< Daniel 4 >

1 Ɔhene Nebukadnessar, de saa nkra yi kɔmaa nnipa ne aman ne kasa ahorow a ɛwɔ wiase se: Ensi mo yiye mmoroso!
'Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; peace be multiplied unto you.
2 Ɛyɛ me anigye sɛ mo nyinaa ahu biribi a ɛfa nsɛnkyerɛnne ne anwonwade a Ɔsorosoro Nyankopɔn ayɛ ama me.
It hath seemed good unto me to declare the signs and wonders that God Most High hath wrought toward me.
3 Hwɛ sɛnea ne nsɛnkyerɛnne yɛ kɛse fa!
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 Na me, Nebukadnessar, mete mʼahemfi, midi me ho so na me koma tɔ me yam.
I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest 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 saw a dream which made me afraid; and imaginings upon my bed and the visions of my head affrighted me.
6 Ɛno nti, mehyɛ ma wɔfrɛɛ anyansafo a wɔwɔ Babilonia nyinaa sɛ wɔmmɛkyerɛ me dae no ase.
Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Bere a nkonyaayifo, pɛadeahufo, Kaldeafo ne ntafowayifo no bae no, mekaa dae no kyerɛɛ wɔn, nanso wɔantumi ankyerɛ me ase.
Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
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 the 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; and I told the dream before him:
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, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret causeth thee trouble, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
10 Bere a meda me mpa so no, dae a mesoe ne sɛ, mihuu dua bi a esi asase mfimfini a ɛware tenteenten.
Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 Dua no nyin yɛɛ dutan kɛse na ne tenten koduu soro, a wuhu no asase so baabiara.
The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all 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.
The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all; the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13 “Meda me mpa so no, mihuu ɔbɔfo kronkron bi a ofi ɔsoro reba fam wɔ mʼanisoadehu no mu.
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came 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 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 get away from under it, and the fowls 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.
Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even in 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 his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth;
16 Na ma nʼadwene nsesa na ɛnyɛ sɛ aboa de. Na mfe ason ntwa ne ti so.
Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
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.’
The matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence 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 whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the lowest 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 dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen; and thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.'
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!
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while, and his thoughts affrighted him. The king spoke and said: 'Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation, affright thee.' Belteshazzar answered and said: 'My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adversaries.
20 Nana, wuhuu dua bi a enyin yɛɛ dutan kɛse a ne tenten koduu soro, na wuhu no asase nyinaa so.
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof 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 leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation;
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.
it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end 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 whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying: Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even in 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 his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him —
24 “Dae no nkyerɛase ni, Nana, atɛn a Ɔsorosoroni no abu atia wo no ni.
this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon 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.
that thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee; till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.
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.
And whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
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.”
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by almsgiving, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy prosperity.'
28 Na saa nneɛma yi nyinaa baa Ɔhene Nebukadnessar so.
All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 Asram dumien akyi a na ɔretu mpase wɔ ahemfi no abansoro atifi wɔ Babilonia no,
At the end of twelve months he was walking upon 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 spoke, and said: 'Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for a royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power 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 word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven: 'O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: the kingdom is departed from thee.
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.”
And thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.'
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.
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar; and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
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:
'And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honoured Him that liveth for ever; for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom from generation to generation;
35 Asase so nnipa nyinaa,
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and He doeth according to His will in the host of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him: What doest Thou?
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 mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and my splendour returned unto me; and my ministers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and surpassing greatness was added unto 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 extol and honour the King of heaven; for all His works are truth, and His ways justice; and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.'

< Daniel 4 >