< Daniel 4 >
1 Mụ bụ Nebukadneza, Na e zigara mmadụ niile, mba niile, na ndị na-asụ asụsụ dị iche iche nʼụwa ozi: Ka ọ dịrị unu na mma!
Nebuchadnezzar, the king, to all peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in the whole world, may peace be increased with you.
2 E ji m obi ụtọ, na-eme ka unu mata ihe ịrịbama niile na ihe iju anya niile, nke Chineke Onye kachasị ihe niile elu meere m.
The supreme God has accomplished signs and wonders with me. Therefore, it has pleased me to proclaim
his signs, which are great, and his wonders, which are mighty. For his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his power continues from generation to generation.
4 Mụ onwe m, bụ Nebukadneza nọ nʼafọ ojuju na ihe ịga nke ọma nʼụlọeze m.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was content in my house and prospering in my palace.
5 Arọrọ m nrọ, nke mere ka ụjọ tụọ m. Ihe niile m hụrụ na nrọ mgbe m dina ala nʼelu akwa mere ka oke ụjọ tụọ m.
I saw a dream that terrified me, and my thoughts on my bed and the visions in my head disturbed me.
6 Nʼihi ya, enyere m iwu ka a kpọọ ndị amamihe niile m nwere na Babilọn ka ha bịa nʼihu m, bịa kọwaara m isi nrọ ahụ.
And so a decree was established by me, that all of the wise men of Babylon should be brought in before me, and that they should reveal to me the answer to the dream.
7 Ma mgbe ndị mgbaasị, ndị dibịa, ndị Kaldịa na ndị na-agba afa bịara, a kọọrọ m ha nrọ ahụ m rọrọ, ma ha enweghị ike ịgwa m nkọwa ya.
Then the seers, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers entered, and I explained about the dream in their presence, but they did not reveal its answer to me.
8 Nʼikpeazụ, Daniel batara nʼihu m, onye aha ya bụ Belteshaza dịka aha chi m si dị, onye mmụọ nke chi niile dị nsọ bi nʼime ya. Akọọrọ m ya ihe ahụ m rọrọ na nrọ.
And then their colleague came in before me, Daniel, (whose name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, ) who has the spirit of the holy gods within his very self, and I told the dream directly to him.
9 Asịrị m, “Belteshaza, onyeisi ndị nkọwa ihe niile. Amaara m na mmụọ nke chi niile dị nsọ bi nʼime gị. Amakwaara m na o nweghị ihe omimi ọbụla ga-esiri gị ike ịchọpụta ọsịsa ya. Ugbu a, nke a bụ nrọ m, kọwaara m ihe ọ pụtara.
Belteshazzar, leader of the seers, since I know that you have in you the spirit of the holy gods, and that no mystery is unreachable to you, explain to me the visions of my dreams, which I saw, and the solution to them.
10 Mgbe m dina nʼelu akwa, nke a bụ ihe m hụrụ. E nwere otu osisi nke toro nʼetiti ụwa, ogologo ya dị ukwuu.
This was the vision of my head on my bed. I looked, and behold, a tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was exceedingly great.
11 Osisi a toro sie ike, ịdị elu ya rukwara nʼeluigwe, a na-ahụkwa ya anya site na nsọtụ nke ụwa niile.
The tree was great and strong, and its height reached up to heaven. It could be seen all the way to the ends of the entire earth.
12 Akwụkwọ ya dị mma ile anya, alaka ya jupụtakwara na mkpụrụ hiri nne, o gbokwara mkpa nri nye mmadụ niile. Ụmụ anụmanụ niile nke ọhịa na-abịakwa nʼokpuru ndo ya izuike. Ụmụ nnụnụ niile nke eluigwe na-ebikwa nʼalaka ya. Ọ bụkwa site na ya ka a na-azụ ihe niile dị ndụ nri.
Its leaves were very beautiful, and its fruit was very abundant, and in it was food for the whole world. Under it, animals and beasts were dwelling, and in its branches, the birds of the sky were sheltered, and from it, all flesh was fed.
