UDanyeli 4
1 Inkosi uNebhukhadineza, Ezizweni zonke lebantwini benhlanga zonke abahlala emhlabeni wonke: Sengathi inganda kini inhlalakahle!
Nebuchadnezzar, the king, to all peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in the whole world, may peace be increased with you.
2 Kuyintokozo kimi ukulitshela ngezibonakaliso ezimangalisayo lezinkinga uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke angenzele zona.
The supreme God has accomplished signs and wonders with me. Therefore, it has pleased me to proclaim
3 Zinkulu kangakanani izibonakaliso zakhe,
his signs, which are great, and his wonders, which are mighty. For his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his power continues from generation to generation.
4 Mina, Nebhukhadineza, ngangisekhaya esigodlweni sami, nganelisiwe njalo ngikhomba ngophakathi.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was content in my house and prospering in my palace.
5 Ngehlelwa liphupho elangitshayisa uvalo. Ngathi ngilele embhedeni wami kwafika engqondweni yami izifanekiso lezibonakaliso ezangithuthumelisayo.
I saw a dream that terrified me, and my thoughts on my bed and the visions in my head disturbed me.
6 Ngasengilaya ukuthi zonke izihlakaniphi zaseBhabhiloni zilethwe phambi kwami ukuthi zingihlahlulele lelophupho.
And so a decree was established by me, that all of the wise men of Babylon should be brought in before me, and that they should reveal to me the answer to the dream.
7 Kwathi sebefikile omasalamusi, lezangoma, lezingcazi zezinkanyezi lezanuse ngazitshela lelophupho kodwa zehluleka ukungichasisela lona.
Then the seers, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers entered, and I explained about the dream in their presence, but they did not reveal its answer to me.
8 Ekucineni uDanyeli wafika kimi ngamtshela ngephupho lelo. (Uthiwa nguBhelitheshazari, ngokuphathelene lebizo likankulunkulu wami, njalo umoya wabonkulunkulu abangcwele uphakathi kwakhe.)
And then their colleague came in before me, Daniel, (whose name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, ) who has the spirit of the holy gods within his very self, and I told the dream directly to him.
9 Ngathi kuye, Bhelitheshazari, nduna yabomasalamusi, ngiyazi ukuthi umoya wabonkulunkulu abangcwele uphakathi kwakho, njalo kakukho okuyinkinga kuwe. Nanti iphupho lami; ngihlahlulela lona.
Belteshazzar, leader of the seers, since I know that you have in you the spirit of the holy gods, and that no mystery is unreachable to you, explain to me the visions of my dreams, which I saw, and the solution to them.
10 Yile imibono eyangivelelayo ngilele embhedeni wami: Ngakhangela, ngabona kumi phambi kwami isihlahla phakathi komango. Ubude baso babule.
This was the vision of my head on my bed. I looked, and behold, a tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was exceedingly great.
11 Isihlahla sakhula saba sikhulu saqina, isiqongo saso sakhotha umkhathi; sasibonakala lasemikhawulweni yomhlaba.
The tree was great and strong, and its height reached up to heaven. It could be seen all the way to the ends of the entire earth.
12 Amahlamvu aso ayebukeka, izithelo zaso zinengi kuso kukhona ukudla kwakho konke. Ngaphansi kwaso izinyamazana zeganga zafumana isiphephelo lezinyoni zemoyeni zazihlala emagatsheni aso; zonke izidalwa zisongiwa kuso.
Its leaves were very beautiful, and its fruit was very abundant, and in it was food for the whole world. Under it, animals and beasts were dwelling, and in its branches, the birds of the sky were sheltered, and from it, all flesh was fed.
13 Ezibonakalisweni ezeza ngilele embhedeni wami, ngakhangela, ngabona khonapho phambi kwami kulesithunywa, singongcwele, sisehla sisuka ezulwini.
I saw in the vision of my head upon my blanket, and behold, a watcher and a holy one descended from heaven.
14 Samemeza ngelizwi elikhulu sathi: Gamulelani phansi isihlahla licakaze amagatsha aso; liwaphundle amahlamvu aso lihlakaze izithelo zaso. Yekelani izinyamazana zibaleke ngaphansi kwaso kanye lezinyoni emagatsheni aso.
He cried out loudly, and he said this: “Cut down the tree and prune its branches; shake off its leaves and scatter its fruits; let flee the beasts, which are under it, and the birds from its branches.
15 Kodwa akuthi isidindi saso kanye lempande zakhona kusale kugxumekile emhlabathini phakathi kotshani beganga, kubotshiwe ngensimbi langethusi. Kagxanxwe ngamazolo avela phezulu, njalo kahlale lezinyamazana phakathi kwezihlahla zeganga.
