< Daniel 4 >

1 Ɔhene Nebukadnessar, too saa nkra yi kɔmaa nnipa ne aman ne kasa ahodoɔ a ɛwɔ ewiase sɛ: Ɛnsi mo yie 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 ahunu biribi a ɛfa nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ ne anwanwadeɛ a Ɔsorosoro Onyankopɔn ayɛ ama me.
I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
3 Hwɛ sɛdeɛ ne nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ yɛ kɛseɛ 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 mʼahemfie, medi me ho so na me ho tɔ me.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.
5 Nanso, mesoo daeɛ bi a, ɛbɔɔ me hu yie. Meda me mpa so no, mfoni a ɛfaa mʼani so ne anisoadehunu a menyaeɛ 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 enti, mehyɛ ma wɔfrɛɛ anyansafoɔ a wɔwɔ Babilonia nyinaa sɛ wɔmmɛkyerɛ me daeɛ 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 Ɛberɛ a nkonyaayifoɔ, pɛadeɛhunufoɔ, Kaldeafoɔ ne ntafowayifoɔ no baeɛ no, mekaa daeɛ no kyerɛɛ wɔn, nanso wɔantumi ankyerɛ me aseɛ.
When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.
8 Akyire yi, Daniel (a yɛtoo no din Beltesasar, a ɛyɛ me nyame din, ɛfiri sɛ, na anyame kronkron no sunsum wɔ ne mu) baa mʼanim, na mekaa daeɛ 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 sɛ, “Beltesasar, nkonyaayifoɔ panin, menim sɛ, anyame kronkron no sunsum wɔ wo mu, ɛno enti, ɛnnyɛ wo den sɛ wobɛkyerɛ ahintasɛm biara ase. Afei, me daeɛ no ni, kyerɛ me aseɛ.
“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 Ɛberɛ a meda me mpa so no, daeɛ a mesoeɛ ne sɛ, mehunuu dua bi a ɛsi 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 nyini yɛɛ dutan kɛseɛ na ne tentene kɔduruu soro, a wohunu 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 nhahan yɛ frɔmm fɛɛfɛɛfɛ, na aso aba bebree, na ɛso wɔ aduane ma obiara. Na wiram mmoa te ne nwunu ase, na ewiem nnomaa nso yɛ wɔn pirebuo 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, mehunuu ɔbɔfoɔ kronkron bi a ɔfiri soro reba fam wɔ mʼanisoadehunu 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 Ɔbɔfoɔ no teaam sɛ, ‘Twa dua no to fam na twitwa ne mman no nyinaa. Poro ne nhahan no, na to nʼaba no pete. Pam mmoa no firi ne nwunu ase, na pam ewiem nnomaa no firi 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 gya dunsini no ne ne nhini a dadeɛ ne kɔbere akyekyere, na ɛserɛ atwa ho ahyia no. “‘Afei, ma ɔsoro bosuo mfɔ no kyaww, na ma ɔne mmoa ntena wɔ wiram.
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 deɛ. Na mfeɛ nson ntwa ne tiri 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 “‘Asomafoɔ asi gyinaeɛ dada; na akronkronfoɔ abu atɛn sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a ateasefoɔ nyinaa bɛte aseɛ sɛ, Ɔsorosoroni no na ɔdi ewiase 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 daeɛ yi na me Ɔhene Nebukadnessar soeɛ. Afei, kyerɛ me aseɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, anyansafoɔ a wɔwɔ mʼahemman mu nyinaa antumi ankyerɛ me aseɛ. Na wo deɛ wobɛtumi akyerɛ me, ɛfiri sɛ, anyame kronkron sunsum 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 wɔsane frɛ no Beltesasar no) tee daeɛ no, ɔyɛɛ basaa kakra; ne ho dwirii no na nʼadwene mu haa no. Nti, ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Beltesasar, mma daeɛ no ne nʼasekyerɛ mmɔ wo hu.” Beltesasar buaa sɛ, “Yei deɛ, Nana, anka daeɛ no ne ne nkyerɛaseɛ no ɛmpare wo na ɛnkɔ wʼatamfoɔ 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 Ao, Nana, wohunuu dua bi a ɛnyini yɛɛ dutan kɛseɛ a ne tentene kɔduruu soro, na wohunu 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 nhahan yɛ frɔmm fɛɛfɛɛfɛ a aso aba bebree, na ɛso wɔ aduane ma obiara. Na wiram mmoa te ne nwunu ase, na ewiem nnomaa nso yɛ wɔn pirebuo 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. Ɛfiri sɛ, woatu mpɔn, ahoɔden so ne kɛseyɛ mu. Wo kɛseyɛ no kɔduru ɔsoro, na wʼadedie no kɔ akyirikyiri kɔduru 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, wohunuu ɔbɔfoɔ kronkron a ɔfiri soro reba fam, na ɔreka sɛ, ‘Twa dua no to fam na sɛe no. Nanso, gya dunsini no ne ne nhini a dadeɛ ne kɔbere akyekyere, na ɛserɛ atwa ho ahyia no. Afei, ma ɔsoro bosuo mfɔ no kyaww, na ma ɔne mmoa ntena wɔ wiram. Na ma nʼadwene nsesa na ɛnyɛ sɛ aboa deɛ. Na mfeɛ nson ntwa ne tiri 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 “Daeɛ no asekyerɛ nie, Nana, atɛn a Ɔsorosoroni no abu atia wo no nie.
