DAN 2:9 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

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

OET (OET-RV) that if you all don’t tell me what my dream was, then your fate is already clear because you’ve obviously agreed together to keep feeding me with lies and made-up stories until I give in. So then, tell me what my dream was, and then I’ll be confident that you can give me its interpretation.”

2:9 OSHB variant note: הזמנתון: (x-qere) ’הִזְדְּמִנְתּוּן֙’: lemma_2164 n_1.1.0 morph_AVMp3mp id_27vLv הִזְדְּמִנְתּוּן֙

2:9 OSHB note: Adaptations to a Qere which L and BHS, by their design, do not indicate.

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 that if you do not make the dream known to me, there is only one sentence for you. For you have agreed together to speak lying and corrupt words before me until the times change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can show me its interpretion.”

UST If you do not tell me what I dreamed, you will be punished. I think that you have all agreed to tell me lies and other wicked things, because you hope that I will change my mind. But tell me the dream, and then I will know that you can also tell me what it means.”

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE But if you don’t make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the situation changes. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can show me its interpretation.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET If you don’t inform me of the dream, there is only one thing that is going to happen to you. For you have agreed among yourselves to report to me something false and deceitful until such time as things might change. So tell me the dream, and I will have confidence that you can disclose its interpretation.”

LSV [so] that, if you do not cause me to know the dream—one is your sentence, seeing a lying and corrupt word you have prepared to speak before me, until the time is changed, therefore tell the dream to me, then I know that you show me its interpretation.”

FBV If you can't reveal the dream to me, you will all receive the same punishment! You have conspired against me, telling me lies, hoping things will change. So tell me what my dream was and then I'll know that you can explain what it means.”

T4T If you do not tell me what I dreamed, you will be punished. I think that you have all agreed to tell me lies and other wicked things, because you hope that I will change ◄my mind/what I am thinking►. But tell me the dream, and then I will know that you can also tell me what it means.”

LEB for if you do not make the dream known to me, _⌊your verdict is fixed_⌋,[fn] and you have conspired to say a lying and deceitful word to me until the _⌊circumstances_⌋[fn] will change. Therefore, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can tell me its explanation.”

2:9 Literally “one is your verdict”

2:9 Literally “time”

BBE That if you do not make my dream clear to me there is only one fate for you: for you have made ready false and evil words to say before me till the times are changed: so give me an account of the dream, and I will be certain that you are able to make the sense of it clear.

Moff that if you cannot tell me the dream, there is one doom for you. And you have connived to talk falsely and foully to me, till things take a turn. Tell me the dream, and then I shall know you can xo tell me what it means.”

JPS that, if ye make not known unto me the dream, there is but one law for you; and ye have agreed together to speak before me lying and corrupt words, till the time be changed; only tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can declare unto me the interpretation thereof.'

ASV But if ye make not known unto me the dream, there is but one law for you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof.

DRA If therefore you tell me not the dream, there is one sentence concerning you, that you have also framed a lying interpretation, and full of deceit, to speak before me till the time pass away. Tell me therefore the dream, that I may know that you also give a true interpretation thereof.

YLT [so] that, if the dream ye do not cause me to know — one is your sentence, seeing a word lying and corrupt ye have prepared to speak before me, till that the time is changed, therefore the dream tell ye to me, then do I know that its interpretation ye do shew me.'

Drby but if ye do not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me its interpretation.

RV But if ye make not known unto me the dream, there is but one law for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
(But if ye/you_all make not known unto me the dream, there is but one law for you: for ye/you_all have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye/you_all can show me the interpretation thereof. )

SLT Enough if ye will not make known to me the dream, this one edict for you; and ye divided out the word of falsehood and this corruption to say before me, till that the time shall change: therefore say to me the dream and I shall know that ye will show me its interpretation.

Wbstr But if ye will not make known to me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation of it.

