< Daniel 5 >

1 [Several years later, ] Belshazzar [became the] king [of Babylon. One day] he invited 1,000 of his officers to a big feast, and he drank [a lot of] wine with them.
Eze Belshaza, kpọrọ puku ndịisi nọ nʼalaeze ya oriri, ebe ha nọ ṅụọ nnọọ mmanya dị ukwuu.
2 While he was drinking, he commanded [his servants] bring to him the gold and silver cups that the previous king, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. [He did that] because he wanted himself and his officials, his wives, and [even] his (concubines/slave wives) to drink from them, [making fun of the god that we Israelis worshiped].
Mgbe Belshaza na-aṅụ mmanya ya, ọ nyere iwu ka a chịtara ya iko ọlaedo na ọlaọcha nke nna ya bụ Nebukadneza si nʼụlọnsọ ukwu dị na Jerusalem chịkọta, ka eze na ndị a mara aha ha nʼalaeze ya, na ndị nwunye ya, na ndị iko ya jiri ha ṅụọ mmanya.
3 So his servants brought in [all] those gold cups, that had been taken [many years previously] from the temple of [the true] God in Jerusalem. Then the king and his officials and his wives and his slave wives drank [wine] from those cups.
Ya mere, a chịtara iko ọlaedo ndị e si nʼụlọnsọ ukwu Chineke dị na Jerusalem chịkọta. Eze na ndị a mara aha ha nʼalaeze ya na ndị nwunye ya na ndị iko ya jiri ha ṅụọ mmanya.
4 They drank to praise/honor their idols that were made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and [even] wood and stone.
Ha ṅụrụ mmanya tookwa chi nke ọlaedo na ọlaọcha na bronz, na igwe na osisi na nkume.
5 Suddenly they saw a man’s hand writing on the plaster of the wall opposite the lampstand. The king also saw the hand as it was writing.
Na mberede, ha hụrụ mkpịsịaka mmadụ ka ọ na-ede ihe nʼaja ụlọ nke ụlọeze ahụ ha nọ nʼime ya, na ncherita ihu ebe a dọbara iheọkụ. Eze nʼonwe ya hụrụ aka ahụ mgbe ọ na-ede ihe ahụ.
6 He became very frightened, and his face became pale/white. His knees started shaking, and his legs became very weak, with the result that he could not stand up.
Mgbe ahụ, ihu eze ahụ tụhịkọtara, gbarụọ nʼihi egwu. Oke ụjọ tụrụ ya. Ụkwụ ya makwara jijiji. Ikpere ya abụọ kụkọtara onwe ha.
7 [Then] he shouted to summon the men who worked magic, the men who studied the stars, and the fortune-tellers. He said, “I will [greatly honor] any one of them who can read this writing and tell me what it means. I will give him a purple [robe like I wear because I am the king], and I will put a gold chain around his neck. He will become a very important official in my kingdom; there will be only two others who will be more important than he will be.”
Eze kpọrọ mkpu ka a kpọbata ndị dibịa niile na ndị Kaldịa, na ndị na-akọwa maka njegharị nke kpakpando. Mgbe ahụ eze sịrị ndị ikom amamihe nke Babilọn, “Onye ọbụla nwere ike gụọ ihe ahụ e dere, nke nwekwara ike ịkọwara m ihe ọ pụtara, ka a ga-eyikwasị uwe odo odo nke ndị eze. A ga-anyakwasị ya ihe olu ọlaedo. A ga-emekwa ya ka ọ bụrụ onye ọchịchị nke atọ nʼalaeze a.”
8 But when all those wise men came in, none of them could read the writing, or tell him what it meant.
Mgbe ahụ, ndị amamihe eze batara, ma o nweghị onye ọbụla nʼime ha pụrụ ịgụta, maọbụ ịkọwara eze ihe ọ pụtara.
9 So King Belshazzar became more afraid. His face became [even] paler/whiter. And [all] his officials [who were there at the feast] did not know what to do.
Nke a mere, ka eze Belshaza maa jijiji karịa, ihu ya gburu maramara ma gbarụkwaa. Ọ gbakwara ndị ozi ya gharịị.
10 But when the mother of the king (OR, of the previous king) heard the king and his officials talking [loudly about what had happened], she entered the room where they were having the feast. She said [to Belshazzar], “(Your majesty/O King), I hope you will live for a long time! But do not be pale and afraid about this.
Mgbe eze nwanyị, nụrụ olu eze na olu ndị a mara aha ha nʼala ya, ọ batara nʼụlọ oriri ahụ. Eze nwanyị sịrị, “Eze, dị ndụ ruo mgbe ebighị ebi; ka ihe a mere ghara iwetara gị ihu mgbarụ, atụla ụjọ.