13 “Mgbe m nọkwa na-arọ nrọ ahụ, ahụrụ m otu nʼime ndị mmụọ ozi Chineke ka o si nʼeluigwe na-arịdata.
I saw in the vision of my head upon my blanket, and behold, a watcher and a holy one descended from heaven.
14 O tiri mkpu nʼolu dị ike sị, ‘Gbudanụ osisi ukwu ahụ, gbukasịakwa alaka ya niile. Kụpụsịanụ akwụkwọ ndụ niile dị nʼelu ya. Ghasaakwanụ mkpụrụ ya niile, ka ụmụ anụmanụ si nʼokpuru ndo ya gbapụ, ka ụmụ nnụnụ site nʼalaka ya fepụ.
He cried out loudly, and he said this: “Cut down the tree and prune its branches; shake off its leaves and scatter its fruits; let flee the beasts, which are under it, and the birds from its branches.
15 Kama hapụnụ ogwe osisi ahụ na mgbọrọgwụ ya ka ha dịrị nʼime ala, ebe e ji ụdọ igwe na ụdọ bronz kee ya gburugburu, ebe ahịhịa ndụ gbakwara ya gburugburu. “‘Ka igirigi nke eluigwe zoo ya nʼahụ, ka ahịhịa bụrụkwa nri ọ ga-eri, ya na ụmụ anụmanụ.
Nevertheless, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, and let it be bound with a band of iron and brass among the plants, which are close by, and let it be touched by the dew of heaven, and let its place be with the wild animals among the plants of the earth.
16 Ka uche ya gbanwee ghọọ nke anụ ọhịa, ghara ibu nke mmadụ, afọ asaa.
Let his heart be changed from being human, and let the heart of a wild animal be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him.
17 “‘Nke a bụ mkpebi nke mmụọ ozi ahụ nọ na nche. Ọ bụkwa mkpebi e nyere site nʼokwu nke dị nsọ, ka ụwa niile mata na Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, na-achịkwa nʼalaeze niile dị nʼụwa. Ọ bụ ya na-ewerekwa alaeze ndị a nye onye ọbụla ọ chọrọ, ọ bụladị ndị mmadụ a na-ahụta dịka ndị dị ala karịsịa.’
This is the decree from the judgment of the watchers, and the decision and proclamation of the holy ones, until the living shall know that the Supreme One is ruler in the kingdom of men, and that he will give it to whomever he wills, and he will appoint the lowest man over it.”
18 “Nke a bụ nrọ ahụ, mụ bụ eze Nebukadneza rọrọ, ugbu a, Belteshaza, gwa m ihe bụ nkọwa ya. Nʼihi na ndị amamihe niile nọ nʼalaeze m enweghị ike ịkọwara m ya. Ma amaara m na i nwere ike ịkọwara m ya, nʼihi na mmụọ nke chi ndị ahụ dị nsọ dị nʼime gị.”
I, king Nebuchadnezzar, saw this dream. And so you, Belteshazzar, must quickly explain to me the interpretation because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to declare the meaning of it to me. But you are able because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.
19 Mgbe ahụ Daniel (onye a na-akpọkwa Belteshaza), nọ nʼoke ihe iju anya nʼihi na echiche ya mere ka ọma jijiji. Ya mere, eze sịrị, “Belteshaza, atụkwala egwu nʼihi nrọ a maọbụ ihe ọ pụtara.” Belteshaza zara sị, “Onyenwe m, ka nrọ a dịrị ndị kpọrọ gị asị, ka nkọwa ya dịkwara ndị iro gị.
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, began silently to think within himself for about one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. But the king responded, saying, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream and its interpretation disturb you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, the dream is for those who hate you, and its interpretation may be for your enemies.
20 Osisi ahụ ị hụrụ nke buru ibu, tokwa ogologo ma dịkwa ike, nke elu ya na-emetụ mbara eluigwe, nke ndị niile bi nʼụwa hụrụ,
The tree that you saw was lofty and strong; its height reached toward heaven, and it could be seen throughout the whole world.
