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.
Ndoto Ya Nebukadneza
12:1 Mwa 20:3; 41:8; Ay 33:15-18; Es 6:1; Dan 6:18; 4:5Katika mwaka wa pili wa utawala wake, Nebukadneza aliota ndoto. Mawazo yake yakasumbuka na hakuweza kulala. 22:2 Mwa 41:8; Kut 7:11; Yer 27:9; Isa 9:13; 44:25; Dan 4:6Hivyo mfalme akawaita waganga, wasihiri, wachawi na wanajimu ili wamwambie ndoto yake aliyokuwa ameota. Walipoingia ndani na kusimama mbele ya mfalme, 32:3 Dan 4:5akawaambia, “Niliota ndoto inayonisumbua, nami nataka nijue maana yake.”
42:4 Ezr 4:7; Neh 2:3; Dan 5:10Ndipo wanajimu wakamjibu mfalme kwa lugha ya Kiaramu,2:4 Kutoka hapa hadi Dan 7:28, mwandishi aliandika na Kiaramu. “Ee mfalme, uishi milele! Waambie watumishi wako hiyo ndoto, nasi tutaifasiri.”
52:5 Ezr 6:11; Dan 3:29; Mwa 41:32Mfalme akawajibu wanajimu, “Nimeamua hivi kwa uthabiti: Ikiwa hamtaniambia ndoto yangu ilikuwa ipi na kuifasiri, mtakatwa vipande vipande na nyumba zenu zitafanywa kuwa vifusi. 62:6 Dan 5:7, 16Lakini mkiniambia ndoto yangu na kuielezea, mtapokea kwangu zawadi, tuzo na heshima kubwa. Basi niambieni ndoto yangu na mnifasirie.”
7Wakajibu kwa mara nyingine, “Mfalme na awaambie watumishi wake ndoto yake, nasi tutaifasiri.”
8Ndipo mfalme akajibu, “Nina hakika kuwa mnajaribu kupata muda zaidi, kwa sababu mnatambua kuwa nimeamua hivi kwa uthabiti: 92:9 Es 4:11; Isa 41:22-24; 2:10Ikiwa hamtaniambia ndoto yangu, ipo adhabu moja tu kwenu. Mmefanya shauri kuniambia habari za kunipotosha na mambo maovu, mkitumaini kwamba hali itabadilika. Hivyo basi, niambieni hiyo ndoto, nami nitajua kuwa mwaweza kunifasiria.”
102:10 Dan 3:8; 4:7; 5:8Wanajimu wakamjibu mfalme, “Hakuna mtu duniani ambaye anaweza kufanya analotaka mfalme! Vilevile hakuna mfalme hata awe mkuu na mwenye uweza namna gani, aliyeuliza kitu kama hicho kwa mganga au kwa msihiri, wala kwa mnajimu yeyote. 112:11 Kut 8:10; Mwa 41:38; Dan 5:11Anachouliza mfalme ni kigumu mno. Hakuna yeyote awezaye kumfunulia mfalme isipokuwa miungu, nao hawaishi miongoni mwa wanadamu.”
122:12 Dan 3:13-19; Mit 16:14; 28:15Jambo hili lilimkasirisha na kumghadhibisha mfalme mno hata kuagiza kuuawa kwa wenye hekima wote wa Babeli. 132:13 Dan 1:20; 5:19Hivyo amri ikatolewa ya kuwaua wenye hekima, nao watu wakatumwa kuwatafuta Danieli na rafiki zake ili wawaue.
14Wakati Arioko, mkuu wa askari wa walinzi wa mfalme, alikuwa amekwenda kuwaua watu wenye hekima wa Babeli, Danieli akazungumza naye kwa hekima na busara. 15Akamuuliza huyo afisa wa mfalme, “Kwa nini mfalme ametoa amri kali hivyo?” Ndipo Arioko akamweleza Danieli jambo hilo. 16Aliposikia jambo hili, Danieli akamwendea mfalme, akamwomba ampe muda ili aweze kumfasiria ile ndoto.
17Ndipo Danieli akarudi nyumbani kwake na kuwaeleza rafiki zake Hanania, Mishaeli na Azaria jambo hilo. 182:18 Isa 37:4; Yer 33:3; Ufu 11:13; Ezr 1:2; Neh 1:4Aliwasihi waombe rehema kutoka kwa Mungu wa mbinguni kuhusu siri hii, ili yeye na rafiki zake wasije wakauawa pamoja na wenye hekima wengine wa Babeli. 192:19 Ay 33:15; Dan 1:17; Hes 12:6; Yos 22:23Wakati wa usiku lile fumbo lilifunuliwa kwa Danieli katika maono. Ndipo Danieli akamhimidi Mungu wa mbinguni, 202:20 Za 113:2; 145:1-2; Ay 9:4; Yer 32:19; Ay 12:13na akasema:
“Lihimidiwe jina la Mungu milele na milele;
hekima na uweza ni vyake.
