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!
King Nebuchadnezzar, to people of every nation and language in the whole world: I wish you well!
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.
It is my pleasure to share with you an account of the signs and wonders the Most High God has done for me.
3 Lee ka ihe ịrịbama ya,
His signs are incredible. His wonders are amazing! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and his rule will last for all generations!
4 Mụ onwe m, bụ Nebukadneza nọ nʼafọ ojuju na ihe ịga nke ọma nʼụlọeze m.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was doing well at home, living happily 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.
But then one night I had a dream that really scared me—I saw visions that terrified me while I lay in my bed.
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.
So I ordered all the wise men of Babylon brought before me to explain the dream to me.
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.
When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in I told them the dream, but they couldn't explain to me what it meant.
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.
In the end Daniel came before me and I told him the dream. (He is also called Belteshazzar after my god, and he has the spirit of the holy gods in 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, chief of magicians,” I said, “I certainly know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is difficult for you to explain. So tell me about what I saw in my dream and explain what it means.
10 Mgbe m dina nʼelu akwa, nke a bụ ihe m hụrụ. E nwere otu osisi nke toro nʼetiti ụwa, ogologo ya dị ukwuu.
As I lay in bed dreaming, I saw a tree in the middle of the earth—a really large tree.
11 Osisi a toro sie ike, ịdị elu ya rukwara nʼeluigwe, a na-ahụkwa ya anya site na nsọtụ nke ụwa niile.
It grew strong and tall, reaching high into the sky so it could be seen by everyone in the whole world.
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 beautiful, and it was full of fruit for all to eat. Wild animals rested in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. It fed all living creatures.
13 “Mgbe m nọkwa na-arọ nrọ ahụ, ahụrụ m otu nʼime ndị mmụọ ozi Chineke ka o si nʼeluigwe na-arịdata.
As I went on dreaming, lying on my bed, I saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down 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 in a loud voice, ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Drive the animals away from its shade, and scare off 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.
But leave the stump and its roots in the ground, and bind it with iron and bronze, surrounded by the new grass of the field. Let him become soaked with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals outside in the undergrowth.
16 Ka uche ya gbanwee ghọọ nke anụ ọhịa, ghara ibu nke mmadụ, afọ asaa.
Let his mind become like that of an animal. Let him be like this for seven times.
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 conveyed by the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones in order that everyone alive may know that the Most High rules over human kingdoms. He gives them to whoever he chooses—he puts the most humble individuals in charge.’
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.”
This is what I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw in my dream. Now it's up to you, Belteshazzar, to give me the explanation as you have before. None of the wise men in my kingdom could explain it to me. But you can, 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.
When Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) heard this, he was upset for a while, disturbed as he thought about it. The king told him, “Belteshazzar, don't be worried about the dream and what it means.” “My lord, I only wish this dream was for those who hate you and the explanation for your enemies,” Daniel replied.
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 you saw was growing strong and tall, reaching high into the sky so it could be seen by everyone in 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,
Its leaves were beautiful, and it was full of fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived under its shade, and birds nested in its branches.
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.
This is you, Your Majesty. You have grown strong, your power has become so great that it has reached high into the sky, and your rule extends to the ends of the 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.’
Then Your Majesty saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven who said, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump and its roots in the ground, and bind it with iron and bronze, surrounded by the new grass of the field. Let him become soaked with the dew of heaven and let him live with the animals outside in the undergrowth. Let his mind become like that of an animal. Let him be like this for seven times.’
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 what it means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has decreed will happen to 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.
You will be driven away from human society and you will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like the cattle, and you will be soaked with the dew of heaven. You will be like this for seven times until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over human kingdoms, and that he gives them to those he chooses.
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.
However, as it was decreed, the stump and its roots were to be left in the ground. Your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
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.”
So, Your Majesty, please take my advice. Stop sinning and do what's right. End your iniquities and be merciful to the oppressed. Maybe then things will continue to go well for you.”
28 Ma ihe ndị a niile bịakwasịrị eze Nebukadneza.
(However, all this did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 Mgbe ọnwa iri na abụọ gafesịrị ọ nọ na-agagharị nʼelu ụlọ dị nʼụlọeze nʼobodo Babilọn.
Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in 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?”
He said, “I was the one who built this great city of Babylon! By my own great power I built it as my royal residence for my majestic glory!”
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.
The words were still on the king's lips when a voice came from heaven, “King Nebuchadnezzar, this is what is decreed concerning you: the kingdom has been 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.”
You will be driven away from human society and you will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like the cattle, and you will become soaked with the dew of heaven. You will be like this for seven times until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over human kingdoms, and that he gives them to whoever he chooses.”
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.
Immediately the decree was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from human society. He ate grass like the cattle, and his body was soaked with the dew of heaven. His hair grew matted like a vulture, and his nails like bird claws.)
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.
Once the time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven and my sanity returned to me. I blessed and praised the Most High and worshiped the One who lives forever. His rule is an eternal rule, and his kingdom lasts for all generations.
35 Mmadụ niile bi nʼụwa
Everyone who lives on earth are as nothing compared to him. He does whatever he chooses among the heavenly host and among those who live on earth. No one can hold him back from what he does, or ask him, “What are you doing?”
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.
When my sanity returned, then my kingdom, majesty, and splendor also returned to me. My advisors and nobles came looking for me, and I was restored as ruler over my kingdom, even greater than before.
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.
So now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, honor, and glorify the King of Heaven, for everything he does is right, and his ways are true. He is able to humble those who are proud.
