< Danieli 2 >

1 Katika mwaka wa pili wa utawala wake, Nebukadneza aliota ndoto. Mawazo yake yakasumbuka na hakuweza kulala.
[One night] during the second year that Nebuchadnezzar ruled, he had a dream. The dream worried him very much; and [as a result] he could not sleep.
2 Hivyo mfalme akawaita waganga, wasihiri, wachawi na wanajimu ili wamwambie ndoto yake aliyokuwa ameota. Walipoingia ndani na kusimama mbele ya mfalme,
[The next morning] he summoned his men who worked magic, fortune-tellers, those who worked sorcery, and those who studied the stars. [Because he had forgotten what he had dreamed, ] he insisted that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood there in front of the king,
3 akawaambia, “Niliota ndoto inayonisumbua, nami nataka nijue maana yake.”
he said, “I had a dream [last night] that worries me. [Tell me what I dreamed, because] I want to know what the dream [means].”
4 Ndipo wanajimu wakamjibu mfalme kwa lugha ya Kiaramu, “Ee mfalme, uishi milele! Waambie watumishi wako hiyo ndoto, nasi tutaifasiri.”
The men who studied the stars replied to the king, speaking in the Aramaic [language]. They said, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we hope that you will live a long time! Tell us what you dreamed, and [then] we will tell you what it means!”
5 Mfalme akawajibu wanajimu, “Nimeamua hivi kwa uthabiti: Ikiwa hamtaniambia ndoto yangu ilikuwa ipi na kuifasiri, mtakatwa vipande vipande na nyumba zenu zitafanywa kuwa vifusi.
But the king replied, “I have firmly decided that you must tell me the dream, and [also tell me] what it means. If you do not do that, I will [order my soldiers to] cut you into pieces, and to cause your houses to become only piles of stones!
6 Lakini mkiniambia ndoto yangu na kuielezea, mtapokea kwangu zawadi, tuzo na heshima kubwa. Basi niambieni ndoto yangu na mnifasirie.”
But if you tell me what I dreamed and what it means, I will reward you. I will give you wonderful gifts and greatly honor you. So tell me what I dreamed and what it means!”
7 Wakajibu kwa mara nyingine, “Mfalme na awaambie watumishi wake ndoto yake, nasi tutaifasiri.”
But again they said, “Tell us what you dreamed, and [then] we will tell you what it means.”
8 Ndipo mfalme akajibu, “Nina hakika kuwa mnajaribu kupata muda zaidi, kwa sababu mnatambua kuwa nimeamua hivi kwa uthabiti:
The king replied, “I know that you are just trying to get more time, because you know that I will do to you what I said that I would do.
9 Ikiwa hamtaniambia ndoto yangu, ipo adhabu moja tu kwenu. Mmefanya shauri kuniambia habari za kunipotosha na mambo maovu, mkitumaini kwamba hali itabadilika. Hivyo basi, niambieni hiyo ndoto, nami nitajua kuwa mwaweza kunifasiria.”
If you do not tell me what I dreamed, you will be punished. [I think that] you have all agreed to tell me lies and [other] wicked things, because you hope that I will change ([my mind/what I am thinking]). But tell me the dream, and [then] I will know that you can [also] tell me what it means.”
10 Wanajimu wakamjibu mfalme, “Hakuna mtu duniani ambaye anaweza kufanya analotaka mfalme! Vilevile hakuna mfalme hata awe mkuu na mwenye uweza namna gani, aliyeuliza kitu kama hicho kwa mganga au kwa msihiri, wala kwa mnajimu yeyote.
The men who studied the stars replied, “There is no one on the earth who can do what you ask! There is no king, [even] a great and mighty king, who has [ever] asked his men who work magic or his fortune-tellers or men who study the stars to do something like that!
11 Anachouliza mfalme ni kigumu mno. Hakuna yeyote awezaye kumfunulia mfalme isipokuwa miungu, nao hawaishi miongoni mwa wanadamu.”
What you are asking [us to do] is impossible. Only the gods can tell you what you dreamed, and they do not live among us!”
12 Jambo hili lilimkasirisha na kumghadhibisha mfalme mno hata kuagiza kuuawa kwa wenye hekima wote wa Babeli.
The king was very angry when he heard that, so he commanded [his soldiers] that they execute all such wise men in Babylon.
13 Hivyo amri ikatolewa ya kuwaua wenye hekima, nao watu wakatumwa kuwatafuta Danieli na rafiki zake ili wawaue.
And because of what the king commanded, they sent some men to find me and my [three] friends, to execute us [also].
