< Danihelis Prophetæ 4 >

1 NABUCHODONOSOR rex omnibus populis gentibus et linguis qui habitant in universa terra pax vobis multiplicetur
King Nebuchadnezzar sent this decree to all peoples, nations, and languages who lived on the earth: May your peace increase.
2 Signa et mirabilia fecit apud me Deus excelsus Placuit ergo mihi praedicare
It has seemed good to me to tell you about the signs and wonders that the Most High has done for me.
3 signa eius quia magna sunt et mirabilia eius quia fortia et regnum eius regnum sempiternum et potestas eius in generationem et generationem
How great are his signs, and how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion lasts from generation to generation.”
4 Ego Nabuchodonosor quietus eram in domo mea et florens in palatio meo
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living happily in my house, and I was enjoying prosperity in my palace.
5 somnium vidi quod perterruit me et cogitationes meae in strato meo et visiones capitis mei conturbaverunt me
But a dream I had made me afraid. As I lay there, the images I saw and the visions in my mind troubled me.
6 Et per me propositum est decretum ut introducerentur in conspectu meo cuncti sapientes Babylonis et ut solutionem somnii indicarent mihi
So I gave a decree to bring before me all the men of Babylon who had wisdom so they could interpret the dream for me.
7 Tunc ingrediebantur arioli magi Chaldaei et aruspices et somnium narravi in conspectu eorum et solutionem eius non indicaverunt mihi
Then came the magicians, those who claimed to speak with the dead, the wise men, and the astrologers. I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.
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 last Daniel came in—the one who is named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream.
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
“Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Tell me what I saw in my dream and what it means.
10 Visio capitis mei in cubili meo Videbam et ecce arbor in medio terrae et altitudo eius nimia
These were the sights that I saw in my mind as I lay upon my bed: I looked, and there was a tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was very great.
11 Magna arbor et fortis et proceritas eius contingens caelum aspectus illius erat usque ad terminos universae terrae
The tree grew and became strong. Its top reached to the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of the whole 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
Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and on it was food for all. The wild animals found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches. All living creatures were fed from it.
13 Videbam in visione capitis mei super stratum meum et ecce vigil et sanctus de caelo descendit
I saw in my mind as I lay on my bed, and a holy messenger came down from the heavens.
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 shouted and said, 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its leaves, and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds fly away from 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
Leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the middle of the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew from the heavens. Let it live with the animals among the plants on the ground.
16 Cor eius ab humano commutetur et cor ferae detur ei et septem tempora mutentur super eum
Let his mind be changed from a man's mind, and let an animal's mind be given to him until seven years pass by.
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 decision is by the decree reported by the messenger. It is a decision made by the holy ones so that those who are alive may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and gives them to anyone he wishes to place over them, even to the most humble 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
I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had this dream. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the men with wisdom in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able to do so, 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
Then Daniel, who was also named Belteshazzar, was greatly upset for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar replied, “My master, may the dream be for those who hate you; may its interpretation be for your enemies.
20 Arborem quam vidisti sublimem atque robustam cuius altitudo pertingit ad caelum et aspectus illius in omnem terram
The tree that you saw—which grew and became strong, and whose top reached up to the heavens, and which could be seen to the ends of the whole 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 beautiful, and whose fruit was abundant, so that in it was food for all, and under it the animals of the field found shade, and in which the birds of the heavens lived—
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
this tree is you, king, you who have grown so strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your authority reaches to the ends 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
You, king, saw a holy messenger coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the middle of the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew from the heavens. Let it live with the wild animals in the fields until seven years pass by.'
24 Haec est interpretatio sententiae Altissimi quae pervenit super dominum meum regem
This is the interpretation, king. It is a decree of the Most High that has reached you, my master 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
You will be driven from among men, and you will live with the wild animals in the fields. You will be made to eat grass like an ox, and you will be wet with the dew from the heavens, and seven years will pass by until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and that he gives them to anyone he wishes.
26 Quod autem praecepit ut relinqueretur germen radicum eius id est arboris regnum tuum tibi manebit postquam cognoveris potestatem esse caelestem
As it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, in this way your kingdom will be returned to you from the time you learn that heaven rules.
27 Quam ob rem rex consilium meum placeat tibi et peccata tua eleemosynis redime et iniquitates tuas misericordiis pauperum forsitan ignoscet delictis tuis
Therefore, king, let my advice be acceptable to you. Stop sinning and do what is right. Turn away from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, and it may be that your prosperity will be extended.”
28 Omnia haec venerunt super Nabuchodonosor regem
All these things happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 Post finem mensium duodecim in aula Babylonis deambulabat
Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon,
30 Responditque rex et ait Nonne haec est Babylon magna quam ego aedificavi in domum regni in robore fortitudinis meae et in gloria decoris mei
and he said, “Is this not the great Babylon, which I have built for my royal residence, for the glory 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 words were still on the lips of the king, a voice came from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, it is announced to you that this kingdom has been taken away from you.
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
You will be driven away from people, and your home will be with the wild animals in the fields. You will be made to eat grass like an ox. Seven years will pass until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and he gives them to anyone he wishes.”
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 avium
This decree against Nebuchadnezzar was carried out immediately. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew from the heavens. His hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails 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 generationem et generationem
At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was given back to me. “I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified the one who lives forever. For his reign is an everlasting reign, and his kingdom endures from all generations to all generations.
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 earth's inhabitants are considered by him to be as nothing; he does among the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth whatever suits his will. No one can stop him or challenge him. No one can say to him, 'Why have you done this?'”
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 that my sanity returned to me, my majesty and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My counselors and my noblemen sought my favor. I was brought back to my throne, and even more greatness was given to me.
37 Nunc igitur ego Nabuchodonosor laudo et magnifico et glorifico regem caeli quia omnia opera eius vera et viae eius iudicia et gradientes in superbia potest humiliare
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, extol, and honor the King of heaven, for all his deeds are right, and his ways are just. He can humble those who walk in their own pride.

< Danihelis Prophetæ 4 >