Orthodox Jewish Bible

Daniel 2:2-21 Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

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 chalomot. So they came and stood before the king.

3. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a chalom (dream) and my ruach was troubled to have da'as of the chalom (dream).

4. Then spoke the Kasdim (Chaldeans) to the king in Aramaic, O king, live for ever; tell thy servants the chalom (dream), and we will show the pesher (interpretation, explanation).

5. The king answered and said to the Kasdim (Chaldeans), The decision from me is firm; if ye will not give me da'as of the chalom (dream), with the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a pile of rubble;

6. But if ye show the chalom (dream), and the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor; therefore show me the chalom (dream), and the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof.

7. They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the chalom (dream), and we will show the pesher (interpretation, explanation) of it.

8. The king answered and said, I have da'as of certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the decision from me is firm.

9. But if ye will not give me da'as of the chalom (dream), there is but one decree for you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the tide is turned; therefore tell me the chalom (dream), and I shall have da'as that ye can show me the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof.

10. The Kasdim (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 melech, no matter how rav (great) or powerful, that asked such things of any magician, or enchanter, or Kasdai (Chaldean).

11. And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the g-ds, whose dwelling is not with basar (flesh).

12. For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the chachamim (wise men) of Babylon.

13. And the decree went forth that the chachamim should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his chaverim to be slain.

14. Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Aryoch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the chachamim of Babylon;

15. He answered and said to Aryoch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Aryoch made the thing known to Daniel.

16. Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the pesher (interpretation, explanation).

17. Then Daniel went to his bais, and made the decree known to Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah, his chaverim,

18. That they would plead for rachamim from the G-d of Shomayim concerning this raz (mystery, secret); that Daniel and his chaverim should not perish with the rest of the chachamim of Babylon.

19. Then was the raz revealed unto Daniel in a chazon of the lailah. Then Daniel said a brakhah to the G-d of Shomayim.

20. Daniel answered and said, Baruch hashem Elohim l'olam va'ed; for chochmah (wisdom) and gevurah (might) are His;

21. And He changeth the times and the zmanim (seasons); He removeth melachim, and setteth up melachim; He giveth chochmah unto the chachamim, and da'as to them that know binah;