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.
Ekirooto kya Nebukadduneeza eky’Omuti
14:1 a Dan 3:4 b Dan 6:25Kabaka Nebukadduneeza n’alangirira eri abantu, n’amawanga n’abantu ab’ennimi eza buli ngeri, mu nsi yonna bw’ati nti:
Emirembe gibeere nammwe!
24:2 a Zab 74:9 b Dan 3:26Lye ssanyu lyange okubategeeza ku bigambo eby’amagero era ebikulu Katonda Ali Waggulu Ennyo byankoledde.
34:3 a Zab 105:27; Dan 6:27 b Dan 2:44Obubonero bwe nga bukulu,
n’eby’amagero bye nga byewuunyisa!
Obwakabaka bwe bwa mirembe na mirembe;
N’okufuga kwe tekuliggwaawo.
44:4 Zab 30:6Nze Nebukadduneeza, nnali mpumulidde mu maka gange wakati mu bugagga nga mpumuliddeko mu lubiri lwange. 54:5 a Dan 2:1 b Dan 2:28Ne ndoota ekirooto ekyantiisa; bwe nnali nga ngalamidde ku kitanda kyange, ne ndaba ebifaananyi mu kwolesebwa, ebyantiisa. 64:6 Dan 2:2Kyennava ndagira abasajja bonna abagezigezi ab’e Babulooni baleetebwe mu maaso gange bantegeeze amakulu g’ekirooto. 74:7 a Lub 41:8 b Is 44:25; Dan 2:2 c Dan 2:10Abalogo, n’abafumu, n’Abakaludaaya, n’abalaguzi ne bajja, ne mbategeeza ekirooto, naye ne balemwa okuntegeeza amakulu gaakyo. 84:8 a Dan 1:7 b Dan 5:11, 14Naye oluvannyuma Danyeri gwe natuuma Berutesazza ng’erinnya lya katonda wange bwe liri, era nga n’omwoyo ogwa bakatonda abatukuvu guli mu ye, n’ajja mu maaso gange ne mutegeeza ekirooto.
94:9 a Dan 2:48 b Dan 5:11-12Ne mugamba nti, “Berutesazza, omukulu w’abafumu, mmanyi ng’omwoyo ogwa bakatonda abatukuvu guli mu ggwe, so tewali kigambo eky’ekyama ekikuzibuwalira. Ntegeeza ekirooto kyange, n’amakulu gaakyo. 104:10 a nny 5 b Ez 31:3-4Kuno kwe kwolesebwa kwe nafunye nga ngalamidde ku kitanda kyange; nalabye omuti wakati mu nsi, nga muwanvu nnyo nnyini. 11Omuti ne gukula ne guba gwa maanyi, n’entikko yaagwo n’etuuka ku ggulu era nga gulengerwa okuva ku nkomerero y’ensi zonna. 124:12 Ez 17:23; Mat 13:32Ebikoola byagwo byali birungi okutunulako, n’ebibala byagwo nga bingi, era nga gulina emmere emala bonna. Ensolo enkambwe ez’omu nsiko zaatuulanga mu kisiikirize kyagwo, n’ennyonyi ez’omu bbanga zaatuulanga ku matabi gaagwo, na buli kiramu kyonna kyalisibwanga.
134:13 a Dan 7:1 b nny 23; Ma 33:2; Dan 8:13“Awo mu kiseera ekyo nga ngalamidde ku kitanda kyange, mu kwolesebwa, ne ndaba omubaka omutukuvu ng’ava mu ggulu. 144:14 Ez 31:12; Mat 3:10N’ayogerera mu ddoboozi ery’omwanguka nti, ‘Tema omuti, otemeko n’amatabi gaagwo; okunkumule amalagala gaagwo, osaasaanye n’ebibala byagwo, n’ennyonyi zibuuke zive ku matabi gaagwo. 15Naye ekikonge ky’ekikolo kyagwo kireke mu ttaka, nga kiriko ekyuma ekisiba n’ekikomo, mu muddo omuto ku ttale.
