< Daniel 2 >
1 Nʼime afọ nke abụọ nke ọchịchị ya, eze Nebukadneza rọrọ nrọ dị iche iche. Nrọ ndị a mere ka obi ya gbasasịa, ụra pụkwara ya nʼanya.
In the second year of [his] reign Nabuchodonosor dreamed a dream, and his spirit was amazed, and his sleep departed from him.
2 Mgbe ahụ, eze kpọrọ ndị majiki, ndị ha na mmụọ ọjọọ na-ekwu okwu, ndị mgbaasị na ndị ihe banyere ngagharị nke kpakpando doro anya ka ha bịa gwa ya ihe ahụ ọ rọrọ na nrọ. Mgbe ha bịara, guzo nʼihu eze,
And the king gave orders to call the enchanters, and the magicians, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to declare to the king his dreams. And they came and stood before the king.
3 ọ sịrị ha, “Arọrọ m nrọ nke na-enye m nsogbu nʼobi. Achọrọ m ịma ihe ọ pụtara.”
And the king said to them, I have dreamed, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
4 Mgbe ahụ, ndị ahụ na-enyocha kpakpando gwara eze ahụ okwu nʼasụsụ ndị Siria sị, “Ka gị eze dịrị ndụ ruo mgbe ebighị ebi, Ị ga-agwa ụmụodibo gị nrọ a ị rọrọ, anyị ga-akọwara gị ihe ọ pụtara.”
And the Chaldeans spoke to the king in the Syrian language, [saying], O king, live for ever: do thou tell the dream to thy servants, and we will declare the interpretation.
5 Ma eze zara ndị Kaldịa, “Nke a bụ ihe m kpebirila: Ọ bụrụ na unu agwaghị m ihe nrọ a na nkọwa ya bụ, aga m eme ka abọkasịa unu, tikpọkwa ụlọ unu, mee ka ha ghọọ mkpọmkpọ ebe.
The king answered the Chaldeans, The thing has departed from me: if ye do not make known to me the dream and the interpretation, ye shall be destroyed, and your houses shall be spoiled.
6 Ma ọ bụrụ na unu gwa m ihe ahụ m rọrọ na nrọ ma kọwaakwa ya, aga m enye unu onyinye dị iche iche na ụgwọ ọrụ nsọpụrụ dị ukwuu. Ya mere, gwanụ m nrọ ahụ na nkọwa ya.”
But if ye make known to me the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and presents and much honour: only tell me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
7 Ọzọkwa, ha zaghachiri, “Ka eze gwa ndị ohu ya ihe ọ rọrọ na nrọ, anyị ga-akọwakwa ya.”
They answered the second time, and said, Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will declare the interpretation.
8 Eze zaghachiri, “Ama m na ọ bụ oge ka unu na-achọ inweta nʼihi na unu amatala na ihe a ka m kpebiri ime.
And the king answered and said, I verily know that ye are trying to gain time, because ye see that the thing has gone from me.
9 Ọ bụrụ na unu agwaghị m nrọ ahụ naanị otu ntaramahụhụ dịịrị unu. Unu agbaala izu ịgwa m okwu ụgha na okwu nduhie na-ele anya na ọnọdụ ga-agbanwe. Ya mere, gwanụ m nrọ ahụ, m ga-amatakwa na unu pụrụ ịkọwara m ya.”
If then ye do not tell me the dream, I know that ye have concerted to utter before me a false and corrupt tale, until the time shall have past: tell me my dream, and I shall know that ye will also declare to me the interpretation thereof.
10 Ndị Kaldịa zara eze, “Ọ dịghị mmadụ ọbụla nʼelu ụwa a nke nwere ike ime ihe a eze na-achọ. Ọ dịghịkwa eze, nʼagbanyeghị ịdị ukwuu ya na ịdị ike ya, nke jụtụrụla ụdị ihe dị otu a eze na-ajụ nʼaka ndị mgbaasị, ndị na-agba aja ya, ndị ha na mmụọ ọjọọ na-ekwu okwu, na ndị Kaldịa.
