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.
Ver. 27. Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee.] Happy was Nebuchadnezzar in such a faithful counsellor at hand to advise him; more happy than his successors Cyrus and Cambyses were in Croesus, King of Lydia, who yet more enriched them by his counsel than by all the wealth they had from him. But Nebuchadnezzar was as yet uncounsellable, till God had tamed and humbled him.
Break off thy sins by righteousness.] Be abrupt in the work, for delays are dangerous; Hebrews 3:7 ; Heb 3:13 cut the cart ropes of vanity as soon as may be, lest they pull down upon us heaviest judgments. For the diversion of God's anger, get sin removed: a take the bark from the tree, and the sap can never find the way to the boughs.
And thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor.] Nebuchadnezzar had been an open oppressor, Daniel therefore preacheth unto him of righteousness and mercy. So Paul discoursed of "righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment to come" Act 24:25 before Felix (who was inexplebilis gurges, saith Tacitus, a covetous wretch) and Drusilla, a filthy adulteress. Let this be a mirror for ministers.
If it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.] An futura sit prorogatio. Et sane fuit aliqua prorogatio, nempe per annum. Repentance ever findeth favour, yea, the very shadow of it, as in Ahab. 1Ki 21:29 Jerome thinks it probable that Nebuchadnezzar did for a time as Daniel had advised him, and had therefore for a temporary repentance a temporary tranquillity. Chrysostom's note upon this text is, Prolata est sententia ut non fiat. God is iudex liber, non iuratus, as Zanchy saith well, he punisheth as he pleaseth.
a Anticipa iudicium eius vera rescipiscentia. - Jun.