21 nke nwekwara akwụkwọ ndụ dị mma, na nke jupụtara na mkpụrụ, nke na-egboro mmadụ niile mkpa nri, nke ụmụ anụmanụ ọhịa niile na-ebi nʼokpuru ndo ya, nke ụmụ nnụnụ niile nke eluigwe nwere akwụ ebe obibi ha,
And its branches were very beautiful, and its fruit very abundant, and in it was food for all. Under it, dwelt the beasts of the field, and in its branches, the birds of the air stayed.
22 osisi ahụ bụ gị onwe gị, eze. Nʼihi na i toola bụrụ onye dị ike na onye dị ukwuu. Ịdị ukwu gị eruola nʼeluigwe. Ọchịchị gị eruokwala nʼakụkụ niile nke ụwa.
It is you, O king, who has been greatly esteemed, and you have grown strong. And you have increased your power, and it reaches towards heaven, and your rule is to the ends of the whole earth.
23 “Mgbe ahụ, ị hụkwara onye dị nsọ na-enyocha omume ndị mmadụ nke si nʼeluigwe rịdata na-asị, ‘Gbutuonụ osisi a, laa ya nʼiyi, ma unu hapụ ogwe ya ka ahịhịa ndụ gbaa ya gburugburu, ka e jirikwa ụdọ igwe na bronz kee ya gburugburu; hapụ ya ka igirigi nke eluigwe zokwasị ya. Hapụkwa ya ka o soro anụ ọhịa taa ahịhịa dịka nri ya tutu afọ asaa a gafee.’
Yet the king also saw a watcher and a holy one descend from heaven and say: ‘Cut down the tree and scatter it; however, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, and let it be bound with iron and brass, among the surrounding plants, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heaven, and let his feeding be with the wild beasts, until seven periods of time pass over him.’
24 “Eze, nke a bụ nkọwa nrọ ị rọrọ, Onye kachasị ihe niile elu enyela iwu nke na-aghaghị imezu megide onyenwe m eze.
This is the interpretation of the judgment of the Most High, which has reached my lord, the king.
25 A ga-achụpụ gị site nʼebe ndị mmadụ nọ. A ga-achụgakwa gị nʼebe gị na ụmụ anụmanụ ga-ebi nʼọhịa, Ebe ahụ ka ị ga-anọ taa ahịhịa dịka oke ehi, igirigi nke eluigwe ga-ezokwasịkwa gị. Ọnụọgụgụ afọ asaa ga-agabiga tutu ruo mgbe ị nabatara na Onye kachasị ihe niile elu na-achị achị nʼalaeze niile nke mmadụ, na ọ bụkwa nʼaka onye ọbụla ọ chọrọ ka ọ na-enyefe ha.
They will expel you from among men, and your dwelling will be with the beasts and the wild animals, and you will eat hay like an ox, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Likewise, seven periods of time will pass over you, until you know that the Supreme One rules over the kingdom of men, and he gives it to whomever he wills.
26 Dịka e siri nye nʼiwu ka a hapụ ogwe osisi ahụ na mgbọrọgwụ ya nʼime ala. Nke a na-egosi na ị ga-emecha nwetaghachi alaeze gị mgbe ị nabatara na Eluigwe na-achị achị.
But, since he commanded that the stump of its roots, that is, of the tree, should be left behind, your kingdom will be left for you, after you have realized that power is from divinity.
27 Ya mere, biko eze, kweere nabata ndụmọdụ m, kwụsị ime mmehie, mee ihe ziri ezi, werekwa omume ileta ndị ogbenye dochie nʼọnọdụ ajọ omume gị. Eleghị anya, ihe ga na-agara gị nke ọma.”
Because of this, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you. And redeem your sins with alms, and your iniquities with mercy towards the poor. Perhaps he will forgive your offenses.”
28 Ma ihe ndị a niile bịakwasịrị eze Nebukadneza.
All these things came upon king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 Mgbe ọnwa iri na abụọ gafesịrị ọ nọ na-agagharị nʼelu ụlọ dị nʼụlọeze nʼobodo Babilọn.
