Daniel 2:8

Wycliffe Bible

The kyng answeride, and seide, Certis Y woot, that ye ayenbien the tyme, and witen that the word is goen awei fro me.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The king replied, “I know for certain you are trying to gain some time, because you see that my word is final.

Hebrew Names Version
The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me.

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

English Standard Version
The king answered and said, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm—

New American Standard Bible
The king replied, "I know for certain that you are trying to buy time, because you have perceived that the command from me is firm,

New Century Version
King Nebuchadnezzar answered, "I know you are trying to get more time, because you know that I meant what I said.

Amplified Bible
The king replied, "I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, because you have seen that my command [to you] is firm and irrevocable.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the King answered, and sayd, I knowe certeinly that ye would gaine the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
The king replied, "I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, inasmuch as you have seen that the command from me is firm,

Berean Standard Bible
The king replied, "I know for sure you are stalling for time, because you see that my word is final.

Contemporary English Version
The king replied, "You're just stalling for time,

Complete Jewish Bible
The king replied, "I see you're only trying to gain time, because you see that I've decided

Darby Translation
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;

Easy-to-Read Version
Then King Nebuchadnezzar answered, "I know that you are trying to get more time. You know that I meant what I said.

George Lamsa Translation
The king answered and said, Truly I know that what you want is time, because you see that my word is true.

Good News Translation
At that, the king exclaimed, "Just as I thought! You are trying to gain time, because you see that I have made up my mind

Lexham English Bible
The king answered and said, "Certainly I know that you are trying to gain time because you have seen that this matter is firmly decreed by me,

Literal Translation
The king answered and said, For I know that you buy time, that on account of all, you see the thing is certainly gone from me.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
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.

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

Bible in Basic English
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;

JPS Old Testament (1917)
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,

King James Version (1611)
The King answered, and said, I know of certeinty that ye would gaine the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
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.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the king answered and said, I verily know that ye are trying to gain time, because ye see that the thing has gone from me.

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

World English Bible
The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me.

Update Bible Version
The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing has gone from me.

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

New English Translation
The king replied, "I know for sure that you are attempting to gain time, because you see that my decision is firm.

New King James Version
The king answered and said, "I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm:

New Living Translation
The king replied, "I know what you are doing! You're stalling for time because you know I am serious when I say,

New Life Bible
The king said, "I am sure that you are trying to get more time, because you see that my word is sure.

New Revised Standard
The king answered, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see I have firmly decreed:

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The king answered and said, Of a certainty, I know, that, time, ye, would gain, - merely because ye see that, unalterable, from me, is the word:

Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Revised Standard Version
The king answered, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is sure

Young's Literal Translation
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,

THE MESSAGE
But the king said, "I know what you're up to—you're just playing for time. You know you're up a tree. You know that if you can't tell me my dream, you're doomed. I see right through you—you're going to cook up some fancy stories and confuse the issue until I change my mind. Nothing doing! First tell me the dream, then I'll know that you're on the up and up with the interpretation and not just blowing smoke in my eyes."

Contextual Overview

¹ In the secounde yeer of the rewme of Nabugodonosor, Nabugodonosor siy a dreem; and his spirit was aferd, and his dreem fledde awei fro hym. ² Therfor the kyng comaundide, that the dyuynours, and astronomyens, and witchis, and Caldeis schulden be clepid togidere, that thei schulden telle to the kyng hise dremys; and whanne thei weren comun, thei stoden bifor the king. ³ And the king seide to hem, Y siy a dreem, and Y am schent in mynde, and Y knowe not what Y siy. ⁴ And Caldeis answeriden the kyng bi Sirik langage, Kyng, liue thou with outen ende; seie thi dreem to thi seruauntis, and we schulen schewe to thee the expownyng therof. ⁵ And the kyng answeride, and seide to Caldeis, The word is goen awei fro me; if ye schewen not to me the dreem, and expownyng therof, ye schulen perische, and youre housis schulen be forfetid. ⁶ Forsothe if ye tellen the dreem, and the expownyng therof, ye schulen take of me meedis and yiftis, and myche onour; therfor schewe ye to me the dreem, and the interpretyng therof. ⁷ Thei answeriden the secounde tyme, and seiden, The kyng seie the dreem to hise seruauntis, and we schulen schewe the interpretyng therof. ⁸ The kyng answeride, and seide, Certis Y woot, that ye ayenbien the tyme, and witen that the word is goen awei fro me. ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ Therfor Caldeis answeriden bifor the kyng, and seiden, Kyng, no man is on erthe, that mai fille thi word; but nether ony greet man and myyti of kyngis axith siche a word of ony dyuynour, and astronomyen, and of a man of Caldee.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

gain: Chal, buy, Ephesians 5:16, Colossians 4:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:41 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
Forsothe the Lord God plauntide at the bigynnyng paradis of likyng, wherynne he settide man whom he hadde formed.

