UDanyeli 4
1 UNebhukadinezari inkosi, kubo bonke abantu, izizwe, lezindimi, ezihlala emhlabeni wonke: Ukuthula kwenu kakwande!
Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
2 Bekukuhle kimi ukuthi ngikwazise izibonakaliso lezimangaliso uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke azenze kimi.
It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked towards me.
3 Yeka ubukhulu bezibonakaliso zakhe, njalo yeka amandla ezimangaliso zakhe! Umbuso wakhe ungumbuso ongulaphakade, lokubusa kwakhe kungokwesizukulwana lesizukulwana.
How great are his signs! How mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. 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 on 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 the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in; and I told them the dream, but they didn’t make known to me its interpretation.
8 Kodwa ngasekucineni uDaniyeli wangena phambi kwami, obizo lakhe lalinguBeliteshazari, ngokwebizo likankulunkulu wami, lokukuye umoya wabonkulunkulu abangcwele; ngasengikhuluma iphupho phambi kwakhe, ngisithi:
But at last, Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. I told the dream before him, 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.
“Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
10 Yayinjalo imibono yekhanda lami embhedeni wami: Ngabona, khangela-ke, isihlahla phakathi komhlaba, lobude baso babubukhulu.
These were the visions of my head on my bed: I saw, and behold, a tree in the middle 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. Its height reached to the sky and its sight 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 beautiful, and it had much fruit, and in it was food for all. The animals of the field had shade under it, and the birds of the sky lived in its branches, 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 on my bed, and behold, a holy watcher came down from the sky.
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 this: ‘Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Let the animals get away from under it and the birds 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 bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of the sky. Let his portion be with the animals 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 an animal’s heart be given to him. Then 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.
“‘The sentence 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 rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest 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; and you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
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 stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or the interpretation, trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries.
20 Isihlahla osibonileyo, esakhula saba sikhulu saqina, lobude baso bafinyelela emazulwini, lokubonakala kwaso kwaze kwaba semhlabeni wonke,
The tree that you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to the sky and its sight 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 beautiful and its fruit plentiful, and in it was food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation—
22 singuwe, wena nkosi, osukhulile waba mkhulu waqina; ngoba ubukhulu bakho bukhulile, bafinyelela emazulwini, lombuso wakho ekucineni komhlaba.
it is you, O king, that have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown, and reaches to the sky, and your 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.
“Whereas the king saw a holy watcher coming down from the sky and saying, ‘Cut down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of the sky. Let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him.’
24 Nansi ingcazelo, nkosi, njalo nansi isimemezelo soPhezukonke, esiza phezu kwenkosi yami, inkosi:
“This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come on 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.
You will be driven from men and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You will be made to eat grass as oxen, and will be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.
26 Njengalokho bathi kutshiywe isidindi sempande zesihlahla, umbuso wakho uzakuma kuwe, emva kokuthi ususazi ukuthi amazulu ayabusa.
Whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be sure to you after you know that Heaven rules.
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 you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your tranquillity.”
28 Konke lokhu kwamehlela uNebhukadinezari inkosi.
All this came on the King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 Ekupheleni kwenyanga ezilitshumi lambili wayehambahamba phezu kwesigodlo sombuso weBhabhiloni.
At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace 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, which I have built for the royal dwelling place by the might of my power and for the glory 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, a voice came from the sky, saying, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: ‘The kingdom has departed from you.
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.
You shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen. Seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives 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.
This was fulfilled the same hour on Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; and his body was wet with the dew of the sky until his hair had 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;
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 who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom 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?
All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and amongst the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can stop his hand, or ask him, “What are you doing?”
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 understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me. My counsellors and my lords sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness 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; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.