The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is no man upon the earth, who shall be able to make known the king’s matter: forasmuch as no great king or ruler asks such a question of an enchanter, magician, or Chaldean.
11 Ihe a ị chọrọ ka anyị mee bụ ihe na-agaghị ekwe omume. Ọ bụ naanị ndị mmụọ nwere ike ịkọrọ gị ihe ị rọrọ na nrọ. Ndị mmụọ anọkwaghị nʼetiti ndị mmadụ.”
For the question which the king asks is difficult, and there is no one else who shall answer it before the king, but the gods, whose dwelling is not with any flesh.
12 Nke a mere ka eze jupụta nʼoke iwe na ọnụma, o nyere iwu ka e gbuchaa ndị amamihe niile nke Babilọn.
Then the king in rage and anger commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13 Mgbe e kwupụtara iwu onye eze ka e gbuo ndị oke amamihe niile, ndị agha chọkwara ebe Daniel na ndị otu ya nọ ka ha gbuo ha.
So the decree went forth, and they began to slay the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to slay [them].
14 Mgbe Ariok, onye bụ onyeisi ndị nche eze pụrụ igbu ndị ikom maara ihe na Babilọn, Daniel ji amamihe na ezi uche gwa ya okwu.
Then Daniel answered [with] counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the royal guard, who was gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon; [saying],
15 Ọ jụrụ onyeozi eze, bụ Ariok, “Gịnị mere eze ji nye iwu dị ike dị otu a?” Mgbe ahụ, Ariok kọwaara ihe niile nye Daniel.
Chief magistrate of the king, wherefore has the peremptory command proceeded from the king? So Arioch made known the matter to Daniel.
16 Mgbe ahụ, Daniel banyere nʼụlọeze, ịhụ ya. Ọ rịọrọ eze ka o nyetụ ya nwa oge iji kọwaakwara ya ihe nrọ ahụ pụtara.
And Daniel intreated the king to give him time, and that he might [thus] declare to the king the interpretation of it.
17 Emesịa, Daniel lara nʼụlọ nke ya gaa kọọrọ Hananaya, na Mishael, na Azaraya, ndị enyi ya ihe merenụ.
So Daniel went into his house, and made known the matter to Ananias, and Misael, and Azarias, his friends.
18 Ọ gwara ha ka ha rịọọ maka ebere site nʼaka Chineke nke eluigwe banyere ihe nzuzo a, ka a hapụ igbu ya na ndị enyi ya na ndị amamihe fọdụrụ na Babilọn.
And they sought mercies from the God of heaven concerning this mystery; that Daniel and his friends might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19 Nʼabalị, e mere ka Daniel mata ihe omimi ahụ site nʼọhụ. Mgbe ahụ, Daniel toro Chineke nke eluigwe,
Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night: and Daniel blessed the God of heaven, and said,
20 Daniel sịrị, “Otuto dịrị aha Chineke ruo mgbe ebighị ebi; amamihe na ike dị nʼaka ya.
May the name of God be blessed from everlasting and to everlasting: for wisdom and understanding are his.
21 Ọ na-agbanwe oge na mgbe dị iche iche; Ọ na-ebuli ndị eze na-akwatụkwa ha. Ọ na-enye onye maara ihe amamihe, ma na-enyekwa onye nwere mmụọ nghọta ihe ọmụma.
And he changes times and seasons: he appoints kings, and removes [them], giving wisdom to the wise, and prudence to them that have understanding:
22 Ọ na-ekpughe ihe dị omimi na ihe zoro ezo; Ọ maara ihe dị nʼọchịchịrị, ma ìhè binyekwara ya.
he reveals deep and secret [matters]; knowing what is in darkness, and the light is with him.