11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. When Nebuchadnezzar was ruling, they discovered that this man understood many things and was wise, just like the gods. The man who was king previously, Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him to be in charge of all the men [in Babylon] who worked magic, the men who worked sorcery, the men who studied the stars, and the fortune-tellers.
Nʼihi na o nwere otu nwoke nọ nʼalaeze gị, onye mmụọ nke chi ndị ahụ dị nsọ bi nʼime ya. Nʼoge ahụ nna gị bụ eze, a chọpụtara na nwoke a jupụtara nʼamamihe na nghọta, dịka a ga-asị na ya onwe ya bụ chi. Nna gị eze Nebukadneza mere ya onyeisi ndị amamihe niile, ndị dibịa, ndị na-enyocha kpakpando, ndị Kaldịa na ndị mgba afa niile.
12 That man’s name is Daniel; the king gave him a [new] name, Belteshazzar. He is very intelligent and is able to know and understand many things. He is [even] able to tell the meaning of dreams, and explain riddles, and explain things that are very difficult to understand. Summon him, and he will tell you what [this writing] means.”
Ebe ọ bụ na ezigbo mmụọ, mmụta na nghọta nke e ji akọwa nrọ na ihe mgbagwoju anya, na igbo mkpa dị iche iche, dị nʼime nwoke a a na-akpọ Daniel, nke eze kpọrọ Belteshaza. Ugbu a, zie ozi ka a kpọọ Daniel ka ọ kọwara gị ihe a.”
13 So they [went and] brought me in. The king asked me, “You [must] be Daniel [RHQ]! [They told me that you are] one of those who was brought [here] from Judah by the previous king.
Ya mere, a kpọbatara Daniel nʼihu eze, eze sịrị Daniel, “Ọ bụ gị bụ Daniel, otu nʼime ndị Juda, ndị nna m dọtara nʼagha site na Juda?
14 I have [also] heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you are very wise and understand many things.
Anụla m na i nwere mmụọ nke chi niile nʼime gị, na ị bụkwa onye jupụtara na nghọta na amamihe.
15 My wise men and men who work magic have tried to read the writing on this wall and tell me what it means, but they are not able to do it.
Ndị amamihe m, na ndị na-enyocha kpakpando abịala nʼihu m ịgụ ihe ahụ e dere nʼaja ụlọ ma ha enweghị ike ịgụta ya maọbụ ịkọwa ihe ọ bụ.
16 [Someone] told me that you can tell what dreams mean and explain things that are very difficult to understand. If you can read these words and tell me what they mean, [I] give you a purple robe [like I wear because I am the king], and I will put a gold chain around your neck. You will become a very important official in my kingdom; there will be only two others who will be more important than you will be.”
Agwara m na i nwere ike ịkọwa ihe ọbụla gbagwojuru anya. Ọ bụrụ na i nwee ike ịgụ ihe e dere nʼaja ma kọwakwara m ihe ọ pụtara, aga m eyikwasị gị uwe odo odo ndị eze, yinyekwa gị ihe olu ọlaedo nʼolu, meekwa ka i bụrụ onye ọchịchị nke atọ nʼalaeze m.”
17 I replied, “[I do not want] your gifts; keep them, or give them to someone else. But I will read for you the writing [on the wall], and I will tell you what it means.
Daniel zara nʼihu eze, “Debere onwe gị onyinye gị, ma ọ bụkwanụ were ya nye onye ọzọ. Ma aga m agụrụ gị eze ihe ahụ e dere ma kọwakwara gị ihe ọ pụtara.
18 (Your Majesty/O king), the Supreme God caused the man who was king before you, Nebuchadnezzar, to become a great ruler, who was greatly praised and honored.
“Gị eze, Chineke nke kachasị ihe niile elu nyere nna gị, Nebukadneza ike ọchịchị a, na ịdị ukwu, na ebube, na ịma mma.
19 Because God caused him to become [very] great, people of many [HYP] people-groups and nations and who spoke many different languages were very much afraid of him. He [commanded his soldiers to] kill those whom he wanted to be killed, and he (spared/allowed to live) those whom he wanted to spare. He honored those whom he wanted to honor, and he caused to be disgraced those whom he wanted to be disgraced.
Nʼihi ọkwa dị ukwuu nke o nyere ya, ndị niile, na mba niile di iche iche, na-asụ asụsụ niile dị iche iche nʼelu ụwa na-ama jijiji na-atụkwa ya egwu. Ndị eze chọrọ igbu ka o gburu, ọ hapụkwara onye ọbụla ọ chọrọ ịhapụ; o buliri onye ọbụla ọ chọrọ ibuli elu, ma ndị ọ chọrọ iweda nʼala, ka ya onwe ya wedakwara nʼala.
20 But when he became very proud and stubborn [IDM], he was removed from being king [MTY]. People did not consider him to be glorious/great any more.