Nevertheless, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, and let it be bound with a band of iron and brass among the plants, which are close by, and let it be touched by the dew of heaven, and let its place be with the wild animals among the plants of the earth.
16 Ingqondo yakhe kayiguqulwe isuke ebuntwini, aphiwe ingqondo yenyamazana, kuze kudlule iminyaka eyisikhombisa.
Let his heart be changed from being human, and let the heart of a wild animal be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him.
17 “‘Isinqumo lesi sibikwa yizithunywa, zona ezingcwele yizo ezimemezela lesi isigwebo, ukuze kuthi abaphilayo bazi ukuthi oPhezukonke unguThixo yemibuso yabantu njalo uyabanikela loba kukubani amfunayo futhi enze babuswe ngumuntukazana.’
This is the decree from the judgment of the watchers, and the decision and proclamation of the holy ones, until the living shall know that the Supreme One is ruler in the kingdom of men, and that he will give it to whomever he wills, and he will appoint the lowest man over it.”
18 Yilo iphupho engibe lalo mina inkosi uNebhukhadineza. Manje-ke Bhelitheshazari, ngitshela ukuthi litshoni, ngoba kasikho isihlakaniphi embusweni wami esingangihlahlulela lona. Kodwa wena ungakwenza, ngoba umoya wabonkulunkulu abangcwele uphakathi kwakho.”
I, king Nebuchadnezzar, saw this dream. And so you, Belteshazzar, must quickly explain to me the interpretation because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to declare the meaning of it to me. But you are able because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.
19 Yikho uDanyeli (njalo othiwa nguBhelitheshazari) wakhathazeka kakhulu okwesikhathi esithile, imicabango yakhe yamethusa. Yikho inkosi yasisithi, “Bhelitheshazari, ungethuswa liphupho lelo kumbe yincazelo yalo.” UBhelitheshazari waphendula wathi, Nkosi yami, sengathi ngabe iphupho lelo liqonde labo abayizitha zakho lengcazelo yalo ikhomba labo abakuzondayo!
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, began silently to think within himself for about one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. But the king responded, saying, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream and its interpretation disturb you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, the dream is for those who hate you, and its interpretation may be for your enemies.
20 Isihlahla osibonileyo, esakhula saba sikhulu saqina, isiqongo saso sikhotha isibhakabhaka size sibonakale emhlabeni wonke,
The tree that you saw was lofty and strong; its height reached toward heaven, and it could be seen throughout the whole world.
21 silamahlamvu abukekayo lezithelo ezinengi, sisipha ukudla kukho konke, siphe isiphephelo izinyamazana zeganga, emagatsheni aso silezindawo zezidleke zezinyoni zemoyeni,
And its branches were very beautiful, and its fruit very abundant, and in it was food for all. Under it, dwelt the beasts of the field, and in its branches, the birds of the air stayed.
22 wena, Oh nkosi, uyilesosihlahla! Usube mkhulu waba lamandla; ubukhulu bakho sebandile sebuze buthinta isibhakabhaka, lombuso wakho usufinyelela ezindaweni ezikude ezomhlaba.
It is you, O king, who has been greatly esteemed, and you have grown strong. And you have increased your power, and it reaches towards heaven, and your rule is to the ends of the whole earth.
23 “Wena, Oh nkosi, wabona isithunywa, sona esingcwele, sisehla sivela ezulwini sisithi, ‘Sigamuleleni phansi isihlahla lisicakaze, kodwa litshiye isidindi, sibotshiwe ngensimbi langethusi, siphakathi kotshani beganga, impande zaso zisale emhlabathini. Kagxanxwe ngamazolo aphezulu; kaphile njengezinyamazana zeganga kuze kudlule iminyaka eyisikhombisa.’
Yet the king also saw a watcher and a holy one descend from heaven and say: ‘Cut down the tree and scatter it; however, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, and let it be bound with iron and brass, among the surrounding plants, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heaven, and let his feeding be with the wild beasts, until seven periods of time pass over him.’
24 Nansi ingcazelo, Oh nkosi, njalo lesi yisimiso soPhezukonke asimisele umhlekazi wami inkosi:
This is the interpretation of the judgment of the Most High, which has reached my lord, the king.
25 Uzaxotshwa ebantwini uyehlala lezinyamazana zeganga: uzakudla utshani njengezinkomo, ugxanxwe ngamazolo aphezulu. Kuzakudlula iminyaka eyisikhombisa uze uvume ukuthi oPhezukonke uyabusa phezu kwemibuso yabantu ayinika ingqe ngulowo amthandayo.