23 Ana m ekele gị, na-etokwa gị, Chineke nke nna m ha, nʼihi na i nyela m amamihe na ike. I meela ka m mata ihe anyị rịọrọ gị, i mekwala ka anyị mata nrọ ahụ eze rọrọ.”
I give thanks to thee, and praise [thee], O God of my fathers, for thou hast given me wisdom and power, and hast made known to me the things which we asked of thee; and thou hast made known to me the king’s vision.
24 Nʼihi ya, Daniel jekwuru Ariok, onye ahụ eze nyere iwu igbu ndị ndụmọdụ niile dị na Babilọn, sị ya, “Egbukwala onye ọbụla nʼime ndị amamihe Babilọn. Kama duru m gaa nʼihu eze nʼihi na ejikeere m ịgwa ya ihe ahụ ọ chọrọ ịmata.”
And Daniel came to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon, but bring me in before the king, and I will declare the interpretation to the king.
25 Mgbe ahụ, Ariok mere ngwangwa duru Daniel gaa nʼihu eze, sị ya, “Achọpụtala m otu onye nʼime ndị Juda a dọtara nʼagha nwere ike ịgwa eze ihe nrọ ya pụtara.”
Then Arioch in haste brought in Daniel before the king, and said to him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judea, who will declare the interpretation to the king.
26 Eze jụrụ Daniel (onye a na-akpọkwa Belteshaza), “I nwere ike ịgwa m ihe ahụ m rọrọ na nrọ, na ịkọwara m ihe ọ pụtara?”
And the king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Baltasar, Canst thou declare to me the dream which I saw, and the interpretation thereof?
27 Daniel gwara eze, “O nweghị onye amamihe ọbụla, onye ọbụla ya na mmụọ na-ekwu okwu, onye mgbaasị ọbụla maọbụ onye na-enyocha kpakpando ọbụla pụrụ ịgwa eze ihe omimi a ị chọrọ.
And Daniel answered before the king, and said, The mystery which the king asks [the explanation of] is not [in the power] of the wise men, magicians, enchanters, [or] soothsayers to declare to the king.
28 Ma o nwere Chineke nọ nʼeluigwe, onye na-ekpughe ihe omimi niile. O gosila Nebukadneza ihe ga-eme nʼụbọchị ndị dị nʼihu. Nrọ gị na ọhụ niile nke gara nʼuche gị mgbe ị dinara nʼihe ndina gị bụ ndị a:
But there is a God in heaven revealing mysteries, and he has made known to king Nabuchodonosor what things must come to pass in the last days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are as follows,
29 “Ihe ị rọrọ na nrọ, gị bụ eze, bụ ihe banyere ihe na-aga imezu nʼoge dị nʼihu. Onye ahụ na-ekpughe ihe nzuzo niile egosikwala gị ihe nke ga-eme.
O king: thy thoughts upon thy bed arose [as to] what must come to pass hereafter: and he that reveals mysteries has made known to thee what must come to pass.
30 Ma mụ onwe m, ekpugheghị ihe omimi a nye m nʼihi na m karịrị mmadụ ọbụla dị ndụ nʼamamihe, kama ọ bụ ka gị bụ eze mata nkọwa ya ma ghọtakwa ihe gabigara nʼuche gị.
Moreover, this mystery has not been revealed to me by reason of wisdom which is in me beyond all [others] living, but for the sake of making known the interpretation to the king, that thou mightest know the thoughts of thine heart.
31 “Eze, ihe ị hụrụ nʼọhụ bụ nke a. Ị hụrụ mmadụ a kpụrụ akpụ. Mmadụ a a kpụrụ akpụ buru nnọọ ibu. Ọ na-egbukwa nweghenweghe, bụrụkwa ihe na-eyi onye ọbụla lekwasịrị ya anya egwu.
Thou, O king, sawest, and behold an image: that image was great, and the appearance of it excellent, standing before thy face; and the form of it was terrible.