KJB-1769 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
(But if ye/you_all will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye/you_all have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye/you_all can show me the interpretation thereof. )

KJB-1611 But if yee will not make knowen vnto me the dreame, there is but one decree for you: for ye haue prepared lying, and corrupt words to speake before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dreame, and I shall know that yee can shewe mee the interpretation thereof.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Therfore if ye wil not tel me the dreame, this is your only purpose, ye haue prepared liyng & corrupt wordes to speake before me, til the time be chaunged: therfore tell me the dreame, that I may knowe that ye can declare me the interpretation therof.
(Therefore if ye/you_all will not tell me the dream, this is your only purpose, ye/you_all have prepared liing and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, that I may know that ye/you_all can declare me the interpretation thereof.)

Gnva But if ye will not declare mee the dreame, there is but one iudgement for you: for ye haue prepared lying and corrupt wordes, to speake before me till the time bee changed: therefore tell me the dreame, that I may knowe, if yee can declare me the interpretation thereof.
(But if ye/you_all will not declare me the dream, there is but one judgement for you: for ye/you_all have prepared lying and corrupt words, to speak before me till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, that I may know, if ye/you_all can declare me the interpretation thereof. )

Cvdl Therfore, yff ye wil not tell me the dreame, ye shal all haue one iudgment. But ye fayne and dyssemble with vayne wordes, which ye speake before me, to put off the tyme. Therfore tell me the dreame, ad so shall I knowe, yff ye can shewe me, what it meaneth.
(Therefore, if ye/you_all will not tell me the dream, ye/you_all shall all have one judgement. But ye/you_all gladly and dyssemble with vain words, which ye/you_all speak before me, to put off the time. Therefore tell me the dream, and so shall I know, if ye/you_all can show me, what it meaneth.)

Wycl Therfor if ye schewen not to me the dreem, o sentence is of you, for ye maken an interpretyng bothe fals and ful of disseit, that ye speke to me til the tyme passe; therfor seie ye the dreem to me, that Y wite, that ye speke also the veri interpretyng therof.
(Therefore if ye/you_all schewen not to me the dream, o sentence is of you, for ye/you_all making an interpreting both false and full of deceit, that ye/you_all speak to me till the time pass; therefore say ye/you_all the dream to me, that I wit/know, that ye/you_all speak also the veri interpreting thereof.)

Luth Aber werdet ihr mir nicht den Traum sagen, so gehet das Recht über euch, als die ihr Lügen und Gedichte vor mir zu reden vorgenommen habt, bis die Zeit vorübergehe. Darum so sagt mir den Traum, so kann ich merken, daß ihr auch die Deutung treffet.
(But become you(pl)/their/her to_me not the dream say, so goes the law/right above you, as the you(pl)/their/her lie(s) and Gedichte before/in_front_of to_me to/for talk before/in_front_ofgenommen have, until the time/period pass_by. Therefore so says to_me the dream, so can I remember/realise, that you(pl)/their/her also the interpretation treffet.)

ClVg Si ergo somnium non indicaveritis mihi, una est de vobis sententia, quod interpretationem quoque fallacem, et deceptione plenam composueritis, ut loquamini mihi donec tempus pertranseat. Somnium itaque dicite mihi, ut sciam quod interpretationem quoque ejus veram loquamini.
(When/But_if therefore a_dream/sleep not/no indicaveritis to_me, together it_is from/about to_you(pl) opinion, that interpretation too fallacem, and deceptione full composueritis, as loquamini to_me until time/season pertranseat. Somnium therefore say to_me, as sciam that interpretation too his true loquamini. )

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.

2:9a

If you do not tell me the dream,

If you^(plur) do not tell me what I dreamed,
If you^(plur) fail to tell me what my dream was,

If you do not tell me the dream: This is a negative conditional clause, suggesting that something might not happen. Perhaps the experts would fail to tell the king what he had dreamed. Other ways to translate this include:

If you don’t inform me of the dream (NET)

If you fail to tell me what my dream was

tell: This is a general verb that means “inform, cause to know,” as in 2:5b.

the dream: In some languages it may be natural to say:

my dream (NCV)

2:9b

there is only one decree for you.

