Nebuchadnezzar Dreams About a Tree
1I, King Nebuchadnezzar, am writing this letter.
I am sending it to people who live all over the world. I’m sending it to people of every nation no matter what language they speak.
May you have great success!
2I am pleased to tell you what has happened. The Most High God has done miraculous signs and wonders for me.
3His signs are great.
His wonders are mighty.
His kingdom will last forever.
His rule will never end.
4I was at home in my palace. I was content and very successful. 5But I had a dream that made me afraid. I was lying in bed. Then dreams and visions passed through my mind. They terrified me. 6So I commanded that all the wise men in Babylon be brought to me. I wanted them to tell me what my dream meant. 7Those who try to figure things out by using magic came. So did those who study the heavens. I told all of them what I had dreamed. But they couldn’t tell me what it meant. 8Finally, Daniel came to me. He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god. The spirit of the holy gods is in him. I told him my dream.
9I said, “Belteshazzar, you are chief of the magicians. I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you. No mystery is too hard for you to figure out. Here is my dream. Tell me what it means. 10Here are the visions I saw while I was lying in bed. I looked up and saw a tree standing in the middle of the land. It was very tall. 11It had grown to be large and strong. Its top touched the sky. It could be seen anywhere on earth. 12Its leaves were beautiful. It had a lot of fruit on it. It provided enough food for people and animals. Under the tree, the wild animals found safety. The birds lived in its branches. Every creature was fed from that tree.
13“While I was still lying in bed, I looked up. In my visions, I saw a holy one. He was a messenger. He was coming down from heaven. 14He called out in a loud voice. He said, ‘Cut down the tree. Break off its branches. Strip off its leaves. Scatter its fruit. Let the animals under it run away. Let the birds in its branches fly off. 15But leave the stump with its roots in the ground. Let it stay in the field. Put a band of iron and bronze around it.
“ ‘Let King Nebuchadnezzar become wet with the dew of heaven. Let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16Let him no longer have the mind of a man. Instead, let him be given the mind of an animal. Let him stay that way until seven periods of time pass by.
17“ ‘The decision is announced by holy messengers. So all who are alive will know that the Most High God is King. He rules over all kingdoms on earth. He gives them to anyone he wants. Sometimes he puts the least important people in charge of them.’
18“This is the dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now tell me what it means, Belteshazzar. None of the wise men in my kingdom can explain it to me. But you can. After all, the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel Explains Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
19Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar, was very bewildered for a while. His thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or its meaning make you afraid.”
Belteshazzar answered, “My master, I wish the dream were about your enemies! I wish its meaning had to do with them! 20You saw a tree. It grew to be large and strong. Its top touched the sky. It could be seen from anywhere on earth. 21Its leaves were beautiful. It had a lot of fruit on it. It provided enough food for people and animals. Under the tree, the wild animals found safety. The birds lived in its branches. 22Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong. Your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky. Your rule has spread to all parts of the earth.
23“Your Majesty, you saw a holy one. He was a messenger. He came down from heaven. He said, ‘Cut down the tree. Destroy it. But leave the stump with its roots in the ground. Let it stay in the field. Put an iron and bronze band around it. Let King Nebuchadnezzar become wet with the dew of heaven. Let him live with the wild animals. Let him stay that way until seven periods of time pass by.’
24“Your Majesty, here is what your dream means. The Most High God has given an order against you. 25You will be driven away from people. You will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass just as an ox does. You will become wet with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass by for you. Then you will recognize that the Most High God rules over all kingdoms on earth. He gives them to anyone he wants. 26But he gave a command to leave the stump of the tree along with its roots. That means your kingdom will be given back to you. It will happen when you recognize that the God of heaven rules. 27So, Your Majesty, I hope you will accept my advice. Stop being sinful. Do what is right. Give up your evil practices. Show kindness to those who are being treated badly. Then perhaps things will continue to go well with you.”
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Comes True
28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29It took place twelve months later. He was walking on the roof of his palace in Babylon. 30He said, “Isn’t this the great Babylon I have built as a place for my royal palace? I used my mighty power to build it. It shows how glorious my majesty is.”
31He was still speaking when he heard a voice from heaven. It said, “King Nebuchadnezzar, here is what has been ordered concerning you. Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32You will be driven away from people. You will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass just as an ox does. Seven periods of time will pass by for you. Then you will recognize that the Most High God rules over all kingdoms on earth. He gives them to anyone he wants.”
33What had been said about King Nebuchadnezzar came true at once. He was driven away from people. He ate grass just as an ox does. His body became wet with the dew of heaven. He stayed that way until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle. His nails became like the claws of a bird.
34At the end of that time I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven. My mind became clear again. Then I praised the Most High God. I gave honor and glory to the God who lives forever.
His rule will last forever.
His kingdom will never end.
35He considers all the nations on earth
to be nothing.
He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven.
He does what he wants
with the nations of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand.
No one can say to him,
“What have you done?”
