Danihelis Prophetæ 4
1 NABUCHODONOSOR rex, omnibus populis, gentibus, et linguis, qui habitant in universa terra, pax vobis multiplicetur.
[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 Signa, et mirabilia fecit apud me Deus excelsus. Placuit ergo mihi praedicare
I want you to know about [all] the wonderful miracles [DOU] that the Supreme God has performed for me.
3 signa eius, quia magna sunt: et mirabilia eius, quia fortia: et regnum eius regnum sempiternum, et potestas eius in generatione et generationem.
He performs great miracles, and does wonderful things. His kingdom will last forever; his rule [over people] will never end.
4 Ego Nabuchodonosor quietus eram in domo mea, et florens in palatio meo:
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in my palace. I was living luxuriantly, and everything was going very well for me.
5 somnium vidi, quod perterruit me: et cogitationes meae in strato meo, et visiones capitis mei conturbaverunt me.
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 Et per me propositum est decretum ut introducerentur in conspectu meo cuncti sapientes Babylonis, et ut solutionem somnii indicarent mihi.
So I summoned all the wise men in Babylon, in order that they would come and tell me what it meant.
7 Tunc ingrediebantur arioli, magi, Chaldaei, et aruspices, et somnium narravi in conspectu eorum: et solutionem eius non indicaverunt mihi:
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 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.
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 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.
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 Visio capitis mei in cubili meo: Videbam, et ecce arbor in medio terrae, et altitudo eius nimia.
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 Magna arbor, et fortis: et proceritas eius contingens caelum: aspectus illius erat usque ad terminos universae terrae.
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 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.
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 Videbam in visione capitis mei super stratum meum, et ecce vigil, et sanctus de caelo descendit.
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 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.
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 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.
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 Cor eius ab humano commutetur, et cor ferae detur ei: et septem tempora mutentur super eum.
[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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 Arborem, quam vidisti sublimem, atque robustam, cuius altitudo pertingit ad caelum, et aspectus illius in omnem terram:
[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 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:
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 Tu es rex, qui magnificatus es, et invaluisti: et magnitudo tua crevit, et pervenit usque ad caelum, et potestas tua in terminos universae terrae.
(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 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:
[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 Haec est interpretatio sententiae Altissimi, quae pervenit super dominum meum regem:
(Your Majesty/O King), that is what your dream means. That is what the Supreme God has declared will happen to you.
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.
[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 Quod autem praecepit ut relinqueretur germen radicum eius, id est arboris: regnum tuum tibi manebit postquam cognoveris potestatem esse caelestem.
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 Quam ob rem rex consilium meum placeat tibi, et peccata tua eleemosynis redime, et iniquitates tuas misericordiis pauperum: forsitan ignoscet Deus delictis tuis.
(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 Omnia haec venerunt super Nabuchodonosor regem.
But [the king refused to stop sinning. So what was predicted in the dream is] what happened to him.
29 Post finem mensium duodecim, in aula Babylonis deambulabat.
Twelve months later, [one day] he was walking [on the flat roof] of his palace in 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?
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 Cumque sermo adhuc esset in ore regis, vox de caelo ruit: Tibi dicitur Nabuchodonosor rex: Regnum tuum transibit a te,
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 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.
[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 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.
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 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.
“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 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?
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 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.
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 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 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].”
