Nebuchadnezzar Dreams About a Large Statue
1In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule, he had a dream. His mind was troubled. He couldn’t sleep. 2So the king sent for those who claimed to get knowledge by using magic. He also sent for those who practiced evil magic and those who studied the heavens. He wanted them to tell him what he had dreamed. They came in and stood in front of the king. 3He said to them, “I had a dream. It troubles me. So I want to know what it means.”
4Then those who studied the heavens answered the king. They spoke in Aramaic. They said, “King Nebuchadnezzar, may you live forever! Tell us what you dreamed. Then we’ll explain what it means.”
5The king replied to them, “I have made up my mind. You must tell me what I dreamed. And you must tell me what it means. If you don’t, I’ll have you cut to pieces. And I’ll have your houses turned into piles of trash. 6So tell me what I dreamed. Explain it to me. Then I’ll give you gifts. I’ll reward you. I’ll give you great honor. So tell me the dream. And tell me what it means.”
7Once more they replied, “King Nebuchadnezzar, tell us what you dreamed. Then we’ll tell you what it means.”
8The king answered, “I know what you are doing. You are trying to gain more time. You realize that I’ve made up my mind. 9You must tell me the dream. If you don’t, you will pay for it. You have gotten together and made evil plans. You hope things will change. So you are telling me lies. But I want you to tell me what I dreamed. Then I’ll know that you can tell me what it means.”
10They answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what you are asking! No king has ever asked for anything like that. Not even a king as great and mighty as you has asked for it. Those who get knowledge by using magic have never been asked to do what you are asking. And those who study the heavens haven’t been asked to do it either. 11What you are asking is much too hard. No one can tell you what you dreamed except the gods. And they don’t live among human beings.”
12That made the king very angry. He ordered that all the wise men in Babylon be put to death. 13So the order was given to kill them. Men were sent out to look for Daniel and his friends. They were also supposed to be put to death.
14Arioch was the commander of the king’s guard. He went out to put the wise men of Babylon to death. So Daniel spoke to him wisely and carefully. 15He asked the king’s officer, “Why did Nebuchadnezzar give a terrible order like that?” Then Arioch explained to Daniel what was going on. 16When Daniel heard that, he went to the king. He told him he would explain the dream to him. But he needed more time.
17Then Daniel returned to his house. He explained everything to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18He asked them to pray that the God of heaven would give him mercy. He wanted God to help him understand the mystery of the king’s dream. Then he and his friends wouldn’t be killed along with Babylon’s other wise men. 19During that night, God gave Daniel a vision. He showed him what the mystery was all about. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. 20He said,
“May God be praised for ever and ever!
He is wise and powerful.
21He changes times and seasons.
He removes some kings from power.
He causes other kings to rule.
The wisdom of those who are wise comes from him.
He gives knowledge to those who have understanding.
22He explains deep and hidden things.
He knows what happens in the darkest places.
And where he is, everything is light.
23God of my people of long ago, I thank and praise you.
You have given me wisdom and power.
You have made known to me what we asked you for.
You have shown us the king’s dream.”
Daniel Tells the King What His Dream Means
24Then Daniel went to Arioch. The king had appointed him to put the wise men of Babylon to death. Daniel said to him, “Don’t kill the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king. I’ll tell him what his dream means.”
25So Arioch took Daniel to the king at once. Arioch said, “I have found a man among those you brought here from Judah. He can tell you what your dream means.”
26Nebuchadnezzar spoke to Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar. The king asked him, “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream? And can you tell me what it means?”
27Daniel replied, “You have asked us to explain a mystery to you. But no wise man can do that. And those who try to figure things out by using magic can’t do it either. 28But there is a God in heaven who can explain mysteries. King Nebuchadnezzar, he has shown you what is going to happen. Here is what you dreamed while lying in bed. And here are the visions that passed through your mind.
