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!

[Several years after] Nebuchadnezzar [started to rule, he sent this message] to [the people of] every nation and people-group and all language groups in his empire. [He wrote, ] “I wish/hope that everything is going very well 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.

I want you to know about [all] the wonderful miracles [DOU] that the Supreme God has performed for me.

3 Lee ka ihe ịrịbama ya,

He performs great miracles, and does wonderful things. His kingdom will last forever; his rule [over people] will never end.

4 Mụ onwe m, bụ Nebukadneza nọ nʼafọ ojuju na ihe ịga nke ọma nʼụlọeze m.

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in my palace. I was living luxuriantly, and everything was going very well for me.

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 one night I had a dream that caused me to be very afraid. I saw visions that terrified me as I lay on 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 summoned all the wise men in Babylon, in order that they would come and tell me what it meant.

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.

All the men who worked magic, the fortune-tellers, the men who worked sorcery, and men who studied the stars came to me. I told them what I had dreamed, but they could not tell 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.

Finally, Daniel came to me, and I [decided to] tell him what I had dreamed. One of my officials had given him a new name, Belteshazzar, to honor my own god. I knew that the spirit of the holy gods was 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.

So, [using the name that had been given to him], I said, ‘Belteshazzar, you are the most important of all my fortune-tellers. I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and that you can reveal all mysteries. There is none that is too difficult for you. So, tell me what my dream 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.

This is what I dreamed while I was lying on my bed: I saw a large tree [growing] in the middle of the land.

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 very strong and had grown very tall; [it seemed that] its top reached up to the sky, with the result that everyone in the world [HYP] could see it.

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.

It had beautiful leaves, and it had produced a lot of fruit for people to eat. Wild animals rested in the shade of that tree, and birds built nests in its branches. All the living creatures everywhere in the world got food from that tree.

13 “Mgbe m nọkwa na-arọ nrọ ahụ, ahụrụ m otu nʼime ndị mmụọ ozi Chineke ka o si nʼeluigwe na-arịdata.

While I was still lying on my bed, I saw another vision. In the vision I saw a holy angel 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.

The angel shouted, “Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches! Strip/Shake off all of its leaves, and scatter its fruit. Chase away the animals that are lying in the shade of the tree, and the birds that are in 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 of the tree and its roots in the ground. Fasten a band of iron and bronze around the stump, and allow it to stay there with grass around it.”

16 Ka uche ya gbanwee ghọọ nke anụ ọhịa, ghara ibu nke mmadụ, afọ asaa.

[That tree seems to have represented a man, because the angel also said], “Cause that man to live [out in the fields] among the animals and plants. Cause the dew from the sky to make his body damp [each morning]. Do not allow him to [continue to] have a mind like humans; instead, cause him to have a mind like animals have, for seven years.

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.’

The holy angels have decided what must happen. They want to inform everyone that the Supreme God rules over all the kingdoms in this world. He is the one who chooses who will rule these kingdoms. He [sometimes] allows very unimportant people to become rulers.”

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.”

Belteshazzar, that is what I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw in my dream. Now tell me what the dream means. No one else can tell me. [I asked] all the very wise men in my kingdom [to tell me] what it means, [but they were unable to do that]. But you can [tell me], 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.

I, whose [new] name was Belteshazzar, did not say anything for some time, [because] I was very worried/disturbed [about the meaning of the dream. Finally], the king said to me, “Belteshazzar, do not be afraid about the dream and about what it means.” I replied, “Sir, I wish that the events that were predicted in your dream would happen to your enemies, [and not to you].

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,

[In your dream/vision] you saw a very strong and very tall tree. It [seemed to] reach to the sky, [with the result that] everyone in the world could see it.

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,

It had beautiful leaves and it had produced a lot of fruit for people to eat. Wild animals rested in the shade of that tree, and birds built nests 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.

(Your majesty/O King), that tree [represents] you! You have become very powerful. [It is as though] your greatness reaches up to the sky, and you rule people all over the world.

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] you saw a holy angel coming down from heaven. That angel said, ‘Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches! Strip/Shake off all of its leaves, and scatter its fruit. But leave the stump of the tree and its roots in the ground. Fasten a band of iron and bronze around the stump and [allow it to stay there] with grass around it. [Each morning] cause the dew from the sky to make this man, [who was represented by the tree], damp. Cause him to live in the fields with the animals for seven years.’

24 “Eze, nke a bụ nkọwa nrọ ị rọrọ, Onye kachasị ihe niile elu enyela iwu nke na-aghaghị imezu megide onyenwe m eze.

(Your Majesty/O King), that is what your dream means. That is what the Supreme God has declared will happen to you.

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.

[Your advisors] will force you to live away from other people. You will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cows do, and dew from the sky will cause your [body] to be damp/wet [every morning]. You will live that way for seven years, until you learn that it is the Supreme God who rules over the kingdoms of the world, and he appoints the ones whom he chooses [to rule them].

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 the stump of the tree and its roots were left [in the ground]. That means that you will rule your kingdom again when you learn that it is God [MTY] who is [really] the ruler.

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.”

(Your Majesty/O King), please do what I am telling you to do. Stop sinning, and do what is right. Turn away from your evil behavior. Act mercifully to poor people. If you do that, perhaps you will continue to be sucessful.”

28 Ma ihe ndị a niile bịakwasịrị eze Nebukadneza.

But [the king refused to stop sinning. So what was predicted in the dream is] what happened to him.

29 Mgbe ọnwa iri na abụọ gafesịrị ọ nọ na-agagharị nʼelu ụlọ dị nʼụlọeze nʼobodo Babilọn.

Twelve months later, [one day] he was walking [on the flat roof] of his 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?”

As he [looked out over/across the city], he said [to those around him], “I have built this great [city of] Babylon to be the place where I rule! I have built it to display my own power, in order [to show people] my glory, to show them that I am very great!”

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.

While he was still saying this, God [MTY] spoke from heaven and said, “King Nebuchadnezzar, this is what I am saying to you: You are no longer the ruler of this kingdom!

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.”

[Your advisors] will force you to live away from [other] people. You will live in the fields with wild animals, and you will eat grass like cows do. You will live that way for seven years, until you learn that [it is] I, the Supreme God, who rules over the kingdoms of this world, and I appoint the ones whom I have chosen to rule them.”

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 what [God] predicted happened. Nebuchadnezzar [became insane, so his advisors] forced him to live away from other people. He ate grass like cows [do], and dew from the sky caused his body to be damp/wet [every morning. He lived like that] until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers, and his fingernails became like birds’ 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.

“After those [seven] years ended, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven, [and I acknowledged that what God said was true]. Then I could think correctly again. I praised and worshiped the Supreme God, and I honored him, the one who lives forever. He rules forever; his kingdom will never end.

35 Mmadụ niile bi nʼụwa

All the people in the world are very insignificant; we are not like him. He has the power to do whatever he wants to do, among the angels in heaven and among us people who live on the earth. [So] no one can stop him [SYN], and no one can [challenge him], saying to him, ‘Why [are you doing these things]?’

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 I was able to think correctly again, I was honored again, and I [was able to] rule my glorious/great kingdom again. My advisors came to me again [to talk about what should be done], and I became greater and more powerful than I was 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.

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and honor [DOU] [God], the king who rules in heaven. All of his actions are just and right. And he is able to cause to become humble those who are proud, [like I was].”