DAN 2:8 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) “I know for certain that you’re all trying to gain time,” the king answered. “However, I’ve made up my mind

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you are trying to gain time because you see that the word from me is firm.

UST The king replied, “I know that you are just trying to get more time, because you know that I will do to you what I said that I would do.

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE The king answered, “I know of a certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see the thing has gone from me.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET The king replied, “I know for sure that you are attempting to gain time, because you see that my decision is firm.

LSV The king has answered and said, “Of a truth I know that you are gaining time, because that you have seen that the thing is gone from me,

FBV “It's obvious to me that you're just trying to buy time!” said the king. “You can see that I can't remember the dream.[fn]

2:8 It may not be that the king was already convinced that they could not tell him the dream, but that they were plotting against him by deferring the interpretation. Dreams were often understood to come at an “opportune time,” and the king may have been concerned that delay could mean he would “miss his chance.”

T4T The king replied, “I know that you are just trying to get more time, because you know that I will do to you what I said that I would do.

LEB The king answered and said, “_⌊Certainly_⌋[fn] I know that _⌊you are trying to gain time_⌋[fn] _⌊because_⌋[fn] you have seen _⌊that this matter is firmly decreed by me_⌋,[fn]

2:8 Literally “From a certainty”

2:8 Literally “the time you are gaining”

2:8 Literally “all because of that”

2:8 Literally “that firm from me is the decree”

BBE The king made answer and said, I am certain that you are attempting to get more time, because you see that my decision is fixed;

Moff “I see quite plainly that you want to gain time,” said the king, “because you see I mean what I say--

JPS The king answered and said: 'I know of a truth that ye would gain time, inasmuch as ye see the thing is certain with me,

ASV The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.

DRA The king answered, and said: I know for certain that you seek to gain time, since you know that the thing is gone from me.

YLT The king hath answered and said, 'Of a truth I know that time ye are gaining, because that ye have seen that the thing is gone from me,

Drby The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the word is gone forth from me;

RV The king answered and said, I know of a certain that ye would gain time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
(The king answered and said, I know of a certain that ye/you_all would gain time, because ye/you_all see the thing is gone from me. )

SLT And the king answered and said, Certainly I know that ye buy the time, for which cause that ye saw that the word went out from me.

Wbstr The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.

KJB-1769 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.[fn]
(The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye/you_all would gain the time, because ye/you_all see the thing is gone from me. )

2.8 gain: Chaldee, buy

KJB-1611 The King answered, and said, I know of certeinty that ye would [fn]gaine the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

2:8 Cald. buy.

Bshps Then the king aunswered, saying: I perceaue of a trueth that ye would redeeme the time, for so much as ye see the thing is gone fro me.
(Then the king answered, saying: I perceive of a truth that ye/you_all would redeem the time, for so much as ye/you_all see the thing is gone from me.)

Gnva Then the King answered, and sayd, I knowe certeinly that ye would gaine the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
(Then the King answered, and said, I know certainly that ye/you_all would gain the time, because ye/you_all see the thing is gone from me. )

Cvdl Then the kynge answerde, sayenge: I perceaue off a treuth, that ye do but prologe ye tyme: for so moch as ye se, that the thinge is gone fro me.
(Then the king answered, saying: I perceive off a truth, that ye/you_all do but prolong ye/you_all time: for so much as ye/you_all see, that the thing is gone from me.)

Wycl The kyng answeride, and seide, Certis Y woot, that ye ayenbien the tyme, and witen that the word is goen awei fro me.
(The king answered, and said, Certis I woot, that ye/you_all ayenbien the time, and perceive that the word is going away from me.)

Luth Der König antwortete und sprach: Wahrlich, ich merke es, daß ihr Frist suchet, weil ihr sehet, daß mir‘s entfallen ist.
(The king replied and spoke: Truly, I notice it, that you(pl)/their/her Frist seeks, because you(pl)/their/her see, that me omitted is.)

ClVg Respondit rex, et ait: Certe novi quod tempus redimitis, scientes quod recesserit a me sermo.
(Respondit king, and he_said: Certainly new that time/season to_be_redeemedtis, knowing that will_have_left from me speech. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–49: Daniel explained the king’s dream

These Notes interpret Daniel 2:1–49 as a complete narrative unit. However, in some languages it may be helpful to divide this chapter into more than one section and to give each section a separate heading. For example:

The BSB has four sections.
1. Nebuchadnezzar’s Troubling Dream (2:1–13)
2. The Dream Revealed to Daniel (2:14–23)
3. Daniel Interprets the Dream (2:24–45)
4. Nebuchadnezzar Promotes Daniel (2:46–49)
The GNT has three sections:

(a) Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (2:1–13)

(b) God shows Daniel what the dream means (2:14–23)

This section tells how Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream. He asked his advisers to tell him what he had dreamed and its meaning. They were unable to do so, and the king threatened them with death. But God revealed the meaning of the dream to Daniel. Daniel then told the king what he had dreamed and what it meant. The king honored Daniel and Daniel’s God.