32 E ji ọlaedo a nụchara anụcha kpụọ isi mmadụ ahụ, jiri ọlaọcha kpụọ aka ya na obi ya. E jikwa bronz kpụọ afọ ya na apata ụkwụ ya.
[It was] an image, the head of which was of fine gold, its hands and breast and arms of silver, [its] belly and thighs of brass,
33 Ọ bụkwa igwe ka e ji kpụọ ogwe ụkwụ ya abụọ. Ma akụkụ ụkwụ ya, nke a na-azọ nʼala ka e ji igwe a gwara ya na ụrọ kpụọ.
its legs of iron, its feet, part of iron and part of earthenware.
34 Mgbe ị na-ele anya, a wapụtara nkume, ma ọ bụghị aka mmadụ ka e ji wapụta ya. Nkume a kụrụ mmadụ ahụ a kpụrụ akpụ nʼukwu nkume na ụrọ ya, kụpịasịa ha.
Thou sawest until a stone was cut out of a mountain without hands, and it smote the image upon its feet of iron and earthenware, and utterly reduced them to powder.
35 Mgbe ahụ, e tijisịrị igwe ahụ na ụrọ ahụ, bronz ahụ na ọlaọcha ahụ nakwa ọlaedo ahụ niile. Ha dịka igbugbo ọka nke na-adị nʼebe a na-azọcha ọka nʼoge okpomọkụ. Ifufe fechapụsịrị ha na-ahapụghị ihe ngosi ọbụla. Ma nkume ahụ dakwasịrị ihe ahụ awuru awu mechara ghọọ ugwu dị ukwuu, nke jupụtara ụwa niile.
Then once for all the earthenware, the iron, the brass, the silver, the gold, were ground to powder, and became as chaff from the summer threshingfloor; and the violence of the wind carried them away, and no place was found for them: and the stone which had smitten the image became a great mountain, and filled all the earth.
36 “Eze, nke a bụ nrọ ahụ. Ugbu a ka anyị kọwaara gị ihe nrọ ahụ pụtara.
This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
37 Gị onwe gị, eze, bụ eze nke ọtụtụ ndị eze ọzọ nọ nʼokpuru ya, onye Chineke nke eluigwe nyere ike ọchịchị, nʼocheeze niile, na ike na otuto;
Thou, O king, art a king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given a powerful and strong and honourable kingdom,
38 nyefeekwa nʼaka gị ụmụ mmadụ niile na ụmụ anụmanụ bi nʼime ọhịa, na ụmụ nnụnụ nke igwe, e mere ka ị bụrụ eze ihe niile ndị a, gị bụ isi ahụ e ji ọlaedo kpụọ.
in every place where the children of men dwell: and he has given into thine hand the wild beasts of the field, and the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and he has made thee lord of all.
39 “Mgbe ị chịchara alaeze ọzọ ga-ebili, ma ọ gaghị adị ukwuu dịka nke gị, mgbe nke a gasịrị, alaeze ọzọ bụ nke atọ, nke ga-adị ka bronz ga-ebilikwa, ọ ga-achị ụwa niile.
Thou art the head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and a third kingdom which is the brass, which shall have dominion over all the earth;
40 A ga-enwekwa alaeze nke anọ, nke ga-esi ike dịka igwe. Dịka igwe nke na-akụri ihe niile, ọ ga-egwepịa ma kụrikwaa ndị a niile.
and a fourth kingdom, which shall be strong as iron: as iron beats to powder and subdues all things, so shall it beat to powder and subdue.
41 Ma ebe ị hụrụ na ọbụ ụkwụ ahụ na mkpịsịụkwụ ya niile na ụfọdụ nʼime ha bụ ụrọ ọkpụ ite na ụfọdụ bụkwa igwe, alaeze nke ekewara ekewa ka ọ ga-abụ, ma ọ ga-esitụ ike dịka igwe nke dị nʼime ya, nʼihi na ị hụrụ igwe ahụ na agwakọtara ya na ụrọ apịtị.
