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1. During Nebuchadnezzar's second year as king, he had dreams. They bothered him, and he could not sleep.
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1. And in the second H8147 year H8141 of the reign H4438 of Nebuchadnezzar H5019 Nebuchadnezzar H5019 dreamed H2492 dreams H2472 , wherewith his spirit H7307 was troubled H6470 , and his sleep H8142 broke H1961 from H5921 him.
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2. So the king called his wise men to come to him. They used magic tricks and watched the stars. They did this to try to interpret dreams and to learn what would happen in the future. The king wanted them to tell him what he had dreamed, so they came in and stood in front of him.
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2. Then the king H4428 commanded H559 to call H7121 the magicians H2748 , and the astrologers H825 , and the sorcerers H3784 , and the Chaldeans H3778 , for to show H5046 the king H4428 his dreams H2472 . So they came H935 and stood H5975 before H6440 the king H4428 .
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3. Then the king said to them, "I had a dream that bothers me. I want to know what it means."
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3. And the king H4428 said H559 unto them , I have dreamed H2492 a dream H2472 , and my spirit H7307 was troubled H6470 to know H3045 H853 the dream H2472 .
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4. Then the Chaldeans answered the king. They spoke Aramaic and said, "King, live forever! Please tell your dream to us, your servants, and then we will tell you what it means."
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4. Then spoke H1696 the Chaldeans H3778 to the king H4428 in Syriac H762 , O king H4430 , live H2418 forever H5957 : tell H560 thy servants H5649 the dream H2493 , and we will show H2324 the interpretation H6591 .
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5. Then King Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "No, you must tell me the dream, and then you must tell me what it means. If you don't, I will give an order for you to be cut into pieces. And I will order your houses to be destroyed until they are nothing but piles of dust and ashes.
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5. The king H4430 answered H6032 and said H560 to the Chaldeans H3779 , The thing H4406 is gone H230 from H4481 me: if H2006 ye will not H3809 make known H3046 unto me the dream H2493 , with the interpretation H6591 thereof , ye shall be cut H5648 in pieces H1917 , and your houses H1005 shall be made H7761 a dunghill H5122 .
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6. But if you tell me my dream and explain its meaning, I will give you gifts, rewards, and great honor. So tell me about my dream and what it means."
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6. But if H2006 ye show H2324 the dream H2493 , and the interpretation H6591 thereof , ye shall receive H6902 of H4481 H6925 me gifts H4978 and rewards H5023 and great H7690 honor H3367 : therefore H3861 show H2324 me the dream H2493 , and the interpretation H6591 thereof.
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7. Again the wise men said to the king, "Please, sir, tell us about the dream, and we will tell you what it means."
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7. They answered H6032 again H8579 and said H560 , Let the king H4430 tell H560 his servants H5649 the dream H2493 , and we will show H2324 the interpretation H6591 of it.
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8. Then King Nebuchadnezzar answered, "I know that you are trying to get more time. You know that I meant what I said.
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8. The king H4430 answered H6032 and said H560 , I H576 know H3046 of H4481 certainty H3330 that H1768 ye H608 would gain H2084 the time H5732 , because H3606 H6903 H1768 ye see H2370 H1768 the thing H4406 is gone H230 from H4481 me.
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9. You know that you will be punished if you don't tell me about my dream. So you have all agreed to lie to me. You are hoping for more time so that I will forget what I want you to do. Now tell me the dream. If you can tell me the dream, I will know that you can tell me what it really means."
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9. But H1768 if H2006 ye will not H3809 make known H3046 unto me the dream H2493 , there is but one H2298 decree H1882 for you : for ye have prepared H2164 lying H3538 and corrupt H7844 words H4406 to speak H560 before H6925 me, till H5705 H1768 the time H5732 be changed H8133 : therefore H3861 tell H560 me the dream H2493 , and I shall know H3046 that H1768 ye can show H2324 me the interpretation H6591 thereof.
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10. The Chaldeans answered the king. They said, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king is asking! No king has ever asked the wise men, the men who do magic, or the Chaldeans to do something like this. Not even the greatest and most powerful king has ever asked his wise men to do such a thing.
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10. The Chaldeans H3779 answered H6032 before H6925 the king H4430 , and said H560 , There is H383 not H3809 a man H606 upon H5922 the earth H3007 that H1768 can H3202 show H2324 the king H4430 's matter H4406 : therefore H3606 H6903 H1768 there is no H3809 H3606 king H4430 , lord H7229 , nor ruler H7990 , that asked H7593 such things H1836 at any H3606 magician H2749 , or astrologer H826 , or Chaldean H3779 .
