New King James Version
Daniel 4:27
27Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
Daniel 4:27 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
- New International Version (NIV)Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."
- New Living Translation (NLT)“‘King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.’
Context of Daniel 4:27
25They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. 26“And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.” 28All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.
Read all of Daniel 4Daniel 4:27 word by word
לָהֵ֣ן מַלְכָּ֗א מִלְכִּי֙ יִשְׁפַּ֣ר עֲלָ֔ךְ וַחֲטָאָךְ֙ בְּצִדְקָ֣ה פְרֻ֔ק וַעֲוָיָתָ֖ךְ בְּמִחַ֣ן עֲנָ֑יִן הֵ֛ן תֶּהֱוֵ֥א אַרְכָ֖ה לִשְׁלֵוְתָֽךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whereforeלָהֵןlâhên · exceptH3861
- O kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- let my counselמְלֵךְmelak · counselH4431
- be acceptableשְׁפַרshephar · to acceptableH8232
- unto theeעַל‛al · uponH5922
- and break offפְּרַקperaq · to breakH6562
- thy sinsחֲטָיchăţîy · sinH2408
- by righteousnessצִדְקָהtsidqâh · righteousnessH6665
- and thine iniquitiesעֲוָיָה‛ivyâ' · iniquityH5758
- by shewing mercyחֲנַןchănan · be graciousH2604
- to the poorעֲנָי‛ănâh · poorH6033
- ifהֵןhên · ifH2006
- it may beהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
- a lengtheningאַרְכָֿא'arkâ' 'arkâh · lengtheningH754
- of thy tranquillityשְׁלֵוָהshelêvâh · easeH7963
Cross-references for Daniel 4:27
- Genesis 41:33“Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
- Psalms 119:46I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.
- Acts 24:25Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:11Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
- Job 34:31“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more;
- Proverbs 16:6In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
- Proverbs 28:13He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
- Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
- Ezekiel 18:21“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
- Matthew 3:8Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
- Acts 8:22Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
- Acts 26:20but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
- James 4:8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- 1 Peter 4:8And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
- Psalms 41:1Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
- Isaiah 58:5Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord?
Commentaries on Daniel 4:27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27Break off thy sins by righteousness - Do justice. Thou hast been an oppressive man; show mercy to the poor, many of whom have been made such by thyself: witness the whole nation of the Jews. He was to cease from his sins - repent and bring forth fruits meet for repentance, in order that he might find mercy at the hand of God.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee - Daniel was permitted to see not only the fact that this calamity impended over the king, but the cause of it, and as that cause was his proud and sinful heart, he supposed that the judgment might be averted if the king would reform his life. If the “cause” were removed, he inferred, not unreasonably, that there was a hope that the calamity might be avoided. We cannot but admire here the boldness…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-27Verses 19-27 Daniel was struck with amazement and terror at so heavy a judgment coming upon so great a prince, and gives advice with tenderness and respect. It is necessary, in repentance, that we not only cease to do evil, but learn to do good. Though it might not wholly prevent the judgment, yet the trouble may be longer before it comes, or shorter when it does come. And everlasting misery will be escaped by all who repent and turn to God.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27Break away from your sins by doing what is right: Righteousness and justice make a nation strong and help keep a king’s rule stable. When righteousness and justice are missing, a nation will fall. Daniel humbly pleaded with the king to change his ways. showing mercy to the oppressed: This was required by God's law (Exodus 23:6–11; Deuteronomy 15:10–11; Proverbs 29:14; 31:9) and Babylon's. Hammurabi was a former great king of Babylon. He ruled from about…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2727. break off--as a galling yoke (Ge 27:40); sin is a heavy load (Mt 11:28). The Septuagint and Vulgate translate not so well, "redeem," which is made an argument for Rome's doctrine of the expiation of sins by meritorious works. Even translate it so, it can only mean; Repent and show the reality of thy repentance by works of justice and charity (compare Lu 11:41); so God will remit thy punishment. The trouble will be longer before it comes, or shorter…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 4:27
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Daniel 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries