但以理書 4
1 拿步高王詔告居於普世的各民族，各邦國及各異語人民說：「願平安豐富地賜予你們!
[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 至高天主對我所行的神蹟奇事，我以為最好宣布出來。
I want you to know about [all] the wonderful miracles [DOU] that the Supreme God has performed for me.
3 他的神蹟何其偉大，他的奇事何其可畏! 他的王國是永遠的王國，他的主權世世常存!
He performs great miracles, and does wonderful things. His kingdom will last forever; his rule [over people] will never end.
4 我拿步高安居在家中，在宮內行樂的時候，
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in my palace. I was living luxuriantly, and everything was going very well for me.
5 忽然做了一夢，這夢使我害怕；我當時在床上所有的幻想，腦中所有的異象，使我心慌意亂，
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 遂下了一道諭令，召巴比倫所有的智者到我面前來，給我解說那夢的意義。
So I summoned all the wise men in Babylon, in order that they would come and tell me what it meant.
7 巫師、術士、占星者、占卜者都來了，我當面給他們說出了那夢，但他們卻不能給我解說那夢的意義。
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 最後，達尼爾來到我面前，－他按我神的名字，起名叫貝耳特沙匝，這人身上具有至聖神明的精神；我給他講述夢說：「
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 巫師長貝耳特沙匝! 我知道你這個人具有至聖神明的精神，沒有什麼奧秘可以難住你，請聽我夢中所見的異象，給我一個解釋：
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 我在床上腦中所有的異象是這樣：我忽然看見從地中生出一棵樹來，極其高大。
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 這棵樹長的非常粗壯，高可摩天，大地四極都可見到；
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 樹葉美麗，果實繁多，足以供養一切生靈，田野的走獸安息在它的蔭下，空中的飛鳥棲息在它的枝杈上，一切生物都由它獲得供養。
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 我在床上，在我腦海所得的異象中，我看見有一位守衛兼聖者自天降下，
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 他大聲呼喊說：砍倒這棵樹，砍斷它的枝條，搖落它的葉子，打下它的果實，叫走獸離開它下面，叫飛鳥飛離它的枝杈，
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 但在地上只留下它根上的餘幹，用鐵索和銅鏈將它捆住，放在田野的青草，
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 使他的心改變不像人心，給他一個獸心，在他身上要這樣經歷七段時期。
[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 這是守衛者宣布的定案，這是聖者所出的命令，好使眾生知道：是至高者統治世人的國家，他將國權願意給誰，就給誰；他可以將人間最卑賤的立為最高者。
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 這是我拿步高王所做的夢。現在，貝耳特沙匝! 請你給我說出這夢的意義，因為我國內所有的智者，都不能使我知道這夢的意義，只有你能，因為只有你具有至聖神明的精神。
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 名叫貝特沙匝的達尼爾，一時愕然，他想像的事，使他恐懼；君王於是說道：「貝耳特沙匝! 不要為這夢和這夢的意義心亂! 」貝耳特沙匝回答說：「我的主上! 願這夢應驗在仇恨你的人身上，願這夢的朕兆應驗在你的敵人身上!
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 你所見的那棵樹，長的非常粗大，高可摩天，大地四極都可見到，
[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 樹葉美麗，果實繁多，足以供養一切生靈，田野的走獸安息在它的蔭下，空中的飛鳥棲息在它的枝條上。
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 大王! 那樹就是你，你長得高大強壯，你的偉大高可摩天，你的權勢達於地極。
(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 至於大王所見的那位警衛兼聖者自天降下說：砍倒、毀滅這棵樹! 只在地上留下它根子的餘幹，用鐵索和銅鏈將它捆住，放在田野的青草中，讓他為露水浸濕，與田野的走獸分食，這樣在他身上直到經歷了七段時期。－
[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 大王! 這是那夢的意義，這是要臨到我主，大王身上的至高者的判決：
(Your Majesty/O King), that is what your dream means. That is what the Supreme God has declared will happen to you.
25 你將由人間被驅逐，與田野的走獸為伍，你吃草如同牛一樣，為露水浸濕，要這樣經歷七段時期，直到你承認至高者統治世人的國度，願意給誰，就給誰。
[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 至於所說在地中只留下樹根的餘幹，是說到你承認上天統治一切時，你的國仍再歸於你。
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 為此，大王! 望你接納我的勸告：厲行正義，補贖罪過，憐貧濟困，以抵償不義；如此你的福樂或許可得延長。」
(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 這一切都臨在拿步高王身上：
But [the king refused to stop sinning. So what was predicted in the dream is] what happened to him.
29 十二個月以後，王在巴比倫王宮的樓台上散步時，
Twelve months later, [one day] he was walking [on the flat roof] of his palace in Babylon.
30 自言自語說：「這不是我以大能大力，為彰顯我的威榮而建為王都的大巴比倫嗎﹖」
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 這些話君王還未說出口，便有聲音從天上傳來說：「拿步高王! 現在有話告訴你：你的王位已被人奪去了!
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 你要由人間被驅逐，與田野的走獸為伍，你要吃草如同牛一樣，這樣，在你身上經歷七段時期，直到你承認至高者統治世人的國度，他願意給誰，就給誰。」
[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 這話立即在拿步高身上應驗了：他被逐離開了人群，吃草如同牛一樣，他的身體為露水浸濕，直報他的頭髮長得有如鷹的羽翼，指甲有如鳥的爪子。
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 這期限過了以後，我拿步高舉目望天，我的理智恢復了常態，我立刻稱謝至高者，讚美頌揚永生者，因為他的主權永遠常存，他的王國世世常在。
“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 地上的一切居民為他等於虛無，他對天上的軍旅和地上的居民隨意而行，沒有能阻止他的，或問他說：你作什麼﹖
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 就在那一時刻，我的理智恢復了常態，恢復了我王國的光榮，仍享威嚴富貴，我的朝臣和大官仍前來求見；我的國又歸我所有，並且也給我增加了極大的權勢。
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 現在，我拿步高要稱頌、讚揚和光榮天上的君王，因為他的一切作為是真理，他的到路是正義；凡行動傲慢的，他都能壓伏。」
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].”
