< UDanyeli 2 >
1 Ngomnyaka wesibili wokubusa kwakhe, uNebhukhadineza waphupha amaphupho; wahlupheka engqondweni, wehluleka lokulala.
In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamt dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him.
2 Ngakho inkosi yasibiza omasalamusi, lezangoma, labavumisi lezingcazi zezinkanyezi ukuthi bamtshele lokho ayekuphuphile. Sebengenile bema phambi kwayo inkosi,
Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be called to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
3 yathi kubo, “Ngibe lephupho elingihluphayo yikho ngifuna ukwazi ukuthi litshoni.”
The king said to them, “I have dreamt a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.”
4 Kwasekusithi ingcazi zezinkanyezi zayiphendula inkosi zikhuluma ngesi-Aramu zathi, “Bayethe, nkosi! Phila kuze kube nininini! Zitshele izinceku zakho iphupho lelo, thina sizalichaza.”
Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in the Syrian language, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”
5 Inkosi yaziphendula ingcazi zezinkanyezi yathi, “Nanku esengikumisile: Nxa lingangitsheli ukuthi iphupho lami beliyini beselilichaza, ngizakuthi liqunywaqunywe iziqa, izindlu zenu zidilizwe zibe yinqwaba.
The king answered the Chaldeans, “The thing has gone from me. If you don’t make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut in pieces, and your houses will be made a dunghill.
6 Kodwa lingangitshela iphupho kanye lengcazelo yalo ngizalipha izipho lemivuzo lodumo olukhulu. Ngakho ngitshelani iphupho libe selingichazela lona.”
But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honour. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.”
7 Baphinda njalo baphendula bathi, “Inkosi kayizitshele izichaka zayo iphupho lelo, thina sizalichasisa.”
They answered the second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”
8 Inkosi yaphendula yathi, “Ngileqiniso ukuthi liqonde ukuchitha isikhathi ngoba libona ukuthi yilokhu esengikumisile ukuthi:
The king answered, “I know of a certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see the thing has gone from me.
9 Nxa lingangitsheli iphupho lelo, sinye zwi isijeziso senu. Seliyengene ukuthi lingitshele inkohliso lamanyala, licabanga ukuthi kumbe izinto zizaguquka. Manje-ke ngitshelani iphupho lelo yikho ngizakwazi ukuthi lingangichasisela lona.”
But if you don’t make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the situation changes. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can show me its interpretation.”
10 Ingcazi zezinkanyezi zayiphendula inkosi zathi, “Kakulamuntu emhlabeni ongakwenza lokho okufunwa yinkosi! Kayikho inkosi, loba ingenkulu kanganani kumbe ilamandla anganani, eyake yafuna into enjalo laloba kubani oyenza amasalamusi, kumbe isangoma loba ingcazi yezinkanyezi.
The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on the earth who can show the king’s matter, because no king, lord, or ruler has asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or Chaldean.
11 Lokhu okufunwa yinkosi kunzima kakhulu. Kakho ongakwambulela inkosi ngaphandle kwabonkulunkulu, njalo kabahlali ebantwini.”
It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 Lokhu kwayizondisa inkosi yabila ngolaka yahle yathi zonke izihlakaniphi zaseBhabhiloni kazibulawe.
Because of this, the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
13 Ngakho sakhutshwa isimemezelo sokuthi izazi kazibulawe, yikho kwathunywa amadoda ukuyadinga uDanyeli labakhula bakhe ukuthi babulawe.
So the decree went out, and the wise men were to be slain. They sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.
14 Kwathi u-Ariyoki, indunankulu yamanxusa enkosi isiphumile ukuyabulala izihlakaniphi zaseBhabhiloni, uDanyeli wakhuluma laye ngokuhlakanipha langokunanzelela.
Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.
15 Wasibuza isikhulu lesi senkosi wathi, “Kungani inkosi ikhuphe isimemezelo esibuhlungu kangaka na?” U-Ariyoki waseyichaza indaba kuDanyeli.