14 Wakati Arioko, mkuu wa askari wa walinzi wa mfalme, alikuwa amekwenda kuwaua watu wenye hekima wa Babeli, Danieli akazungumza naye kwa hekima na busara.
Arioch, the commander of the king’s guards, came to kill us. But I spoke to him very wisely and tactfully/skillfully.
15 Akamuuliza huyo afisa wa mfalme, “Kwa nini mfalme ametoa amri kali hivyo?” Ndipo Arioko akamweleza Danieli jambo hilo.
I asked Arioch, “Why has the king made such a harsh/terrible decree?” So Arioch told me all that had happened [because of the king’s dream].
16 Aliposikia jambo hili, Danieli akamwendea mfalme, akamwomba ampe muda ili aweze kumfasiria ile ndoto.
I [immediately] went to talk to the king and requested that the king give me some time, so that I could find out [what the dream was and] what the dream meant.
17 Ndipo Danieli akarudi nyumbani kwake na kuwaeleza rafiki zake Hanania, Mishaeli na Azaria jambo hilo.
Then I went home, and I told my friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, what had happened.
18 Aliwasihi waombe rehema kutoka kwa Mungu wa mbinguni kuhusu siri hii, ili yeye na rafiki zake wasije wakauawa pamoja na wenye hekima wengine wa Babeli.
I urged them to ask God, who lives/rules in heaven, to have mercy on us by telling us the secret [meaning of what the king dreamed], in order that we and the other wise men in Babylon would not be executed.
19 Wakati wa usiku lile fumbo lilifunuliwa kwa Danieli katika maono. Ndipo Danieli akamhimidi Mungu wa mbinguni,
And that night [God] gave to me a vision in which he revealed the secret. Then I praised God,
20 na akasema: “Lihimidiwe jina la Mungu milele na milele; hekima na uweza ni vyake.
saying, “We should praise God [MTY] forever, because [only] he truly is wise and powerful.
21 Yeye hubadili nyakati na majira; huwaweka wafalme na kuwaondoa. Huwapa hekima wenye hekima, na maarifa wenye ufahamu.
He determines what events will happen through the years. He removes [some] kings and gives their authority to [new] kings. He is the one who causes people to become wise and enables those who study to understand [many] things.
22 Hufunua siri na mambo yaliyofichika; anajua yale yaliyo gizani, nayo nuru hukaa kwake.
He reveals things that are very mysterious; he is surrounded by light, but he knows things that are hidden [as though they were] in the darkness.
23 Ninakushukuru na kukuhimidi, Ee Mungu wa baba zangu: Umenipa hekima na uwezo, umenijulisha kile tulichokuomba, umetujulisha ndoto ya mfalme.”
God, whom my ancestors [worshiped], I thank you and I praise you, because you have caused me to be wise and made me strong. You have told me what my friends and I asked you to tell us; and you have revealed to us what the king demanded to know.”
24 Ndipo Danieli akamwendea Arioko, ambaye mfalme alikuwa amemteua kuwaua wenye hekima wa Babeli, akamwambia, “Usiwaue wenye hekima wa Babeli. Nipeleke kwa mfalme, nami nitamfasiria ndoto yake.”
Then I went to Arioch, the man whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men in Babylon. I said to him, “Do not kill those wise men. Take me to the king, and I will tell him what his dream means.”
25 Arioko akampeleka Danieli kwa mfalme mara moja na kumwambia, “Nimempata mtu miongoni mwa watu wa uhamisho kutoka Yuda ambaye anaweza kumwambia mfalme maana ya ndoto yake.”
So Arioch quickly took me to the king. He said to the king, “I have found [this man], one of the men whom we brought from Judah who [says he can] can tell you what your dream means!”
26 Mfalme akamuuliza Danieli (aliyeitwa pia Belteshaza), “Je, unaweza kuniambia nilichoona katika ndoto yangu na kuifasiri?”
The king said to me, whose [new] name was Belteshazzar, “[Is this true]? Can you tell me what I dreamed and what it means?”
27 Danieli akajibu, “Hakuna mwenye hekima, msihiri, mganga au mwaguzi anayeweza kumweleza mfalme siri aliyouliza,
I replied, “There are no wise men or fortune-tellers or men who work magic or men who work sorcery who can tell such things to you.
