< Daniel 4 >
1 Nebukhadnezzar manghai loh namtu pilnam boeih neh olcom olcae neh, diklai pum kah khosa, khosa te, “Nangmih kah ngaimongnah he pungtai saeh.
[Several years after] Nebuchadnezzar [started to rule, he sent this message] to [the people of] every nation and people-group and all language groups in his empire. [He wrote, ] “I wish/hope that everything is going very well with you!
2 Khohni kah Khohni Pathen loh kai hamla miknoek neh khobae rhambae te a tueng sak tih kai taengah thui hamla a huem.
I want you to know about [all] the wonderful miracles [DOU] that the Supreme God has performed for me.
3 A miknoek te metluk lam lae boeilen tih amah khobae rhambae he metluk lam lae a tlungluen. A ram he kumhal kah ram tih a khohung khaw thawnpuei lamloh cadilcahma taengah om ni.
He performs great miracles, and does wonderful things. His kingdom will last forever; his rule [over people] will never end.
4 Kai Nebukhadnezzar tah ka im kah thayoei nen khaw, ka bawkim kah hnothen nen khaw ka om.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in my palace. I was living luxuriantly, and everything was going very well for me.
5 Mang ka man vaengah kai n'hihham tih ka thingkong dongah poeknah neh ka lu dongkah mangthui loh kai n'cahawh.
But one night I had a dream that caused me to be very afraid. I saw visions that terrified me as I lay on my bed.
6 Ka mang kah thuingaihnah te thui saeh tila Babylon hlang cueih boeih te kamah taengah khuen hamla kai lamloh saithainah a paek coeng.
So I summoned all the wise men in Babylon, in order that they would come and tell me what it meant.
7 Hmayuep rhoek, rhaitonghma rhoek, Khalden rhoek neh aisi aka suep khaw ha pai, ha pai vaengah mang he amih taengah ka thui dae a thuingaihnah te kai taengah a ming uh moenih.
All the men who worked magic, the fortune-tellers, the men who worked sorcery, and men who studied the stars came to me. I told them what I had dreamed, but they could not tell me what it meant.
8 Tedae a hnukkhueng la Daniel he kai taengla ha pai. Anih te ka pathen ming bangla Belteshazzar a ming nah. Anih tah a khuiah khaw Pathen Mueihla cim a om dongah a taengah mang ka thui pah.
Finally, Daniel came to me, and I [decided to] tell him what I had dreamed. One of my officials had given him a new name, Belteshazzar, to honor my own god. I knew that the spirit of the holy gods was in him.
9 Belteshazzar tah hmayuep boei pai ni. Na khui ah Pathen kah mueihla cim om tih oldung boeih khaw nang hamla kuel pawh tila ka ming. Ka mang ah mangthui ka hmuh tih a thuingaihnah khaw a thui.
So, [using the name that had been given to him], I said, ‘Belteshazzar, you are the most important of all my fortune-tellers. I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and that you can reveal all mysteries. There is none that is too difficult for you. So, tell me what my dream means.
10 Ka thingkong dongah ka lu kah mangthui ka hmuh. Te vaengah diklai laklung kah thing tah a sang khaw muep sang he.
This is what I dreamed while I was lying on my bed: I saw a large tree [growing] in the middle of the land.
11 Thing te rhoeng tih a hlul dongah a sang loh vaan duela a pha. Te dongah a mueimae he diklai pum kah khobawt duela tueng.
The tree was very strong and had grown very tall; [it seemed that] its top reached up to the sky, with the result that everyone in the world [HYP] could see it.
12 A hnah te then tih a thaih khaw yet. Te dongah a soah a cungkuem ham buh om tih a hmui ah kohong rhamsa loh hlipying uh. A bu dongah vaan kah vaa loh kho a sak tih te lamloh pumsa boeih a cah.
It had beautiful leaves, and it had produced a lot of fruit for people to eat. Wild animals rested in the shade of that tree, and birds built nests in its branches. All the living creatures everywhere in the world got food from that tree.
13 “Ka thingkong dongah ka lu dongkah mangthui ka hmuh tih ka om vaengah vaan lamkah thinghla cim tah ha rhum.
While I was still lying on my bed, I saw another vision. In the vision I saw a holy angel coming down from heaven.
14 Thadueng neh pang tih, ‘Thing te vung lamtah, a bu te saih pah, a hnah te hae pah lamtah a thaih haeh pah. A hmui lamkah rhamsa neh a bu dongkah vaa khaw nong saeh.
The angel shouted, “Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches! Strip/Shake off all of its leaves, and scatter its fruit. Chase away the animals that are lying in the shade of the tree, and the birds that are in its branches.
15 Tedae a yung a ngo tah diklai ah ngol saeh lamtah thi neh rhohum kah pinnah neh kohong baeldaih khui ah om saeh. Te dongah vaan kah buem loh saep saeh lamtah a hamsum rhamsa neh diklai baelhing lakli ah om saeh.
But leave the stump of the tree and its roots in the ground. Fasten a band of iron and bronze around the stump, and allow it to stay there with grass around it.”