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 afiri nnipa mu, na wo ne wiram mmoa bɛtena wiram. Wobɛwe ɛserɛ te sɛ nantwie, na ɔsoro bosuo bɛfɔ wo kyaww. Mfeɛ nson bɛtwa wo tiri so akɔsi sɛ, wobɛhunu sɛ, Ɔsorosoroni no na ɔdi ewiase 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 wɔgyaa dunsini no ne ne nhini no wɔ asase mu no kyerɛ sɛ, sɛ wohunu sɛ ɔsoro na ɛdi tumi no a, wo nsa bɛsane aka wʼahemman.
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 enti, Ao, Nana Nebukadnessar, mesrɛ wo, tie mʼafotuo. Gyae bɔneyɛ, na yɛ deɛ ɛtene. Gyae wʼatirimuɔdensɛm na yɛ ahummɔborɔ ma ahiafoɔ, na twe wo ho firi wo tete amumuyɛ no ho. Ebia, woyɛ saa a, wobɛkɔ so adi yie.”
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 Abosome dumienu akyi a na ɔretu mpase wɔ ahemfie 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 kuro no mu, na ɔkaa sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ Babilonia kuro kɛseɛ a mede me tumi akyekyere ayɛ no ɔhempɔn atenaeɛ de ahyɛ mʼahennie animuonyam ni anaa?”
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 Ɛberɛ a ɔgu so reka saa nsɛm no, nne bi firi soro baa sɛ, “Wo, Ɔhene Nebukadnessar, wɔka kyerɛɛ wo sɛ wonnyɛ ɔhene wɔ ahemman yi so bio.
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 afiri nnipa mu. Wo ne wiram mmoa bɛtena wiram. Na wobɛwe ɛserɛ te sɛ nantwie. Mfeɛ nson bɛtwa wo tiri so kɔsi sɛ wobɛhunu sɛ, Ɔsorosoroni no di ewiase 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 Amonom hɔ ara nkɔmhyɛ no baa mu. Wɔpamoo Nebukadnessar firii nnipa mu. Ɔwee ɛserɛ te sɛ nantwie, na ɔsoro bosuo fɔɔ no kyaww. Ɔtenaa saa tebea no mu kɔsii sɛ, ne tirinwi yɛɛ atentene te sɛ ɔkɔdeɛ ntakra, na nʼabɔwerɛ yɛɛ sɛ anomaa bɔwerɛ.
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 ɛberɛ yi twaam no, me, Nebukadnessar, memaa mʼani so hwɛɛ soro. Mʼani baa me ho so, na mekamfo Ɔsorosoroni no, na metontom deɛ ɔte aseɛ daa no meyii no ayɛ sɛ:
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 Ɛberɛ a mʼani baa me ho so no, berɛ korɔ no mu ara na me anidie ne me kɛseyɛ a ɛhyɛ me ɔman no animuonyam no baeɛ. Mʼafotufoɔ ne mʼaberempɔn hwehwɛɛ me, na wɔsane de me sii mʼahennie so bio, na mʼanimuonyam bɛyɛɛ kɛse kyɛnee kane 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 animuonyam, de anidie ma no. Ne nneyɛeɛ nyinaa yɛ pɛ, na ɛyɛ nokorɛ, na ɔbɛtumi abrɛ ahantanfoɔ 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.

< Daniel 4 >