And whereas thou sawest the feet and the toes, part of earthenware and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet there shall be in it of the strength of iron, as thou sawest the iron mixed with earthenware.
42 Dịka mkpịsịụkwụ ya, nke ụfọdụ nʼime ya bụ igwe, ụfọdụ bụkwa ụrọ, na-egosi na akụkụ ụfọdụ nke alaeze ahụ ga-esi ike ma akụkụ ụfọdụ agaghị esi ike ntiwa.
And [whereas] the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of earthenware, part of the kingdom shall be strong, and [part] of it shall be broken.
43 Dịka otu ahụ ị hụrụ e siri gwakọta igwe na ụrọ ọnụ, otu a ka ọchịchị alaeze ndị a ga-achọ njikọta alaeze na ibe ya, ma nke a agaghị ekwe mee, dịka ọ gaghị ekwe omume bụ ịgwakọta igwe na ụrọ.
Whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with earthenware, they shall be mingled with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave together, as the iron does not mix itself with earthenware.
44 “Nʼoge ahụ, ndị eze ndị a ga-anọ nʼọchịchị, Chineke nke eluigwe ga-eme ka alaeze ọzọ bido. Ọ bụkwa alaeze nke a na-apụghị imebi emebi. O nwekwaghị onye ọbụla pụrụ imeri alaeze ahụ. Ọ ga-ala alaeze ndị ọzọ nʼiyi, mee ka ha bụrụ ihe efu, ma ọ ga-adịrị na-aga nʼihu ruo ebighị ebi.
And in the days of those kings the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and his kingdom shall not be left to another people, [but] it shall beat to pieces and grind to powder all [other] kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
45 Dịka i siri hụ nkume ahụ dị ukwuu e sitere nʼugwu wapụta, nke a na-ejighị aka wapụta were kụrichaa igwe ahụ, bronz ahụ, ụrọ ahụ, ọlaọcha ahụ na ọlaedo ahụ. “Chineke dị ukwuu emeela ka eze mara ihe na-aga ime nʼoge dị nʼihu. Nrọ a bụ eziokwu, nkọwa ya kwesikwara ntụkwasị obi.”
Whereas thou sawest that a stone was cut out of a mountain without hands, and it beat to pieces the earthenware, the iron, the brass, the silver, the gold; the great God has made known to the king what must happen hereafter: and the dream is true, and the interpretation thereof sure.
46 Mgbe ahụ, eze Nebukadneza dara nʼala nʼihu Daniel nye ya nsọpụrụ. O nyekwara iwu ka eweta onyinye na ụda na-esi isi ụtọ were chụnyere ya aja.
Then king Nabuchodonosor fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and gave orders to offer to him gifts and incense.
47 Onye eze gwakwara Daniel, “Nʼezie, Chineke gị bụ Chineke kachasị chi niile. Ọ bụ ya na-achị eze niile bi nʼụwa, bụrụkwa Onye na-ekpughepụ ihe omimi niile, nʼihi na lee, i nwere ike ịkọwa ihe omimi nke a.”
And the king answered and said to Daniel, Of a truth your God is a God of gods, and Lord of kings, who reveals mysteries; for thou hast been able to reveal this mystery.
48 Emesịa eze nyere Daniel ọkwa dị ukwuu, nyekwa ya ọtụtụ onyinye dị iche iche. O mere ya onyeisi na-achị ala Babilọn niile, meekwa ya onyeisi ndị ndụmọdụ eze niile.
And the king promoted Daniel, and gave him great and abundant gifts, and set him over the whole province of Babylon, and [made him] chief satrap over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 Ma dịka Daniel siri rịọ eze, o mekwara ka Shedrak, Mishak na Abednego bụrụ ndị na-elekọta ihe niile a na-eme eme nʼala Babilọn, Daniel nʼonwe ya nọdụrụ nʼogige eze.
And Daniel asked of the king, and he appointed Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel was in the king’s palace.