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11. The king is asking something that is too hard to do. Only the gods could tell the king his dream and what it means. But the gods don't live with people."
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11. And it is a rare H3358 thing H4406 that H1768 the king H4430 requireth H7593 , and there is H383 none H3809 other H321 that H1768 can show H2324 it before H6925 the king H4430 , except H3861 the gods H426 , whose H1768 dwelling H4070 is H383 not H3809 with H5974 flesh H1321 .
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12. When the king heard that, he became very angry. So he gave an order for all the wise men of Babylon to be killed.
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12. For this cause H3606 H6903 H1836 the king H4430 was angry H1149 and very H7690 furious H7108 , and commanded H560 to destroy H7 all H3606 the wise H2445 men of Babylon H895 .
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13. King Nebuchadnezzar's order to kill all the wise men was announced. The king's men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to kill them.
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13. And the decree H1882 went forth H5312 that the wise H2445 men should be slain H6992 ; and they sought H1156 Daniel H1841 and his fellows H2269 to be slain H6992 .
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14. Arioch was the commander of the king's guards. He was going to kill the wise men of Babylon, but Daniel talked to him. Daniel spoke politely to Arioch
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14. Then H116 Daniel H1841 answered H8421 with counsel H5843 and wisdom H2942 to Arioch H746 the captain H7229 of H1768 the king H4430 's guard H2877 , which H1768 was gone forth H5312 to slay H6992 the wise H2445 men of Babylon H895 :
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15. and said, "Why did the king order such a severe punishment?" Then Arioch explained the whole story about the king's dreams, and Daniel understood.
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15. He answered H6032 and said H560 to Arioch H746 the king H1768 H4430 's captain H7990 , Why H5922 H4101 is the decree H1882 so hasty H2685 from H4481 H6925 the king H4430 ? Then H116 Arioch H746 made the thing known H3046 H4406 to Daniel H1841 .
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16. When Daniel heard the story, he went to King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel asked the king to give him some more time. Then he would tell the king what the dream meant.
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16. Then Daniel H1841 went in H5954 , and desired H1156 of H4481 the king H4430 that H1768 he would give H5415 him time H2166 , and that he would show H2324 the king H4430 the interpretation H6591 .
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17. So Daniel went to his house. He explained the whole story to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
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17. Then H116 Daniel H1841 went H236 to his house H1005 , and made the thing known H3046 H4406 to Hananiah H2608 , Mishael H4333 , and Azariah H5839 , his companions H2269 :
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18. Daniel asked his friends to pray to the God of heaven that God would be kind to them and help them understand this secret. Then Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the other wise men of Babylon.
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18. That they would desire H1156 mercies H7359 of H4481 H6925 the God H426 of heaven H8065 concerning H5922 this H1836 secret H7328 ; that H1768 Daniel H1841 and his fellows H2269 should not H3809 perish H7 with H5974 the rest H7606 of the wise H2445 men of Babylon H895 .
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19. During the night, God explained the secret to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.
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19. Then H116 was the secret H7328 revealed H1541 unto Daniel H1841 in a night H1768 H3916 vision H2376 . Then H116 Daniel H1841 blessed H1289 the God H426 of heaven H8065 .
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20. He said: "Praise God's name forever and ever! Power and wisdom belong to him.
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20. Daniel H1841 answered H6032 and said H560 , Blessed H1289 be H1934 the name H8036 of H1768 God H426 forever and ever H4481 H5957 H5705 H5957 : for H1768 wisdom H2452 and might H1370 are his:
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21. He changes the times and seasons. He gives power to kings, and he takes their power away. He gives wisdom to people so they become wise. He lets people learn things and become wise.
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21. And he H1932 changeth H8133 the times H5732 and the seasons H2166 : he removeth H5709 kings H4430 , and setteth up H6966 kings H4430 : he giveth H3052 wisdom H2452 unto the wise H2445 , and knowledge H4486 to them that know H3046 understanding H999 :
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22. He knows hidden secrets that are hard to understand. Light lives with him, so he knows what is in the dark and secret places.
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22. He H1932 revealeth H1541 the deep H5994 and secret things H5642 : he knoweth H3046 what H4101 is in the darkness H2816 , and the light H5094 dwelleth H8271 with H5974 him.
