Daniel 4
1 Kong Nebukadnezar til alle Folk: der bor på hele Jorden: Fred være med eder i rigt Mål!
King Nebuchadnezzar, to people of every nation and language in the whole world: I wish you well!
2 De Tegn og Undere, den højeste Gud har øvet imod mig, finder jeg for godt at kundgøre.
It is my pleasure to share with you an account of the signs and wonders the Most High God has done for me.
3 Hvor store er dog hans Tegn, hvor vældige dog hans Undere! Hans Rige er et evigt Rige, hans Herredømme fra Slægt til Slægt.
His signs are incredible. His wonders are amazing! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and his rule will last for all generations!
4 Jeg, Nebukadnezar, levede tryg i mit Slot og livsglad i mit Palads.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was doing well at home, living happily in my palace.
5 Men da skuede jeg et Drømmesyn, og det slog mig med Rædsel, og Tankebilleder på mit Leje og mit Hoveds Syner forfærdede mig.
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 Derfor påbød jeg, at alle Babels Vismænd skulde føres frem for mig, for at de skulde tyde mig Drømmen.
So I ordered all the wise men of Babylon brought before me to explain the dream to me.
7 Så kom Drømmetyderne, Manerne, Kaldæerne og Stjernetyderne ind, og jeg sagde dem Drømmen, men de kunde ikke tyde mig den.
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 Men til sidst trådte Daniel, som har fået Navnet Beltsazzar efter min Guds Navn, og i hvem hellige Guders Ånd er, frem for mig, og jeg sagde ham Drømmen:
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 Beltsazzar, du Øverste for Drømmetyderne, i hvem jeg ved, at hellige Guders Ånd er, og hvem ingen Hemmelighed er for svar! Hør, hvad jeg så i Drømme, og tyd mig det!
“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 Dette var mit Hoveds Syner på mit Leje: Jeg skuede, og se, et Træ stod midt på Jorden, og det var såre højt.
As I lay in bed dreaming, I saw a tree in the middle of the earth—a really large tree.
11 Træet voksede og blev vældigt, dets Top nåede Himmelen, og det sås til Jordens Ende;
It grew strong and tall, reaching high into the sky so it could be seen by everyone in the whole world.
12 dets Løv var fagert, dets Frugter mange, så der var Føde til alle derpå; under det fandt Markens Dyr Skygge, i dets Grene boede Himmelens Fugle, og alt Kød fik Næring deraf.
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 Og videre skuede jeg i mit Hoveds Syner på mit Leje, og se, en Vægter, en Hellig, kom ned fra Himmelen.
As I went on dreaming, lying on my bed, I saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
14 Han råbte med høj Røst: "Fæld Træet, hug Grenene af, afriv Løvet og spred Frugterne; Dyrene skal fly fra deres Bo derunder og Fuglene fra dets Grene!
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 Dog skal I lade Stubben med Rødderne blive i Jorden, men bundet med en Kæde af Jern og kobber i Markens Græs; af Himmelens Dug skal han vædes, og som Dyrene skal han æde Markens Urter;
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 hans Menneskehjerte skal fratages ham og et Dyrehjerte gives ham, og syv Tider skal gå hen over ham.
Let his mind become like that of an animal. Let him be like this for seven times.
17 Således er det fastsat ved Vægternes Råd, og ved de Helliges Bud er Sagen afgjort, for at de levende må sande, at den Højeste er Herre over Menneskenes Rige og kan give det, til hvem han vil, og ophøje den ringeste blandt Menneskene til Hersker over det!"
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 Det var dette Drømmesyn, som jeg, Kong Nebukadnezar, skuede, og du, Beltsazzar, tyd mig det! Thi ingen af mit Riges Vismænd kan tyde mig det; du derimod evner det, thi i dig bor hellige Guders Ånd.
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 Så stod Daniel, som havde fået Navnet Beltsazzar, en Stund rædselslagen, og hans Tanker forfærdede ham. Men Kongen tog til Orde og sagde: Beltsazzar, lad ikke Drømmen og dens Udtydning forfærde dig!" Men Beltsazzar svarede: "Herre, måtte drømmen gælde dine Fjender og dens Udtydning dine Avindsmænd!
