Daniel 4
1 Gbedeasi tso Fia Nebukadnezar, Gbɔ na amewo, dukɔwo kple gbegbɔgblɔ ɖe sia ɖe me tɔwo le xexea me katã. Eme nenyo na mi katã!
King Nebuchadnezzar, To the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth: May your prosperity be multiplied.
2 Enye dzidzɔ nam be maɖi ɖase na mi tso dzesi wɔnuku kple nukunu siwo Mawu, Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la wɔ nam la ŋuti.
I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
3 Eƒe dzesiwo lolo ŋutɔ,
How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation.
4 Nye, Nebukadnezar, menɔ aƒe me le fiasã la me; meɖe dzi ɖi bɔkɔɔ eye nuwo dze edzi nam.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.
5 Meku drɔ̃e aɖe si na vɔvɔ̃ ɖom. Esi memlɔ nye aba dzi la, ɖeɖefia kple ŋutega siwo va to nye susu me la do ŋɔdzi nam.
I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.
6 Ale meɖe gbe be woakplɔ nunyala siwo katã le Babilonia la vɛ be woaɖe drɔ̃e la gɔme nam.
So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.
7 Esime akunyawɔlawo, dzosalawo, ɣletivimenunyalawo kple bokɔwo va la, melĩ drɔ̃e la na wo, ke womete ŋu ɖe egɔme nam o.
When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.
8 Mlɔeba la, Daniel do ɖe nye ŋkume eye melĩ drɔ̃e la nɛ. Wotsɔ nye mawu ƒe ŋkɔ nɛ be, Beltesazar eye mawu kɔkɔewo ƒe gbɔgbɔ le eme.
But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream:
9 Megblɔ be, “Beltesazar, akunyawɔlawo ƒe fia, menya be mawu kɔkɔewo ƒe gbɔgbɔ le mewò eye nya ɣaɣla aɖeke mesesẽ akpa na wò o. Nye drɔ̃e lae nye esi, ɖe egɔme nam.
“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.
10 Esiawoe nye ŋutega siwo mekpɔ esi memlɔ nye aba dzi. Mekpɔ ati aɖe le nye ŋkume le anyigba la titina. Ekɔ ŋutɔ.
In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass: There was a tree in the midst of the land, and its height was great.
11 Ati la tsi, lolo, sẽ eye eƒe tame tɔ dziŋgɔli.
The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
12 Eƒe aŋugbawo nya kpɔ ŋutɔ, eƒe kutsetsewo sɔ gbɔ ŋutɔŋutɔ eye nuɖuɖu le edzi na ame sia ame. Dziƒoxeviwo nɔ eƒe alɔwo dzi. Nu gbagbe ɖe sia ɖe kpɔa nuɖuɖu tsoa egbɔ.
Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.
13 “Le ŋutega siwo mekpɔ esi memlɔ nye aba dzi me la, mekpɔ nu, eye nye dɔla aɖe tsi tsitre ɖe nye ŋkume. Enye ame kɔkɔe aɖe si ɖi tso dziƒo.
As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
14 Edo ɣli kple gbe sesẽ aɖe be, ‘Tso ati la ƒu anyi, lã eƒe ɖɔwo ɖa eye nàkaka eƒe kutsetsewo ahlẽ. Na gbemelãwo nasi le ete eye nàna dziƒoxeviwo nadzo adzo le eƒe alɔwo dzi.
He called out in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.
15 Ke na eƒe takpo la kple eƒe kewo nanɔ babla kple gayibɔ kple akɔbli eye wòanɔ tome le gbe siwo le gbedzi la dome. “‘Na dziƒozãmu naƒoe eye nàna wòanɔ agbe kple lãwo le anyigba la ƒe nu miemiewo dome.
But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, and a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven and graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth.
16 Na woatrɔ eƒe amegbetɔ ƒe susu wòazu gbemelã tɔ va se ɖe esime ƒe adre nava yi.
Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of a beast till seven times pass him by.
17 “‘Dɔla kɔkɔewo ɖe gbeƒã nyametsotso sia ale be ame nɔagbewo nanya be Dziƒoʋĩtɔ lae nye fia ɖe amegbetɔwo ƒe fiaɖuƒewo katã dzi eye wòtsɔa wo katã naa ame sia ame si wòlɔ̃ eye wòtsɔa ame siwo bɔbɔa wo ɖokuiwo la ɖoa wo nu.’
This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’
18 “Esia nye drɔ̃e si nye Fia Nebukadnezar meku. Azɔ la, Beltesazar ɖe egɔme nam, elabena nunyala siwo katã le nye fiaɖuƒe me la dometɔ aɖeke mate ŋu aɖe egɔme nam o. Ke wò ya la, àte ŋui elabena mawu kɔkɔewo ƒe gbɔgbɔ le mewò.”
This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
19 Tete Daniel, ame si woyɔna hã be Beltesazar la tɔtɔ ŋutɔ ɣeyiɣi aɖe eye eƒe susu do ŋɔdzi nɛ. Ale fia la gblɔ nɛ be, “Beltesazar, mègana drɔ̃e la kple eƒe gɔmeɖeɖe nado ŋɔdzi na wò o.” Beltesazar ɖo eŋu be, “Nye Aƒetɔ, ɖe drɔ̃e la aku ɖe wò futɔwo ŋu eye eƒe gɔmeɖeɖe alɔ ame siwo dia vɔ̃e na wò ɖe eme hafi!
For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!