“ ‘Muleke abisiwale n’omusulo ogw’omu ggulu, era muleke agabanire wamu omuddo, n’ensolo ez’omu nsiko. 164:16 nny 23, 32Era n’amagezi ge ag’obuntu gakyusibwe, afuuke ng’ensolo enkambwe ey’omu nsiko okumala emyaka musanvu.
174:17 a nny 2, 25; Zab 83:18 b Yer 27:5-7; Dan 2:21; 5:18-21 c Dan 11:21“ ‘Omusango ogwo gulangiriddwa ababaka, abatukuvu be baasanguza ekisaliddwawo, abalamu balyoke bategeere ng’Oyo Ali Waggulu Ennyo y’afuga obwakabaka bw’abantu, era abuwa buli gw’asiima, era alonda abantu abasemberayo ddala okuba aba wansi okubafuga.’
184:18 a Lub 41:8; Dan 5:8, 15 b Lub 41:15 c nny 7-9“Ekyo kye kirooto, nze Kabaka Nebukadduneeza kye naloose. Kaakano ggwe Berutesazza, ntegeeza amakulu gaakyo kubanga tewali n’omu ku basajja abagezigezi mu bwakabaka bwange ayinza okuntegeeza amakulu gaakyo. Naye ggwe oyinza, kubanga omwoyo ogwa bakatonda abatukuvu guli mu ggwe.”
Danyeri Avvuunula Ekirooto
194:19 Dan 7:15, 28; 8:27; 10:16-17Awo Danyeri eyayitibwanga Berutesazza n’atawanyizibwa mu mutima okumala akabanga, ne yeeraliikirira. Kabaka n’amugamba nti, “Berutesazza, ekirooto n’amakulu gaakyo bireme okukweraliikiriza.”
Berutesazza n’addamu nti, “Mukama wange, ekirooto kibe nga kyogera ku abo abakukyawa, n’amakulu gaakyo gabe nga googera ku balabe bo! 20Omuti gwe walaba, ogwakula ne guba gwa maanyi, ogwawanvuwa ne gutuuka ku ggulu, nga gulabibwa ensi yonna, 21ogwaliko amalagala amalungi n’ebibala byagwo nga bingi nnyo, era nga guliko n’emmere emala bonna, nga n’ensolo ez’omu nsiko zituula mu kisiikirize kyagwo, nga n’ennyonyi ez’omu bbanga zisiisira ku matabi gaagwo, 224:22 a 2Sa 12:7 b Yer 27:7; Dan 2:37-38; 5:18-19ye ggwe, ayi kabaka! Okuze n’oba mukulu era n’oba w’amaanyi; n’obukulu bwo bweyongedde ne butuuka ku ggulu, n’obuyinza bwo butuuse ku nkomerero y’ensi.
234:23 a nny 13 b Dan 5:21“Ggwe ayi kabaka walabye omubaka, era omutukuvu ng’akka okuva mu ggulu, n’ayogera nti, ‘Tema omuti oguzikirize, naye ekikonge ky’ekikolo kyagwo kireke mu ttaka ng’okisibye n’ekyuma n’ekikomo mu muddo omuto ogw’oku ttale; era muleke abisiwazibwe omusulo ogw’omu ggulu, n’omugabo gwe gubeere n’ensolo enkambwe ez’omu nsiko, emyaka musanvu.’
