Daniel 4
1 Rong Nebukadnezar til alle Folk, Stammer og Tungemaal, som bo paa den ganske Jord: Eders Fred være mangfoldig!
[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 Det behager mig at forkynde de Tegn og de underfulde Gerninger, som den højeste Gud har gjort imod mig;
I want you to know about [all] the wonderful miracles [DOU] that the Supreme God has performed for me.
3 Hans Tegn — hvor store! og hans underfulde Gerninger — hvor mægtige! hans Rige er et evigt Rige og hans Herredømme fra Slægt til Slægt!
He performs great miracles, and does wonderful things. His kingdom will last forever; his rule [over people] will never end.
4 Jeg Nebukadnezar var tryg i mit Hus og livsfrisk i mit Palads.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in my palace. I was living luxuriantly, and everything was going very well for me.
5 Jeg saa en Drøm, og den forfærdede mig, og Tanker paa mit Leje og mit Hoveds Syner forvirrede mig.
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 Derfor blev givet Befaling af mig, at man skulde føre alle vise i Babel ind for mig, for at de skulde kundgøre mig Drømmens Udtydning.
So I summoned all the wise men in Babylon, in order that they would come and tell me what it meant.
7 Da kom Spaamændene, Besværgerne, Kaldæerne og Sandsigerne ind; og jeg sagde dem Drømmen, men de kunde ikke kundgøre mig Udtydningen derpaa.
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 Men til sidst kom Daniel, som kaldes Beltsazar efter min Guds Navn, og i hvem de hellige Guders Aand er, ind for mig; og jeg sagde ham Drømmen.
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 Beltsazar, du Øverste for Spaamændene! efterdi jeg ved, at de hellige Guders Aand er i dig, og at ingen Hemmelighed er dig vanskelig: Sig mig Synerne i min Drøm, som jeg saa, og Udtydningen derpaa.
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 Og mit Hoveds Syner paa mit Leje vare: Jeg saa og se, der var et Træ midt i Landet, og det var meget højt.
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 Træet blev stort og stærkt, og dets Højde rakte til Himmelen, og man kunde se det indtil hele Jordens Ende.
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 Løvet derpaa var dejligt, og der var megen Frugt derpaa, og der var Føde for alt, som var derpaa; under det fandt Dyrene paa Marken Skygge, og i Grenene derpaa boede Himmelens Fugle, og alt Kød nærede sig deraf.
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 Jeg saa i mit Hoveds Syner paa mit Leje, og se, en Vægter, det er en hellig, for ned fra Himmelen.
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 Han raabte med Vælde og sagde saaledes: Hugger Træet om og afhugger dets Grene, afriver dets Løv og spreder dets Frugt; Dyrene flygte fra dets Læ og Fuglene fra dets Grene!
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 Dog lader Stubben med dens Rødder blive tilbage i Jorden, men i Baand af Jern og Kobber, i Markens Græs; og lad ham vædes med Himmelens Dug, og hans Del være med Dyrene af Urterne paa Jorden!
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 Hans Hjerte skal forandres, saa at det ikke er et Menneskes, og et Dyrs Hjerte skal gives ham; og syv Tider skulle omskiftes over ham.
[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 Tingen er i Vægternes besluttede Raad, og Sagen er de helliges Befaling, paa det de, som leve, kunne kende, at den Højeste har Magt over Menneskens Rige og giver det til hvem, han vil, og ophøjer den ringe iblandt Menneskene over det.
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 Denne Drøm saa jeg, Kong Nebukadnezar; men du, Beltsazar! sig Udtydningen, efterdi alle vise i mit Rige ikke kunne kundgøre Udtydningen, men du kan det, fordi de hellige Guders Aand er i dig.
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 Da stod Daniel, hvis Navn er Beltsazar, en Stund forskrækket, og hans Tanker forfærdede ham; men Kongen svarede og sagde: Beltsazar! lad Drømmen og Udtydningen ikke forfærde dig; Beltsazar svarede og sagde: Min Herre! Drømmen gælde dine Hadere og dens Udtydning dine Fjender!