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 Det Træ, du så, og som voksede og blev vældigt, så Toppen nåede Himmelen og det sås over hele Jorden,
“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 hvis Løv var fagert, og hvis Frugter var mange, det, som alle fik Næring af, under hvilket Markens Dyr fandt Bo, og i hvis Grene Himmelens Fugle byggede Rede,
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 det er dig selv, o Konge, som er blevet stor og mægtig, hvis Storhed er vokset, så den når Himmelen, og hvis Herredømme rækker til Jordens Ende.
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 Og når Kongen så, at en Vægter, en Hellig, steg ned fra Himmelen og bød: Fæld Træet og ødelæg det! Dog skal I lade Stubben med Rødderne blive i Jorden, men bundet med en Kæde af Jern og kobber i Markens Græs; af Himmelens Dug skal han vædes, og med Markens Dyr skal han dele Lod, indtil syv Tider er gået hen over ham
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 så betyder det, o Konge, og det er den Højestes Råd, som er udgået over min Herre Kongen:
This is what it means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has decreed will happen to my lord the king.
25 Du skal udstødes af Menneskenes Samfund og bo hlandt Markens Dyr; Urter skal du have til Føde som Kvæget, og af Himmelens Dug skal du vædes; og syv Tider skal gå hen over dig, til du skønner, at den Højeste er Herre over Menneskenes Rige og kan give det, til hvem han vil.
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 Men når der blev givet Påbud om at levne Træets Stub med Rødderne, så betyder det, at dit Rige atter skal blive dit, så snart du skønner, at Himmelen har Magten.
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 Derfor, o Konge, lad mit Råd være dig til Behag. Gør Ende på dine Synder med Retfærd og på dine Misgerninger med Barmhjertighed mod de fattige, om din Lykke måske kunde vare!"
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 Alt dette ramte nu Kong Nebukadnezar.
(However, all this did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 Tolv Måneder senere, da Kongen vandrede på Taget af det kongelige Palads i Babel,
Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon.
30 udbrød han: "Er dette ikke det store Babel, som jeg byggede til Kongesæde ved min vældige Magt, min Herlighed til Ære?"
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 Men før Kongen endnu havde talt ud, lød en Røst fra Himmelen: "Det gives dig til Kende, Kong Nebukadnezar, at dit Kongedømme er taget fra dig!
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 Af Menneskenes Samfund skal du udstødes og bo blandt Markens Dyr; Urter skal du have til Føde som Kvæget; og syv Tider skal gå hen over dig, til du skønner, at den Højeste er Herre over Menneskenes Rige og kan give det, til hvem han vil!"
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 I samme Stund fuldbyrdedes Ordet på Nebukadnezar; han blev udstødt af Menneskenes Samfund og åd Græs som Kvæget, og hans Legeme vædedes af Himmelens Dug, til hans Hår blev langt som Ørnefjer og hans Negle som Fuglekløer.
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 Men da Tiden var omme, løftede jeg, Nebukadnezar, mine Øjne til Himmelen og fik min forstand igen, og jeg priste den Højeste og lovede og ærede ham, som lever evindelig, hvis Herredømme er evigt, og hvis Rige står fra Slægt til Slægt.
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 Alle, som bor på Jorden, er for intet at regne; han handler efter sit Tykke med Himmelens Hær og med dem, som bor på Jorden, og ingen kan holde hans Hånd tilbage og sige til ham: "Hvad gør du?"
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 I samme Stund fik jeg min Forstand igen; jeg fik også min Herlighed og Glans igen, mit Rige til Ære; mine Rådsherrer og Stormænd søgte mig, jeg blev genindsat i mit Rige, og endnu større Magt blev mig givet.
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 Nu lover, ophøjer og ærer jeg, Nebukadnezar, Himmelens Konge: Alle hans Gerninger er Sandhed, hans Veje Retfærd, og han kan ydmyge dem, som vandrer i Hovmod.
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.
