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 sent this decree to all peoples, nations, and languages who lived on the earth: May your peace increase.
2 Enye dzidzɔ nam be maɖi ɖase na mi tso dzesi wɔnuku kple nukunu siwo Mawu, Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la wɔ nam la ŋuti.
It has seemed good to me to tell you about the signs and wonders that the Most High has done for 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 lasts 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 living happily in my house, and I was enjoying prosperity 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 a dream I had made me afraid. As I lay there, the images I saw and the visions in my mind troubled me.
6 Ale meɖe gbe be woakplɔ nunyala siwo katã le Babilonia la vɛ be woaɖe drɔ̃e la gɔme nam.
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.
7 Esime akunyawɔlawo, dzosalawo, ɣletivimenunyalawo kple bokɔwo va la, melĩ drɔ̃e la na wo, ke womete ŋu ɖe egɔme nam o.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
10 Esiawoe nye ŋutega siwo mekpɔ esi memlɔ nye aba dzi. Mekpɔ ati aɖe le nye ŋkume le anyigba la titina. Ekɔ ŋutɔ.
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.
11 Ati la tsi, lolo, sẽ eye eƒe tame tɔ dziŋgɔli.
The tree grew and became strong. Its top reached to the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of the whole 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 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.
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 my mind as I lay on my bed, and a holy messenger came down from the heavens.
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 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.
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.
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.
16 Na woatrɔ eƒe amegbetɔ ƒe susu wòazu gbemelã tɔ va se ɖe esime ƒe adre nava yi.
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.
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 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.'
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.”
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.”
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, 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.
20 Ati si nèkpɔ wòlolo, sẽ, eƒe tame tɔ dziŋgɔli, eye wòdzena le anyigba la dzi
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—
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 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—
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 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.
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.’
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.'
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, king. It is a decree of the Most High that has reached you, my master 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 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.
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 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.
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, 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.”
28 Nu siawo katã dzɔ ɖe Fia Nebukadnezar dzi.
All these things 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 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?”
and he said, “Is this not the great Babylon, which I have built for my royal residence, 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 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.
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 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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
35 Wobua anyigbadzitɔwo katã
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?'”
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 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.
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, 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.