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 Træet, som du saa, og som blev stort og stærkt, og hvis Højde rakte til Himmelen, og som saas over al Jorden,
[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 og hvorpaa der var dejligt Løv og megen Frugt og Føde for alt, som var derpaa, under hvilket Dyrene paa Marken boede, og i hvis Grene Himmelens Fugle byggede:
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 Dette er dig selv, o Konge! i thi du er bleven stor og stærk; og din Magt er bleven stor og rækker til Himmelen og dit Herredømme til Jordens Ende.
(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 Men at Kongen saa en Vægter, det er en hellig, fare ned fra Himmelen og sige: Hugger Træet om og ødelægger det, dog lader Stubben med dens Rødder blive tilbage i Jorden, men i Baand af Jern og Kobber, i Markens Græs; og lad ham vædes af Himmelens Dug og hans Del være med Dyrene paa Marken, indtil syv Tider omskiftes over ham,
[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 da er dette Udtydningen, o Konge! og dette er den Højestes besluttede Raad, som skal komme over min Herre, Kongen:
(Your Majesty/O King), that is what your dream means. That is what the Supreme God has declared will happen to you.
25 Nemlig, man skal støde dig ud fra Folk, og din Bolig skal være hos Dyrene paa Marken, og man skal lade dig æde Urter som Øksne og vædes af Himmelens Dug, og syv Tider skulle omskiftes over dig, indtil du kender, at den Højeste har Magt over Menneskens Rige og giver det til, hvem han vil.
[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 Men at der sagdes: Man skulde lade Træets Stub med dens Rødder blive tilbage, det betyder, at dit Rige skal overdrages dig igen fra den Tid, du erkender, at Himlene ere mægtige.
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 Derfor, o Konge! lad mit Raad behage dig, og afbryd dine Synder ved Retfærdighed og dine Misgerninger ved Barmhjertighed imod de elendige, dersom din Fred skal have Varighed.
(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 Alt dette kom over Kong Nebukadnezar.
But [the king refused to stop sinning. So what was predicted in the dream is] what happened to him.
29 Der tolv Maaneder vare til Ende, gik han omkring paa det kongelige Palads i Babel.
Twelve months later, [one day] he was walking [on the flat roof] of his palace in Babylon.
30 Kongen svarede og sagde: Er dette ikke det store Babel, som jeg har bygget til et kongeligt Hus ved min Styrkes Magt og til min Herligheds Ære?
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 Da Ordet endnu var i Kongens Mund, faldt der en Røst af Himmelen: Det være dig sagt, Kong Nebukadnezar! Riget er gaaet bort fra dig.
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 Og man skal støde dig ud fra Folk, og din Bolig skal være hos Dyrene paa Marken, man skal lade dig æde Urter som Øksne, og syv Tider skulle omskiftes over dig, indtil du kender, at den Højeste har Magt over Menneskens Rige og giver det til, hvem han vil.
[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 I samme Stund gik Ordet i Opfyldelse over Nebukadnezar, og han blev udstødt fra Menneskene og aad Urter som Øksne, og hans Legeme blev vædet af Himmelens Dug, indtil hans Haar voksede som Ørnefjer og hans Negle som Fuglekløer.
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 Men der disse Dage vare til Ende, opløftede jeg, Nebukadnezar, mine Øjne til Himmelen, og min Forstand kom til mig igen, og jeg lovede den Højeste og priste og ærede ham, som lever evindelig; thi hans Herredømme er et evigt Herredømme, og hans Rige varer fra Slægt til Slægt.
“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 Og alle, som bo paa Jorden, ere som intet at regne, efter sin Villie gør han med Himmelens Hær og med dem, som bo paa Jorden; og der er ingen, som kan hindre hans Haand og sige ham: Hvad gør du?
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 Paa samme Tid kom min Forstand til mig igen, og til mit Kongedømmes Ære kom min Herlighed og Glans til mig igen, og mine Raadsherrer og mine Fyrster søgte mig; og jeg blev indsat i mit Rige, og større Herlighed blev mig tillagt.
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 Nu priser og ophøjer og ærer jeg, Nebukadnezar, Himmelens Konge; thi alle hans Gerninger ere Sandhed, og hans Stier ere Retfærdighed, og han kan ydmyge dem, som vandre i Hovmodighed.
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].”
