但以理書 4
1 尼布甲尼撒王曉諭住在全地各方、各國、各族的人說：「願你們大享平安！
King Nebuchadnezzar, to people of every nation and language in the whole world: I wish you well!
2 我樂意將至高的上帝向我所行的神蹟奇事宣揚出來。
It is my pleasure to share with you an account of the signs and wonders the Most High God has done for me.
3 他的神蹟何其大！ 他的奇事何其盛！ 他的國是永遠的； 他的權柄存到萬代！
His signs are incredible. His wonders are amazing! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and his rule will last for all generations!
4 「我－尼布甲尼撒安居在宮中，平順在殿內。
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was doing well at home, living happily in my palace.
5 我做了一夢，使我懼怕。我在床上的思念，並腦中的異象，使我驚惶。
But then one night I had a dream that really scared me—I saw visions that terrified me while I lay in my bed.
6 所以我降旨召巴比倫的一切哲士到我面前，叫他們把夢的講解告訴我。
So I ordered all the wise men of Babylon brought before me to explain the dream to me.
7 於是那些術士、用法術的、迦勒底人、觀兆的都進來，我將那夢告訴了他們，他們卻不能把夢的講解告訴我。
When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in I told them the dream, but they couldn't explain to me what it meant.
8 末後那照我神的名，稱為伯提沙撒的但以理來到我面前，他裏頭有聖神的靈，我將夢告訴他說：
In the end Daniel came before me and I told him the dream. (He is also called Belteshazzar after my god, and he has the spirit of the holy gods in him.)
9 『術士的領袖伯提沙撒啊，因我知道你裏頭有聖神的靈，甚麼奧祕的事都不能使你為難。現在要把我夢中所見的異象和夢的講解告訴我。』
“Belteshazzar, chief of magicians,” I said, “I certainly know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is difficult for you to explain. So tell me about what I saw in my dream and explain what it means.
10 「我在床上腦中的異象是這樣：我看見地當中有一棵樹，極其高大。
As I lay in bed dreaming, I saw a tree in the middle of the earth—a really large tree.
11 那樹漸長，而且堅固，高得頂天，從地極都能看見，
It grew strong and tall, reaching high into the sky so it could be seen by everyone in the whole world.
12 葉子華美，果子甚多，可作眾生的食物；田野的走獸臥在蔭下，天空的飛鳥宿在枝上；凡有血氣的都從這樹得食。
Its leaves were beautiful, and it was full of fruit for all to eat. Wild animals rested in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. It fed all living creatures.
13 「我在床上腦中的異象，見有一位守望的聖者從天而降。
As I went on dreaming, lying on my bed, I saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
14 大聲呼叫說：『伐倒這樹！砍下枝子！搖掉葉子！拋散果子！使走獸離開樹下，飛鳥躲開樹枝。
He cried out in a loud voice, ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Drive the animals away from its shade, and scare off the birds from its branches.
15 樹墩卻要留在地內，用鐵圈和銅圈箍住，在田野的青草中讓天露滴濕，使他與地上的獸一同吃草，
But leave the stump and its roots in the ground, and bind it with iron and bronze, surrounded by the new grass of the field. Let him become soaked with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals outside in the undergrowth.
16 使他的心改變，不如人心，給他一個獸心，使他經過七期。
Let his mind become like that of an animal. Let him be like this for seven times.
17 這是守望者所發的命，聖者所出的令，好叫世人知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜與誰就賜與誰，或立極卑微的人執掌國權。』
This is the decree conveyed by the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones in order that everyone alive may know that the Most High rules over human kingdoms. He gives them to whoever he chooses—he puts the most humble individuals in charge.’
18 「這是我－尼布甲尼撒王所做的夢。伯提沙撒啊，你要說明這夢的講解；因為我國中的一切哲士都不能將夢的講解告訴我，惟獨你能，因你裏頭有聖神的靈。」
This is what I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw in my dream. Now it's up to you, Belteshazzar, to give me the explanation as you have before. None of the wise men in my kingdom could explain it to me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
19 於是稱為伯提沙撒的但以理驚訝片時，心意驚惶。王說：「伯提沙撒啊，不要因夢和夢的講解驚惶。」伯提沙撒回答說：「我主啊，願這夢歸與恨惡你的人，講解歸與你的敵人。
When Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) heard this, he was upset for a while, disturbed as he thought about it. The king told him, “Belteshazzar, don't be worried about the dream and what it means.” “My lord, I only wish this dream was for those who hate you and the explanation for your enemies,” Daniel replied.
20 你所見的樹漸長，而且堅固，高得頂天，從地極都能看見；
“The tree you saw was growing strong and tall, reaching high into the sky so it could be seen by everyone in the whole world.
