Daniel 4:19 - Forerunner Commentary

Daniel 4:19

17 ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order ^athat the living may know
^bThat the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
^cGives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the ^dlowest of men.’

18 “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, ^asince all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, ^bfor the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”

Daniel Explains the Second Dream

19 Then Daniel, ^awhose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts ^btroubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may ^cthe dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation² concern your enemies!

20 ^a“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth,

21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home—

22 ^ait is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, ^band your dominion to the end of the earth.

23 ^a“And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, ^band let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven¹ times pass over him’;

24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:

25 They shall ^adrive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you ^beat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven¹ times shall pass over you, ^ctill you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and ^dgives it to whomever He chooses.

26 “And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that ^aHeaven rules.

27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; ^abreak off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. ^bPerhaps there may be ^ca lengthening of your prosperity.”

Verse Comparison: Daniel 4:19

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American Standard Version
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken dumb for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adversaries.

Amplified® Bible
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished {and} dismayed {and} stricken dumb for a while [concerned about the king's destiny], and his thoughts troubled, agitated, {and} alarmed him. The king said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream or its interpretation trouble {or} alarm you. Belteshazzar answered, My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its message for your enemies.

Contemporary English Version
For a while, Daniel was terribly confused and worried by what he was thinking. But I said, "Don't be bothered either by the dream or by what it means." Daniel replied: Your Majesty, I wish the dream had been against your enemies.

Darby English Version
Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, nor its interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and its interpretation to thine enemies!

Good News Bible
At this, Daniel, who is also called Belteshazzar, was so alarmed that he could not say anything. The king said to him, "Belteshazzar, don't let the dream and its message alarm you." Belteshazzar replied, "Your Majesty, I wish that the dream and its explanation applied to your enemies and not to you.

King James Version
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

New American Standard Bible
"Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while as his thoughts alarmed him. The king responded and said, `Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.' Belteshazzar replied, `My lord, {if only} the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to your adversaries!

New International Version
Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you."
Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries!

New King James Version
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
"Then Daniel, who also has the name Belteshazzar, felt appalled for a while as his thoughts alarmed him The king responded and said, 'Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you ' Belteshazzar replied, ' My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to your adversaries!

Revised Standard Version
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshaz'zar, was dismayed for a moment, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, "Belteshaz'zar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshaz'zar answered, "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

Young's Literal Translation
`Then Daniel, whose name `is' Belteshazzar, hath been astonished about one hour, and his thoughts do trouble him; the king hath answered and said, O Belteshazzar, let not the dream and its interpretation trouble thee. Belteshazzar hath answered and said, My lord, the dream -- to those hating thee, and its interpretation -- to thine enemies!

New English Translation
Then Daniel (whose name is also Belteshazzar) was upset for a brief time;¹ his thoughts were alarming him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream and its interpretation alarm you.” But Belteshazzar replied, “Sir,² if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries!

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