Daniel 4
1 King Nebuchadnezzar sent this decree to all peoples, nations, and languages who lived on the earth: May your peace increase.
拿步高王詔告居於普世的各民族，各邦國及各異語人民說：「願平安豐富地賜予你們!
2 It has seemed good to me to tell you about the signs and wonders that the Most High has done for me.
至高天主對我所行的神蹟奇事，我以為最好宣布出來。
3 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.”
他的神蹟何其偉大，他的奇事何其可畏! 他的王國是永遠的王國，他的主權世世常存!
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living happily in my house, and I was enjoying prosperity in my palace.
我拿步高安居在家中，在宮內行樂的時候，
5 But a dream I had made me afraid. As I lay there, the images I saw and the visions in my mind troubled me.
忽然做了一夢，這夢使我害怕；我當時在床上所有的幻想，腦中所有的異象，使我心慌意亂，
6 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.
遂下了一道諭令，召巴比倫所有的智者到我面前來，給我解說那夢的意義。
7 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.
巫師、術士、占星者、占卜者都來了，我當面給他們說出了那夢，但他們卻不能給我解說那夢的意義。
8 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.
最後，達尼爾來到我面前，－他按我神的名字，起名叫貝耳特沙匝，這人身上具有至聖神明的精神；我給他講述夢說：「
9 “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.
巫師長貝耳特沙匝! 我知道你這個人具有至聖神明的精神，沒有什麼奧秘可以難住你，請聽我夢中所見的異象，給我一個解釋：
10 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.
我在床上腦中所有的異象是這樣：我忽然看見從地中生出一棵樹來，極其高大。
11 The tree grew and became strong. Its top reached to the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of the whole earth.
這棵樹長的非常粗壯，高可摩天，大地四極都可見到；
12 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.
樹葉美麗，果實繁多，足以供養一切生靈，田野的走獸安息在它的蔭下，空中的飛鳥棲息在它的枝杈上，一切生物都由它獲得供養。
13 I saw in my mind as I lay on my bed, and a holy messenger came down from the heavens.
我在床上，在我腦海所得的異象中，我看見有一位守衛兼聖者自天降下，
14 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.
他大聲呼喊說：砍倒這棵樹，砍斷它的枝條，搖落它的葉子，打下它的果實，叫走獸離開它下面，叫飛鳥飛離它的枝杈，
15 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.
但在地上只留下它根上的餘幹，用鐵索和銅鏈將它捆住，放在田野的青草，
16 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.
使他的心改變不像人心，給他一個獸心，在他身上要這樣經歷七段時期。
17 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.'
這是守衛者宣布的定案，這是聖者所出的命令，好使眾生知道：是至高者統治世人的國家，他將國權願意給誰，就給誰；他可以將人間最卑賤的立為最高者。
18 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.”
這是我拿步高王所做的夢。現在，貝耳特沙匝! 請你給我說出這夢的意義，因為我國內所有的智者，都不能使我知道這夢的意義，只有你能，因為只有你具有至聖神明的精神。
19 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.
名叫貝特沙匝的達尼爾，一時愕然，他想像的事，使他恐懼；君王於是說道：「貝耳特沙匝! 不要為這夢和這夢的意義心亂! 」貝耳特沙匝回答說：「我的主上! 願這夢應驗在仇恨你的人身上，願這夢的朕兆應驗在你的敵人身上!
20 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—
你所見的那棵樹，長的非常粗大，高可摩天，大地四極都可見到，
21 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—
樹葉美麗，果實繁多，足以供養一切生靈，田野的走獸安息在它的蔭下，空中的飛鳥棲息在它的枝條上。
22 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.
大王! 那樹就是你，你長得高大強壯，你的偉大高可摩天，你的權勢達於地極。
23 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.'
至於大王所見的那位警衛兼聖者自天降下說：砍倒、毀滅這棵樹! 只在地上留下它根子的餘幹，用鐵索和銅鏈將它捆住，放在田野的青草中，讓他為露水浸濕，與田野的走獸分食，這樣在他身上直到經歷了七段時期。－
24 This is the interpretation, king. It is a decree of the Most High that has reached you, my master the king.
大王! 這是那夢的意義，這是要臨到我主，大王身上的至高者的判決：
25 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.
你將由人間被驅逐，與田野的走獸為伍，你吃草如同牛一樣，為露水浸濕，要這樣經歷七段時期，直到你承認至高者統治世人的國度，願意給誰，就給誰。
26 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.
至於所說在地中只留下樹根的餘幹，是說到你承認上天統治一切時，你的國仍再歸於你。
27 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.”
為此，大王! 望你接納我的勸告：厲行正義，補贖罪過，憐貧濟困，以抵償不義；如此你的福樂或許可得延長。」
28 All these things happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
這一切都臨在拿步高王身上：
29 Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon,
十二個月以後，王在巴比倫王宮的樓台上散步時，
30 and he said, “Is this not the great Babylon, which I have built for my royal residence, for the glory of my majesty?”
自言自語說：「這不是我以大能大力，為彰顯我的威榮而建為王都的大巴比倫嗎﹖」
31 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.
這些話君王還未說出口，便有聲音從天上傳來說：「拿步高王! 現在有話告訴你：你的王位已被人奪去了!
32 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.”
你要由人間被驅逐，與田野的走獸為伍，你要吃草如同牛一樣，這樣，在你身上經歷七段時期，直到你承認至高者統治世人的國度，他願意給誰，就給誰。」
33 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.
這話立即在拿步高身上應驗了：他被逐離開了人群，吃草如同牛一樣，他的身體為露水浸濕，直報他的頭髮長得有如鷹的羽翼，指甲有如鳥的爪子。
34 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.
這期限過了以後，我拿步高舉目望天，我的理智恢復了常態，我立刻稱謝至高者，讚美頌揚永生者，因為他的主權永遠常存，他的王國世世常在。
35 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?'”
地上的一切居民為他等於虛無，他對天上的軍旅和地上的居民隨意而行，沒有能阻止他的，或問他說：你作什麼﹖
36 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.
就在那一時刻，我的理智恢復了常態，恢復了我王國的光榮，仍享威嚴富貴，我的朝臣和大官仍前來求見；我的國又歸我所有，並且也給我增加了極大的權勢。
37 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.
現在，我拿步高要稱頌、讚揚和光榮天上的君王，因為他的一切作為是真理，他的到路是正義；凡行動傲慢的，他都能壓伏。」
