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!

'Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; peace be multiplied unto you.

2 Enye dzidzɔ nam be maɖi ɖase na mi tso dzesi wɔnuku kple nukunu siwo Mawu, Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la wɔ nam la ŋuti.

It hath seemed good unto me to declare the signs and wonders that God Most High hath wrought toward me.

3 Eƒe dzesiwo lolo ŋutɔ,

How great are His signs! and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is 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 rest 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 saw a dream which made me afraid; and imaginings upon my bed and the visions of my head affrighted me.

6 Ale meɖe gbe be woakplɔ nunyala siwo katã le Babilonia la vɛ be woaɖe drɔ̃e la gɔme nam.

Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

7 Esime akunyawɔlawo, dzosalawo, ɣletivimenunyalawo kple bokɔwo va la, melĩ drɔ̃e la na wo, ke womete ŋu ɖe egɔme nam o.

Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

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 the 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; and I told the dream before 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.

O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret causeth thee trouble, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

10 Esiawoe nye ŋutega siwo mekpɔ esi memlɔ nye aba dzi. Mekpɔ ati aɖe le nye ŋkume le anyigba la titina. Ekɔ ŋutɔ.

Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

11 Ati la tsi, lolo, sẽ eye eƒe tame tɔ dziŋgɔli.

The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all 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.

The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all; the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

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.

I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came 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 aloud, and said thus: Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls 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.

Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even in a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in 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 heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

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.’

The matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the lowest 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 dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen; and thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.'

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!

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while, and his thoughts affrighted him. The king spoke and said: 'Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation, affright thee.' Belteshazzar answered and said: 'My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adversaries.

20 Ati si nèkpɔ wòlolo, sẽ, eƒe tame tɔ dziŋgɔli, eye wòdzena le anyigba la dzi

The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof 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 leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation;

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.

it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end 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 whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying: Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even in a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him —

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 it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon 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.

that thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee; till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.

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.

And whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

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.”

Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by almsgiving, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy prosperity.'

28 Nu siawo katã dzɔ ɖe Fia Nebukadnezar dzi.

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

29 Le ɣleti wuieve megbe esime fia la nɔ tsa ɖim le eƒe fiasã la tame le Babilonia la,

At the end of twelve months he was walking upon 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 spoke, and said: 'Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for a royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power 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 word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven: 'O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: the kingdom is departed from thee.

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.”

And thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.'

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.

The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar; and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' 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.

'And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honoured Him that liveth for ever; for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom from generation to generation;

35 Wobua anyigbadzitɔwo katã

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and He doeth according to His will in the host of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him: What doest Thou?

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 mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and my splendour returned unto me; and my ministers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and surpassing greatness was added unto 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 extol and honour the King of heaven; for all His works are truth, and His ways justice; and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.'