UDanyeli 4
1 UNebhukadinezari inkosi, kubo bonke abantu, izizwe, lezindimi, ezihlala emhlabeni wonke: Ukuthula kwenu kakwande!
Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied to you.
2 Bekukuhle kimi ukuthi ngikwazise izibonakaliso lezimangaliso uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke azenze kimi.
I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
3 Yeka ubukhulu bezibonakaliso zakhe, njalo yeka amandla ezimangaliso zakhe! Umbuso wakhe ungumbuso ongulaphakade, lokubusa kwakhe kungokwesizukulwana lesizukulwana.
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 Mina, uNebhukadinezari, ngangonwabile endlini yami, ngahluma esigodlweni sami,
I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace:
5 ngabona iphupho elangesabisayo; lemicabango phezu kombheda wami, lemibono yekhanda lami kwangethusa.
I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6 Ngakho umlayo wenziwa yimi wokuthi kungeniswe phambi kwami bonke abahlakaniphileyo beBhabhiloni, ukuze bangazise ingcazelo yephupho.
Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Kwasekungena izanuse, izangoma, amaKhaladiya, labalumbi; ngasengikhuluma iphupho phambi kwabo, kodwa kabangazisanga ingcazelo yalo.
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 to me the interpretation of it.
8 Kodwa ngasekucineni uDaniyeli wangena phambi kwami, obizo lakhe lalinguBeliteshazari, ngokwebizo likankulunkulu wami, lokukuye umoya wabonkulunkulu abangcwele; ngasengikhuluma iphupho phambi kwakhe, ngisithi:
But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name is 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 Wena Beliteshazari, nduna yezanuse, ngoba mina ngiyazi ukuthi umoya wabonkulunkulu abangcwele ukuwe, lokuthi kakulamfihlakalo leyodwa ekuhluphayo, ngitshela imibono yephupho lami engilibonileyo, lengcazelo yalo.
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 of it.
10 Yayinjalo imibono yekhanda lami embhedeni wami: Ngabona, khangela-ke, isihlahla phakathi komhlaba, lobude baso babubukhulu.
Thus were the visions of my head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.
11 Isihlahla sakhula saba sikhulu, saqina, lobude baso bafinyelela emazulwini, lokubonakala kwaso kwaze kwaba sekucineni komhlaba wonke.
The tree grew, and was strong, and its height reached to heaven, and the sight of it to the end of all the earth:
12 Amahlamvu aso ayemahle, lesithelo saso sasisinengi, kwakukhona kiso ukudla kwabo bonke; inyamazana zeganga zaba lomthunzi ngaphansi kwaso, lenyoni zamazulu zahlala ezingatsheni zaso, layo yonke inyama yondliwa kiso.
Its leaves were fair, and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shade under it, and the fowls of heaven dwelt among its boughs, and all flesh was fed from it.
13 Ngabona emibonweni yekhanda lami embhedeni wami, khangela-ke, umlindi, ngitsho ongcwele, wehla evela emazulwini.
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
14 Wamemeza ngamandla watsho njalo: Sigamuleni isihlahla, liqume izingatsha zaso, liphulule amahlamvu aso, lichithachithe izithelo zaso; izinyamazana kazisuke ngaphansi kwaso, lezinyoni ngasezingatsheni zaso.
He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts escape from under it, and the fowls from its branches:
15 Lanxa kunjalo tshiyani isidindi sempande zakhe emhlabathini, langebhanti lensimbi lethusi ohlazeni lwasendle; njalo kakumanziswe ngamazolo amazulu, lesabelo sakhe kasibe kanye lezinyamazana etshanini bomhlaba.
Nevertheless leave the stump of its 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 its portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16 Inhliziyo yakhe kayiphenduke ingabi ngeyomuntu, kayiphiwe inhliziyo yenyamazana; futhi kakwedlule phezu kwakhe izikhathi eziyisikhombisa.
Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him.
17 Loludaba lungesimemezelo sabalindi, lesilayezelo ngelizwi labangcwele; ukuze abaphilayo bazi ukuthi oPhezukonke uyabusa embusweni wabantu, njalo awunike loba kukubani amthandayo, amise phezu kwawo ophansi ebantwini.
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 whomever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
18 Leliphupho ngilibonile mina nkosi uNebhukadinezari. Wena-ke, Beliteshazari, yitsho ingcazelo yalo; ngoba bonke abahlakaniphileyo bombuso wami bengelakho ukungitshela ingcazelo; kodwa wena ulakho; ngoba umoya wabonkulunkulu abangcwele ukuwe.
This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation of it, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
19 Lapho uDaniyeli, obizo lakhe lalinguBeliteshazari, wamangala kakhulu okwesikhatshana, lemicabango yakhe yamkhathaza. Inkosi yaphendula, yathi: Beliteshazari, iphupho lengcazelo yalo kakungakukhathazi. UBeliteshazari waphendula wathi: Nkosi yami, iphupho kalibe kwabakuzondayo, lengcazelo yalo kuzo izitha zakho.
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was appalled for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation of it, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation of it to thy enemies.
