Daniel 4

1 Rong Nebukadnezar til alle Folk, Stammer og Tungemaal, som bo paa den ganske Jord: Eders Fred være mangfoldig!

King Nebuchadnezzar sent this decree to all peoples, nations, and languages who lived on the earth: May your peace increase.

2 Det behager mig at forkynde de Tegn og de underfulde Gerninger, som den højeste Gud har gjort imod mig;

It has seemed good to me to tell you about the signs and wonders that the Most High has done 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!

How great are his signs, and how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion lasts from generation to generation.”

4 Jeg Nebukadnezar var tryg i mit Hus og livsfrisk i mit Palads.

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living happily in my house, and I was enjoying prosperity in my palace.

5 Jeg saa en Drøm, og den forfærdede mig, og Tanker paa mit Leje og mit Hoveds Syner forvirrede mig.

But a dream I had made me afraid. As I lay there, the images I saw and the visions in my mind troubled me.

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 gave a decree to bring before me all the men of Babylon who had wisdom so they could interpret the dream for me.

7 Da kom Spaamændene, Besværgerne, Kaldæerne og Sandsigerne ind; og jeg sagde dem Drømmen, men de kunde ikke kundgøre mig Udtydningen derpaa.

Then came the magicians, those who claimed to speak with the dead, the wise men, and the astrologers. I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.

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.

But at last Daniel came in—the one who is named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream.

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.

“Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Tell me what I saw in my dream and what it 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.

These were the sights that I saw in my mind as I lay upon my bed: I looked, and there was a tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was very great.

11 Træet blev stort og stærkt, og dets Højde rakte til Himmelen, og man kunde se det indtil hele Jordens Ende.

The tree grew and became strong. Its top reached to the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of the whole earth.

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.

Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and on it was food for all. The wild animals found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches. All living creatures were fed from it.

13 Jeg saa i mit Hoveds Syner paa mit Leje, og se, en Vægter, det er en hellig, for ned fra Himmelen.

I saw in my mind as I lay on my bed, and a holy messenger came down from the heavens.

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!

He shouted and said, 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its leaves, and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds fly away from 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!

Leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the middle of the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew from the heavens. Let it live with the animals among the plants on the ground.

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.

Let his mind be changed from a man's mind, and let an animal's mind be given to him until seven years pass by.

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.

This decision is by the decree reported by the messenger. It is a decision made by the holy ones so that those who are alive may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and gives them to anyone he wishes to place over them, even to the most humble men.'

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.

I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had this dream. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the men with wisdom in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able to do so, 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!

Then Daniel, who was also named Belteshazzar, was greatly upset for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar replied, “My master, may the dream be for those who hate you; may its interpretation be for your enemies.

20 Træet, som du saa, og som blev stort og stærkt, og hvis Højde rakte til Himmelen, og som saas over al Jorden,

The tree that you saw—which grew and became strong, and whose top reached up to the heavens, and which could be seen to the ends of the whole earth—

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:

whose leaves were beautiful, and whose fruit was abundant, so that in it was food for all, and under it the animals of the field found shade, and in which the birds of the heavens lived—

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.

this tree is you, king, you who have grown so strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your authority reaches to the ends of the earth.

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,

You, king, saw a holy messenger coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the middle of the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew from the heavens. Let it live with the wild animals in the fields until seven years pass by.'

24 da er dette Udtydningen, o Konge! og dette er den Højestes besluttede Raad, som skal komme over min Herre, Kongen:

This is the interpretation, king. It is a decree of the Most High that has reached you, my master the king.

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.

You will be driven from among men, and you will live with the wild animals in the fields. You will be made to eat grass like an ox, and you will be wet with the dew from the heavens, and seven years will pass by until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and that he gives them to anyone he wishes.

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.

As it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, in this way your kingdom will be returned to you from the time you learn that heaven rules.

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.

Therefore, king, let my advice be acceptable to you. Stop sinning and do what is right. Turn away from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, and it may be that your prosperity will be extended.”

28 Alt dette kom over Kong Nebukadnezar.

All these things happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

29 Der tolv Maaneder vare til Ende, gik han omkring paa det kongelige Palads i Babel.

Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal 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?

and he said, “Is this not the great Babylon, which I have built for my royal residence, for the glory of my majesty?”

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 the words were still on the lips of the king, a voice came from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, it is announced to you that this kingdom has been taken away from you.

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.

You will be driven away from people, and your home will be with the wild animals in the fields. You will be made to eat grass like an ox. Seven years will pass until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and he gives them to anyone he wishes.”

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.

This decree against Nebuchadnezzar was carried out immediately. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew from the heavens. His hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails 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.

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was given back to me. “I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified the one who lives forever. For his reign is an everlasting reign, and his kingdom endures from all generations to all generations.

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 earth's inhabitants are considered by him to be as nothing; he does among the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth whatever suits his will. No one can stop him or challenge him. No one can say to him, 'Why have you done this?'”

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.

At the same time that my sanity returned to me, my majesty and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My counselors and my noblemen sought my favor. I was brought back to my throne, and even more greatness was given to me.

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, extol, and honor the King of heaven, for all his deeds are right, and his ways are just. He can humble those who walk in their own pride.