36My honor and glory were returned to me when my mind became clear again. The glory of my kingdom was given back to me. My advisers and nobles came to me. And I was put back on my throne. I became even greater than I had been before. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, give praise and honor and glory to the King of heaven. Everything he does is right. All his ways are fair. He is able to bring down those who live proudly.
Maloto Achiwiri a Nebukadinezara
1Mfumu Nebukadinezara anatumiza mawu awa kwa anthu a mitundu yonse, ndi chiyankhulo chilichonse, amene amakhala pa dziko lonse lapansi:
Mtendere uchuluke pakati panu!
2Chandikomera kukuwuzani zizindikiro zozizwitsa ndi zodabwitsa zimene Mulungu Wammwambamwamba wandichitira.
3Zizindikiro zake ndi zazikulu,
zozizwitsa zake ndi zamphamvu!
Ufumu wake ndi wamuyaya;
ulamuliro wake ndi wa mibadomibado.
4Ine Nebukadinezara, ndinali kwathu mʼnyumba yanga yaufumu, mwa mtendere ndipo ndinali wokhutitsidwa. 5Ndili chigonere pa bedi langa, ndinalota maloto amene anandichititsa mantha. Zinthu ndi masomphenya zimene ndinaziona zinandiopsa. 6Choncho ndinalamula kuti anthu onse a nzeru a ku Babuloni abwere pa maso panga kunditanthauzira malotowo. 7Pamene amatsenga, owombeza, alawuli ndi amawula anabwera, ndinawafotokozera maloto, koma sanathe kunditanthauzira. 8Potsiriza, anabwera Danieli uja amatchedwa Belitesezara, potsata dzina la mulungu wanga, ndipo mzimu wa milungu yoyera uli mwa iye. Iyeyu ndinamufotokozera malotowo.
9Ndinati, “Belitesezara, mkulu wa amatsenga, ndikudziwa kuti mzimu wa milungu yoyera uli mwa iwe, ndipo palibe chinsinsi chomwe sungachidziwe. Awa ndi maloto anga; unditanthauzire. 10Awa ndi masomphenya amene ine ndinaona pamene ndinali kugona pa bedi: Ndinaona, mtengo wautali kwambiri utayima pakati pa dziko lapansi. 11Mtengowo unakula ndi kulimba ndipo msonga yake inafika mpaka mlengalenga; umaonekera pa dziko lonse lapansi. 12Masamba ake anali okongola, zipatso zinali zochuluka, ndipo mu mtengomo munali chakudya chokwanira anthu onse. Zirombo zakuthengo zimapeza mthunzi mʼmunsi mwake, ndipo mbalame zamlengalenga zimakhala pa nthambi zake: Cholengedwa chilichonse chinkadya za mu mtengowu.
13“Ndikanali chigonere ndinaona mʼmasomphenya mngelo atayima pamaso panga, woyera, atatsika kuchokera kumwamba. 14Anayankhula mofuwula kuti, ‘Gwetsa mtengo ndi kusadza nthambi zake; yoyola masamba ake kuti nyama zakuthengo zithawe pa mthunzi pake ndi mbalame zithawe pa nthambi zake. 15Koma musiye tsinde ndi mizu yake mʼnthaka. Tsindelo mulimange maunyolo a chitsulo ndi mkuwa, zikhalebe mʼnthaka, nʼkudya udzu mʼmunda.
“ ‘Mumulole iye anyowe ndi mame akumwamba, ndipo iye akhale ndi nyama pakati pa zomera za mʼnthaka. 16Maganizo ake a umunthu asinthidwe ndipo apatsidwe maganizo a nyama ya kuthengo, mpaka zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri zitadutsa.
17“ ‘Angelo oyera ndiwo akutsimikiza chilangochi. Tsono anthu adziwe kuti Mulungu Wammwambamwamba ali ndi mphamvu yolamulira maufumu onse, ndipo amawapereka kwa aliyense akumufuna, ngakhale munthu wamba kuti alamulire.’
18“Amenewa ndi maloto amene ine, mfumu Nebukadinezara, ndinalota. Tsopano Belitesezara, undifotokozere tanthauzo lake, popeza palibe mwa anthu anzeru a mu ufumu wanga amene angathe kunditanthauzira. Koma iwe ukhoza, chifukwa mzimu wa milungu yoyera uli mwa iwe.”
Danieli Atanthauzira Maloto
19Pamenepo Danieli, amene amatchedwa Belitesezara, anavutika mu mtima kwambiri kwa kanthawi, ndipo anasautsidwa mʼmaganizo ake. Choncho mfumu inati, “Belitesezara usalole malotowa kapena tanthauzo lake likuopse.”