29“Your Majesty, while you were still in bed your mind was troubled. You were thinking about things that haven’t happened yet. The God who explains mysteries showed these things to you. 30Now the mystery has been explained to me. But it isn’t because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive. It’s because God wants you to know what the mystery means, Your Majesty. He wants you to understand what went through your mind.
31“King Nebuchadnezzar, you looked up and saw a large statue standing in front of you. It was huge. It shone brightly. And it terrified you. 32The head of the statue was made out of pure gold. Its chest and arms were made out of silver. Its stomach and thighs were made out of bronze. 33Its legs were made out of iron. And its feet were partly iron and partly baked clay. 34While you were watching, a rock was cut out. But human hands didn’t do it. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay. It smashed them. 35Then the iron and clay were broken to pieces. So were the bronze, silver and gold. All of them were broken to pieces. They became like straw on a threshing floor at harvest time. The wind blew them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain. It filled the whole earth.
36“This was your dream. Now I will tell you what it means. 37King Nebuchadnezzar, you are the greatest king of all. The God of heaven has given you authority and power. He has given you might and glory. 38He has put everyone under your control. He has also given you authority over the wild animals and the birds in the sky. It doesn’t matter where they live. He has made you ruler over all of them. You are that head of gold.
39“After you, another kingdom will take over. It won’t be as powerful as yours. Next, a third kingdom will rule over the whole earth. The bronze part of the statue stands for that kingdom. 40Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom. It will be as strong as iron. Iron breaks and smashes everything to pieces. And the fourth kingdom will crush and break all the others. 41You saw that the feet and toes were made out of iron and baked clay. And the fourth kingdom will be divided up. But it will still have some of the strength of iron. That’s why you saw iron mixed with clay. 42The toes were partly iron and partly clay. And the fourth kingdom will be partly strong and partly weak. 43You saw the iron mixed with baked clay. And the fourth kingdom will be made up of all kinds of people. They won’t hold together any more than iron mixes with clay.
44“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom. It will never be destroyed. And no other nation will ever take it over. It will crush all those other kingdoms. It will bring them to an end. But it will last forever. 45That’s what the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain means. Human hands didn’t cut out the rock. It broke the statue to pieces. It smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver and gold.
“The great God has shown you what will take place in days to come. The dream is true. And you can trust the meaning of it that I have explained to you.”
46Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed low in front of Daniel. He wanted to honor him. So he ordered that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47The king said to Daniel, “I’m sure your God is the greatest God of all. He is the Lord of kings. He explains mysteries. That’s why you were able to explain the mystery of my dream.”
48Then the king put Daniel in a position of authority. He gave him many gifts. He made him ruler over the city of Babylon and the towns around it. He put him in charge of all its other wise men. 49The king also did what Daniel asked him to. He appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to help Daniel govern Babylon and the towns around it. Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
Kĩroto kĩa Nebukadinezaru
12:1 Kĩam 20:3; Esit 6:1Na rĩrĩ, mwaka-inĩ wa keerĩ wa ũthamaki wake-rĩ, Nebukadinezaru nĩarootire irooto; agĩtangĩka meciiria na akĩũrwo nĩ toro. 22:2 Kĩam 41:8; Thaam 7:11Nĩ ũndũ ũcio mũthamaki agĩĩta ago na aragũri, na arogi na arori a njata nĩguo moke mamwĩre ũrĩa aarootete. Rĩrĩa mookire makĩrũgama mbere ya mũthamaki, 3akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Nĩ harĩ kĩroto ndootete kĩrĩa kĩrathĩĩnia, na nĩngwenda kũmenya ũrĩa kiugĩte.”
42:4 Ezar 4:7; Neh 2:3Hĩndĩ ĩyo arori a njata acio magĩcookeria mũthamaki na rũthiomi rwa Asuriata,2:4 Rũthiomi rwa Asuriata nĩruo rwario rũrĩa anene aingĩ maaragia. Kuuma Dan 2:4 nginya Dan 7:28, ibuku rĩĩrĩ rĩandĩkĩtwo na rũthiomi rũrũ. makĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Wee mũthamaki, ũrotũũra tene na tene! Ta kĩĩre ndungata ciaku kĩroto kĩrĩa ũrotete, nacio itaũre kĩroto kĩu.”