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23. God of my ancestors, I thank you and praise you. You gave me wisdom and power. You told us what we asked for. You told us about the king's dream."
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23. I H576 thank H3029 thee , and praise H7624 thee , O thou God H426 of my fathers H2 , who H1768 hast given H3052 me wisdom H2452 and might H1370 , and hast made known H3046 unto me now H3705 what H1768 we desired H1156 of H4481 thee: for H1768 thou hast now made known H3046 unto us the king H4430 's matter H4406 .
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24. Then Daniel went to Arioch, the man who King Nebuchadnezzar had chosen to kill the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to Arioch, "Don't kill the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king. I will tell him what his dream means."
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24. Therefore H3606 H6903 H1836 Daniel H1841 went in H5954 unto H5922 Arioch H746 , whom H1768 the king H4430 had ordained H4483 to destroy H7 the wise H2445 men of Babylon H895 : he went H236 and said H560 thus H3652 unto him; Destroy H7 not H409 the wise H2445 men of Babylon H895 : bring me in H5924 before H6925 the king H4430 , and I will show H2324 unto the king H4430 the interpretation H6591 .
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25. So very quickly, Arioch took Daniel to the king. Arioch said to the king, "I have found a man among the captives from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means."
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25. Then H116 Arioch H746 brought in H5954 Daniel H1841 before H6925 the king H4430 in haste H927 , and said H560 thus H3652 unto him , I have found H7912 a man H1400 of H4481 the captives H1123 H1547 of H1768 Judah H3061 , that H1768 will make known H3046 unto the king H4430 the interpretation H6591 .
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26. The king asked Daniel (Belteshazzar) a question. He said, "Are you able to tell me about my dream, and what it means?"
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26. The king H4430 answered H6032 and said H560 to Daniel H1841 , whose H1768 name H8036 was Belteshazzar H1096 , Art H383 thou able H3546 to make known H3046 unto me the dream H2493 which H1768 I have seen H2370 , and the interpretation H6591 thereof?
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27. Daniel answered, "King Nebuchadnezzar, no wise man, no man who does magic tricks, and no Chaldean could tell the king the secret things he has asked about.
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27. Daniel H1841 answered H6032 in the presence of H6925 the king H4430 , and said H560 , The secret H7328 which H1768 the king H4430 hath demanded H7593 cannot H3202 H3809 the wise H2445 men , the astrologers H826 , the magicians H2749 , the soothsayers H1505 , show H2324 unto the king H4430 ;
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28. But there is a God in heaven who tells secret things. God has given King Nebuchadnezzar dreams to show him what will happen later. This was your dream, and this is what you saw while lying on your bed:
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28. But H1297 there is H383 a God H426 in heaven H8065 that revealeth H1541 secrets H7328 , and maketh known H3046 to the king H4430 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 what H4101 H1768 shall be H1934 in the latter H320 days H3118 . Thy dream H2493 , and the visions H2376 of thy head H7217 upon H5922 thy bed H4903 , are these H1836 ;
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29. King, as you were lying there on your bed, you began thinking about what might happen in the future. God can tell people about secret things�he has shown you what will happen in the future.
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29. As for thee H607 , O king H4430 , thy thoughts H7476 came H5559 into thy mind upon H5922 thy bed H4903 , what H4101 H1768 should come to pass H1934 hereafter H311 H1836 : and he that revealeth H1541 secrets H7328 maketh known H3046 to thee what H4101 H1768 shall come to pass H1934 .
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30. God also told this secret to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other men, but so that you, king, may know what it means. In that way you will understand what went through your mind.
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30. But as for me H576 , this H1836 secret H7328 is not H3809 revealed H1541 to me for any wisdom H2452 that H1768 I have H383 more than H4481 any H3606 living H2417 , but H3861 for their sakes H5922 H1701 that H1768 shall make known H3046 the interpretation H6591 to the king H4430 , and that thou mightest know H3046 the thoughts H7476 of thy heart H3825 .
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31. "King, in your dream you saw a large statue in front of you that was very large and shiny. It was very impressive.
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31. Thou H607 , O king H4430 , sawest H2370 H1934 , and behold H431 a H2298 great H7690 image H6755 . This H1797 great H7229 image H6755 , whose brightness H2122 was excellent H3493 , stood H6966 before H6903 thee ; and the form H7299 thereof was terrible H1763 .