He answered Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree so urgent from the king?” Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
16 Esekuzwile lokho uDanyeli waya enkosini wacela ukuba ake aphiwe isikhathi, ukuze ayichazele iphupho layo.
Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
17 UDanyeli wabuyela endlini yakhe wayatshela abakhula bakhe oHananiya, loMishayeli lo-Azariya ngendaba leyo.
Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
18 Wabakhuthaza ukuthi bacele umusa kuNkulunkulu wasezulwini ngale inkinga eyimfihlakalo, ukuze kuthi yena labakhula bakhe baphephe ekubulaweni kanye lazozonke izihlakaniphi zaseBhabhiloni.
that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret, that Daniel and his companions would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19 Kwathi ebusuku inkinga leyo yambulelwa uDanyeli ngombono. UDanyeli wasemdumisa uNkulunkulu wasezulwini
Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 wathi: “Kalidunyiswe ibizo likaNkulunkulu nini lanini; inhlakanipho lamandla kungokwakhe.
Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.
21 Uyaguqula izikhathi lezibanga; uyawabeka amakhosi aphinde awaqethule. Unika inhlakanipho kwabahlakaniphileyo lolwazi kwabaqedisisayo.
He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 Uveza obala izinto ezizikileyo lezifihlakeleyo; uyakwazi okucatshe emnyameni, lokukhanya kuhlala kuye.
He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23 Ngiyakubonga njalo ngiyakudumisa, Oh Nkulunkulu wabokhokho bami: Ungiphile inhlakanipho lamandla, usungazisile mina lokho esikucelileyo kuwe, ususazisile thina iphupho lenkosi.”
I thank you and praise you, O God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
24 UDanyeli wasesiya ku-Ariyoki owayekhethwe yinkosi ukuba abulale izihlakaniphi zaseBhabhiloni, wathi kuye, “Ungazibulali izihlakaniphi zaseBhabhiloni. Ngisa enkosini, ngizayichasisela iphupho layo.”
Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said this to him: “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon. Bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation.”
25 U-Ariyoki wahle wasa uDanyeli enkosini wathi, “Sengiyifumene indoda kwabathunjiweyo bakwaJuda engayitshela inkosi ukuthi iphupho layo litshoni.”
Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said this to him: “I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah who will make known to the king the interpretation.”
26 Inkosi yambuza uDanyeli (njalo othiwa nguBhelitheshazari), “Kambe ungangitshela na engakubonayo ephutsheni lami uphinde ulichasise?”
The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”
27 Waphendula uDanyeli wathi, “Kasikho isihlakaniphi, noma isangoma, noma oyenza amasalamusi, noma isanuse esingayihlahlulela inkosi imfihlakalo eyidingayo,
Daniel answered before the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded can’t be shown to the king by wise men, enchanters, magicians, or soothsayers;
28 kodwa ukhona uNkulunkulu ezulwini owambula zonke imfihlakalo. Utshengise inkosi uNebhukhadineza okuzakwenzakala ngezinsuku ezizayo. Iphupho lakho lemibono eyafika engqondweni yakho ulele embhedeni wakho yile:
but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head on your bed are these:
29 Wathi ulele khonapho nkosi, ingqondo yakho yaphatha izinto ezisezakuza, kwathi umhlahluli wezinkinga wakubonisa okuzakwenzakala.”
“As for you, O king, your thoughts came on your bed, what should happen hereafter; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you what will happen.
30 Okwami yikuthi ngiyambulelwe imfihlakalo le, kungesukuthi yingoba ngilenhlakanipho eyeqa eyabanye abaphilayo, kodwa ukuze kuthi wena, Oh nkosi, uyazi ingcazelo njalo ukuze uzwisise okwakuphithikana engqondweni yakho.
But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.
31 Wathi uyakhangela, Oh nkosi, wabona kumi phambi kwakho isithombe esikhulukazi, inkalakatha yesithombe esikhazimulayo, sisesabeka ukukhangeleka kwaso.
“You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and its appearance was terrifying.
32 Ikhanda lesithombe lalenziwe ngegolide elicengekileyo, isifuba saso lezingalo kubunjwe ngesiliva, isisu lemilenze kubunjwe ngethusi,
As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze,
33 imibala ibunjwe ngensimbi, inyawo zaso zilengxenye yensimbi lenye ingxenye yebumba elitshisiweyo.
its legs of iron, its feet part of iron and part of clay.
34 Wathi ulokhu usabukele, kwaqetshulwa ilitshe, kungesingazandla zamuntu. Lasigxoba isithombe ezinyaweni zaso zensimbi lebumba lazihlifiza.
