When they came and stoo...
Read More

Daniel 2 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream2 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnez′zar, Nebuchadnez′zar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chalde′ans be summoned, to tell the king his dreams. So t...
Read More

Daniel 2 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream2 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnez′zar, Nebuchadnez′zar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chalde′ans be summoned, to tell the king his dreams. So t...
Read More

Daniel 2 - Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

2 And in the second year of the reign of Nevuchadnetzar, Nevuchadnetzar dreamed chalomot (dreams), wherewith his ruach was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Kasdim (Chaldeans) for to show the king his cha...
Read More

Daniel 2 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream2 In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed such dreams that his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. 2 So the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. When th...
Read More

Daniel 2 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream2 In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed such dreams that his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. 2 So the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. When th...
Read More

Daniel 2 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream2 In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed such dreams that his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him.(A)2 So the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. When t...
Read More

Daniel 2 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream2 One night during the second year of his reign,[a] Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep. 2 He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers,[b] and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king, ...
Read More

Daniel 2 - New Life Version (NLV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream2 In the second year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had a dream. His spirit was troubled and he could not sleep. 2 Then the king called for the wonder-workers, those who used secret ways, those who learned from stars, to tell the king what he had dreamed. So they came in and...
Read More

Daniel 2 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream2 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; (A)and his spirit was so troubled that (B)his sleep left him. 2 (C)Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams...
Read More

Daniel 2 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream2 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2 So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers[a] to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said t...
Read More

Daniel 2 - New International Version (NIV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream2 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams;(A) his mind was troubled(B) and he could not sleep.(C) 2 So the king summoned the magicians,(D) enchanters, sorcerers(E) and astrologers[a](F) to tell him what he had dreamed.(G) When they came in and stood before th...
Read More

Daniel 2 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Nebuchadnezzar Dreams About a Large Statue2 In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule, he had a dream. His mind was troubled. He couldn’t sleep. 2 So the king sent for those who claimed to get knowledge by using magic. He also sent for those who practiced evil magic and those who studied the heav...
Read More