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32. The head of the statue was made from pure gold. Its chest and the arms were made from silver. The belly and upper part of the legs were made from bronze.
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32. This H1932 image H6755 's head H7217 was of H1768 fine H2869 gold H1722 , his breast H2306 and his arms H1872 of H1768 silver H3702 , his belly H4577 and his thighs H3410 of H1768 brass H5174 ,
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33. The lower part of the legs was made from iron. Its feet were made partly of iron and partly of clay.
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33. His legs H8243 of H1768 iron H6523 , his feet H7271 part H4481 of H1768 iron H6523 and part H4481 of H1768 clay H2635 .
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34. While you were looking at the statue, you saw a rock that was cut loose, but not by human hands. Then the rock hit the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.
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34. Thou sawest H2370 H1934 till H5705 that H1768 a stone H69 was cut out H1505 without H1768 H3809 hands H3028 , which smote H4223 the image H6755 upon H5922 his feet H7271 that were of H1768 iron H6523 and clay H2635 , and broke them to pieces H1855 H1994 .
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35. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold broke to pieces all at the same time. And all the pieces became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summertime. The wind blew them away, and there was nothing left. No one could tell that a statue had ever been there. Then the rock that hit the statue became a very large mountain and filled up the whole earth.
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35. Then H116 was the iron H6523 , the clay H2635 , the brass H5174 , the silver H3702 , and the gold H1722 , broken to pieces H1751 together H2298 , and became H1934 like the chaff H5784 of H4481 the summer H7007 threshingfloors H147 ; and the wind H7308 carried them away H5376 H1994 , that no H3809 H3606 place H870 was found H7912 for them : and the stone H69 that H1768 smote H4223 the image H6755 became H1934 a great H7229 mountain H2906 , and filled H4391 the whole H3606 earth H772 .
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36. "That was your dream. Now we will tell the king what it means.
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36. This H1836 is the dream H2493 ; and we will tell H560 the interpretation H6591 thereof before H6925 the king H4430 .
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37. King, you are the most important king. The God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory.
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37. Thou H607 , O king H4430 , art a king H4430 of kings H4430 : for H1768 the God H426 of heaven H8065 hath given H3052 thee a kingdom H4437 , power H2632 , and strength H8632 , and glory H3367 .
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38. He has given you control, and you rule over people and the wild animals and the birds. Wherever they live, God has made you ruler over them all. King Nebuchadnezzar, you are that head of gold on the statue.
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38. And wheresoever H3606 H1768 the children H1123 of men H606 dwell H1753 , the beasts H2423 of the field H1251 and the fowls H5776 of the heaven H8065 hath he given H3052 into thine hand H3028 , and hath made thee ruler H7981 over them all H3606 . Thou H607 art this H1932 head H7217 of H1768 gold H1722 .
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39. "Another kingdom will come after you, but it will not be as great as your kingdom. Next, a third kingdom will rule over the earth�that is the bronze part.
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39. And after H870 thee shall arise H6966 another H317 kingdom H4437 inferior H772 to H4481 thee , and another H317 third H8523 kingdom H4437 of H1768 brass H5174 , which H1768 shall bear rule H7981 over all H3606 the earth H772 .
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40. Then there will be a fourth kingdom. That kingdom will be strong like iron. Just as iron breaks things and smashes them to pieces, that fourth kingdom will break all the other kingdoms and smash them to pieces.
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40. And the fourth H7244 kingdom H4437 shall be H1934 strong H8624 as iron H6523 : forasmuch as H3606 H6903 H1768 iron H6523 breaketh in pieces H1855 and subdueth H2827 all H3606 things : and as iron H6523 that H1768 breaketh H7490 all H3606 these H459 , shall it break in pieces H1855 and bruise H7490 .
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41. "You saw that the feet and toes of the statue were partly clay and partly iron. That means the fourth kingdom will be a divided kingdom. It will have some of the strength of iron in it just as you saw the iron mixed with clay.
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41. And whereas H1768 thou sawest H2370 the feet H7271 and toes H677 , part H4481 of H1768 potters H6353 ' clay H2635 , and part H4481 of iron H6523 , the kingdom H4437 shall be H1934 divided H6386 ; but there shall be H1934 in it of H4481 the strength H5326 of H1768 the iron H6523 , forasmuch as H3606 H6903 H1768 thou sawest H2370 the iron H6523 mixed H6151 with miry H2917 clay H2635 .
