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, to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
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 show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked towards me.
3 Eƒe dzesiwo lolo ŋutɔ,
How great are his signs! How mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. 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 the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6 Ale meɖe gbe be woakplɔ nunyala siwo katã le Babilonia la vɛ be woaɖe drɔ̃e la gɔme nam.
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.
7 Esime akunyawɔlawo, dzosalawo, ɣletivimenunyalawo kple bokɔwo va la, melĩ drɔ̃e la na wo, ke womete ŋu ɖe egɔme nam o.
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.
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 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,
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, 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.
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 visions of my head on my bed: I saw, and behold, a tree in the middle of the earth; and its height was great.
11 Ati la tsi, lolo, sẽ eye eƒe tame tɔ dziŋgɔli.
The tree grew and was strong. Its height reached to the sky and its sight 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.
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.
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 on my bed, and behold, a holy watcher came down from the sky.
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 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.
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 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.
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 an animal’s heart be given to him. Then 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 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.’
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 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.”
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 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.
20 Ati si nèkpɔ wòlolo, sẽ, eƒe tame tɔ dziŋgɔli, eye wòdzena le anyigba la dzi
The tree that you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to the sky and its sight 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 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—
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 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.
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.’
“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.’
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 has come on 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 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.
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.
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.
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, 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 tranquillity.”
28 Nu siawo katã dzɔ ɖe Fia Nebukadnezar dzi.
All this came on 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 in 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 the 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, a voice came from the sky, saying, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: ‘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 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.’”
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 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.
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, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honoured him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.
35 Wobua anyigbadzitɔwo katã
All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and amongst the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can stop his hand, 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.
At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me. My counsellors and my lords sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent 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 extol and honour 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.