20 Ati si nèkpɔ wòlolo, sẽ, eƒe tame tɔ dziŋgɔli, eye wòdzena le anyigba la dzi
The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,
21 kple eƒe aŋugba dzeaniwo kple kutsetse sɔgbɔwo, ati si naa nuɖuɖu ame sia ame, wònye sitsoƒe na gbemelãwo, eye eƒe alɔwo nye dzudzɔƒe na dziƒoxeviwo lae nye
whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested—
22 wò ŋutɔ. O fia, wòe nye ati la! Èlolo eye nèsẽ ŋu, wò gãnyenye tsi va se ɖe esime wòtɔ dziŋgɔli eye wò fiaɖuƒe keke yi teƒe didiwo le anyigba dzi.
you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.
23 “Wò, O fia, èkpɔ dɔla aɖe, ame kɔkɔe aɖe, wònɔ ɖiɖim tso dziƒo henɔ gbɔgblɔm na wò be, ‘Tso ati la ƒu anyi eye nàtsrɔ̃e gake nàgblẽ eƒe takpoa ɖe tome eye nàde gayibɔ kple akɔblikɔsɔkɔsɔe ɖe gbe damawo dome le esime eƒe kewo le tome. Na dziƒozãmu naƒoe, wòanɔ agbe abe gbemelãwo ene va se ɖe esime ƒe adre nava yi.’
And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground, and a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and graze with the beasts of the field till seven times pass him by.’
24 “O fia, esiae nye drɔ̃e la ƒe gɔmeɖeɖe eye wònye ɖoɖo si Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la wɔ ɖe wò, nye aƒetɔ kple fia ŋuti.
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:
25 Woanya wò ɖa le amewo dome eye nànɔ agbe abe lã wɔadãwo ene; àɖu gbe abe nyi ene eye dziƒozãmu adza ɖe dziwò. Ƒe adre ava yi va se ɖe esime nànyae be, Dziƒoʋĩtɔ lae nye fia ɖe amegbetɔwo ƒe fiaɖuƒewo dzi eye wòtsɔa wo naa ame si dzea eŋu.
You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.
26 Gbe si wòɖe be nàgblẽ ati la ƒe takpo kple kewo ɖe tome la gɔmee nye, woagbugbɔ wò fiaduƒe ana wò ne ède dzesii be, Dziƒoʋĩtɔ lae le fia ɖum.
As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
27 Eya ta, O fia, na wòadze ŋuwò be nàxɔ nye aɖaŋuɖoɖo. Ɖe asi le wò nu vɔ̃wo ŋuti to nu nyui wɔwɔ me, nàɖe asi le ŋutasesẽ ŋu to ame siwo wote ɖe anyi la nu veve me. Ekema ate ŋu ava eme be wò nunyonamewo agate ŋu ayi dzi.”
Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”
28 Nu siawo katã dzɔ ɖe Fia Nebukadnezar dzi.
All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 Le ɣleti wuieve megbe esime fia la nɔ tsa ɖim le eƒe fiasã la tame le Babilonia la,
Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,
30 egblɔ be, “Ɖe menye esiae nye Babilonia gã si metu abe nye fia la ƒe nɔƒe to nye ŋusẽ triakɔ kple nye fianyenye ƒe ŋutikɔkɔe me ene oa?”
the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
31 Megblɔ nya siawo vɔ hafi gbe aɖe ɖi tso dziƒo o. Gbe la ɖi be, “Nu siwo woɖo be woadzɔ ɖe wò Fia Nebukadnezar dzi lae nye, woaxɔ wò fianyenye le asiwò.
While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you.
32 Woanya wò do goe le amewo dome eye nànɔ lã wɔadãwo dome; àɖu gbe abe nyi ene. Fe adre ava yi na wò va se ɖe esime nànyae be Dziƒoʋĩtɔ lae nye fia ɖe amegbetɔwo ƒe fiaɖuƒewo katã dzi, eye wòtsɔa wo naa ame si wòdi be yeatsɔ wo ana la.”
You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”
33 Enumake nu si wogblɔ ɖe Nebukadnezar ŋu la va eme. Wonyae ɖa tso amewo dome eye wòɖu gbe abe nyi ene. Zãmu dza ɖe edzi va se ɖe esime eƒe taɖa to abe hɔ̃ ƒe fuwo ene eye eƒe fewo to abe xevi ƒe fewo ene.
At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
34 Le ɣeyiɣi ma ƒe nuwuwu la, nye Nebukadnezar, mewu mo dzi, kpɔ dziƒo eye wogbugbɔ nye susu ɖo te nam. Tete mekafu Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la, mede bubu eŋu eye medoe ɖe dzi, eya ame si li tegbee.
But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 Wobua anyigbadzitɔwo katã
All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
36 Le ɣe ma ɣi ke esi Mawu gbugbɔ nye susu ɖo te la, egbugbɔ nye bubu kple atsyɔ̃ hã nam hena nye fiaɖuƒe la ƒe bubu. Aɖaŋudelawo kple ametsitsiwo gbugbɔm ɖo nye fiazikpui dzi eye mexɔ ŋkɔ azɔ wu tsã gɔ̃ hã.
At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me.
37 Ke azɔ la, nye Nebukadnezar, mekafu Dziƒo fia la, medoe ɖe dzi eye mede bubu eŋu elabena nu sia nu si wòwɔna la nɔa dzɔdzɔe eye eƒe mɔwo katã le eteƒe. Ame siwo zɔna dadatɔe la, etea ŋu bɔbɔa wo ɖe anyi.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.