212:21 Dan 7:25; Ay 12:19; Rum 13:1; Yak 1:5; Yer 27:5; Za 75:6-7; 2Sam 14:17; Dan 4:17Yeye hubadili nyakati na majira;
huwaweka wafalme na kuwaondoa.
Huwapa hekima wenye hekima,
na maarifa wenye ufahamu.
222:22 Mwa 40:8; 1Kor 2:10; Ay 12:22; Ebr 4:13; Isa 45:7; Yak 1:17; Za 139:11-12; Dan 4:17Hufunua siri na mambo yaliyofichika;
anajua yale yaliyo gizani,
nayo nuru hukaa kwake.
232:23 Mwa 31:5; Kut 3:15; Dan 1:17; Eze 28:3Ninakushukuru na kukuhimidi,
Ee Mungu wa baba zangu:
Umenipa hekima na uwezo,
umenijulisha kile tulichokuomba,
umetujulisha ndoto ya mfalme.”
Danieli Aifasiri Ndoto
242:24 Eze 28:3Ndipo Danieli akamwendea Arioko, ambaye mfalme alikuwa amemteua kuwaua wenye hekima wa Babeli, akamwambia, “Usiwaue wenye hekima wa Babeli. Nipeleke kwa mfalme, nami nitamfasiria ndoto yake.”
252:25 Dan 5:13; 6:13; Kum 21:10; Dan 1:6Arioko akampeleka Danieli kwa mfalme mara moja na kumwambia, “Nimempata mtu miongoni mwa watu wa uhamisho kutoka Yuda ambaye anaweza kumwambia mfalme maana ya ndoto yake.”
262:26 Dan 1:7Mfalme akamuuliza Danieli (aliyeitwa pia Belteshaza), “Je, unaweza kuniambia nilichoona katika ndoto yangu na kuifasiri?”
272:27 Mwa 41:8Danieli akajibu, “Hakuna mwenye hekima, msihiri, mganga au mwaguzi anayeweza kumweleza mfalme siri aliyouliza, 282:28 Yer 10:7; Amo 4:13; Dan 4:5; Mwa 40:8; Dan 10:14; Mt 24:6; Eze 28:3; Dan 1:20lakini yuko Mungu mbinguni afunuaye siri. Amemwonyesha Mfalme Nebukadneza kitakachotokea siku zijazo. Ndoto yako na maono yaliyopita mawazoni mwako ulipokuwa umelala kitandani mwako ni haya:
29“Ee mfalme, ulipokuwa umelala kitandani, yalikujia mawazo kuhusu mambo yatakayotokea baadaye, naye mfunuaji wa siri akakuonyesha ni kitu gani kitakachotokea. 302:30 Mwa 41:16; Mdo 3:12; Isa 45:3; Amo 4:13; Dan 1:7Kwangu mimi, nimefunuliwa siri hii, si kwa sababu nina hekima kubwa kuliko watu wengine wanaoishi, bali ni ili wewe, ee mfalme, upate kujua tafsiri, na ili uweze kuelewa kile kilichopita mawazoni mwako.
312:31 Isa 25:3-5; Hab 1:7“Ee mfalme, ulitazama, na mbele yako ilisimama sanamu kubwa, kubwa mno kupita kiasi, sanamu iliyongʼaa na kutisha kwa kuonekana kwake. 32Kichwa cha ile sanamu kilikuwa kimetengenezwa kwa dhahabu safi, kifua chake na mikono yake vilikuwa vya fedha, tumbo lake na mapaja yake vilikuwa vya shaba, 33miguu yake ilikuwa ya chuma, na nyayo zake zilikuwa chuma nazo sehemu nyingine zilikuwa udongo wa mfinyanzi uliochomwa. 342:34 Ay 12:19; Zek 4:6; Isa 60:12; Dan 8:25; Ay 34:24; Za 2:9Ulipokuwa unaangalia, jiwe lilikatwa, lakini si kwa mikono ya mwanadamu. Lile jiwe liliipiga ile sanamu kwenye nyayo zake za chuma na udongo wa mfinyanzi, na kuivunja. 352:35 Isa 41:15-16; 2:3; Ufu 11:15; Za 37:10; Isa 17:13; Zek 12:3; Za 1:4Ndipo ile chuma, ule udongo wa mfinyanzi, ile shaba, ile fedha na ile dhahabu vikavunjika vipande vipande kwa wakati mmoja, na vikawa kama makapi katika sakafu ya kupuria nafaka wakati wa kiangazi. Upepo ukavipeperusha bila kuacha hata alama. Lakini lile jiwe lililoipiga ile sanamu likawa mlima mkubwa mno na kuijaza dunia yote.