16 Tekah hlang tah a thinko te hlang lamloh poehlip saeh lamtah anih te rhamsa thinko pae saeh. Te vaengah anih ham kum rhih thok pah saeh.
[That tree seems to have represented a man, because the angel also said], “Cause that man to live [out in the fields] among the animals and plants. Cause the dew from the sky to make his body damp [each morning]. Do not allow him to [continue to] have a mind like humans; instead, cause him to have a mind like animals have, for seven years.
17 He kong dongkah thinghla kah saithainah ol neh a cim olpaek oltloek rhangneh a sangkoek lakah a sangkoek loh hlang kah ram neh hlang khaw a hung te mulhing rhoek loh ming uh saeh. Te dongah te te a ngaih sarhui taengah a paek tih mathoe hlang rhoek te a so, a so ah a pai sak,’ a ti.
The holy angels have decided what must happen. They want to inform everyone that the Supreme God rules over all the kingdoms in this world. He is the one who chooses who will rule these kingdoms. He [sometimes] allows very unimportant people to become rulers.”
18 Kai manghai Nebukhadnezzar loh mang loh ka man he Belteshazzar nang, namah loh a thuingaihnah thui laeh. Te kong dongah ka ram kah hlang cueih boeih loh kai taengah a thuingaihnah thuicaih ham a noeng uh moenih. Nang, namah tah na khuikah Pathen mueihla cim rhangneh na noeng coeng,” a ti.
Belteshazzar, that is what I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw in my dream. Now tell me what the dream means. No one else can tell me. [I asked] all the very wise men in my kingdom [to tell me] what it means, [but they were unable to do that]. But you can [tell me], because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
19 Te dongah Belteshazzar aka ming nah Daniel tah khonoek pakhat khuiah hit sut. A poeknah loh amah a cahawh. Te dongah manghai loh a voek tih, “Belteshazzar, mang neh a thuingaihnah nang te let boeh,” a ti nah. Belteshazzar loh a doo tih, “Ka boeipa aw, ka boeipa na saeh, mang te na lunguet, na lunguet ham tih a thuingaihnah tah na rhal, na rhal ham ni.
I, whose [new] name was Belteshazzar, did not say anything for some time, [because] I was very worried/disturbed [about the meaning of the dream. Finally], the king said to me, “Belteshazzar, do not be afraid about the dream and about what it means.” I replied, “Sir, I wish that the events that were predicted in your dream would happen to your enemies, [and not to you].
20 Na hmuh bangla thing te rhoeng tih hlul. Te dongah a sang vaan duela a pha tih a mueimae te diklai pum ah tueng.
[In your dream/vision] you saw a very strong and very tall tree. It [seemed to] reach to the sky, [with the result that] everyone in the world could see it.
21 A hnah then tih a thaih yet. A soah a cungkuem ham buh om tih a hmui ah kohong rhamsa loh kho a sak. A bu dongah vaan kah vaa loh kho a sak.
It had beautiful leaves and it had produced a lot of fruit for people to eat. Wild animals rested in the shade of that tree, and birds built nests in its branches.
22 Manghai nang namah tah na rhoeng tih na hlul dongah na lennah khaw vaan a pha duela rhoeng na. Na khohung loh diklai khobawt duela a pha.
(Your majesty/O King), that tree [represents] you! You have become very powerful. [It is as though] your greatness reaches up to the sky, and you rule people all over the world.
23 Manghai aw, a tueng bangla, thinghla cim tah vaan lamloh rhum tih, ‘Thing te vung uh lamtah palet uh. A yung a ngo tah diklai ah hlun uh lamtah thi neh rhohum kah pinnah neh kohong baeldaih khuiah om saeh. Te vaengah vaan kah buem neh saep saeh lamtah anih te kum rhih a thok duela amah hamsum kohong rhamsa taengah om saeh,’ a ti.
[Then] you saw a holy angel coming down from heaven. That angel said, ‘Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches! Strip/Shake off all of its leaves, and scatter its fruit. But leave the stump of the tree and its roots in the ground. Fasten a band of iron and bronze around the stump and [allow it to stay there] with grass around it. [Each morning] cause the dew from the sky to make this man, [who was represented by the tree], damp. Cause him to live in the fields with the animals for seven years.’
24 Manghai aw a thuingaihnah he tah a sangkoek a sangkoek kah saithainah ni. He he ka boeipa neh ka boeipa manghai taengah pai coeng.
(Your Majesty/O King), that is what your dream means. That is what the Supreme God has declared will happen to you.
25 Nang te hlang taeng lamloh m'vai uh vetih kohong rhamsa taengah ni na khosaknah a om eh. Baelhing te vaito bangla na caak vetih vaan kah buem neh nang te n'saep ni. A sangkoek kah a sangkoek loh hlang kah ram soah a hung tih te te a ngaih sarhui taengah a paek tila na ming hil nang hamla kum rhih thok ni.
[Your advisors] will force you to live away from other people. You will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cows do, and dew from the sky will cause your [body] to be damp/wet [every morning]. You will live that way for seven years, until you learn that it is the Supreme God who rules over the kingdoms of the world, and he appoints the ones whom he chooses [to rule them].
