< Daniel 7 >

1 Nʼafọ mbụ, mgbe Belshaza bidoro ịchị ala Babilọn, Daniel rọrọ nrọ, hụkwa ọhụ dị iche iche, o dere ihe ndị ahụ nʼakwụkwọ.
In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.
2 “Mụ bụ Daniel hụrụ nʼime ọhụ m nʼabalị, elere m anya, hụ nʼihu m oke ifufe anọ nke eluigwe ka ha na-atụgharị oke osimiri.
Daniel declared: “In my vision in the night I looked, and suddenly the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea.
3 Anụ ọhịa anọ buru ibu si nʼime osimiri ahụ rịpụta. O nweghị nke yiri ibe ya.
Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:
4 “Nke mbụ dị ka ọdụm, kama o nwere nku dịka ugo. Mgbe m nọ na-ele ya anya, a nyakapụrụ nku ya, welie ya, hapụ ya ka o guzo nʼelu ala nʼụkwụ ya abụọ dịka mmadụ. E nyekwara ya ụdị obi nke mmadụ nwere.
The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man.
5 “Anụ ọhịa nke abụọ yiri anụ ọhịa buru ibu a na-akpọ bịa (nʼasụsụ bekee). E weliri ya nʼotu akụkụ, ọ kpụkwa ọgịrịga atọ nʼọnụ ya, nʼetiti eze ya. A gwara ya, ‘Bilie, rie anụ ka o si dị gị mma.’
Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’
6 “Mgbe nke a gasịrị, ka m nọ na-ele anya, anụ ndọgbu ọzọ pụtara, anụ ọhịa ahụ yiri agụ, ma o nwere nʼazụ ya nku anọ dịka nke nnụnụ. O nwekwara isi anọ. E nyekwara ya ike ọchịchị.
Next, as I watched, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7 “Mgbe nke a gasịrị, nʼime ọhụ nke abalị, ahụrụ m anụ ọhịa nke anọ. Anụ ọhịa a na-eyi oke egwu, ọnụ apụghị ịkọwa ihe o yiri. Ọ bụkwa anụ ọhịa dị nnọọ ike, nke na-eji eze igwe ya dị ukwuu na-adọwasị ma na-etipịasịkwa ihe ọbụla, nke na-ejikwa ụkwụ ya azọgbu ihe ọbụla fọdụrụ. Ọ bụ anụ ọhịa gbara iche site nʼanụ ọhịa ndị ọzọ, bụrụkwa anụ nwere mpi iri.
After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.
8 “Mgbe m nọ na-eche banyere mpi ndị a, na mberede mpi ntakịrị ọzọ sikwa nʼetiti ha pupụta. E si nʼukwu hopu mpi atọ nʼime mpi iri mbụ ahụ nʼihu ya. Mpi ntakịrị a nwere anya dịka mmadụ, na ọnụ na-ekwu okwu jupụtara nʼịnya isi.
While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.
9 “Anọkwa m na-ele anya “hụ ka e doziri ocheeze, ebe Onye ahụ na-adị site na mbụ nọdụrụ. Uwe o yi na-acha nnọọ ezi ọcha dịka snoo, agịrị isi dị ya nʼisi na-acha ọcha dị ka ezi ogho ọcha. Ocheeze ya na-enwu ka ire ọkụ, ụkwụ igwe ya niile na-acha ọkụ.
As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
10 Iyi na-asọ ka ọkụ si nʼihu ya na-asọpụta. Puku kwụrụ puku na-agara ya ozi. Otu a kwa, nde kwụrụ nde ndị mmadụ guzo nʼihu ya. Ndị ikpe nọdụrụ ala, asaghekwara akwụkwọ dị iche iche.
A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.
11 “Mgbe m nọ na-ele anya, nʼihi okwu ịnya isi nke mpi ahụ na-ekwu, elegidere m anya tutu ruo mgbe e gburu anụ ọhịa ahụ, laa anụ ahụ ya nʼiyi, were ya nye ka a kpọọ ya ọkụ.
Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.
12 (Gbasara ụmụ anụ ọhịa ndị ọzọ, a napụrụ ha ọchịchị ha, ma a hapụrụ ha ka ha dịrị ndụ gaa nʼihu nwantakịrị oge).
As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but they were granted an extension of life for a season and a time.
13 “Nʼime ọhụ m nʼabalị, a hụrụ onye yiri nwa nke mmadụ, ka ọ nọ na-abịa nʼigwe ojii nke eluigwe. Onye a bịara nso nʼebe onye ahụ na-adị site na mbụ nọ. E dubatakwara ya nʼihu ya.
