< Daniel 4 >
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
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 show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward 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! How mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. His dominion is 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 at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
我拿步高安居在家中,在宮內行樂的時候,
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head 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 Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
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 the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in; and I told them the dream, but they didn’t make known to me its interpretation.
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 before me, whose name was Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. I told the dream before him, saying,
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, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
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 visions of my head on my bed: I saw, and behold, a tree in the middle of the earth; and its height was 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 was strong. Its height reached to the sky and its sight to the end of all the 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, and it had much fruit, and in it was food for all. The animals of the field had shade under it, and the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and all flesh was 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 the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a holy watcher came down from the sky.
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 cried aloud and said this: ‘Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Let the animals get away from under it and the birds 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 Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of the sky. Let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth.
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 heart be changed from man’s, and let an animal’s heart be given to him. Then let seven times pass over him.
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 “‘The sentence is by the decree of the watchers and the demand by the word of the holy ones, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of 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 “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for 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, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or the interpretation, trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries.
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 was strong, whose height reached to the sky and its sight to all the 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 its fruit plentiful, and in it was food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation—
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 it is you, O king, that have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown, and reaches to the sky, and your dominion to the end 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 “Whereas the king saw a holy watcher coming down from the sky and saying, ‘Cut down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of the sky. Let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him.’
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, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come on my lord 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 men and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You will be made to eat grass as oxen, and will be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.
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 Whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be sure to you after you know 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, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.”
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 this came on the King Nebuchadnezzar.
這一切都臨在拿步高王身上:
29 At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon.
十二個月以後,王在巴比倫王宮的樓台上散步時,
30 The king spoke and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place by the might of my power and 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 word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from the sky, saying, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: ‘The kingdom has departed 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 shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen. Seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.’”
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 was fulfilled the same hour on Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; and his body was wet with the dew of the sky until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails 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, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.
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 inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can stop his hand, or ask him, “What are you doing?”
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 my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added 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 and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.
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。」