26 Thing kah a yung a ngo hlun ham a thui bangla vaan aka hung te na ming van lamloh na ram te namah taengla cak ni.
But the stump of the tree and its roots were left [in the ground]. That means that you will rule your kingdom again when you learn that it is God [MTY] who is [really] the ruler.
27 Te dongah manghai aw, kai poeknah he namah taengah na doe mai mako. Na tholhnah te duengnah neh phaeh lamtah hlanghnaem pataek na rhen nen te na halangnah hnawt laeh. Na ommongnah te a congnah a om khaming,” a ti nah.
(Your Majesty/O King), please do what I am telling you to do. Stop sinning, and do what is right. Turn away from your evil behavior. Act mercifully to poor people. If you do that, perhaps you will continue to be sucessful.”
28 Te boeih te Nebukhadnezzar manghai taengah a pai pah.
But [the king refused to stop sinning. So what was predicted in the dream is] what happened to him.
29 Hla hlai nit a bawtnah dongah tah Babylon ram kah bawkim ah om tih pongpa.
Twelve months later, [one day] he was walking [on the flat roof] of his palace in Babylon.
30 Te vaengah manghai te cal tih, “Babylon he a boeilen moenih a? He te kai loh ka thadueng sarhi neh kamah kah hinyahnah, thangpomnah ham ram kah im la ka sak,” a ti.
As he [looked out over/across the city], he said [to those around him], “I have built this great [city of] Babylon to be the place where I rule! I have built it to display my own power, in order [to show people] my glory, to show them that I am very great!”
31 Manghai ka dongah ol a cal li vaengah vaan lamkah ol cet tih, “Manghai Nebukhadnezzar nang hamla a thui tih ram he nang lamloh nong coeng.
While he was still saying this, God [MTY] spoke from heaven and said, “King Nebuchadnezzar, this is what I am saying to you: You are no longer the ruler of this kingdom!
32 Nang te hlang taeng lamloh m'vai coeng tih na khosaknah he kohong rhamsa nen ni a om. Nang te vaito bangla rham n'cah vetih a sangkoek kah a sangkoek loh hlang kah ram soah a hung tih te te a ngaih taengah a paek tila na ming hil nang hamla kum rhih thok ni,” a ti nah.
[Your advisors] will force you to live away from [other] people. You will live in the fields with wild animals, and you will eat grass like cows do. You will live that way for seven years, until you learn that [it is] I, the Supreme God, who rules over the kingdoms of this world, and I appoint the ones whom I have chosen to rule them.”
33 Amah ol a bangli vaengah Nebukhadnezzar soah a pha tih hlang taeng lamloh a vai uh. Te vaengah vaito bangla rham a caak tih a sam te atha bangla, a kuttin te vaa bangla a saii hil a pum te vaan kah buem loh a saep.
Immediately what [God] predicted happened. Nebuchadnezzar [became insane, so his advisors] forced him to live away from other people. He ate grass like cows [do], and dew from the sky caused his body to be damp/wet [every morning. He lived like that] until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers, and his fingernails became like birds’ claws.
34 A tue bawtnah dongah tah, kai Nebukhadnezzar loh ka mik he vaan la ka huel hatah ka mingnah he ka taengla ha mael. Te dongah a sangkoek Khohni te ka koeh tih kumhal kah mulhing te ka oep tih ka hinyah nah. A khohung te dungyan kah khohung tih a ram kah thawnpuei lamloh cadilcahma duela cak.
“After those [seven] years ended, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven, [and I acknowledged that what God said was true]. Then I could think correctly again. I praised and worshiped the Supreme God, and I honored him, the one who lives forever. He rules forever; his kingdom will never end.
35 Diklai khosa, khosa boeih tah aka om pawt bangla a ngai tih diklai khosa, khosa rhoek te vaan thadueng neh a ngaih bangla a saii. A kut te aka doek pa tih a taengah “Balae na saii?” aka ti nah te a om moenih.
All the people in the world are very insignificant; we are not like him. He has the power to do whatever he wants to do, among the angels in heaven and among us people who live on the earth. [So] no one can stop him [SYN], and no one can [challenge him], saying to him, ‘Why [are you doing these things]?’
36 Ka mingnah loh ka taengah a mael tue vaengah, ka ram kah thangpomnah, kai hinyahnah neh ka aa ka taengla ha mael. Kai he ka olrhoep neh ka boei ka na rhoek loh n'toem uh. Ka ram he pai tih lennah kai taengah muep a thap.
When I was able to think correctly again, I was honored again, and I [was able to] rule my glorious/great kingdom again. My advisors came to me again [to talk about what should be done], and I became greater and more powerful than I was before.
37 Kai Nebukhadnezzar tah n'oep tih m'pacuet coeng. Te dongah vaan kah manghai tah hinyah pai saeh. A bibi boeih he oltak tih a longpuei khaw tiktam. Te dongah koevoeinah neh aka pongpa te kunyun sak ham a noeng.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and honor [DOU] [God], the king who rules in heaven. All of his actions are just and right. And he is able to cause to become humble those who are proud, [like I was].”