The climax of this narrative occurs in 2:47. There the king declared that the God whom Daniel worshiped was the greatest of all gods.

Special Translation Problems:

1. Lists: The author of the book of Daniel liked to use lists (2:2, 10). However, the author did not intend for these lists to be complete or exact. The lists usually provide examples of the types of people or things that belong in a certain group or category. The Notes will suggest options on how to translate these lists.

2. Synonyms: The text often uses different terms for similar ideas. For example, there are several verbs that mean “to reveal” or “to make known.” There are three different Aramaic verbs in 2:40 that mean “crush, break to pieces.” In some languages it may be difficult or confusing to use several different words for similar ideas. The Notes will suggest how you might translate these similar words and terms.

3. Poetry: You will need to think carefully about how you will translate the poetic section in this chapter (2:20–23). Authors of Hebrew poetry usually wrote using matching pairs of lines. The relationship between these parallel lines differs. Sometimes the second line repeats the information in the first line using different words. Sometimes the second line contrasts with the first line. Hebrew poetry also has word plays, figurative speech, and alliteration. It may not always be easy to translate these literary features into your language. The Notes will suggest ways of translating the different features of Hebrew poetry. For more information about how to translate Hebrew poetry, see the Bible Translation Handbook of the Psalms. The poetry in 2:20–23 is a song of praise or thanksgiving. If your language has a special poetic form that fits this song, you can use it here.

4. Ambiguity: In the section where Daniel interpreted the last part of the king’s dream, there are a number of ambiguous references. For example, in 2:44a Daniel referred to “those kings” without identifying who those kings were. In 2:44b Daniel spoke of “all these kingdoms.” The ambiguity may be deliberate, since the dream itself is a mystery. It will be important not to over-interpret these passages by assuming a particular historical context. The Notes will suggest several options for how to translate these verses.

5. Repetition: Daniel interpreted the meaning of the first three kingdoms in a very brief way. He used many more words to describe the fourth kingdom (2:36–45). In this section he also repeated much of what was described before. In this way, Daniel emphasized the fourth kingdom as the most important. Some of the repetition in this section emphasizes specific ideas. Sometimes the repetition has another function. You will need to evaluate if this kind of repetition is natural in your language. If not, you will need to find another way to emphasize these ideas.

Paragraph 2:7–9

The dream experts repeated their request that the king tell them his dream, and the king repeated his demand that they explain its meaning.

2:8a

The king replied, “I know for sure that you are stalling for time,

¶ Then the king declared, “I know that you^(plur) are trying to stall for time
¶ Then the king exclaimed, “It is obvious that you^(plur) are just trying to delay.

The king replied: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as replied here introduces the king’s rejection of his advisers’ request. He refused to do as they asked. Introduce this refusal in a way that is natural in your language. Some ways to do that in English are:

The king declared

The king asserted

the king exclaimed (GNT)

I know for sure: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as I know for sure adds emphasis to the next clause. Some ways to say this in English are:

I am sure (GW)

It is clear to me (REB)

I know with certainty (RSV)

that you are stalling for time: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as stalling for time is an idiom that refers to deliberately causing a delay. The king thought his advisers wanted to postpone answering him because they did not know what to say. Many languages will have idiomatic ways of saying this. In English there are several. For example:

You are trying to gain time (NIV)

you’re trying to buy some time (GW)

you are just delaying things

you: The pronoun you is plural and refers to the experts.

2:8b

because you see that my word is final.

because you^(plur) know that my decision is firm:
You^(plur) are well aware that I have made my decision:

because: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as because here introduces a reason clause. The experts realized that the king meant what he said about punishing them, and so they wanted to have more time to think what to say. In some languages you may have to add some implied information. For example:

because you do not know the meaning of the dream and

you see that: Here the Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as you see refers to understanding or perceiving something.

my word is final: This is the same expression that was used in 2:5a. See the note there, and follow the same interpretation here as you did there. Some ways to say this in English are:

I have come to this firm decision (REB)

I meant what I said (NCV)

I have made up my mind (GNT)

General Comment on 2:8b–c

In some languages it may be natural to reorder 2:8b–c, putting the reason first. For example:

^8cYou realize that that I have made this firm decision ^8band so you are trying to gain yourselves some time.

Parallel DAN 2:8

Section 2:1–49: Daniel explained the king’s dream

Paragraph 2:7–9

2:8a

2:8b

General Comment on 2:8b–c