< Daniel 4 >

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell on all the earth, May your welfare increase.
UNebhukadinezari inkosi, kubo bonke abantu, izizwe, lezindimi, ezihlala emhlabeni wonke: Ukuthula kwenu kakwande!
2 The signs and wonders which the most high God hath wrought toward me I find it for good to make known.
Bekukuhle kimi ukuthi ngikwazise izibonakaliso lezimangaliso uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke azenze kimi.
3 His signs—how great are they! and his wonders— how mighty are they! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his rule is over every generation.
Yeka ubukhulu bezibonakaliso zakhe, njalo yeka amandla ezimangaliso zakhe! Umbuso wakhe ungumbuso ongulaphakade, lokubusa kwakhe kungokwesizukulwana lesizukulwana.
4 Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
Mina, uNebhukadinezari, ngangonwabile endlini yami, ngahluma esigodlweni sami,
5 I saw a dream which terrified me; and the thoughts upon my couch and the visions of my head troubled me.
ngabona iphupho elangesabisayo; lemicabango phezu kombheda wami, lemibono yekhanda lami kwangethusa.
6 Therefore made I a decree to bring before me all the wise men of Babylon, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
Ngakho umlayo wenziwa yimi wokuthi kungeniswe phambi kwami bonke abahlakaniphileyo beBhabhiloni, ukuze bangazise ingcazelo yephupho.
7 Then came up the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and the dream did I recite before them; but its interpretation did they not make known unto me.
Kwasekungena izanuse, izangoma, amaKhaladiya, labalumbi; ngasengikhuluma iphupho phambi kwabo, kodwa kabangazisanga ingcazelo yalo.
8 But at the last came up before me Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and the dream did I recite before him, [saying, ]
Kodwa ngasekucineni uDaniyeli wangena phambi kwami, obizo lakhe lalinguBeliteshazari, ngokwebizo likankulunkulu wami, lokukuye umoya wabonkulunkulu abangcwele; ngasengikhuluma iphupho phambi kwakhe, ngisithi:
9 O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, of whom I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and that no secret is concealed from thee, tell me the visions of my dream which I have seen, with its interpretation.
Wena Beliteshazari, nduna yezanuse, ngoba mina ngiyazi ukuthi umoya wabonkulunkulu abangcwele ukuwe, lokuthi kakulamfihlakalo leyodwa ekuhluphayo, ngitshela imibono yephupho lami engilibonileyo, lengcazelo yalo.
10 And the visions of my head on my couch were, [that] I saw, and behold, there was a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.
Yayinjalo imibono yekhanda lami embhedeni wami: Ngabona, khangela-ke, isihlahla phakathi komhlaba, lobude baso babubukhulu.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and its height reached unto heaven, and it was visible to the end of all the earth.
Isihlahla sakhula saba sikhulu, saqina, lobude baso bafinyelela emazulwini, lokubonakala kwaso kwaze kwaba sekucineni komhlaba wonke.
12 Its foliage was splendid, and its fruit large, and on it was food for all: under it sought the beasts of the field for shade, and in its boughs dwelt the fowls of heaven, and from it was fed all flesh.
Amahlamvu aso ayemahle, lesithelo saso sasisinengi, kwakukhona kiso ukudla kwabo bonke; inyamazana zeganga zaba lomthunzi ngaphansi kwaso, lenyoni zamazulu zahlala ezingatsheni zaso, layo yonke inyama yondliwa kiso.
13 I saw in the visions of my head on my couch, and, behold, a watcher who was also a holy one came down from heaven.
Ngabona emibonweni yekhanda lami embhedeni wami, khangela-ke, umlindi, ngitsho ongcwele, wehla evela emazulwini.
14 He called with might, and thus he said, Hew down the trees and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; let the beasts flee away from under it, and the fowls from among its branches:
Wamemeza ngamandla watsho njalo: Sigamuleni isihlahla, liqume izingatsha zaso, liphulule amahlamvu aso, lichithachithe izithelo zaso; izinyamazana kazisuke ngaphansi kwaso, lezinyoni ngasezingatsheni zaso.
15 Nevertheless leave the body of its roots in the earth, but [bound] with fetters of iron and copper, among the grass of the field; and let it be made wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the beasts on the herbage of the earth;
Lanxa kunjalo tshiyani isidindi sempande zakhe emhlabathini, langebhanti lensimbi lethusi ohlazeni lwasendle; njalo kakumanziswe ngamazolo amazulu, lesabelo sakhe kasibe kanye lezinyamazana etshanini bomhlaba.