In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.
14 E nyere ya ike ọchịchị, ebube na ike ịbụ eze; mba niile dị iche iche na ndị niile na-asụ asụsụ dị iche iche kpọrọ isiala nye ya. Ọchịchị ya bụ ọchịchị na-adị ruo mgbe ebighị ebi, nke na-agaghị agabiga. O nwekwaghị onye nwere ike ịkwatu alaeze ya.
And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
15 “Mụ onwe m, bụ Daniel, ọhụ a m hụrụ tụrụ mmụọ m ụjọ nke ukwuu, mekwa ka obi m ma jijiji.
I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit, and the visions in my mind alarmed me.
16 Ejekwuuru m otu nʼime ndị guzo nʼebe ahụ nso jụọ ya ihe ihe ndị a niile pụtara. “Ọ gwara m ma kọwakwara m ihe ihe ndị a pụtara.
I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me the interpretation of these things:
17 ‘Anụ ọhịa anọ ndị a bụ alaeze anọ nke ga-ebili nʼụwa.
‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth.
18 Ma ọ bụ ndị nsọ nke Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, ga-anara alaeze. Ọ ga-abụkwa nke ha ruo mgbe ebighị ebi.’
But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’
19 “Mgbe ahụ, achọrọ m ịmata ihe banyere anụ ọhịa nke anọ ahụ, nke ahụ gbara iche site nʼanụ ọhịa ndị ọzọ, na-eyikwa oke egwu, nke nwere eze dịka igwe, na mbọ yiri nke e ji bronz kpụọ. Nke ahụ na-adọwasị ndị mmadụ, na nke na-azọgbukwa ndị fọdụrụ.
Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left.
20 Asịkwa m ya kọwaara m ihe mpi iri ahụ dị ya nʼisi pụtara, na ihe banyere mpi nke ọzọ puputara, na ihe mere e ji nyakapụ mpi atọ ahụ nʼihi ya. Asị m ya kọwakwara m ihe banyere mpi ahụ, nke nwere anya, na ọnụ na-ekwu okwu jupụtara nʼịnya isi, ma dịkwa ka ọ dị ike karịa ndị ọzọ.
I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.
21 Mgbe m na-ele anya, ahụrụ m ka mpi a na-alụso ndị nsọ ọgụ na-emerikwa.
As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them,
22 Tutu ruo mgbe onye ahụ na-adị site na mbụ bịara kpee ikpe nke gaara ndị nsọ nke Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, ma oge bịakwara mgbe ha natara alaeze ahụ.
until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.
23 “Nke a bụ ihe o kwuru: ‘Anụ ọhịa nke anọ a bụ alaeze nke ga-apụta nʼụwa. Ọ ga-adị iche site nʼalaeze ndị ọzọ. Ọ ga-azọpịa, kụrie, ma bibiekwa ụwa niile.
This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.
24 Mpi iri ahụ nọchiri anya ndị eze iri ga-esi nʼalaeze ya pụta. Mgbe ndị eze a ga na-achị, eze ọzọ, nke dị iche site na ndị bụrụ ya ụzọ ga-ebilikwa, ma merie ndị eze atọ ndị ọzọ ahụ ma laa ha nʼiyi.
And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings.
25 Ọ ga-ekwu okwu kwugide Onye kachasị ihe niile elu. O ga-emekpa ndị nsọ ahụ. Ọ ga-agbalịkwa ịgbanwe iwu niile na omenaala niile. A ga-enyefe ndị nsọ nʼaka ya afọ atọ na ọkara.
He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.
26 “‘Ma a ga-emeghe ụlọ ikpe, napụkwa ya ike niile, kpochapụ ya ma laakwa ya nʼiyi kpamkpam.
But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.
27 Mgbe ahụ, ike ọchịchị, ike na ịdị ukwuu nke alaeze niile dị nʼokpuru eluigwe ka a ga-enyefe nʼaka ndị nsọ, bụ ndị nke Onye ahụ kachasị ihe niile elu. Alaeze ya ga-adịgidekwa ruo mgbe ebighị ebi. Ndị niile na-achị achị ga-erubere ya isi, kpọọkwa isiala nye ya.’
Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’
28 “Nke a bụ ọgwụgwụ okwu ahụ. Mụ onwe m, bụ Daniel, echiche m mere ka m tụọ egwu nke ukwu, ihu m gbanwere dịka onye ahụ na-adịghị, ma o nweghị onye ọbụla m gwara ihe m hụrụ.”
Thus ends the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself.”

< Daniel 7 >