Danihelis Prophetæ 4

1 NABUCHODONOSOR rex, omnibus populis, gentibus, et linguis, qui habitant in universa terra, pax vobis multiplicetur.

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

2 Signa, et mirabilia fecit apud me Deus excelsus. Placuit ergo mihi praedicare

I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

3 signa eius, quia magna sunt: et mirabilia eius, quia fortia: et regnum eius regnum sempiternum, et potestas eius in generatione et generationem.

How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to generation.

4 Ego Nabuchodonosor quietus eram in domo mea, et florens in palatio meo:

I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

5 somnium vidi, quod perterruit me: et cogitationes meae in strato meo, et visiones capitis mei conturbaverunt me.

I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

6 Et per me propositum est decretum ut introducerentur in conspectu meo cuncti sapientes Babylonis, et ut solutionem somnii indicarent mihi.

Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise [men] of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

7 Tunc ingrediebantur arioli, magi, Chaldaei, et aruspices, et somnium narravi in conspectu eorum: et solutionem eius non indicaverunt mihi:

Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

8 donec collega ingressus est in conspectu meo Daniel, cui nomen Baltassar secundum nomen Dei mei, qui habet spiritum deorum sanctorum in semetipso: et somnium coram ipso locutus sum.

But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, [saying],

9 Baltassar princeps ariolorum, quoniam ego scio quod spiritum sanctorum deorum habeas in te, et omne sacramentum non est impossibile tibi: visiones somniorum meorum, quas vidi, et solutionem earum narra.

O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

10 Visio capitis mei in cubili meo: Videbam, et ecce arbor in medio terrae, et altitudo eius nimia.

Thus [were] the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof [was] great.

11 Magna arbor, et fortis: et proceritas eius contingens caelum: aspectus illius erat usque ad terminos universae terrae.

The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

12 Folia eius pulcherrima, et fructus eius nimius: et esca universorum in ea: subter eam habitabant animalia, et bestiae, et in ramis eius conversabantur volucres caeli: et ex ea vescebatur omnis caro.

The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

13 Videbam in visione capitis mei super stratum meum, et ecce vigil, et sanctus de caelo descendit.

I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

14 Clamavit fortiter, et sic ait: Succidite arborem, et praecidite ramos eius: excutite folia eius, et dispergite fructus eius: fugiant bestiae, quae subter eam sunt, et volucres de ramis eius.

He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

15 Verumtamen germen radicum eius in terra sinite, et alligetur vinculo ferreo et aereo in herbis, quae foris sunt, et rore caeli tingatur, et cum feris pars eius in herba terrae.

Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

16 Cor eius ab humano commutetur, et cor ferae detur ei: et septem tempora mutentur super eum.

Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

17 In sententia vigilum decretum est, et sermo sanctorum, et petitio: donec cognoscant viventes quoniam dominatur Excelsus in regno hominum; et cuicumque voluerit, dabit illud, et humillimum hominem constituet super eum.

This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

18 Hoc somnium vidi ego Nabuchodonosor rex: tu ergo Baltassar interpretationem narra festinus: quia omnes sapientes regni mei non queunt solutionem edicere mihi: tu autem potes, quia spiritus deorum sanctorum in te est.

This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise [men] of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou [art] able; for the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee.

19 Tunc Daniel, cuius nomen Baltassar, coepit intra semetipsum tacitus cogitare quasi una hora: et cogitationes eius conturbabant eum. Respondens autem rex ait: Baltassar, somnium et interpretatio eius non conturbent te. Respondit Baltassar, et dixit: Domine mi, somnium his, qui te oderunt, et interpretatio eius hostibus tuis sit.

Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

20 Arborem, quam vidisti sublimem, atque robustam, cuius altitudo pertingit ad caelum, et aspectus illius in omnem terram:

The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

21 et rami eius pulcherrimi, et fructus eius nimius, et esca omnium in ea, subter eam habitantes bestiae agri, et in ramis eius commorantes aves caeli:

Whose leaves [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

22 Tu es rex, qui magnificatus es, et invaluisti: et magnitudo tua crevit, et pervenit usque ad caelum, et potestas tua in terminos universae terrae.

It [is] thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

23 Quod autem vidit rex vigilem, et sanctum descendere de caelo, et dicere: Succidite arborem, et dissipate illam, attamen germen radicum eius in terra dimittite, et vinciatur ferro et aere in herbis foris, et rore caeli conspergatur, et cum feris sit pabulum eius, donec septem tempora mutentur super eum:

And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

24 Haec est interpretatio sententiae Altissimi, quae pervenit super dominum meum regem:

This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

25 Eiicient te ab hominibus, et cum bestiis ferisque erit habitatio tua, et foenum ut bos comedes, et rore caeli infunderis: septem quoque tempora mutabuntur super te, donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus super regnum hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, det illud.

That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

26 Quod autem praecepit ut relinqueretur germen radicum eius, id est arboris: regnum tuum tibi manebit postquam cognoveris potestatem esse caelestem.

And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

27 Quam ob rem rex consilium meum placeat tibi, et peccata tua eleemosynis redime, et iniquitates tuas misericordiis pauperum: forsitan ignoscet Deus delictis tuis.

Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

28 Omnia haec venerunt super Nabuchodonosor regem.

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

29 Post finem mensium duodecim, in aula Babylonis deambulabat.

At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 Responditque rex, et ait: Nonne haec est Babylon civitas magna, quam ego aedificavi in domum regni, in robore fortitudinis meae, et in gloria decoris mei?

The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

31 Cumque sermo adhuc esset in ore regis, vox de caelo ruit: Tibi dicitur Nabuchodonosor rex: Regnum tuum transibit a te,

While the word [was] in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, [saying], O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

32 et ab hominibus eiicient te, et cum bestiis et feris erit habitatio tua: foenum quasi bos comedes, et septem tempora mutabuntur super te, donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus in regno hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, det illud.

And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33 Eadem hora sermo completus est super Nabuchodonosor, et ex hominibus abiectus est, et foenum ut bos comedit, et rore caeli corpus eius infectum est: donec capilli eius in similitudinem aquilarum crescerent, et ungues eius quasi ungues avium.

The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ [feathers], and his nails like birds’ [claws].

34 Igitur post finem dierum ego Nabuchodonosor oculos meos ad caelum levavi, et sensus meus redditus est mihi: et Altissimo benedixi, et viventem in sempiternum laudavi, et glorificavi: quia potestas eius potestas sempiterna, et regnum eius in generatione et generationem.

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:

35 Et omnes habitatores terrae apud eum in nihilum reputati sunt: iuxta voluntatem enim suam facit tam in virtutibus caeli quam in habitatoribus terrae: et non est qui resistat manui eius, et dicat ei: Quare fecisti?

And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

36 In ipso tempore sensus meus reversus est ad me, et ad honorem regni mei, decoremque perveni: et figura mea reversa est ad me: et optimates mei, et magistratus mei requisierunt me, et in regno meo restitutus sum: et magnificentia amplior addita est mihi.

At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

37 Nunc igitur ego Nabuchodonosor laudo, et magnifico, et glorifico regem caeli: quia omnia opera eius vera, et omnes viae eius iudicia, et gradientes in superbia potest humiliare.

Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.