16 Let his heart be changed not to be human, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times elapse over him.
Inhliziyo yakhe kayiphenduke ingabi ngeyomuntu, kayiphiwe inhliziyo yenyamazana; futhi kakwedlule phezu kwakhe izikhathi eziyisikhombisa.
17 Through the resolve of the watchers is this decree, and by the order of the holy ones is this decision: to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and that he can give it to whomsoever he pleaseth, and can set up over it the lowest of men.
Loludaba lungesimemezelo sabalindi, lesilayezelo ngelizwi labangcwele; ukuze abaphilayo bazi ukuthi oPhezukonke uyabusa embusweni wabantu, njalo awunike loba kukubani amthandayo, amise phezu kwawo ophansi ebantwini.
18 This dream have I, king Nebuchadnezzar, seen; but thou, O Belteshazzar, relate its interpretation, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
Leliphupho ngilibonile mina nkosi uNebhukadinezari. Wena-ke, Beliteshazari, yitsho ingcazelo yalo; ngoba bonke abahlakaniphileyo bombuso wami bengelakho ukungitshela ingcazelo; kodwa wena ulakho; ngoba umoya wabonkulunkulu abangcwele ukuwe.
19 Then was Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, astounded for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king then commenced, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or its interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, O that the dream might be for those that hate thee, and its interpretation for thy enemies.
Lapho uDaniyeli, obizo lakhe lalinguBeliteshazari, wamangala kakhulu okwesikhatshana, lemicabango yakhe yamkhathaza. Inkosi yaphendula, yathi: Beliteshazari, iphupho lengcazelo yalo kakungakukhathazi. UBeliteshazari waphendula wathi: Nkosi yami, iphupho kalibe kwabakuzondayo, lengcazelo yalo kuzo izitha zakho.
20 The tree that thou hast seen, which grew, and was strong, the height of which reached unto the heaven, and which was visible to all the earth;
Isihlahla osibonileyo, esakhula saba sikhulu saqina, lobude baso bafinyelela emazulwini, lokubonakala kwaso kwaze kwaba semhlabeni wonke,
21 The foliage of which was splendid, and the fruit of which was large, and on which was food for all; under which dwelt the beasts of the field, and in the boughs of which nestled the fowls of the heaven: —
esimahlamvu aso ayemahle, lesithelo saso sisinengi, njalo kiso kulokudla kwabo bonke, lezinyamazana zeganga zahlala phansi kwaso, lenyoni zamazulu zahlala ezingatsheni zaso;
22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; and thy greatness is grown apace, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion is to the end of the earth.
singuwe, wena nkosi, osukhulile waba mkhulu waqina; ngoba ubukhulu bakho bukhulile, bafinyelela emazulwini, lombuso wakho ekucineni komhlaba.
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, who said, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the body of its roots in the earth, but [bound] in fetters of iron and copper, among the grass of the field; and let it be made wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times elapse over it: —
Njengalokho inkosi yabona umlindi, ngitsho ongcwele, esehla evela emazulwini owathi: Gamulani isihlahla lisichithe; kodwa litshiye isidindi sezimpande emhlabathini sibotshwe ngebhanti lensimbi lethusi ohlazeni lwasendle; kakumanziswe ngamazolo amazulu, lesabelo sakhe kasibe kanye lezinyamazana zeganga, kuze kwedlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwakhe.
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the resolve of the Most High, which will come over my lord the king:
Nansi ingcazelo, nkosi, njalo nansi isimemezelo soPhezukonke, esiza phezu kwenkosi yami, inkosi:
25 They will drive thee away from men, and with the beasts of the field is thy dwelling to be, and they will suffer thee to eat herbs like oxen, and they will suffer thee to be made wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times will elapse over thee; until that thou wilt know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth.
Ukuthi bazakuxotsha ebantwini, lenhlalo yakho izakuba kanye lezinyamazana zeganga, bazakudlisa utshani njengezinkabi, bazakumanzisa ngamazolo amazulu, lezikhathi eziyisikhombisa zizadlula phezu kwakho, uze wazi ukuthi oPhezukonke uyabusa emibusweni yabantu, ayinike loba kukubani amthandayo.
26 And whereas they ordered to leave the body of the roots of the tree: thy kingdom will remain unto thee, as soon as thou wilt know that the Heavens do rule.