After the end of twelve months, he was taking a walk in the palace of Babylon.
30 Ma eze sịrị, “Ebe a, ọ bụghị Babilọn dị ukwu, nke m wuuru onwe m dịka ebe obibi m, site nʼike m dị ukwu na maka ebube ọchịchị m?”
And the king spoke out loud, saying, “Isn’t this the great Babylon, which I have built, as the home of the kingdom, by the strength of my power and in the glory of my excellence?”
31 Mgbe ọ ka kpụ okwu ahụ nʼọnụ, otu olu si nʼeluigwe kwuo okwu, “Ihe a ka e kpebiri megide gị, eze Nebukadneza. Site taa gaa nʼihu ị gaghị abụkwa eze na-achị alaeze a.
And while the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice rushed down from heaven, “To you, O king Nebuchadnezzar, it is said: ‘Your kingdom will be taken away from you,
32 A ga-esi nʼetiti ndị mmadụ chụpụ gị, ka ị gaa soro ụmụ anụmanụ biri nʼọhịa. Ị ga-atakwa ahịhịa dịka oke ehi, afọ asaa ga-agasị tutu ruo mgbe ị ghọtara na ọ bụ Onye kachasị ihe niile elu na-achị achị nʼalaeze dị niile nke ụwa. Ọ na-enyefekwa ha nʼaka onye ọbụla ọ chọrọ ka ọ chịa.”
and they will expel you from among men, and your dwelling will be with the beasts and the wild animals. You will eat hay like an ox, and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Supreme One rules in the kingdom of men, and he gives it to whomever he wills.’”
33 Nʼotu oge ahụ kwa, okwu ndị a e kwuru banyere Nebukadneza mezuru. E sitere nʼetiti ụmụ mmadụ chụpụ ya, ọ gakwara nʼọhịa taa ahịhịa dịka oke ehi, igirigi nke eluigwe dekwara ahụ ya ruo mgbe ajị dị ya nʼahụ toro ogologo dịka nku ugo, mbọ ụkwụ na aka ya dịkwa ka mbọ ụmụ nnụnụ.
The same hour, the sentence was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven away from among men, and he ate hay like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair increased like the feathers of eagles, and his nails like those of birds.
34 Mgbe oge a gafesịrị, mụ bụ Nebukadneza leliri anya m elu. Mgbe ahụ kwa ka m ghọrọ mmadụ nwere uche ọzọ. Etokwara m, ma kpọọkwa isiala nye Onye ahụ kachasị ihe niile elu, sọpụrụkwa Onye ahụ na-adị ndụ ruo mgbe niile ebighị ebi.
Therefore, at the end of these days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my mind was restored to me. And I blessed the Most High, and I praised and glorified him who lives forever. For his power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing before him. For he acts according to his own will, with the inhabitants of the earth just as with the holy inhabitants of heaven. And there is no one who can resist his hand, or say to him, “Why have you done this?”
36 Mgbe uche m laghachiri dịka mmadụ, enwetaghachikwara m ugwu na nsọpụrụ na alaeze m. Ndị na-adụ m ọdụ laghachikwara bịakwute m, ha na ndị na-ejere m ozi. E mekwara ka m bụrụkwa eze ọzọ nʼalaeze m. Ugwu na nsọpụrụ m nwere ugbu a karịrị ugwu na nsọpụrụ m nwere nʼoge gara aga.
At the same time, my mind returned to me, and I arrived at the honor and glory of my kingdom. And my appearance was given back to me. And my nobles and my magistrates needed me. And I was restored to my kingdom, and even greater majesty was added to me.
37 Ugbu a, mụ bụ Nebukadneza na-eto, na-asọpụrụ Eze nke eluigwe, nʼihi na ọrụ ya niile dị mma, ụzọ ya niile kwụ ọtọ. Nʼihi na o nwere ike ijide ndị nganga kwanye ha ọnụ nʼime ntụ.
Therefore I, Nebuchadnezzar, now praise, and magnify, and glorify the King of heaven, because all his works and the judgments of his way are true, and those who go forth in arrogance, he is able to bring low.