28 lakini yuko Mungu mbinguni afunuaye siri. Amemwonyesha Mfalme Nebukadneza kitakachotokea siku zijazo. Ndoto yako na maono yaliyopita mawazoni mwako ulipokuwa umelala kitandani mwako ni haya:
But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets. And he has shown in [your dream] what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you what you dreamed, the vision you saw [as you were lying] on your bed.
29 “Ee mfalme, ulipokuwa umelala kitandani, yalikujia mawazo kuhusu mambo yatakayotokea baadaye, naye mfunuaji wa siri akakuonyesha ni kitu gani kitakachotokea.
O King, while you were sleeping, you dreamed about events that will happen in the future. The one who reveals mysteries has shown you what is going to happen.
30 Kwangu mimi, nimefunuliwa siri hii, si kwa sababu nina hekima kubwa kuliko watu wengine wanaoishi, bali ni ili wewe, ee mfalme, upate kujua tafsiri, na ili uweze kuelewa kile kilichopita mawazoni mwako.
And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else on earth that I know the meaning of this mysterious dream. It is because God wanted you to understand what you were thinking.
31 “Ee mfalme, ulitazama, na mbele yako ilisimama sanamu kubwa, kubwa mno kupita kiasi, sanamu iliyongʼaa na kutisha kwa kuonekana kwake.
O King, [in your vision] you saw in front of you a huge and terrifying statue [of a man. It was] shining very brightly, and it was frightening and awesome.
32 Kichwa cha ile sanamu kilikuwa kimetengenezwa kwa dhahabu safi, kifua chake na mikono yake vilikuwa vya fedha, tumbo lake na mapaja yake vilikuwa vya shaba,
The head of the statue was [made] of pure gold. Its chest and arms [were made of] silver. Its belly and thighs [were made of] bronze.
33 miguu yake ilikuwa ya chuma, na nyayo zake zilikuwa chuma nazo sehemu nyingine zilikuwa udongo wa mfinyanzi uliochomwa.
Its legs [were made of] iron, and its feet were a mixture of clay and iron.
34 Ulipokuwa unaangalia, jiwe lilikatwa, lakini si kwa mikono ya mwanadamu. Lile jiwe liliipiga ile sanamu kwenye nyayo zake za chuma na udongo wa mfinyanzi, na kuivunja.
As you watched, something cut a rock [from a mountain, but it was] not a human [who cut it]. The rock [tumbled down and] smashed the feet of the statue, feet [that were made of] iron and clay. It smashed them to bits.
35 Ndipo ile chuma, ule udongo wa mfinyanzi, ile shaba, ile fedha na ile dhahabu vikavunjika vipande vipande kwa wakati mmoja, na vikawa kama makapi katika sakafu ya kupuria nafaka wakati wa kiangazi. Upepo ukavipeperusha bila kuacha hata alama. Lakini lile jiwe lililoipiga ile sanamu likawa mlima mkubwa mno na kuijaza dunia yote.
Then the rest of the statue collapsed into a big heap of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. The pieces of the statue were as small as bits of chaff on the ground where it is threshed, and the wind blew away all the tiny pieces. There was nothing left. But the rock that smashed the statue became a large mountain that covered the whole earth.
36 “Hii ndiyo iliyokuwa ndoto, nasi sasa tutamfasiria mfalme.
That was what you dreamed. Now I will tell you what it means.
37 Ee mfalme, wewe ni mfalme wa wafalme. Mungu wa mbinguni amekupa wewe utawala, uweza, nguvu na utukufu.
You are a king [who rules] over [many other] kings. The God who rules in heaven has caused you to rule over them and has given you great power [DOU] and has honored you.
38 Mikononi mwako amewaweka wanadamu, wanyama wa kondeni, na ndege wa angani. Popote waishipo amekufanya wewe kuwa mtawala juu yao wote. Wewe ndiye kile kichwa cha dhahabu.
He has caused you to be the ruler over all people, and [even] the animals and birds are controlled by you. [So] the head [of the statue] represents you.
39 “Baada yako, ufalme mwingine utainuka, ulio dhaifu kuliko wako. Baadaye utafuata ufalme wa tatu, ule wa shaba, nao utatawala juu ya dunia yote.
But after your [kingdom/rule] ends, there will be another [great] kingdom, [but it] will not be as great as yours. [The silver parts of the statue represent that kingdom]. Then there will be a third [great] kingdom [whose king] will rule over the whole earth. The bronze parts [of the statue represent] that kingdom.