Ma mgbe nganga na ịnya isi jupụtara ya obi, Chineke sitere nʼocheeze ya wezuga ya, napụkwa ya ebube o nwere dịka eze.
21 [His officials] sent him away in order that he would not be near [other] people. [God] caused him to have a mind like animals have. He lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like cows do, and dew from the sky caused his body to be damp/wet [each morning]. [He was like that] until he learned that the Supreme God is [really the one who] rules the kingdoms of this world, and that he appoints whomever he chooses to rule those kingdoms.
A chụpụrụ ya site nʼetiti ụmụ mmadụ, nyekwa ya echiche uche dịka nke anụmanụ. Ọ bụkwa nʼetiti ụmụ ịnyịnya ibu ọhịa ka ebe obibi ya dị, o soro ha taa ahịhịa dịka oke ehi. Igirigi nke eluigwe deekwara ahụ ya, tutu ruo mgbe ọ matara na Chineke Onye kachasị ihe niile elu na-achị achị nʼalaeze niile nke ụwa. Ọ bụkwa onye ọbụla ọ chọrọ ka ọ na-eguzobe ka ọ chịa.
22 Now, Belshazzar, you have become the king. You [also] knew all those things, but you have not made yourself humble.
“Ma gị nwa ya, O Belshaza, ewedaghị onwe gị ala, nʼagbanyeghị na i ma ihe ndị a niile.
23 You have considered yourself to be greater than [God], the Lord of heaven. [So you have commanded your servants to] bring to you these sacred cups, [which were dedicated to the Supreme God, and which were taken] from his temple [in Jerusalem]. You and your officials and your wives and your (concubines/slave wives) have been drinking wine from these cups, while you have been praising [your own] gods—gods which are made of gold and silver and bronze and iron and wood and stone. [Those are gods] that cannot see, that cannot hear, and that do not know anything! You have not honored the God who gives you breath and who controls everything that happens to you.
Nʼihi na i lelịala Chineke nke eluigwe. Ị wepụtara iko ndị a e si nʼụlọnsọ ukwu ya chịpụta, ka gị na ndịisi alaeze gị, ndị nwunye ha na ndị iko unu, jiri ṅụọ mmanya, mgbe unu nọ na-eto chi niile nke e jiri ọlaọcha na ọlaedo, bronz na igwe, osisi na nkume kpụọ; chi nke na-adịghị ahụ ụzọ, maọbụ nụ ihe; chi nke na-amaghị ihe ọbụla. Ma unu enyeghị Chineke onye na-enye unu ume ndụ na onye ndụ gị na ọganihu gị dị nʼaka ya nsọpụrụ.
24 So God sent that hand to write a message [for you].
Ọ bụ nke a mere o ji zite aka ahụ ị hụrụ, nke depụtara ozi a.
25 This is the message that it wrote: ‘Mene, mene, tekel, parsin.’
“Nke a bụ ozi ahụ e dere: mene, mene, tekel, parsin
26 This is what those words mean: Mene [means] ‘numbered/counted’. [That means that] God has been counting the days that you will rule, and he has [now] decided that you will not rule any more.
“Ihe okwu ndị a pụtara bụ nke a: “Mene, Chineke agụkọọla ụbọchị ọchịchị gị, mee ka ha bịa na njedebe.
27 Tekel [means ‘weighed’. It is as though God] has weighed you on a scale, and you do not weigh what you should, [which means that you have not been doing what you should; you are not fit to be a king] [MET].
“Tekel, atụọla gị nʼime ihe ọtụtụ chọpụta na o nweghị ihe ọbụla ị bụ.
28 Parsin [means ‘divided’. That means that God] has divided your kingdom. Some of it will be ruled by people from Media and some will be ruled by people from Persia.”
“Parsin, ekewala alaeze gị nyefee ya nʼaka ndị Midia na Peshịa.”
29 Then Belshazzar [did what he had promised]. He put on me a purple robe [like the one he himself wore. He] put a gold chain around my neck. And he proclaimed that there would be only two others who would be more important than me in his kingdom.
Mgbe ahụ Belshaza nyere iwu ka e yikwasị Daniel uwe odo odo ndị eze ahụ, ka e yinye ya ihe olu ọlaedo. O nyekwara iwu ka e kwusaa nʼalaeze ya niile, na o meela ya onye ọchịchị nke atọ nʼalaeze ahụ.
30 But that same night [soldiers from Media entered the city and] killed Belshazzar, the King of Babylonia.
Nʼabalị ụbọchị ahụ kwa ka e gburu Belshaza eze ndị Kaldịa.
31 Darius, the King of Media, became the King [of Babylonia] when he was 62 years old.
Nʼabalị ahụ kwa ka Daraiọs onye Midia, bidoro ịchị dịka eze. Ọ gbara iri afọ isii na abụọ nʼoge o bidoro ịchị.

< Daniel 5 >