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42. The toes of the statue were partly iron and partly clay. So the fourth kingdom will be partly strong like iron, and partly weak like clay.
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42. And as the toes H677 of the feet H7271 were part H4481 of iron H6523 , and part H4481 of clay H2635 , so the kingdom H4437 shall be H1934 partly H4481 H7118 strong H8624 , and partly H4481 broken H8406 .
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43. You saw the iron mixed with clay, but iron and clay don't completely mix together. In the same way the people of the fourth kingdom will be a mixture. They will not be united as one people.
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43. And whereas H1768 thou sawest H2370 iron H6523 mixed H6151 with miry H2917 clay H2635 , they shall H1934 mingle themselves H6151 with the seed H2234 of men H606 : but they shall H1934 not H3809 cleave H1693 one H1836 to H5974 another H1836 , even as H1888 H1768 iron H6523 is not H3809 mixed H6151 with H5974 clay H2635 .
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44. "During the time of the kings of the fourth kingdom, the God of heaven will set up another kingdom that will continue forever. It will never be destroyed. And it will be the kind of kingdom that cannot be passed on to another group of people. This kingdom will crush all the other kingdoms. It will bring them to an end, but that kingdom itself will continue forever.
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44. And in the days H3118 of H1768 these H581 kings H4430 shall the God H426 of heaven H8065 set up H6966 a kingdom H4437 , which H1768 shall never H3809 H5957 be destroyed H2255 : and the kingdom H4437 shall not H3809 be left H7662 to other H321 people H5972 , but it shall break in pieces H1855 and consume H5487 all H3606 these H459 kingdoms H4437 , and it H1932 shall stand H6966 forever H5957 .
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45. "King Nebuchadnezzar, you saw a rock cut from a mountain, but no one cut that rock. The rock broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold to pieces. In this way God showed you what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and you can trust that this is what it means."
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45. Forasmuch as H3606 H6903 H1768 thou sawest H2370 that H1768 the stone H69 was cut out H1505 of the mountain H4481 H2906 without H1768 H3809 hands H3028 , and that it broke in pieces H1855 the iron H6523 , the brass H5174 , the clay H2635 , the silver H3702 , and the gold H1722 ; the great H7229 God H426 hath made known H3046 to the king H4430 what H4101 H1768 shall come to pass H1934 hereafter H311 H1836 : and the dream H2493 is certain H3330 , and the interpretation H6591 thereof sure H540 .
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46. Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed down in front of Daniel to honor him. The king praised him. He gave an order that an offering and incense be given to honor Daniel.
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46. Then H116 the king H4430 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 fell H5308 upon H5922 his face H600 , and worshiped H5457 Daniel H1841 , and commanded H560 that they should offer H5260 an oblation H4061 and sweet odors H5208 unto him.
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47. Then the king said to Daniel, "I know for sure your God is the God over all gods and the Lord over all kings. He tells people about things they cannot know. I know this is true because you were able to tell these secret things to me."
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47. The king H4430 answered H6032 unto Daniel H1841 , and said H560 , Of H4481 a truth H7187 it is , that H1768 your God H426 is a God H426 of gods H426 , and a Lord H4756 of kings H4430 , and a revealer H1541 of secrets H7328 , seeing H1768 thou couldest H3202 reveal H1541 this H1836 secret H7328 .
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48. Then the king gave Daniel a very important job in his kingdom and gave him many expensive gifts. Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon and put him in charge of all the wise men of Babylon.
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48. Then H116 the king H4430 made Daniel a great man H7236 H1841 , and gave H3052 him many H7690 great H7260 gifts H4978 , and made him ruler H7981 over H5922 the whole H3606 province H4083 of Babylon H895 , and chief H7229 of the governors H5460 over H5922 all H3606 the wise H2445 men of Babylon H895 .
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49. Daniel asked the king to make Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego important officials over the province of Babylon. The king did as Daniel asked. Daniel himself became one of the important officials who was always near the king.
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49. Then Daniel H1841 requested H1156 of H4481 the king H4430 , and he set H4483 Shadrach H7715 , Meshach H4336 , and Abed H5665 -nego, over H5922 the affairs H5673 of H1768 the province H4083 of Babylon H895 : but Daniel H1841 sat in the gate H8651 of the king H4430 .
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