Njengalokho bathi kutshiywe isidindi sempande zesihlahla, umbuso wakho uzakuma kuwe, emva kokuthi ususazi ukuthi amazulu ayabusa.
27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be agreeable unto thee, and atone for thy sins by righteousness, and for thy iniquities by showing kindness to the poor: perhaps thy prosperity may [thereby] endure long.
Ngakho, nkosi, kasemukeleke kuwe iseluleko sami; wephule izono zakho ngokulunga, lobubi bakho ngokutshengisa isihawu kwabangabayanga, aluba kungaba lokwelulwa kokuthula kwakho.
28 All this came over king Nebuchadnezzar.
Konke lokhu kwamehlela uNebhukadinezari inkosi.
29 At the end of twelve months he was walking upon the royal palace at Babylon.
Ekupheleni kwenyanga ezilitshumi lambili wayehambahamba phezu kwesigodlo sombuso weBhabhiloni.
30 The king commenced, and said, Is not this Babylon the great, that I myself have built for a royal residence by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?
Inkosi yaphendula yathi: Kayisiyo yini le iBhabhiloni enkulu mina engiyakhe ukuba yindlu yombuso, ngamandla engalo yami, njalo ibe ludumo lobukhosi bami?
31 The word was still in the king's mouth, when there fell a voice from heaven, [saying, ] To thee it is said, O king Nebuchadnezzar, The kingdom departeth from thee.
Ilizwi lisesemlonyeni wenkosi, kwawa ilizwi livela emazulwini lisithi: Wena nkosi Nebhukadinezari, kuyatshiwo kuwe ukuthi: Umbuso usukile kuwe.
32 And from men will they drive thee away, and with the beasts of the field shall thy dwelling be; herbs like oxen will they suffer thee to eat, and seven times shall elapse over thee: until thou wilt know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth.
Bazakuxotsha usuke ebantwini, lenhlalo yakho izakuba kanye lenyamazana zeganga, bazakudlisa utshani njengezinkabi, lezikhathi eziyisikhombisa zizadlula phezu kwakho, uze wazi ukuthi oPhezukonke uyabusa emibusweni yabantu, ayinike loba kukubani amthandayo.
33 At the same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar; and from men was he driven away, and herbs like oxen had he to eat, and with the dew of heaven was his body made wet: till his hair was grown like eagles' [feathers], and his nails were like birds' [claws].—
Ngalesosikhathi lolulutho lwagcwaliseka phezu kukaNebhukadinezari; wasexotshwa ebantwini, wadla utshani njengezinkabi, lomzimba wakhe wamanziswa ngamazolo amazulu, zaze inwele zakhe zakhula njengensiba zelinqe, lenzipho zakhe njengezenyoni.
34 But at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes unto heaven, and my understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and glorified the Everliving, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and whose kingdom is over every generation;
Njalo ekupheleni kwezinsuku, mina Nebhukadinezari ngaphakamisela amehlo ami emazulwini, ngoba ukuqedisisa kwami kwabuyela kimi; ngasengibusisa oPhezukonke, ngamdumisa, ngamhlonipha yena ophila phakade, ngoba ukubusa kwakhe kuyikubusa okulaphakade, lombuso wakhe ungowesizukulwana lesizukulwana;
35 And [by whom] all the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nought; and [who] according to his pleasure doth with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth; while there is none that can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
futhi bonke abahlali bomhlaba babalwa njengokungelutho, njalo wenza njengentando yakhe ebuthweni lamazulu lakubahlali bomhlaba; njalo kakho ongavimbela isandla sakhe, loba athi kuye: Wenzani?
36 At the same time my understanding returned unto me; and with the glory of my kingdom, my honor and my splendor returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought for me: and I was replaced in my kingdom, and additional greatness was added unto me.
Ngasona lesosikhathi ingqondo yami yabuyela kimi, futhi ngenxa yenkazimulo yombuso wami udumo lwami lokucwebezela kwami kwabuyela kimi; njalo abeluleki bami lezikhulu zami zangidinga; ngasengimiswa futhi embusweni wami; lobukhulu obudluleleyo bengezelelwa kimi.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and glorify the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and whose ways are justice; and who is able to bring low those that walk in pride.
Khathesi, mina, Nebhukadinezari, ngiyayidumisa ngiyiphakamise ngiyihloniphe iNkosi yamazulu, ngoba imisebenzi yayo yonke iliqiniso, lezindlela zayo ziyisahlulelo; lalabo abahamba ngokuzigqaja ilakho ukubathobisa.

< Daniel 4 >