Belitesezara anayankha kuti, “Mbuye wanga, ndikanakonda malotowa akanakhudza adani anu okha, ndi tanthauzo lake kwa iwo okusautsani! 20Mtengo munawuona uja, umene unkakulirakulira kwambiri ndi kulimba, ndi msonga yake inafika mlengalenga, ndi kuonekera ku dziko lonse lapansi, 21mtengo umene masamba ake anali okongola ndiponso unali ndi zipatso zochuluka zokwanira kudya anthu onse a dziko lapansi. Mtengowu unkapereka mthunzi ku zirombo zonse zakuthengo, ndipo mbalame zamlengalenga zinayika zisa pa nthambi zake. 22Inu mfumu, ndinu mtengo umenewo! Inu mwakhala wamkulu ndi wamphamvu; ukulu wanu wakula mpaka wakhudza mlengalenga, ndipo ufumu wanu wafika mpaka ku malo akutali a dziko lapansi.
23“Inu mfumu munaona mthenga woyera, akuchokera kumwamba ndipo anati, ‘Gwetsani mtengo ndipo muwuwononge, koma musiye tsinde ndi mizu yake. Tsindelo mulimange ndi unyolo wa chitsulo ndi mkuwa ndipo mulisiye pakati pa udzu wa mʼmunda. Mulole kuti linyowe ndi mame akumwamba. Likhale ngati nyama zakuthengo, mpaka zaka zidutse zisanu ndi ziwiri.’
24“Tanthauzo lake ndi ili mfumu, izi ndi zimene Mulungu Wammwambamwamba watsimikiza kuti zikugwereni mbuye wanga mfumu: 25Inu mudzachotsedwa pakati pa anthu ndipo mudzakhala ndi nyama zakuthengo; mudzadya udzu monga ngʼombe ndi kunyowa ndi mame akumwamba. Zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri zidzadutsa mpaka mudzavomereze kuti Mulungu Wammwambamwamba ndiye mwini ulamuliro pa ma ufumu a anthu, ndipo amawapereka kwa aliyense amene Iye wafuna. 26Lamulo losiya tsinde la mtengo ndi mizu yake litanthauza kuti ufumu wanu udzabwezeredwa kwa inu mukadzavomereza kuti Mulungu ndiye amalamulira. 27Nʼchifukwa chake mfumu, chikukomereni kulandira malangizo anga: Lekani machimo ndipo muzichita zabwino, lekani mphulupulu zanu ndipo muzikomera mtima anthu opsinjika. Nʼkutheka kuti mtendere wanu udzapitirira.”
Maloto Akwaniritsidwa
28Zonsezi zinamuchitikira mfumu Nebukadinezara. 29Itapita miyezi khumi ndi iwiri, pamene mfumu inkayenda pa denga la nyumba ya ufumu ya ku Babuloni, 30iye anati, “Kodi Babuloni si mzinda wamphamvu ndi wokongola umene ndinamanga ndi mphamvu zanga ngati nyumba yanga yaufumu, kuonetsera ulemerero wa ufumu wanga?”
31Akuyankhulabe izi mawu anamveka kuchokera kumwamba kuti, “Imvani izi, mfumu Nebukadinezara: Ufumu wako wachotsedwa. 32Udzachotsedwa pakati pa anthu ndipo udzakhala ndi zirombo zakuthengo; udzadya udzu monga ngʼombe. Zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri zidzadutsa mpaka iwe utavomereza kuti Wammwambamwamba ndiye mwini ulamuliro pa maufumu a anthu ndipo amawupereka kwa aliyense amene iye afuna.”
33Nthawi yomweyo zonse zimene zinanenedwa zokhudza Nebukadinezara zinakwaniritsidwa. Iye anachotsedwa pakati pa anthu ndipo ankadya udzu ngati ngʼombe. Thupi lake linanyowa ndi mame akumwamba mpaka tsitsi lake linakula ngati nthenga za chiwombankhanga ndi zikhadabo ngati zikhadabo za mbalame.
34Pomaliza pa zaka zimenezo ine, Nebukadinezara ndinakweza maso anga kumwamba, ndipo nzeru zanga zinabwereramo. Kenaka ndinatamanda Wammwambamwamba; ndinamupatsa ulemu ndi kumulemekeza Iye amene akhala nthawi zonse.
Ulamuliro wake ndi ulamuliro wa nthawi zonse;
ufumu wake udzakhala ku mibadomibado.
35Anthu onse a dziko lapansi
ali chabe pamaso pake.
Pakati pa angelo akumwamba
ndi anthu a dziko lapansi
palibe amene akhoza kumuletsa
Mulungu kuchita zimene afuna.
Kapena kunena kwa Iye kuti, “Kodi mwachita chiyani?”
36Pa nthawi yomweyo nzeru zanga zinabwereramo. Ndinalandiranso ulemu wanga ndi ufumu wanga. Nduna ndi akalonga anga anandilandiranso. Ndipo anandibwezera ufumu wanga ndi kukhalanso wamphamvu kuposa kale. 37Tsopano ine Nebukadinezara, ndikutamanda, kukweza ndi kulemekeza Mfumu yakumwamba chifukwa zonse zimene amachita ndi zoyenera ndipo njira zake zonse ndi zachilungamo. Ndipo onse amene amayenda modzikuza adzawatsitsa.
