¹ tc The MT lacks the conjunction, reading the first word in the phrase as a construct (“wisdom of insight”). While this reading is not impossible, it seems better to follow Theodotion, the Syriac, the Vulgate, and the Sahidic Coptic, all of which have the conjunction.

² tn Heb “hands.”

³ tn Aram “your thoughts upon your bed went up to what will be after this.”

⁴ tc The LXX and Theodotion lack the words “that Nebuchadnezzar had erected.”

⁵ tn Aram “caused to go up.”

⁶ tn The Aramaic verb is active.

⁷ tn Aram “the flame of the fire” (so KJV, ASV, NASB); NRSV “the raging flames.”

⁸ tn Aram “in the mouth of the king.”

⁹ tn Aram “to you they say.”

¹⁰ tn Aram “and behold.”

¹¹ sn The three ribs held securely in the mouth of the bear, perhaps representing Media-Persia, apparently symbolize military conquest, but the exact identity of the “ribs” is not clear. Possibly it is a reference to the Persian conquest of Lydia, Egypt, and Babylonia.

¹² tc The LXX lacks the phrase “between its teeth.”

¹³ tn Aram “and thus they were saying to it.”

¹⁴ tn Some take “serving” here in the sense of “worshiping.”

¹⁵ tn Aram “is an eternal authority which will not pass away.”

¹⁶ tn Aram “is one which will not be destroyed.”

¹⁷ tn Heb “lifted my eyes.”

¹⁸ tn Heb “and behold.”

¹⁹ tn Heb “one.” The Hebrew numerical adjective occasionally functions like an English indefinite article. See GKC 401 §125.b.

²⁰ tn Heb “high” (also “higher” later in this verse).

²¹ tn Heb “he has fulfilled his word(s) which he spoke.”

²² tn Heb “our judges.”

²³ tn Heb “who judged.”

²⁴ tn The Hebrew word translated “yellow jasper” is תַּרשִׁישׁ (tarshish); it appears to be a semiprecious stone, but its exact identity is somewhat uncertain. It may be the yellow jasper, although this is conjectural. Cf. NAB, NIV “chrysolite”; NASB, NRSV “beryl.”

²⁵ tn Heb “torches of fire.”

²⁶ tn Heb “The sound of his words” (cf. v. 9).