You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
35 Kwasekusithi insimbi, lebumba, lethusi, lesiliva kanye legolide kwachobozeka kwaba yizicucu kanyekanye kwaba njengomule esizeni ehlobo. Umoya waziphephula izicucu wazikhucula du. Kodwa ilitshe elagxoba isithombe laba yintaba enkulu yagcwala umhlaba wonke.
Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
36 Leli bekuyilo iphupho, manje-ke sesizalichazela inkosi.
“This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king.
37 Wena, Oh nkosi uyinkosi yamakhosi. UNkulunkulu wasezulwini ukunikile umbuso, lamandla lobukhulu lodumo;
You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory.
38 uluntu lonke ulunikele ezandleni zakho kanye lezinyamazana zeganga lezinyoni zemoyeni. Loba zihlala ngaphi, ukwenze wena waba ngumbusi wakho konke. Ulikhanda leliyana legolide.
Wherever the children of men dwell, he has given the animals of the field and the birds of the sky into your hand, and has made you rule over them all. You are the head of gold.
39 Ngemva kwakho, kuzakuba khona omunye umbuso, ophansi kulowakho. Kuzalandela owesithathu owethusi ozabusa umhlaba wonke.
“After you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to you; and another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
40 Ekucineni kuzakuba lombuso wesine oqinileyo njengensimbi ngoba insimbi iyephula ivodloze yonke into, yikho njengoba insimbi isephula izinto zibe yizicucu, kanjalo umbuso lowo uzayichoboza yonke eminye.
The fourth kingdom will be strong as iron, because iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things; and as iron that crushes all these, it will break in pieces and crush.
41 Njengoba ubonile ukuthi inyawo lamazwane bekulengxenye yebumba elitshisiweyo lengxenye yensimbi, yikho lo uzakuba ngumbuso odabuke phakathi; loba nje uzakuba lamanye amandla ensimbi phakathi kwawo, njengalokhu uyibonile insimbi ixubene lebumba.
Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay and part of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but there will be in it of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed with miry clay.
42 Njengoba amazwane abelengxenye yensimbi, lengxenye yebumba, kanjalo umbuso lo uzakuba lamandla nganxanye, nganxanye ubucuzeke.
As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.
43 Njalo njengoba ubonile insimbi ixubene lebumba elitshisiweyo, kanjalo abantu bazakuba yinhlanganisela bahlale bengamanyananga, njengoba insimbi ingahlangani lebumba.
Whereas you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they will mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they won’t cling to one another, even as iron does not mix with clay.
44 “Ngalesosikhathi samakhosi lawo uNkulunkulu wasezulwini uzabeka umbuso ongasoze wabhidlizwa lanini njalo ongasoze utshiyelwe abanye abantu. Uzayibhidliza yonke leyomibuso iphele, kodwa wona uzakuma laphakade.”
“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever.
45 Le yiyo ingcazelo yombono welitshe elaqhekezwa entabeni, kungasingezandla zomuntu, ilitshe elaphahlaza insimbi, lethusi, lebumba, lesiliva kanye legolide kwaba yizicucu. “UNkulunkulu omkhulu uyitshengisile inkosi okuzakwenzeka ngesikhathi esizayo. Iphupho liliqiniso lengcazelo iqondile.”
Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will happen hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
46 Inkosi uNebhukhadineza wazilahla wathi mbo phambi kukaDanyeli wamkhonza wakhupha ilizwi lokuthi kenzelwe umnikelo atshiselwe impepha njalo.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odours to him.
47 Inkosi yathi kuDanyeli, “Ngempela uNkulunkulu wakho nguNkulunkulu wabonkulunkulu leNkosi yamakhosi lomambuleli wezimfihlakalo, ngoba ukwazile ukwambula imfihlakalo le.”
The king answered to Daniel, and said, “Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealler of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.”
48 Inkosi yasibeka uDanyeli esikhundleni esiphezulu yelekelela ngezipho ezinengi kuye. Yamenza waba ngumbusi kulolonke ilizwe laseBhabhiloni njalo waba ngumphathi wazo zonke izazi zakhona.
Then the king made Daniel great and gave him many great gifts, and made him rule over the whole province of Babylon and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 Isicelwe nguDanyeli, yaphinde yabeka uShadreki, loMeshaki lo-Abhediniko baba ngabaphathi beziqinti zelizwe laseBhabhiloni, kodwa yena uDanyeli wasala esigodlweni.
Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, but Daniel was in the king’s gate.