Daniel 4 – KJV & CCBT

King James Version

Daniel 4:1-37

1Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 2I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.4.2 I thought…: Chaldee, It was seemly before me 3How 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¶ I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: 5I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6Therefore 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. 7Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

8¶ 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 before him I told the dream, saying, 9O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. 10Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.4.10 I saw: Chaldee, I was seeing 11The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 12The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. 13I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 14He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:4.14 aloud: Chaldee, with might 15Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with 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: 16Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. 17This matter 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 ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. 18This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, 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¶ Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. 20The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 21Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: 22It 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. 23And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with 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; 24This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 25That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee 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. 26And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 27Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.4.27 a lengthening…: or, an healing of thine error

28¶ All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.4.29 in: or, upon 30The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? 31While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 32And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee 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. 33The 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 hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

34And 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, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)

但以理書 4:1-37

尼布甲尼撒的第二個夢

1尼布甲尼撒王傳諭天下各族、各邦、各語種的人:「願你們大享平安! 2我樂意向你們述說至高的上帝對我所行的神蹟奇事。

3「祂的神蹟何其偉大!

祂的奇事何其可畏!

祂的國度永遠長存,

祂的統治直到萬代。

4「我尼布甲尼撒安居在家,在宮中享受榮華。 5但我做了一個夢,令我害怕。我躺在床上的時候,腦中出現的情景和異象使我恐懼。 6我便召巴比倫所有的智者來為我解夢。 7術士、巫師、占星家和占卜者都來了,我將夢告訴他們,他們卻不能給我解夢。 8最後但以理來到我面前,他又名伯提沙撒——取自我神明的名,他有聖潔神明的靈。我將夢告訴他,說, 9『術士的首領伯提沙撒啊,我知道你有聖潔神明的靈,任何奧秘都難不倒你。請你為我解釋我夢中所見的異象。

10「『以下是我躺在床上時腦中出現的異象:我看見大地中央有棵非常高大的樹。 11這樹長得蒼勁有力,高可參天,從地極都能看見。 12它的葉子美麗,果實纍纍,可作眾生的食物。野獸在它的蔭下躺臥,飛鳥在它的枝頭棲息,一切生靈都從它那裡得到食物。

13「『我躺在床上時腦中出現了異象,我看見一位聖潔的守望者從天而降。 14他大聲說,砍倒那棵樹,削掉它的枝子,剝光它的葉子,拋散它的果子,使野獸逃離樹下,飛鳥離開枝頭。 15但把樹丕留在地裡,用鐵環和銅環箍住他留在野地的青草中,讓他被天上的露水浸濕,與野獸一起吃草。 16要改變他的人心,給他一個獸心,達七年之久。 17這是守望者的命令,是聖者的決定,要讓眾生知道至高者主宰世上萬國,祂要把國賜給誰就賜給誰,即使是最卑微的人。』

18「這就是我尼布甲尼撒王所做的夢。伯提沙撒啊,你要為我解夢,因為我國中所有的智者都不能為我解夢。但是你能,因為你有聖潔神明的靈。」

但以理解夢

19但以理,又名伯提沙撒,一時非常驚訝,惶恐不安。王說:「伯提沙撒啊,不要因為這夢和夢的意思而惶恐不安。」伯提沙撒回答說:「我主啊,願這夢發生在恨你的人身上,夢的意思應驗在你的仇敵身上。 20你夢見的樹蒼勁有力,高可參天,從地極都能看見。 21它的葉子美麗,果實纍纍,可作眾生的食物。野獸住在它的蔭下,飛鳥宿在它的枝頭。 22王啊,這蒼勁有力的樹就是你,你的威名高達穹蒼,你的權柄延至地極。 23王看見聖潔的守望者從天而降,說,『將這樹砍倒、毀滅,但把樹丕用鐵環和銅環箍住留在野地的青草中,讓他被天上的露水浸濕,與野獸一起吃草,達七年之久。』

24「王啊,以下是夢的意思,是至高者裁定要臨到我主我王的事: 25你必從人群中被趕走,與野獸同住,像牛一樣吃草,被天上的露水浸濕,達七年之久,直到你知道至高者主宰世上萬國,祂要把國賜給誰就賜給誰。 26守望者命令留下樹丕,表示等到你承認上天掌權後,你將重掌國權。 27王啊,請接受我的勸諫,你要秉公行義,以斷絕罪惡;憐憫窮人,以除掉罪過。這樣,你的國運也許可以延續。」

夢兆應驗

28這一切事果然發生在尼布甲尼撒王身上。 29十二個月後,他在巴比倫王宮的屋頂散步時, 30說:「這宏偉的巴比倫豈不是我用大能建立為京都,以顯我的威嚴和榮耀嗎?」 31話未說完,天上就有聲音說:「尼布甲尼撒王啊,你聽著,你已失去王權。 32你必從人群中被趕走,與野獸同住,像牛一樣吃草,達七年之久,直到你知道至高者主宰世上萬國,祂要把國賜給誰就賜給誰。」 33這話立刻應驗在尼布甲尼撒身上。他從人群中被趕走,像牛一樣吃草,身體被天上的露水浸濕,直到他的頭髮長如鷹毛,指甲長如鳥爪。

34「七年後,我尼布甲尼撒舉目望天,恢復了神智,便稱頌至高者,讚美、尊崇永活者。

「祂的統治永無窮盡,

祂的國度直到萬代。

35世人都微不足道,

祂在天軍和世人中獨行其道,

無人能攔阻祂的手,

或質問祂的作為。

36「那時,我恢復了神智,也恢復了我的威嚴和榮耀,重現我國度的輝煌。我的謀士和大臣都來朝見我,我重掌國權,勢力比以前更大。 37現在我尼布甲尼撒頌讚、尊崇、敬奉天上的王,因為祂的作為公正,祂行事公平,能夠貶抑行為驕傲的人。」