< 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!
Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied to you.
2 我樂意將至高的上帝向我所行的神蹟奇事宣揚出來。
I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God has worked toward 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!
How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, and flourishing 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。
I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
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。
Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
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。
Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me the interpretation thereof.
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:
But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
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。』
O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
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。
Thus were the visions of my head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the middle of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 那樹漸長,而且堅固,高得頂天,從地極都能看見,
The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached to heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
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。
The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelled in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13 「我在床上腦中的異象,見有一位守望的聖者從天而降。
I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came 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 aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his 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,
Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
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 heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him.
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 matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men.
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 dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now you, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, for as much as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation: but you are able; for 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。
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble you. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate you, and the interpretation thereof to your enemies.
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 that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
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。
Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelled, and on whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
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。
It is you, O king, that are grown and become strong: for your greatness is grown, and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the end 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。』
And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
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 the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come on 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。
That they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you to eat grass as oxen, and 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 whomsoever he will.
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。
And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.
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。」
Why, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of your tranquility.
All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar.
At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of 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?」
The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?
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。
While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken; The kingdom is departed 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。」
And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make you to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will.
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。
The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ 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。
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that lives for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
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?
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say to him, What do you?
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。
At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and brightness returned to me; and my counsellors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.
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。
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.