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.
Ang Pangalawang Panaginip ni Nebucadnezar
1Gumawa si Haring Nebucadnezar ng isang mensahe para sa lahat ng tao sa ibaʼt ibang bansa, lahi, at wika sa buong mundo. Ito ang nakasulat:
“Sumainyo nawa ang mabuting kalagayan.
2“Nais kong ipaalam sa inyo ang mga himala at kababalaghang ginawa sa akin ng Kataas-taasang Dios.
3Kamangha-mangha at makapangyarihan ang mga himalang ipinakita ng Dios.
Ang paghahari niya ay walang hanggan.
4“Ang aking kalagayan dito sa palasyo ay mabuti at namumuhay ako sa kasaganaan. 5Pero nagkaroon ako ng nakakatakot na panaginip at pangitain na bumabagabag sa akin. 6Kaya iniutos ko na dalhin sa akin ang lahat ng marurunong sa Babilonia para ipaliwanag sa akin ang kahulugan ng aking panaginip. 7Nang dumating ang mga salamangkero, manghuhula at mga astrologo,4:7 astrologo: sa literal, Caldeo. sinabi ko sa kanila ang panaginip ko, pero hindi nila maipaliwanag ang kahulugan nito.
8“Nang bandang huli, lumapit sa akin si Daniel. (Pinangalanan siyang Belteshazar na pangalan din ng aking dios. Nasa kanya ang espiritu ng banal na mga dios.)4:8 mga dios: o, dios; maaari ring, Dios. Isinalaysay ko sa kanya ang aking panaginip. 9Sinabi ko, ‘Belteshazar, pinuno ng mga salamangkero, alam kong nasa iyo ang espiritu ng mga dios at nauunawaan mo agad ang kahulugan ng mga hiwaga. Sabihin mo sa akin ang kahulugan ng mga pangitaing nakita ko sa aking panaginip. 10Ito ang mga pangitaing nakita ko habang natutulog ako: Nakita ko ang isang napakataas na punongkahoy sa gitna ng mundo. 11Lumaki at tumaas ito hanggang sa langit kaya kitang-kita ito kahit saang bahagi ng mundo. 12Mayabong ang kanyang mga dahon at marami ang kanyang bunga na maaaring kainin ng lahat. Ang mga hayop ay sumisilong dito at ang mga ibon ay namumugad sa kanyang mga sanga. At dito kumukuha ng pagkain ang lahat ng nilalang.’
13“Nakita ko rin sa panaginip ang isang anghel4:13 anghel: sa literal, banal na tagapagbantay. na bumaba mula sa langit. 14Sumigaw siya, ‘Putulin ninyo ang punongkahoy na iyan at ang mga sanga nito. Alisin ang mga dahon nito at itapon ang mga bunga. Bugawin ninyo ang mga hayop na sumisilong at ang mga ibon na namumugad sa mga sanga nito. 15Pero hayaan ninyo ang tuod sa gitna ng kaparangan para maging talian ng bakal at tanso.’
“Ang taong sinisimbolo ng punong iyon ay laging mababasa ng hamog at kakain ng damo kasama ng mga hayop. 16Sa loob ng pitong taon ay mawawala siya sa katinuan at magiging isip-hayop. 17Ito ang hatol na sinabi ng anghel para malaman ng lahat na ang Kataas-taasang Dios ang siyang may kapangyarihan sa kaharian ng mga tao. At maaari niyang ipasakop ang mga ito kahit kanino niya gustuhin, kahit na sa pinakaabang tao.
18“Ito ang panaginip ko, Belteshazar. Sabihin mo sa akin ang kahulugan nito dahil wala ni isa man sa mga marunong sa aking kaharian ang makapagpaliwanag sa akin ng kahulugan nito. Pero maipapaliwanag mo ito sapagkat nasa iyo ang espiritu ng mga dios.”4:18 mga dios: o, dios; maaari ring, Dios.
Ipinaliwanag ni Daniel ang Kahulugan ng Panaginip
19Nabagabag at natakot si Daniel (na tinatawag ding Belteshazar) nang marinig niya ito. Kaya sinabi sa kanya ng hari, “Belteshazar, huwag kang mabagabag sa panaginip ko at sa kahulugan nito.” Sumagot si Belteshazar, “Mahal na Hari, sana ang iyong panaginip at ang kahulugan nito ay sa inyong mga kaaway mangyari at hindi sa iyo. 20Ang napanaginipan ninyong punongkahoy na lumaki at tumaas hanggang langit na kitang-kita sa buong mundo, 21na may mayayabong na dahon at maraming bunga na maaaring kainin ng lahat, sinisilungan ng mga hayop at pinamumugaran ng mga ibon ang mga sanga, 22ay walang iba kundi kayo, Mahal na Hari. Sapagkat kayo po ay naging makapangyarihan; ang kapangyarihan nʼyo ay abot hanggang langit,4:22 kapangyarihan … langit: Maaaring ang ibig sabihin, gusto ni Nebucadnezar na humigit pa sa kapangyarihan ng Dios. at ang inyong nasasakupan ay umabot sa ibaʼt ibang dako ng mundo.”
