Daniel 4
1 Ɔhene Nebukadnessar, de saa nkra yi kɔmaa nnipa ne aman ne kasa ahorow a ɛwɔ wiase se: Ensi mo yiye mmoroso!
King Nebuchadnezzar, To the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth: May your prosperity be multiplied.
2 Ɛyɛ me anigye sɛ mo nyinaa ahu biribi a ɛfa nsɛnkyerɛnne ne anwonwade a Ɔsorosoro Nyankopɔn ayɛ ama me.
I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
3 Hwɛ sɛnea ne nsɛnkyerɛnne yɛ kɛse fa!
How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation.
4 Na me, Nebukadnessar, mete mʼahemfi, midi me ho so na me koma tɔ me yam.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.
5 Nanso mesoo dae bi a, ɛbɔɔ me hu yiye. Meda me mpa so no, mfoni a ɛfaa mʼani so ne anisoadehu a minyaa no hunahunaa me.
I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.
6 Ɛno nti, mehyɛ ma wɔfrɛɛ anyansafo a wɔwɔ Babilonia nyinaa sɛ wɔmmɛkyerɛ me dae no ase.
So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.
7 Bere a nkonyaayifo, pɛadeahufo, Kaldeafo ne ntafowayifo no bae no, mekaa dae no kyerɛɛ wɔn, nanso wɔantumi ankyerɛ me ase.
When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.
8 Akyiri no, Daniel (a wɔtoo no din Beltesasar, a ɛyɛ me nyame din, efisɛ, na anyame kronkron no honhom wɔ ne mu) baa mʼanim, na mekaa dae no kyerɛɛ no.
But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream:
9 Meka kyerɛɛ no se, Beltesasar, nkonyaayifo panyin, minim sɛ, anyame kronkron no honhom wɔ wo mu, ɛno nti, ɛnyɛ wo den sɛ wobɛkyerɛ ahintasɛm biara ase. Afei, me dae no ni, kyerɛ me ase.
“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.
10 Bere a meda me mpa so no, dae a mesoe ne sɛ, mihuu dua bi a esi asase mfimfini a ɛware tenteenten.
In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass: There was a tree in the midst of the land, and its height was great.
11 Dua no nyin yɛɛ dutan kɛse na ne tenten koduu soro, a wuhu no asase so baabiara.
The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
12 Na ne nhaban yɛ frɔmfrɔm fɛfɛɛfɛ, na asow aba bebree, na so wɔ aduan ma obiara. Na wuram mmoa te ne nwini ase, na wim nnomaa nso yɛ wɔn berebuw wɔ ne mman mu.
Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.
13 “Meda me mpa so no, mihuu ɔbɔfo kronkron bi a ofi ɔsoro reba fam wɔ mʼanisoadehu no mu.
As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
14 Ɔbɔfo no teɛɛ mu se, ‘Twa dua no to fam na twitwa ne mman no nyinaa. Porow ne nhaban no, na tow nʼaba no pete. Pam mmoa no fi ne nwini ase, na pam wim nnomaa no fi ne mman so.
He called out in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.
15 Nanso gyaw dunsin no ne ne ntin a dade ne kɔbere akyekyere, na sare atwa ho ahyia no. “‘Afei, ma ɔsoro bosu mfɔw no fɔkyee, na ma ɔne mmoa ntena wɔ wuram.
But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, and a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven and graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth.
16 Na ma nʼadwene nsesa na ɛnyɛ sɛ aboa de. Na mfe ason ntwa ne ti so.
Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of a beast till seven times pass him by.
17 “‘Asomafo asi gyinae dedaw; na akronkronfo abu atɛn sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a ateasefo nyinaa bɛte ase sɛ, Ɔsorosoroni no na odi wiase ahemman so, na ɔde ma obiara a ɔpɛ, mpo, sɛ ɔyɛ onipa teta.’
This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’
18 “Beltesasar, saa dae yi na me, Ɔhene Nebukadnessar soe. Afei kyerɛ me ase, efisɛ anyansafo a wɔwɔ mʼahemman mu nyinaa antumi ankyerɛ me ase. Na wo de, wubetumi akyerɛ me, efisɛ anyame kronkron honhom no wɔ wo mu.”
This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
19 Daniel (a wɔsan frɛ no Beltesasar no) tee dae no, ɔyɛɛ basaa kakra; ne ho dwiriw no na nʼadwene mu haw no. Nti, ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Beltesasar, mma dae no ne ne nkyerɛase mmɔ wo hu.” Beltesasar buae se, “Eyi de, Nana, anka dae no ne ne nkyerɛase no ɛmpare wo na ɛnkɔ wʼatamfo so!
For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!