20 Isihlahla osibonileyo, esakhula saba sikhulu saqina, lobude baso bafinyelela emazulwini, lokubonakala kwaso kwaze kwaba semhlabeni wonke,
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the heaven, and the sight of it to all the earth;
21 esimahlamvu aso ayemahle, lesithelo saso sisinengi, njalo kiso kulokudla kwabo bonke, lezinyamazana zeganga zahlala phansi kwaso, lenyoni zamazulu zahlala ezingatsheni zaso;
Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit of it abundant, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of heaven had their habitation:
22 singuwe, wena nkosi, osukhulile waba mkhulu waqina; ngoba ubukhulu bakho bukhulile, bafinyelela emazulwini, lombuso wakho ekucineni komhlaba.
It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth to heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
23 Njengalokho inkosi yabona umlindi, ngitsho ongcwele, esehla evela emazulwini owathi: Gamulani isihlahla lisichithe; kodwa litshiye isidindi sezimpande emhlabathini sibotshwe ngebhanti lensimbi lethusi ohlazeni lwasendle; kakumanziswe ngamazolo amazulu, lesabelo sakhe kasibe kanye lezinyamazana zeganga, kuze kwedlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwakhe.
And in that 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 its 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 its portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times shall pass over him;
24 Nansi ingcazelo, nkosi, njalo nansi isimemezelo soPhezukonke, esiza phezu kwenkosi yami, inkosi:
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25 Ukuthi bazakuxotsha ebantwini, lenhlalo yakho izakuba kanye lezinyamazana zeganga, bazakudlisa utshani njengezinkabi, bazakumanzisa ngamazolo amazulu, lezikhathi eziyisikhombisa zizadlula phezu kwakho, uze wazi ukuthi oPhezukonke uyabusa emibusweni yabantu, ayinike loba kukubani amthandayo.
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 shalt know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomever he will.
26 Njengalokho bathi kutshiywe isidindi sempande zesihlahla, umbuso wakho uzakuma kuwe, emva kokuthi ususazi ukuthi amazulu ayabusa.
And though they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure to thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Ngakho, nkosi, kasemukeleke kuwe iseluleko sami; wephule izono zakho ngokulunga, lobubi bakho ngokutshengisa isihawu kwabangabayanga, aluba kungaba lokwelulwa kokuthula kwakho.
Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thy iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 Konke lokhu kwamehlela uNebhukadinezari inkosi.
All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 Ekupheleni kwenyanga ezilitshumi lambili wayehambahamba phezu kwesigodlo sombuso weBhabhiloni.
At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 Inkosi yaphendula yathi: Kayisiyo yini le iBhabhiloni enkulu mina engiyakhe ukuba yindlu yombuso, ngamandla engalo yami, njalo ibe ludumo lobukhosi bami?
The king spoke, 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 Ilizwi lisesemlonyeni wenkosi, kwawa ilizwi livela emazulwini lisithi: Wena nkosi Nebhukadinezari, kuyatshiwo kuwe ukuthi: Umbuso usukile kuwe.
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 hath departed from thee.
32 Bazakuxotsha usuke ebantwini, lenhlalo yakho izakuba kanye lenyamazana zeganga, bazakudlisa utshani njengezinkabi, lezikhathi eziyisikhombisa zizadlula phezu kwakho, uze wazi ukuthi oPhezukonke uyabusa emibusweni yabantu, ayinike loba kukubani amthandayo.
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 shalt know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomever he will.
33 Ngalesosikhathi lolulutho lwagcwaliseka phezu kukaNebhukadinezari; wasexotshwa ebantwini, wadla utshani njengezinkabi, lomzimba wakhe wamanziswa ngamazolo amazulu, zaze inwele zakhe zakhula njengensiba zelinqe, lenzipho zakhe njengezenyoni.
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and ate 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 Njalo ekupheleni kwezinsuku, mina Nebhukadinezari ngaphakamisela amehlo ami emazulwini, ngoba ukuqedisisa kwami kwabuyela kimi; ngasengibusisa oPhezukonke, ngamdumisa, ngamhlonipha yena ophila phakade, ngoba ukubusa kwakhe kuyikubusa okulaphakade, lombuso wakhe ungowesizukulwana lesizukulwana;
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to 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 futhi bonke abahlali bomhlaba babalwa njengokungelutho, njalo wenza njengentando yakhe ebuthweni lamazulu lakubahlali bomhlaba; njalo kakho ongavimbela isandla sakhe, loba athi kuye: Wenzani?
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 to him, What doest thou?
36 Ngasona lesosikhathi ingqondo yami yabuyela kimi, futhi ngenxa yenkazimulo yombuso wami udumo lwami lokucwebezela kwami kwabuyela kimi; njalo abeluleki bami lezikhulu zami zangidinga; ngasengimiswa futhi embusweni wami; lobukhulu obudluleleyo bengezelelwa kimi.
At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my honour and brightness returned to me; and my counsellors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.
37 Khathesi, mina, Nebhukadinezari, ngiyayidumisa ngiyiphakamise ngiyihloniphe iNkosi yamazulu, ngoba imisebenzi yayo yonke iliqiniso, lezindlela zayo ziyisahlulelo; lalabo abahamba ngokuzigqaja ilakho ukubathobisa.
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.
