< 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 the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went 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,
Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be called to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
3 ọ sịrị ha, “Arọrọ m nrọ nke na-enye m nsogbu nʼobi. Achọrọ m ịma ihe ọ pụtara.”
The king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is 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.”
Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in the Syrian language, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show 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 gone from me. If you don’t make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut in pieces, and your houses will be made a dunghill.
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 you show the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.”
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 his servants the dream, and we will show 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.
The king answered, “I know of a certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see 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.”
But if you don’t make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the situation changes. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can show me its interpretation.”
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 the king and said, “There is not a man on the earth who can show the king’s matter, because no king, lord, or ruler has asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, 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.”
It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 Nke a mere ka eze jupụta nʼoke iwe na ọnụma, o nyere iwu ka e gbuchaa ndị amamihe niile nke Babilọn.
Because of this, the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
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 out, and the wise men were to be slain. They sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.
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 returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.
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.
He answered Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree so urgent from the king?” Then Arioch made the thing known 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.
Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
17 Emesịa, Daniel lara nʼụlọ nke ya gaa kọọrọ Hananaya, na Mishael, na Azaraya, ndị enyi ya ihe merenụ.
Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
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.
that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret, that Daniel and his companions would 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 secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel sịrị, “Otuto dịrị aha Chineke ruo mgbe ebighị ebi; amamihe na ike dị nʼaka ya.
Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might 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.
He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 Ọ na-ekpughe ihe dị omimi na ihe zoro ezo; Ọ maara ihe dị nʼọchịchịrị, ma ìhè binyekwara ya.
He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells 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 thank you and praise you, O God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
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.”
Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said this to him: “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon. Bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation.”
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 brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said this to him: “I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah who will make known to the king the interpretation.”
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?”
The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”
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.
Daniel answered before the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded can’t be shown to the king by wise men, enchanters, magicians, or soothsayers;
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 who reveals secrets, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head on your bed are these:
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.
“As for you, O king, your thoughts came on your bed, what should happen hereafter; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you what will happen.
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.
But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your 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.
“You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and its appearance was terrifying.
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.
As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze,
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 clay.
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.
You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
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 the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole 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 its interpretation 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;
You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory.
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.
Wherever the children of men dwell, he has given the animals of the field and the birds of the sky into your hand, and has made you rule over them all. You are the head of gold.
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.
“After you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to you; and another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule 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.
The fourth kingdom will be strong as iron, because iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things; and as iron that crushes all these, it will break in pieces and crush.
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.
Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay and part of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but there will be in it of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed with miry clay.
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.
As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.
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 you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they will mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they won’t cling to one another, even as iron does not mix with clay.
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.
“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever.
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.”
Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will happen hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation 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 Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him.
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.”
The king answered to Daniel, and said, “Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.”
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.
Then the king made Daniel great and gave him many great gifts, and made him rule over the whole province of Babylon and to be chief governor 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.
Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, but Daniel was in the king’s gate.