52:5 Ezar 6:11; Dan 3:29Nake mũthamaki agĩcookeria arori a njata acio, akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Ũndũ ũyũ nĩguo nduĩte ngwatĩirie mũno: Mũngĩaga kũnjĩĩra kĩroto kĩrĩa ndootete na mũgĩtaũre-rĩ, nguuga mũtemangwo mũkue, nacio nyũmba cianyu imomorwo ituĩke hĩba cia mahiga. 62:6 Dan 5:7, 16No mũngĩnjĩĩra kĩroto kĩu na mũgĩtaarĩrie-rĩ, nĩngũmũhe iheo, na marĩhi, o na ndũmũtĩithie mũno. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio njĩĩrai ũrĩa ndootete na mũndaũrĩre ũhoro wa kĩroto kĩu.”
7Makĩmũcookeria o rĩngĩ makĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Mũthamaki nĩetĩkĩre kwĩra ndungata ciake ũrĩa arotete, na ithuĩ nĩtũkũmũtaũrĩra kĩroto kĩu.”
8Nake mũthamaki akĩmacookeria atĩrĩ, “Nĩndĩramenya kũna atĩ mũrenda o kũraiharaihia ihinda, tondũ nĩmũramenya atĩ ũndũ ũyũ nĩguo nduĩte ngwatĩirie mũno: 92:9 Esit 4:11; Isa 41:22-24Mũngĩaga kũnjĩĩra kĩroto kĩu ndootete-rĩ, iherithia rĩanyu no rĩmwe. Mũciirĩire kũnjĩĩra maũndũ ma kũũhĩtithia na ma waganu, mũgĩĩciiria atĩ ũrĩa nduĩte nĩũkũgarũrũka. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio-rĩ, njĩĩrai kĩroto kĩu, na nĩngũmenya atĩ no mũhote gũgĩtaũra.”
102:10 Dan 3:8Nao arori a njata acio magĩcookeria mũthamaki atĩrĩ, “Gũtirĩ mũndũ o na ũmwe gũkũ thĩ ũngĩhota gwĩka ũguo mũthamaki aroiga! Gũtirĩ mũthamaki, o na arĩ mũnene na arĩ na hinya atĩa, ũrĩ wooria mũndũ-mũgo, kana mũragũri, kana mũrori wa njata eke ũndũ ta ũcio. 112:11 Kĩam 41:38Ũndũ ũcio mũthamaki arooria ndũngĩhoteka. Gũtirĩ mũndũ ũngĩhota kwĩra mũthamaki kĩroto kĩrĩa arootete, tiga o ngai ciiki, na ititũũranagia na andũ a gũkũ thĩ.”
12Mũthamaki aigua ũhoro ũcio akĩrakara na akĩngʼũrĩka mũno nginya agĩathana atĩ andũ arĩa othe oogĩ a Babuloni mooragwo. 13Nĩ ũndũ ũcio gũkĩrutwo watho andũ acio oogĩ mooragwo, na andũ magĩtũmwo magacarie Danieli na arata ake nĩguo mooragwo.
14Rĩrĩa Arioku, mũnene wa arangĩri a mũthamaki, aathiiaga kũũraga andũ acio oogĩ a Babuloni-rĩ, Danieli akĩmwarĩria na ũũgĩ, o na eciirĩtie wega ũrĩa ekũmwĩra. 15Akĩũria ũcio warĩ mũnene wa arangĩri a mũthamaki atĩrĩ, “Nĩ kĩĩ gĩatũma mũthamaki atue itua rĩũru ũguo?” Nake Arioku agĩtaarĩria Danieli ũrĩa ũhoro ũcio wothe watariĩ. 16Danieli aigua ũguo agĩthiĩ harĩ mũthamaki, akĩmũũria amũhe ihinda, nĩgeetha ahote kũmũtaũrĩra kĩroto kĩu.