20 Nana, wuhuu dua bi a enyin yɛɛ dutan kɛse a ne tenten koduu soro, na wuhu no asase nyinaa so.
The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,
21 Na ne nhaban yɛ frɔmfrɔm fɛfɛɛfɛ a asow aba bebree, na so wɔ aduan ma obiara. Na wuram mmoa te ne nwini ase, na wim nnomaa nso yɛ wɔn berebuw wɔ ne mman mu.
whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested—
22 Nana, mesrɛ ka, saa dua no yɛ wo. Efisɛ, woanya nkɔso, ahoɔden ne kɛseyɛ mu. Wo kɛseyɛ no kodu ɔsoro, na wʼadedi no kɔ akyirikyiri kodu asase ano.
you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.
23 “Afei, Nana, wuhuu ɔbɔfo kronkron a ofi ɔsoro reba fam, na ɔreka se, ‘Twa dua no to fam na sɛe no. Nanso, gyaw dunsin no ne ne ntin a dade ne kɔbere akyekyere, na sare atwa ho ahyia no. Afei ma ɔsoro bosu mfɔw no fɔkyee, na ma ɔne mmoa ntena wɔ wuram. Na ma nʼadwene nsesa na ɛnyɛ sɛ aboa de. Na mfe ason ntwa ne ti so.’
And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground, and a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and graze with the beasts of the field till seven times pass him by.’
24 “Dae no nkyerɛase ni, Nana, atɛn a Ɔsorosoroni no abu atia wo no ni.
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:
25 Wɔbɛpam wo afi nnipa mu, na wo ne wuram mmoa bɛtena wuram. Wobɛwe sare te sɛ nantwi, na ɔsoro bosu afɔw wo fɔkyee. Mfe ason betwa wo ti so akosi sɛ, wubehu sɛ, Ɔsorosoroni no na odi wiase ahemman so, na ɔde ma obiara a ɔpɛ.
You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.
26 Hyɛ a wɔhyɛ ma wogyaw dunsin no ne ne ntin no wɔ asase mu no kyerɛ sɛ, sɛ wuhu sɛ ɔsoro na edi tumi no a, wo nsa bɛsan aka wʼahenni.
As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
27 Ne saa nti, Nana Nebukadnessar, mesrɛ wo, tie mʼafotu. Gyae bɔneyɛ, na yɛ nea ɛteɛ. Gyae wʼatirimɔdensɛm na yɛ ahummɔbɔ ma ahiafo, na twe wo ho fi wo tete amumɔyɛ no ho. Ebia, woyɛ saa a, wobɛkɔ so adi yiye.”
Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”
28 Na saa nneɛma yi nyinaa baa Ɔhene Nebukadnessar so.
All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 Asram dumien akyi a na ɔretu mpase wɔ ahemfi no abansoro atifi wɔ Babilonia no,
Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,
30 ɔtoo nʼani, hwɛɛ kurow no mu, na ɔkae se, “Ɛnyɛ Babilonia kurow kɛse a mede me tumi akyekyere ayɛ no ɔhempɔn atenae de ahyɛ mʼahenni anuonyam ni ana?”
the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
31 Bere a ogu so reka saa nsɛm no, nne bi fi ɔsoro bae se, “Wo, Ɔhene Nebukadnessar, nea wɔahyɛ ato hɔ ama wo ni: Wɔagye wʼahenni tumi no afi wo nsam.
While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you.
32 Wɔbɛpam wo afi nnipa mu. Wo ne wuram mmoa bɛtena wuram. Na wobɛwe sare te sɛ nantwi. Mfe ason betwa wo ti so kosi sɛ wubehu sɛ, Ɔsorosoroni no di wiase ahemman so, na ɔde ma obiara a ɔpɛ.”
You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”
33 Amono mu hɔ ara nkɔmhyɛ no baa mu. Wɔpam Nebukadnessar fii nnipa mu. Ɔwee sare te sɛ nantwi, na ɔsoro bosu fɔw no fɔkyee. Ɔtenaa saa tebea no mu kosii sɛ, ne tinwi yɛɛ atenten te sɛ ɔkɔre ntakra, na nʼawerɛw yɛɛ sɛ anomaa awerɛw.
At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
34 Saa bere yi twaa mu no, me, Nebukadnessar, memaa mʼani so hwɛɛ soro. Mʼani baa me ho so, na mekamfo Ɔsorosoroni no, na metrontrom nea ɔte ase daa no yii no ayɛ se:
But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 Asase so nnipa nyinaa,
All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
36 Bere a mʼani baa me ho so no, bere koro no mu ara na me nidi ne me kɛseyɛ a ɛhyɛ me man no anuonyam no bae. Mʼafotufo ne mʼabirɛmpɔn hwehwɛɛ me, na wɔsan de me sii mʼahenni so bio, na mʼanuonyam bɛyɛɛ kɛse kyɛn kan no.
At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me.
37 Afei me Nebukadnessar, mekamfo ma no so, hyɛ ɔsorohene anuonyam, de nidi ma no. Ne nneyɛe nyinaa yɛ pɛ, na ɛyɛ nokware, na obetumi abrɛ ahantanfo ase.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.
