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 people of every nation and language in the whole world: I wish you well!
2 Enye dzidzɔ nam be maɖi ɖase na mi tso dzesi wɔnuku kple nukunu siwo Mawu, Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la wɔ nam la ŋuti.
It is my pleasure to share with you an account of the signs and wonders the Most High God has done for me.
3 Eƒe dzesiwo lolo ŋutɔ,
His signs are incredible. His wonders are amazing! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and his rule will last for all generations!
4 Nye, Nebukadnezar, menɔ aƒe me le fiasã la me; meɖe dzi ɖi bɔkɔɔ eye nuwo dze edzi nam.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was doing well at home, living happily 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.
But then one night I had a dream that really scared me—I saw visions that terrified me while I lay in my bed.
6 Ale meɖe gbe be woakplɔ nunyala siwo katã le Babilonia la vɛ be woaɖe drɔ̃e la gɔme nam.
So I ordered all the wise men of Babylon brought before me to explain the dream to 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, but they couldn't explain to me what it meant.
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.
In the end Daniel came before me and I told him the dream. (He is also called Belteshazzar after my god, and he has the spirit of the holy gods in him.)
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.
“Belteshazzar, chief of magicians,” I said, “I certainly know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is difficult for you to explain. So tell me about what I saw in my dream and explain what it means.
10 Esiawoe nye ŋutega siwo mekpɔ esi memlɔ nye aba dzi. Mekpɔ ati aɖe le nye ŋkume le anyigba la titina. Ekɔ ŋutɔ.
As I lay in bed dreaming, I saw a tree in the middle of the earth—a really large tree.
11 Ati la tsi, lolo, sẽ eye eƒe tame tɔ dziŋgɔli.
It grew strong and tall, reaching high into the sky so it could be seen by everyone in the whole world.
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, and it was full of fruit for all to eat. Wild animals rested in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. It fed all living creatures.
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 went on dreaming, lying on my bed, I saw 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 cried out in a loud voice, ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Drive the animals away from its shade, and scare off 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 and its roots in the ground, and bind it with iron and bronze, surrounded by the new grass of the field. Let him become soaked with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals outside in the undergrowth.
16 Na woatrɔ eƒe amegbetɔ ƒe susu wòazu gbemelã tɔ va se ɖe esime ƒe adre nava yi.
Let his mind become like that of an animal. Let him be like this for seven times.
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 is the decree conveyed by the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones in order that everyone alive may know that the Most High rules over human kingdoms. He gives them to whoever he chooses—he puts the most humble individuals in charge.’
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 what I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw in my dream. Now it's up to you, Belteshazzar, to give me the explanation as you have before. None of the wise men in my kingdom could explain it to me. But you can, 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!
When Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) heard this, he was upset for a while, disturbed as he thought about it. The king told him, “Belteshazzar, don't be worried about the dream and what it means.” “My lord, I only wish this dream was for those who hate you and the explanation for your enemies,” Daniel replied.
20 Ati si nèkpɔ wòlolo, sẽ, eƒe tame tɔ dziŋgɔli, eye wòdzena le anyigba la dzi
“The tree you saw was growing strong and tall, reaching high into the sky so it could be seen by everyone in the whole world.
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
Its leaves were beautiful, and it was full of fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived under its shade, and birds nested in its branches.
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.
This is you, Your Majesty. You have grown strong, your power has become so great that it has reached high into the sky, and your rule 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.’
Then Your Majesty saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven who said, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump and its roots in the ground, and bind it with iron and bronze, surrounded by the new grass of the field. Let him become soaked with the dew of heaven and let him live with the animals outside in the undergrowth. Let his mind become like that of an animal. Let him be like this for seven times.’
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 what it means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has decreed will happen to 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 human society and you will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like the cattle, and you will be soaked with the dew of heaven. You will be like this for seven times until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over human kingdoms, and that he gives them to those he chooses.
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.
However, as it was decreed, the stump and its roots were to be left in the ground. Your kingdom will be restored to you when 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.”
So, Your Majesty, please take my advice. Stop sinning and do what's right. End your iniquities and be merciful to the oppressed. Maybe then things will continue to go well for you.”
28 Nu siawo katã dzɔ ɖe Fia Nebukadnezar dzi.
(However, all this did happen 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 he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in 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?”
He said, “I was the one who built this great city of Babylon! By my own great power I built it as my royal residence for my majestic glory!”
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.
The words were still on the king's lips when a voice came from heaven, “King Nebuchadnezzar, this is what is decreed concerning you: the kingdom has been taken away 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 human society and you will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like the cattle, and you will become soaked with the dew of heaven. You will be like this for seven times until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over human kingdoms, and that he gives them to whoever he chooses.”
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.
Immediately the decree was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from human society. He ate grass like the cattle, and his body was soaked with the dew of heaven. His hair grew matted like a vulture, and his nails like bird claws.)
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.
Once the time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven and my sanity returned to me. I blessed and praised the Most High and worshiped the One who lives forever. His rule is an eternal rule, and his kingdom lasts for all generations.
35 Wobua anyigbadzitɔwo katã
Everyone who lives on earth are as nothing compared to him. He does whatever he chooses among the heavenly host and among those who live on earth. No one can hold him back from what he does, or ask him, “What are you doing?”
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.
When my sanity returned, then my kingdom, majesty, and splendor also returned to me. My advisors and nobles came looking for me, and I was restored as ruler over my kingdom, even greater than before.
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.
So now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, honor, and glorify the King of Heaven, for everything he does is right, and his ways are true. He is able to humble those who are proud.