362:36 Mwa 40:12“Hii ndiyo iliyokuwa ndoto, nasi sasa tutamfasiria mfalme. 372:37 Ezr 7:12; Eze 26:7; Yer 27:7; Dan 4:26Ee mfalme, wewe ni mfalme wa wafalme. Mungu wa mbinguni amekupa wewe utawala, uweza, nguvu na utukufu. 382:38 Dan 4:21; Yer 27:6; Dan 5:18Mikononi mwako amewaweka wanadamu, wanyama wa kondeni, na ndege wa angani. Popote waishipo amekufanya wewe kuwa mtawala juu yao wote. Wewe ndiye kile kichwa cha dhahabu.
392:39 Dan 7:5“Baada yako, ufalme mwingine utainuka, ulio dhaifu kuliko wako. Baadaye utafuata ufalme wa tatu, ule wa shaba, nao utatawala juu ya dunia yote. 402:40 Dan 7:7; Yn 11:48; Dan 7:232:40 Ufu 12:3; Eze 40:2; Dan 8:7-10Hatimaye, kutakuwako na ufalme wa nne, wenye nguvu kama chuma, kwa maana chuma huvunja na kupondaponda kila kitu; kama vile chuma ivunjavyo vitu vipande vipande, ndivyo ufalme huo utakavyopondaponda na kuvunjavunja nyingine zote. 41Kama vile ulivyoona kuwa kwa sehemu nyayo na vidole vilikuwa vya udongo wa mfinyanzi uliochomwa na kwa sehemu nyingine chuma, hivyo huu utakuwa ufalme uliogawanyika; hata hivyo utakuwa na sehemu zenye nguvu za chuma ndani yake, kama vile ulivyoona chuma imechanganywa na udongo wa mfinyanzi. 42Kama vile vidole vyake vya miguu vilikuwa kwa sehemu chuma na sehemu udongo wa mfinyanzi, hivyo ufalme huo kwa sehemu utakuwa na nguvu na kwa sehemu udhaifu. 43Kama vile ulivyoona chuma kikiwa kimechanganyikana na udongo wa mfinyanzi uliochomwa, ndivyo watu watakavyokuwa mchanganyiko, wala hawatabaki wameungana tena, kama vile chuma kisivyoweza kuchanganyikana na udongo wa mfinyanzi.
442:44 Mwa 27:29; Mt 21:43-44; 1Sam 9:20; Isa 60:12; Ufu 11:15; 1Kor 15:24-25; Za 145:13; Isa 9:7; Dan 4:34; 6:26; 7:14, 27; Oba 1:12; Mik 4:7, 13; Lk 1:33“Katika siku za wafalme hao, Mungu wa mbinguni atauweka ufalme ambao kamwe hautaangamizwa, wala hautaachiwa taifa jingine. Utaziponda zile falme zote na kuzikomesha, bali wenyewe utadumu milele. 452:45 Isa 28:16; Dan 8:25; Mwa 41:25; Ufu 22:6Hii ndiyo maana ya maono ya jiwe lililochongwa kutoka mlimani, lakini si kwa mikono ya mwanadamu, lile jiwe ambalo lilivunja chuma, shaba, udongo wa mfinyanzi, fedha na dhahabu vipande vipande.
“Mungu Mkuu amemwonyesha mfalme kile kitakachotokea wakati ujao. Ndoto hii ni ya kweli na tafsiri yake ni ya kuaminika.”
462:46 Mdo 10:25; Dan 8:17; Mdo 14:13; Ezr 6:10Ndipo Mfalme Nebukadneza akaanguka kifudifudi mbele ya Danieli kumpa heshima, akaagiza wamtolee Danieli sadaka na uvumba. 472:47 Kum 10:17; Dan 11:36; 4:25; 1Tim 6:15; Dan 4:25; 4:9Mfalme akamwambia Danieli, “Hakika Mungu wako ni Mungu wa miungu, na Bwana wa wafalme, na mfunuaji wa siri zote, kwa maana umeweza kufunua siri hii.”
482:48 Es 8:2; Dan 8:27; Mwa 41:40; 2Fal 25:28; Dan 1:20; 4:9; 5:11Ndipo mfalme akamweka Danieli nafasi ya juu, na kumpa zawadi nyingi tele. Akamfanya kuwa mtawala wa jimbo lote la Babeli, na kumweka kuwa mkuu wa wenye hekima wote. 492:49 Dan 3:30; Mit 28:12; 1:7; Es 2:19; Amo 5:15; Dan 6:2; 3:30Zaidi ya hayo, kwa ombi la Danieli, mfalme akawateua Shadraki, Meshaki na Abednego kuwa wasimamizi wa jimbo la Babeli, huku Danieli akibaki katika ukumbi wa mfalme.
