Daniel 2:9

⁷ They answered a second time, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will give the interpretation.”

⁸ The king replied, “I know for sure that you are stalling for time, because you see that my word is final.

If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one decree for you. You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words, hoping the situation will change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can give me its interpretation.”

¹⁰ The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can do what the king requests! No king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer.

¹¹ What the king requests is so difficult that no one can tell it to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one decree for you. You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words, hoping the situation will change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can give me its interpretation.”
KJV: 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.
WEB: 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.”
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.
DARBY: 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.
BLB: that if you⁺ do not make known to me the dream, it [is] one decree for you⁺. And you⁺ have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me until the times should change. Therefore you must tell the dream to me, and I will know that you⁺ can show me its interpretation.”

ÅB: Såfremt dere ikke sier meg drømmen, da er dommen over dere uforanderlig. Men dere er blitt enige om å fortelle meg en skammelig løgn, i håp om at tidene skal forandre seg, derfor, si meg drømmen, så jeg kan vite at dere også kan kunngjøre meg dens uttydning!
OTB: Hvis dere ikke avslører drømmen for meg, er det bare én dom for dere. Dere har sammensverget dere for å tale villedende og korrupte ord foran meg inntil situasjonen endrer seg. Derfor, fortell meg drømmen, så jeg vil vite at dere kan tolke den."
B1930: Såfremt I ikke sier mig drømmen, da er dommen over eder uforanderlig. Men I er blitt enige om å fortelle mig en skammelig løgn, i håp om at tidene skal forandre sig, derfor, si mig drømmen, så jeg kan vite at I også kan kunngjøre mig dens uttydning!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Esther 4:11
“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”
Read in context
Daniel 7:25
He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.
Read in context
Isaiah 41:23
Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay.
Read in context
Daniel 2:21
He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
Read in context
Daniel 3:15
Now, if you are ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”
Read in context
Daniel 5:28
PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”
Read in context
Ezekiel 13:6
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.
Read in context
Isaiah 44:25
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,
Read in context