They will expel you from among men, and your dwelling will be with the beasts and the wild animals, and you will eat hay like an ox, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Likewise, seven periods of time will pass over you, until you know that the Supreme One rules over the kingdom of men, and he gives it to whomever he wills.
26 Umlayo wokutshiya isidindi kanye lezimpande zaso utsho ukuthi umbuso wakho uzabuyiselwa kuwe nxatshana usuvuma ukuthi iZulu liyabusa.
But, since he commanded that the stump of its roots, that is, of the tree, should be left behind, your kingdom will be left for you, after you have realized that power is from divinity.
27 Ngakho-ke, Oh nkosi, kuhle ukuthi wamukele ukucebisa kwami: Yekela izono zakho wenze okulungileyo, lobubi bakho ube lomusa kwabancindezelweyo. Lapho-ke mhlawumbe ukuphumelela kwakho kungaqhubeka.”
Because of this, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you. And redeem your sins with alms, and your iniquities with mercy towards the poor. Perhaps he will forgive your offenses.”
28 Konke lokhu kwenzakala enkosini uNebhukhadineza.
All these things came upon king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 Sekudlule izinyanga ezilitshumi lambili, inkosi ihambahamba ephahleni lwesigodlo saseBhabhiloni,
After the end of twelve months, he was taking a walk in the palace of Babylon.
30 yathi, “Kakusilo yini iBhabhiloni leli engalakha laba ngumuzi wobukhosi bami na?”
And the king spoke out loud, saying, “Isn’t this the great Babylon, which I have built, as the home of the kingdom, by the strength of my power and in the glory of my excellence?”
31 Kwathi amazwi la elokhu esesemlonyeni wakhe kwehla ilizwi livela ezulwini lathi, “Nanku osukunqunyelwe, nkosi Nebhukhadineza: Amandla akho obukhosi asesusiwe kuwe.
And while the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice rushed down from heaven, “To you, O king Nebuchadnezzar, it is said: ‘Your kingdom will be taken away from you,
32 Uzaxotshwa ebantwini uyehlala lezinyamazana zeganga; uzakudla utshani njengezinkomo. Kuzadlula iminyaka eyisikhombisa uze uvume ukuthi oPhezukonke uyabusa phezu kwemibuso yabantu ayiphe ingqe ngubani ngokuthanda kwakhe.”
and they will expel you from among men, and your dwelling will be with the beasts and the wild animals. You will eat hay like an ox, and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Supreme One rules in the kingdom of men, and he gives it to whomever he wills.’”
33 Masinyane nje okwakutshiwo ngoNebhukhadineza kwagcwaliseka. Waxotshwa ebantwini wadla utshani njengezinkomo. Umzimba wakhe wagxanxwa ngamazolo aphezulu, inwele zakhe zakhula njengezinsiba zengqungqulu, kwathi inzipho zakhe zaba njengenkumba zenyoni.
The same hour, the sentence was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven away from among men, and he ate hay like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair increased like the feathers of eagles, and his nails like those of birds.
34 Ekupheleni kwalesosikhathi, mina, Nebhukhadineza, ngaphakamisela amehlo ami ezulwini, ingqondo yami yabuya. Ngasengimdumisa oPhezukonke; ngambabaza, ngambonga yena ohlezi kuze kube phakade.
Therefore, at the end of these days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my mind was restored to me. And I blessed the Most High, and I praised and glorified him who lives forever. For his power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.
35 Imihlobo yonke yabantu bomhlaba
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing before him. For he acts according to his own will, with the inhabitants of the earth just as with the holy inhabitants of heaven. And there is no one who can resist his hand, or say to him, “Why have you done this?”
36 Ngasonalesosikhathi ingqondo yami yabuya, udumo lwami lenkazimulo yami kwabuyiswa kimi ukusekela ubukhosi bombuso wami. Abeluleki bami lezikhulu zami bangidinga bangibuyisela esihlalweni sami sobukhosi, ngase ngisiba mkhulu kulakuqala.
At the same time, my mind returned to me, and I arrived at the honor and glory of my kingdom. And my appearance was given back to me. And my nobles and my magistrates needed me. And I was restored to my kingdom, and even greater majesty was added to me.
37 Ngakho-ke mina, Nebhukhadineza, ngiyayidumisa njalo ngiyayibabaza, ngiyiphakamise iNkosi yezulu, ngoba konke ekwenzayo kuqondile futhi lezindlela zayo zonke zilungile. Njalo bonke abazigqajayo iyabathobisa.
Therefore I, Nebuchadnezzar, now praise, and magnify, and glorify the King of heaven, because all his works and the judgments of his way are true, and those who go forth in arrogance, he is able to bring low.