17Nake Danieli akĩinũka gwake mũciĩ na akĩmenyithia arata ake ũhoro ũcio, nao nĩo Hanania, na Mishaeli, na Azaria. 182:18 Isa 37:4; Jon 1:9; Kũg 11:13Akĩmaringĩrĩria mathaithe Ngai wa igũrũ nĩguo amaiguĩre tha, amaguũrĩrie ũhoro ũcio warĩ mũhithe, nĩgeetha we hamwe na arata acio ake matikooraganĩrio hamwe na andũ acio angĩ oogĩ a Babuloni. 192:19 Ayub 33:15; Josh 22:33Na rĩrĩ, ũtukũ ũndũ ũcio warĩ mũhithe ũkĩguũrĩrio Danieli na kĩoneki. Nake Danieli akĩgooca Ngai wa igũrũ, 202:20 Thab 113:2; Ayub 9:4akiuga atĩrĩ:
“Rĩĩtwa rĩa Ngai rĩrotũũra rĩkumagio tene na tene;
ũũgĩ na ũhoti nĩ ciake.
212:21 Jak 1:5; Thab 75:6-7Nĩwe ũgarũranagia mahinda na imera;
nĩanenehagia athamaki, na akameheria ũthamaki-inĩ.
Nĩwe ũheaga andũ arĩa oogĩ ũũgĩ,
nao arĩa makũũranaga maũndũ akamahe ũmenyo.
222:22 Ayub 12:22; Thab 139:11-12; Isa 45:7Nĩwe ũguũragia maũndũ marĩa marikĩru, o na marĩa marĩ hitho-inĩ;
nĩamenyaga maũndũ marĩa marĩ nduma-inĩ,
naguo ũtheri ũtũũranagia nake.
232:23 Kĩam 31:5; Dan 1:17Nĩndagũcookeria ngaatho na ndakũgooca, o Wee Ngai wa maithe makwa:
Nĩũũheete ũũgĩ o na ũhoti,
ũkaamenyithia ũhoro ũrĩa tũkũhooete,
ũgatũma tũmenye kĩroto kĩa mũthamaki.”
Danieli Gũtaũra Kĩroto
24Hĩndĩ ĩyo Danieli agĩthiĩ kũrĩ Arioku, ũcio mũthamaki aamũrĩte athiĩ akooragithie andũ acio oogĩ a Babuloni, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Ndũkooragithie andũ acio oogĩ a Babuloni. Ndwara kũrĩ mũthamaki, na nĩngũmũtaũrĩra kĩroto gĩake.”
252:25 Dan 1:6O hĩndĩ ĩyo Arioku agĩtwara Danieli kũrĩ mũthamaki, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Nĩnyonete mũndũ ũmwe wa arĩa maatahĩtwo kuuma Juda ũngĩhota kwĩra mũthamaki ũrĩa kĩroto gĩake kiugĩte.”
26Nake mũthamaki akĩũria Danieli (na nowe Beliteshazaru) atĩrĩ, “No ũhote kũnjĩĩra kĩroto kĩrĩa ndootete na ũgĩtaũre?”