21 葉子華美，果子甚多，可作眾生的食物；田野的走獸住在其下；天空的飛鳥宿在枝上。
Its leaves were beautiful, and it was full of fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived under its shade, and birds nested in its branches.
22 「王啊，這漸長又堅固的樹就是你。你的威勢漸長及天，你的權柄管到地極。
This is you, Your Majesty. You have grown strong, your power has become so great that it has reached high into the sky, and your rule extends to the ends of the earth.
23 王既看見一位守望的聖者從天而降，說：『將這樹砍伐毀壞，樹墩卻要留在地內，用鐵圈和銅圈箍住；在田野的青草中，讓天露滴濕，使他與地上的獸一同吃草，直到經過七期。』
Then Your Majesty saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven who said, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump and its roots in the ground, and bind it with iron and bronze, surrounded by the new grass of the field. Let him become soaked with the dew of heaven and let him live with the animals outside in the undergrowth. Let his mind become like that of an animal. Let him be like this for seven times.’
24 「王啊，講解就是這樣：臨到我主我王的事是出於至高者的命。
This is what it means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has decreed will happen to my lord the king.
25 你必被趕出離開世人，與野地的獸同居，吃草如牛，被天露滴濕，且要經過七期。等你知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜與誰就賜與誰。
You will be driven away from human society and you will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like the cattle, and you will be soaked with the dew of heaven. You will be like this for seven times until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over human kingdoms, and that he gives them to those he chooses.
26 守望者既吩咐存留樹墩，等你知道諸天掌權，以後你的國必定歸你。
However, as it was decreed, the stump and its roots were to be left in the ground. Your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
27 王啊，求你悅納我的諫言，以施行公義斷絕罪過，以憐憫窮人除掉罪孽，或者你的平安可以延長。」
So, Your Majesty, please take my advice. Stop sinning and do what's right. End your iniquities and be merciful to the oppressed. Maybe then things will continue to go well for you.”
28 這事都臨到尼布甲尼撒王。
(However, all this did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 過了十二個月，他遊行在巴比倫王宮裏。
Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon.
30 他說：「這大巴比倫不是我用大能大力建為京都，要顯我威嚴的榮耀嗎？」
He said, “I was the one who built this great city of Babylon! By my own great power I built it as my royal residence for my majestic glory!”
31 這話在王口中尚未說完，有聲音從天降下，說：「尼布甲尼撒王啊，有話對你說，你的國位離開你了。
The words were still on the king's lips when a voice came from heaven, “King Nebuchadnezzar, this is what is decreed concerning you: the kingdom has been taken away from you.
32 你必被趕出離開世人，與野地的獸同居，吃草如牛，且要經過七期。等你知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜與誰就賜與誰。」
You will be driven away from human society and you will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like the cattle, and you will become soaked with the dew of heaven. You will be like this for seven times until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over human kingdoms, and that he gives them to whoever he chooses.”
33 當時這話就應驗在尼布甲尼撒的身上，他被趕出離開世人，吃草如牛，身被天露滴濕，頭髮長長，好像鷹毛；指甲長長，如同鳥爪。
Immediately the decree was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from human society. He ate grass like the cattle, and his body was soaked with the dew of heaven. His hair grew matted like a vulture, and his nails like bird claws.)
34 日子滿足，我－尼布甲尼撒舉目望天，我的聰明復歸於我，我便稱頌至高者，讚美尊敬活到永遠的上帝。 他的權柄是永有的； 他的國存到萬代。
Once the time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven and my sanity returned to me. I blessed and praised the Most High and worshiped the One who lives forever. His rule is an eternal rule, and his kingdom lasts for all generations.
35 世上所有的居民都算為虛無； 在天上的萬軍和世上的居民中， 他都憑自己的意旨行事。 無人能攔住他手， 或問他說，你做甚麼呢？
Everyone who lives on earth are as nothing compared to him. He does whatever he chooses among the heavenly host and among those who live on earth. No one can hold him back from what he does, or ask him, “What are you doing?”
36 那時，我的聰明復歸於我，為我國的榮耀、威嚴，和光耀也都復歸於我；並且我的謀士和大臣也來朝見我。我又得堅立在國位上，至大的權柄加增於我。
When my sanity returned, then my kingdom, majesty, and splendor also returned to me. My advisors and nobles came looking for me, and I was restored as ruler over my kingdom, even greater than before.
37 現在我－尼布甲尼撒讚美、尊崇、恭敬天上的王；因為他所做的全都誠實，他所行的也都公平。那行動驕傲的，他能降為卑。
So now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, honor, and glorify the King of Heaven, for everything he does is right, and his ways are true. He is able to humble those who are proud.