you^(plur) will all receive the same penalty/punishment.
I will punish you^(plur) all in the same way.

there is only one decree for you: The king said that all of his advisers would receive the same punishment. If they could not tell him his dream, he would punish them all in the same way. Other ways to translate this include:

there is only one thing that is going to happen to you (NET)

there is but one sentence for you (RSV)

you will all receive the same punishment

decree: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as decree literally means “law.” This “law” refers to the decree that the king made in 2:5b about punishing his advisers. Some ways to say this in English are:

verdict (NRSV)

punishment (GNT)

In some languages it may be more natural to express this abstract idea using a verb. For example:

I will punish you all in the way I decreed.

General Comment on 2:9a–b

In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of 2:9a–b. For example:

I have made up my mind ^9bto give all of you the same punishment ^9aif you don’t tell me the dream. (GNT)

2:9c

You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words,

You^(plur) have plotted together to lie and deceive me,
You^(plur) have agreed/decided together to lie to me. You^(plur) have spoken wickedly

You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words: The king accused his expert advisers of agreeing together to deceive him. Other ways to translate this include:

You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me (ESV)

You have agreed among yourselves to make up a phony explanation to give me (GW)

You have conspired: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as conspired here means to agree secretly together to do something wrong. For example:

You have agreed among yourselves (NJB)

You have planned/plotted

You’ve decided (CEV)

to speak before me false and fraudulent words: The king accused his advisers of continuing to lie to him. Here is another way to translate this:

to go on telling me lies (GNT)

false and fraudulent words: The Aramaic phrase that BSB translates as false and fraudulent words is more literally “a false and corrupt word.” Other ways to translate this include:

lying and corrupt words (RSV)

misleading and wicked things (NIV)

lying and misleading (NRSV)

In this context false and fraudulent have similar meanings. In some languages it is most natural to use one word or phrase to express this meaning. For example:

a bunch of lies (CEV)

a phony explanation (GW)

2:9d

hoping the situation will change.

hoping that something will change/happen to save you.
in the hope that I would change the decree.

hoping the situation will change: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as situation is more literally “time.” Here it refers to a possible time in the future when the king might be willing to change what he decreed. Or it might refer to a time when a new king would reign, and it would be an indication of Nebuchadnezzar’s death. But it is best not to make this explicit. Other ways to translate this include:

till the times change (RSV)

hoping that things will change (GW)

because you hope that in time the situation will change

You are hoping that eventually the decree will fail/cease.

2:9e

Therefore tell me the dream,

So tell^(plur) me now what I dreamed.
Therefore tell^(plur) me what happened in my dream.

Therefore tell me the dream: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as Therefore here introduces what the advisers should do as a result of what the king has just said. It implies that the king does not want any more delay. English versions have different ways of expressing this.

Some versions use a connector that introduces the result clause. For example:
So then tell me the dream (NIV)
Some versions do not use an explicit connector. The result relation is left implied from the context. For example:
Tell me what the dream was (GNT)

tell me the dream: This instruction implies that the experts should tell the king what he had dreamed. It does not refer only to the interpretation of the dream. See the note on 2:6c.

2:9f

and I will know that you can give me its interpretation.”

Then I will know that you^(plur) can explain what it means.”
That will prove to me that you^(plur) can interpret what it means.”

and: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as and here introduces a result clause. If the dream experts could tell Nebuchadnezzar what he had dreamed, he would believe that they had supernatural help or wisdom. Then he would trust that they could give him a correct interpretation. Introduce the result clause in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

and then (GNT)

so that (NASB)

I will know that you can give me its interpretation: There is some implied information here. Nebuchadnezzar understood that his experts could tell him his dream only if they had supernatural knowledge. Telling him his dream would prove they were genuine magicians, fortunetellers, or sorcerers. He would then be able to trust that their interpretation was reliable, not just something they had made up themselves. The following are some ways to translate this sentence in English:

I’ll know that you can explain its meaning to me (GW)

I will know that you can also tell me what it means (GNT)

that will show me that you are able to interpret it for me

Parallel DAN 2:9