244:24 Yob 40:12; Zab 107:40“Gano ge makulu, ayi kabaka, era lino lye tteeka Oyo Ali Waggulu Ennyo ly’alangiriridde mukama wange kabaka. 254:25 a nny 17; Zab 83:18 b Yer 27:5; Dan 5:21Oligobebwa okuva mu bantu era olibeera n’ensolo ez’omu nsiko; olirya omuddo ng’ente, era olibisiwala okumala emyaka musanvu okutuusa lw’olitegeera ng’Oyo Ali Waggulu Ennyo y’afuga obwakabaka bw’abantu, era abugabira buli gw’asiima. 264:26 a nny 15 b Dan 2:37Ekiragiro eky’okuleka ekikonge ky’ekikolo ky’omuti, amakulu gaakyo ge gano: obwakabaka bwo bulikuddizibwa bw’olitegeera ng’eggulu lye lifuga. 274:27 a Is 55:6-7 b 1Bk 21:29; Zab 41:3; Ez 18:22Noolwekyo, ayi kabaka nteesa nti; weetoowaze olekeyo ebibi byo okole eby’obutuukirivu, era n’ebikolwa byo ebitali bya butuukirivu obireke obeere wa kisa eri abanyigirizibwa, olyoke ofuuke mugagga okusinga nga bw’oli kaakano.”
Ekirooto Kituukirira
284:28 Kbl 23:19Ebyo byonna byatuukirira ku Kabaka Nebukadduneeza. 29Bwe wayitawo emyezi kkumi n’ebiri, kabaka yali atambulira ku kasolya k’olubiri lwe olwa Babulooni, 304:30 Is 37:24-25; Dan 5:20; Kbk 2:4n’ayogera nti, “Ono si ye Babulooni omukulu gwe nazimba n’amaanyi gange amangi okuba ekibuga ekikulu eky’ekitiibwa eky’obwakabaka bwange?”
31Awo bwe yali ng’akyayogera, eddoboozi ne liva mu ggulu nga ligamba nti, “Kuno kwe kulangirira okukukwatako Kabaka Nebukadduneeza: obwakabaka bwo bukuggyiddwako. 32Oligobebwa mu bantu era olibeera n’ensolo okumala emyaka musanvu okutuusa lw’olitegeera ng’Oyo Ali Waggulu ennyo y’afuga obwakabaka obw’abantu era abuwa buli gw’asiima.”
334:33 Dan 5:20-21Amangwago ebyayogerwa ku Nebukadduneeza ne bituukirira. N’agobebwa mu bantu era n’alya omuddo ng’ente. Omubiri gwe ne gutoba omusulo ogw’omu ggulu okutuusa enviiri ze lwe zaakula ng’ebyoya by’empungu n’enjala ze ng’enjala z’ennyonyi.
344:34 a Dan 12:7; Kub 4:10 b Zab 145:13; Dan 2:44; 5:21; 6:26; Luk 1:33Oluvannyuma lw’ebbanga eryo, nze, Nebukadduneeza, ne nnyimusa amaaso gange eri eggulu, amagezi gange ne gakomawo. Ne ntendereza Oyo Ali Waggulu Ennyo, ne muwa ekitiibwa ne mugulumiza oyo abeera omulamu emirembe n’emirembe.
Okufuga kwe tekuliggwaawo,
n’obwakabaka bwe bwa mirembe na mirembe.
354:35 a Is 40:17 b Zab 115:3; 135:6 c Is 45:9; Bar 9:20Abantu bonna ab’oku nsi
abalaba nga si kintu,
eggye ery’omu ggulu
n’abantu ab’oku nsi
abayisa nga bw’asiima.
Tewali ayinza okumuziyiza,
newaakubadde okumubuuza nti, “Okola ki?”
364:36 Nge 22:4Mu kiseera kyekimu okutegeera kwange ne kukomawo, n’ekitiibwa n’obuyinza obw’obwakabaka bwange ne bunzirira. Abawi b’amagezi bange n’abakungu bange ne bannoonya, ne banziriza entebe yange ey’obwakabaka ne nnyongerwako obukulu bungi okusinga ne bwe nalina. 374:37 a Ma 32:4; Zab 33:4-5 b Kuv 18:11; Yob 40:11-12; Dan 5:20, 23Kale nze Nebukadduneeza kyennaava mmutendereza era ne mmuwa ekitiibwa ne mmugulumiza Kabaka ow’eggulu, kubanga emirimu gye gyonna gya mazima n’amakubo ge ga nsonga, n’abo ab’amalala abakkakkanya.