272:27 Kĩam 41:8Nake Danieli akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Gũtirĩ mũndũ o na ũmwe wa arĩa oogĩ, kana mũragũri, kana mũndũ-mũgo o na kana mũrathi ũngĩhota kwĩra mũthamaki ũhoro ũcio wa hitho, 282:28 Kĩam 40:8; Dan 4:5no nĩ kũrĩ Ngai ũrĩ igũrũ ũguũranagĩria maũndũ marĩa marĩ hitho-inĩ. Nĩwe wonetie Mũthamaki Nebukadinezaru ũrĩa gũgaikara matukũ-inĩ ma thuutha. Kĩroto gĩaku na cioneki iria irahĩtũkĩire meciiria-inĩ maku ũkomete ũrĩrĩ iraarĩ ici:
29“Hĩndĩ ĩyo wakomete ũrĩrĩ-inĩ, wee mũthamaki, meciiria maku nĩmecũũranirie ũhoro wa maũndũ marĩa magooka thuutha-inĩ, nake ũrĩa mũguũria wa maũndũ marĩa marĩ hitho-inĩ agĩkũguũrĩria ũrĩa gũkaahaana thuutha-inĩ. 30Niĩ-rĩ, ndiguũrĩirio ũhoro ũcio ũrĩ hitho-inĩ atĩ tondũ ndĩ na ũũgĩ gũkĩra andũ arĩa angĩ matũũraga muoyo, no nĩgeetha wee mũthamaki ũmenye ũrĩa kĩroto kĩu kiugĩte, nĩguo ũtaũkĩrwo nĩ maũndũ macio ũrecũũranagia meciiria-inĩ maku.
312:31 Hab 1:7; Isa 25:3-5“Wee mũthamaki, warora nĩwonire mũhianano mũnene warũngiĩ mbere yaku: mũhianano ũcio warĩ mũnene mũno na nĩwahenahenagia, na warĩ wa kũmakania ũkĩonwo. 32Mũtwe wa mũhianano ũcio warĩ wa thahabu ĩrĩa therie, nakĩo gĩthũri kĩaguo na moko ciarĩ cia betha, nayo nda na ciero ciaguo ciarĩ cia gĩcango, 33magũrũ maguo maarĩ ma kĩgera, namo makinya maarĩ ma kĩgera gĩtukanĩte na rĩũmba rĩcine. 342:34 Ayub 12:19; Zek 4:6Hĩndĩ o ĩyo wawĩroreire, ihiga inene rĩkĩenjwo, no rĩtienjirwo nĩ moko ma mũndũ. Rĩkĩgũtha makinya ma mũhianano ũcio marĩa maarĩ ma kĩgera gũtukanĩte na rĩũmba, rĩkĩmahehenja. 352:35 Thab 37:10; Isa 2:3Nakĩo kĩgera kĩu, na rĩũmba, na gĩcango, na betha, na thahabu igĩthetherwo tũcunjĩ tũcunjĩ, igĩtuĩka ta mũũngũ ũrĩa ũmbũragwo kĩhuhĩro-inĩ hĩndĩ ya riũa. Ikĩhuhũkanio nĩ rũhuho, igĩthira biũ na itiacookire kuoneka rĩngĩ. No rĩrĩ, ihiga rĩu rĩagũthire mũhianano ũcio rĩkĩneneha, rĩgĩtuĩka kĩrĩma kĩnene, rĩkĩiyũra thĩ yothe.
362:36 Kĩam 40:12“Kĩu nĩkĩo kĩroto kĩrĩa warootire, na rĩu nĩtũgũgĩtaũrĩra mũthamaki. 372:37 Ezar 7:12; Jer 27:7Wee mũthamaki-rĩ, nĩwe mũthamaki wa athamaki. Nake Ngai wa igũrũ nĩakũheete ũthamaki, na ũhoti, na hinya, na riiri; 382:38 Dan 4:21-22nĩaigĩte andũ a ndũrĩrĩ ciothe moko-inĩ maku, na nyamũ cia gĩthaka, o na nyoni cia rĩera-inĩ. Kũrĩa guothe itũũraga-rĩ, nĩagũtuĩte mwathi wacio ciothe. Wee nĩwe mũtwe ũcio wa thahabu.