Genesis 2:9
And the Lord God brouyte forth of the erthe ech tre fair in siyt, and swete to ete; also he brouyte forth the tre of lijf in the middis of paradis, and the tre of kunnyng of good and of yuel.

Genesis 3:24
And God castide out Adam, and settide bifore paradis of lykyng cherubyn, and a swerd of flawme and turnynge aboute to kepe the weie of the tre of lijf.

Genesis 4:16
And Cayn yede out fro the face of the Lord, and dwellide fleynge aboute in erthe, at the eest coost of Eden.

Genesis 13:10
And so Loth reiside hise iyen, and seiy aboute al the cuntrei of Jordan, which was al moistid, bifor that the Lord distriede Sodom and Gomorre, as paradis of the Lord, and as Egipt, as men comen in to Segor.

2 Kings 19:12
Whether the goddis of hethene men delyueriden alle men whiche my fadris distrieden, that is, Gozam, and Aran, and Reseph, and the sones of Eden, that weren in Thelassar?

Isaiah 51:3
Therfor the Lord schal coumforte Sion, and he schal coumforte alle the fallyngis therof; and he schal sette the desert therof as delices, and the wildirnesse therof as a gardyn of the Lord; ioie and gladnesse schal be foundun therynne, the doyng of thankyngis and the vois of heriyng.

Ezekiel 27:23
Aran, and Chenne, and Eden, weren thi marchauntis; Sabba, and Assur, and Chelmath, weren thi silleris.

Ezekiel 28:13
were in delicis of paradijs of God. Ech preciouse stoon was thin hilyng, sardius, topacius, and iaspis, crisolitus, and onix, and birille, safire, and carbuncle, and smaragde; also gold was the werk of thi fairnesse, and thin hoolis weren maad redi, in the dai in which thou were maad.

Ezekiel 31:16
weren shakun of the soun of his falling. I mouide togidere hethene men, whanne Y ledde hym doun to helle, with hem that yeden doun in to the lake. And alle trees of likyng, noble trees, and ful cleere in the Liban, alle that weren moistid with watris, weren coumfortid in the loweste lond.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The king answered and said, I know of certainty,.... I see plainly and clearly what you are at, and am fully assured you mean nothing, but that

ye would gain the time: or buy f, or redeem time, as in Ephesians 5:16, prolong time, put off the answer to longer time; spin out time, as people do in buying and selling; or have it in their possession and power when to answer; and so by gaining time, or being master of it, might hope something would turn up to their advantage, and extricate them out of their present difficulties:

because ye see the thing is gone from me; the dream he could not remember; or because the decree was certain which he had determined concerning them; Ephesians 5:16- :.

f די עדנא אנתון זבנין "quod tempus vos emitis", Pagninus, Munster; "ementes", Montanus; "vos tempus redimere", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time - Margin, “buy.” The Chaldee word זבנין zâb^enı̂yn (from זבן z^eban) means, to get for oneself, buy, gain, procure. Greek, ἐξαγοράζετε exagorazete - “that ye redeem time;” and so the Vulgate - quod tempus redimitis. The idea is, that they saw that they could not comply with his requisition, and that their asking him Daniel 2:7 to state the dream was only a pretext for delay, in the hope that in the interval some device might be hit on by them to appease him, or to avert his threatened indignation. It would be natural to suppose that they might hope that on reflection he would become more calm, and that, although they “might” not be able to recal the dream and explain it, yet it would be seen to be unreasonable to expect or demand it. The king seems to have supposed that some such thoughts were passing through their minds, and he charges on them such a project. The argument of the king seems to have been something like this: “They who can explain a dream correctly can as well tell what it is as what its interpretation is, for the one is as much the result of Divine influence as the other; and if men can hope for Divine help in the one case, why not in the other? As you cannot, therefore, recal the dream, it is plain that you cannot interpret it; and your only object in demanding to know it is, that you may ward off as long as possible the execution of the threatened sentence, and, if practicable, escape it altogether.” It is not improbable that what they said was more than the simple request recorded in Daniel 2:7. They would naturally enlarge on it, by attempting to show how unreasonable was the demand of the king in the case, and their arguments would give a fair pretext for what he here charges on them.

Because ye see the thing is gone from me - According to the interpretation proposed in Daniel 2:5, the “dream.” The meaning is, “You see that I have forgotten it. I have made a positive statement on that point. There can be no hope, therefore, that it can be recalled, and it is clear that your only object must be to gain time. Nothing can be gained by delay, and the matter may therefore be determined at once, and your conduct be construed as a confession that you cannot perform what is required, and the sentence proceed without delay.” This makes better sense, it seems to me, than to suppose that he means that a sentence had gone forth from him that if they could not recal and interpret it they should be put to death.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Daniel 2:8. That ye would gain the time — The king means either that they wished to prolong the time that he might recollect it, or get indifferent about it; or that they might invent something in the place of it; or make their escape to save their lives, after having packed up their valuables. See Daniel 2:9.