23Sinabi pa ni Daniel, “Nakita nʼyo rin, Mahal na Hari, ang isang anghel na bumaba mula sa langit na sumisigaw, ‘Putulin ninyo ang punongkahoy pero hayaan ninyo ang tuod nito sa lupa na natatalian ng bakal at tanso. Hayaang mabasa ng hamog at kakain kasama ng mga hayop sa gubat sa loob ng pitong taon.’
24“Mahal na Hari, ito po ang ibig sabihin ng pangitaing niloob ng Kataas-taasan na Dios na mangyari sa inyo: 25Itataboy kayo at ilalayo sa mga tao at maninirahan kayong kasama ng mga hayop sa gubat. Kakain kayo ng damo tulad ng baka at palagi kayong mababasa ng hamog. Pagkatapos ng pitong taon, kikilalanin nʼyo ang Kataas-taasang Dios na siyang may kapangyarihan sa mga kaharian ng mga tao at maaari niyang ipasakop ang mga ito kahit kanino niya gustuhin. 26Tungkol naman po sa sinabi ng anghel na hayaan lang ang tuod, ang ibig sabihin noon ay ibabalik sa inyo ang kaharian nʼyo kung kikilalanin nʼyo na ang Dios ang siyang naghahari sa lahat. 27Kaya Mahal na Hari, pakinggan nʼyo po ang payo ko: Tigilan nʼyo na po ang inyong kasamaan, gumawa kayo ng matuwid at maging maawain sa mga dukha. Kung gagawin nʼyo po ito, baka sakaling manatili kayong maunlad.”
28Ang lahat ng itoʼy nangyari sa buhay ni Haring Nebucadnezar. 29Pagkalipas ng isang taon mula nang ipaliwanag ni Daniel ang kahulugan ng kanyang panaginip, ganito ang nangyari:
Habang namamasyal si Haring Nebucadnezar sa bubong ng kanyang palasyo sa Babilonia 30sinabi niya, “Talagang makapangyarihan ang Babilonia, ang itinayo kong maharlikang bayan sa pamamagitan ng aking kapangyarihan at para sa aking karangalan.”
31Hindi pa siya halos natatapos sa pagsasalita, may tinig mula sa langit na nagsabi, “Haring Nebucadnezar, makinig ka: Binabawi ko na sa iyo ang iyong kapangyarihan bilang hari. 32Itataboy ka mula sa mga tao at maninirahan kang kasama ng mga hayop sa gubat. Kakain ka ng damo na parang baka. Pagkatapos ng pitong taon ay kikilalanin mo ang Kataas-taasang Dios na siyang may kapangyarihan sa mga kaharian ng mga tao at maaari niyang ipasakop ang mga ito kahit kanino niya gustuhin.”
33Nangyari nga agad kay Nebucadnezar ang sinabi ng tinig. Itinaboy siya mula sa mga tao at kumain ng damo na parang baka. Palaging basa ng hamog ang kanyang katawan, at humaba ang kanyang buhok na parang balahibo ng agila at ang kanyang kuko ay parang kuko ng ibon.
34“Pagkatapos ng pitong taon, ako, si Nebucadnezar ay lumapit sa Dios4:34 lumapit sa Dios: sa literal, tumingala sa langit. at nanumbalik ang matino kong pag-iisip. Kaya pinuri ko at pinarangalan ang Kataas-taasang Dios na buhay magpakailanman. Sinabi ko,
‘Ang paghahari niya ay walang katapusan.
35Balewala ang mga tao sa mundo kung ikukumpara sa kanya.
Ginagawa niya ang nais niya sa mga anghel sa langit at sa mga tao sa lupa.
Walang makakatutol o makakahadlang sa kanya.’
36“Nang manumbalik na ang aking katinuan, ibinalik din sa akin ang karangalan at kapangyarihan bilang hari. Muli akong tinanggap ng aking mga opisyal at mga tagapayo, at akoʼy naging mas makapangyarihan kaysa dati. 37Kaya ngayon, pinupuri koʼt pinararangalan ang Hari ng langit, dahil matuwid at tama ang lahat niyang ginagawa at ibinabagsak niya ang mga mapagmataas.”