39“Thuutha waku, nĩgũkarahũka ũthamaki ũngĩ ũtagaakorwo na hinya ta waku. Thuutha ũcio nĩgũkagĩa na ũthamaki ũngĩ wa gatatũ, nĩguo ũgerekanĩtio na gĩcango, naguo nĩũgaatha thĩ yothe. 402:40 Dan 7:7, 23Marigĩrĩrio-inĩ nĩgũkarahũka ũthamaki ũngĩ wa kana ũrĩ hinya ta kĩgera, nĩgũkorwo kĩgera kiunangaga na gĩkahehenja indo ciothe, na o ta ũrĩa kĩgera kiunangaga indo igatuĩka tũcunjĩ ũguo noguo ũkaahehenja na uunange mothamaki macio mangĩ mothe. 41O ta ũguo wonire atĩ makinya na ciara ciarĩ cia rĩũmba rĩcine rĩtukanĩte na kĩgera-rĩ, noguo ũthamaki ũyũ ũgaakorwo ũrĩ mũgayũkanu; no rĩrĩ, nĩũgakorwo ũrĩ na hinya wa kĩgera thĩinĩ waguo, o ta ũguo wonire kĩgera kĩu gĩtukanĩte na rĩũmba. 42O ũguo ciara ciarĩ cia kĩgera gĩtukanĩte na cia rĩũmba-rĩ, noguo ũthamaki ũcio ũgaakorwo kũmwe ũrĩ na hinya na kũrĩa kũngĩ ũgathuthĩkanga. 43Na o ta ũguo wonire kĩgera gĩtukanĩte na rĩũmba rĩcine-rĩ, noguo andũ nao magaakorwo matukanĩte, na matigaatũũra marĩ rũmwe rĩngĩ, o ta ũrĩa kĩgera gĩtangĩtukana na rĩũmba.
442:44 Kĩam 27:27-29; 1Sam 9:20; Kũg 11:15“Na rĩrĩ, ihinda-inĩ rĩa athamaki acio, Ngai wa igũrũ nĩakahaanda ũthamaki ũtagacooka kwanangwo, kana ũtigĩrwo andũ angĩ. Nĩũkahehenja mothamaki macio mangĩ mothe ũmaniine, noguo mwene ũgaatũũra wĩhaandĩte tene na tene. 45Ũcio nĩguo ũtaũri wa kĩoneki kĩa ihiga rĩu rĩenjetwo kuuma kĩrĩma-inĩ, no rĩtienjetwo na moko ma andũ, na nĩrĩo rĩathetherire kĩgera, na gĩcango, na rĩũmba, na betha na thahabu igĩtuĩka tũcunjĩ.
“Ngai ũcio mũnene nĩamenyithĩtie mũthamaki ũrĩa gũkaahaana thuutha-inĩ. Kĩroto kĩu nĩ kĩa ma, naguo ũtaũri wakĩo nĩ wa kwĩhokeka.”
462:46 Dan 8:17; Atũm 14:13Hĩndĩ ĩyo Mũthamaki Nebukadinezaru akĩĩgũithia, agĩturumithia ũthiũ thĩ mbere ya Danieli, na akĩmũhe gĩtĩĩo kĩnene, na agĩathana atĩ arutĩrwo igongona na ũbumba. 472:47 Gũcook 10:17; 1Akor 14:25Mũthamaki akĩĩra Danieli atĩrĩ, “Ti-itherũ Ngai waku nĩwe Ngai wa ngai iria ingĩ, na Mwathani wa athamaki na mũguũria wa maũndũ marĩa marĩ hitho-inĩ, nĩgũkorwo nĩwahota kũguũria ũndũ ũyũ ũrĩ hitho-inĩ.”
482:48 2Ath 25:28Nake mũthamaki agĩtũũgĩria Danieli, na akĩmũtuga na iheo nyingĩ mũno. Akĩmũtua mwathi wa bũrũri wothe wa Babuloni, na akĩmũtua mũrũgamĩrĩri wa andũ arĩa othe oogĩ a bũrũri ũcio. 49Nake Danieli agĩthaitha mũthamaki atue Shadiraka, na Meshaki, na Abedinego arori a mawĩra marĩa maarutagwo bũrũri-inĩ ũcio wa Babuloni, no Danieli we mwene agĩikara kũu mũciĩ wa ũthamaki.