40 Hatimaye, kutakuwako na ufalme wa nne, wenye nguvu kama chuma, kwa maana chuma huvunja na kupondaponda kila kitu; kama vile chuma ivunjavyo vitu vipande vipande, ndivyo ufalme huo utakavyopondaponda na kuvunjavunja nyingine zote.
After that kingdom ends, there will be a fourth [great] kingdom. The iron [parts of the statue represent that kingdom]. [The army of] that kingdom will smash the previous kingdoms, just like iron smashes everything that it strikes.
41 Kama vile ulivyoona kuwa kwa sehemu nyayo na vidole vilikuwa vya udongo wa mfinyanzi uliochomwa na kwa sehemu nyingine chuma, hivyo huu utakuwa ufalme uliogawanyika; hata hivyo utakuwa na sehemu zenye nguvu za chuma ndani yake, kama vile ulivyoona chuma imechanganywa na udongo wa mfinyanzi.
The feet and toes of the statue that you saw, that were a mixture of iron and clay, indicate that the kingdom they represent will [later] be divided.
42 Kama vile vidole vyake vya miguu vilikuwa kwa sehemu chuma na sehemu udongo wa mfinyanzi, hivyo ufalme huo kwa sehemu utakuwa na nguvu na kwa sehemu udhaifu.
Some parts of that kingdom will be as strong as iron, but some parts will not remain together, just as iron and clay do not stick together.
43 Kama vile ulivyoona chuma kikiwa kimechanganyikana na udongo wa mfinyanzi uliochomwa, ndivyo watu watakavyokuwa mchanganyiko, wala hawatabaki wameungana tena, kama vile chuma kisivyoweza kuchanganyikana na udongo wa mfinyanzi.
The mixture of iron and clay [in the statue] shows also that the rulers of those kingdoms that separate from each other will try to form alliances with each other as a result of members of the royal families of those kingdoms marrying each other. But that will not succeed, just as iron and clay do not stick together.
44 “Katika siku za wafalme hao, Mungu wa mbinguni atauweka ufalme ambao kamwe hautaangamizwa, wala hautaachiwa taifa jingine. Utaziponda zile falme zote na kuzikomesha, bali wenyewe utadumu milele.
But while those kings are ruling, God who rules in heaven will establish a kingdom that will never end. No one will ever defeat its king. He will completely destroy all those kingdoms, but his kingdom will remain forever.
45 Hii ndiyo maana ya maono ya jiwe lililochongwa kutoka mlimani, lakini si kwa mikono ya mwanadamu, lile jiwe ambalo lilivunja chuma, shaba, udongo wa mfinyanzi, fedha na dhahabu vipande vipande. “Mungu Mkuu amemwonyesha mfalme kile kitakachotokea wakati ujao. Ndoto hii ni ya kweli na tafsiri yake ni ya kuaminika.”
That is the meaning of the rock that something cut from the mountain, the rock that will crush to tiny bits the statue that is made of iron, bronze, silver, and gold. O king, the great God has shown you what will truly happen in the future. And you can trust [what I told you about] the meaning of the dream.”
46 Ndipo Mfalme Nebukadneza akaanguka kifudifudi mbele ya Danieli kumpa heshima, akaagiza wamtolee Danieli sadaka na uvumba.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar prostrated himself in front of me [in great respect]. He commanded [his people] that they burn incense and burn an offering of grain to honor me.
47 Mfalme akamwambia Danieli, “Hakika Mungu wako ni Mungu wa miungu, na Bwana wa wafalme, na mfunuaji wa siri zote, kwa maana umeweza kufunua siri hii.”
The king said to me, “[Your God has enabled] you to tell me the meaning of this dream/mystery, so now I truly know that your God is greater than all the other gods and all other kings. He reveals [to people] things that they cannot know.”
48 Ndipo mfalme akamweka Danieli nafasi ya juu, na kumpa zawadi nyingi tele. Akamfanya kuwa mtawala wa jimbo lote la Babeli, na kumweka kuwa mkuu wa wenye hekima wote.
Then the king gave many gifts to me, and he [also] appointed me to rule over the entire province of Babylon, and [also] to be the boss of all his wise men.
49 Zaidi ya hayo, kwa ombi la Danieli, mfalme akawateua Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego kuwa wasimamizi wa jimbo la Babeli, huku Danieli akibaki katika ukumbi wa mfalme.
I asked the king to appoint Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to [also] have important positions in Babylon province, and the king did what I asked him to do. But [I did my work while] I stayed at the king’s palace.

< Danieli 2 >