Daniel’s Thanksgiving for Enlightenment

Daniel 2:19–23

6th–2nd Century BCE

About This Entry

In the second chapter of the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar has a distressing dream that his magicians are unable to interpret. God reveals the meaning of the dream to Daniel in a night vision, and Daniel responds with a hymn thanking God for the gift of wisdom.

¹⁹Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

²⁰Daniel said:

“Blessed be the name of God from age to age,

for wisdom and power are his.

²¹He changes times and seasons,

deposes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding.

²²He reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what is in the darkness,

and light dwells with him.

²³To you, O God of my ancestors,

I give thanks and praise,

for you have given me wisdom and power,

and have now revealed to me what we asked of you,

for you have revealed to us what the king ordered.”

Translation from the New Revised Standard Version.

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Credits

New Revised Standard Version Bible copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.