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.
Nebukadnessari lá àlá nípa igi
1Nebukadnessari ọba,
Sí gbogbo ènìyàn, orílẹ̀ àti onírúurú èdè, tí ó ń gbé ní àgbáyé:
Kí àlàáfíà máa pọ̀ sí i fún un yín.
Kí ẹ ṣe rere tó pọ̀!
2Ó jẹ́ ìdùnnú fún mi láti fi iṣẹ́ ààmì àti ìyanu tí Ọlọ́run Ọ̀gá-Ògo ti ṣe fún mi hàn.
3Báwo ni ààmì rẹ̀ ti tóbi tó,
Báwo ni ìyanu rẹ̀ ṣe pọ̀ tó!
Ìjọba rẹ̀, ìjọba títí ayé ni;
ilẹ̀ ọba rẹ̀ láti ìran dé ìran ni.
4Èmi Nebukadnessari wà ní ààfin mi, pẹ̀lú ìtẹ́lọ́rùn àti àlàáfíà. 5Mo lá àlá kan èyí tí ó bà mí lẹ́rù. Nígbà tí mo wà lórí ibùsùn mi, ìran tí ó jáde lọ́kàn mi dẹ́rùbà mí. 6Nígbà náà, ni mo pàṣẹ pé kí a mú gbogbo àwọn amòye Babeli wá, kí wọn wá sọ ìtumọ̀ àlá náà fún mi. 7Nígbà tí àwọn apidán, àwọn apògèdè, àwọn awòràwọ̀ àti àwọn aláfọ̀ṣẹ wá, mo sọ àlá náà fún wọn, ṣùgbọ́n wọn kò le è sọ ìtumọ̀ àlá náà fún mi. 8Ní ìkẹyìn Daniẹli wá síwájú mi, mo sì sọ àlá náà fún (ẹni tí à ń pè ní Belṣassari gẹ́gẹ́ bí orúkọ òrìṣà mi àti pé ẹ̀mí àwọn Ọlọ́run mímọ́ wà nínú rẹ̀.)
9Mo wí pé, “Belṣassari, olórí àwọn amòye, èmi mọ̀ wí pé ẹ̀mí Ọlọ́run mímọ́ wà nínú rẹ, kò sì ṣí àṣírí kan tí ó ṣòro jù fún ọ. Sọ àlá mi kí o sì túmọ̀ rẹ̀ fún mi. 10Èyí ni ìran náà tí mo rí nígbà tí mo wà lórí ibùsùn mi, mo rí igi kan láàrín ayé, igi náà ga gidigidi. 11Igi náà tóbi, ó sì lágbára, orí rẹ̀ sì ń kan ọ̀run; a sì rí i títí dé òpin ayé. 124.12,21: El 17.23; 31.6; Mt 13.32; Mk 4.32; Lk 13.19.Ewé rẹ̀ lẹ́wà, èso rẹ̀ sì pọ̀, ó sì ń pèsè oúnjẹ fún gbogbo ènìyàn. Abẹ́ ẹ rẹ̀ ni àwọn ẹranko igbó fi ṣe ibùgbé, àwọn ẹyẹ ojú ọ̀run sì ń gbé ní ẹ̀ka rẹ̀, nínú rẹ̀ ni gbogbo alààyè ti ń jẹ.
13“Lórí ibùsùn mi, mo rí ìran náà, olùṣọ́ kan dúró síwájú u mi, àní ẹni mímọ́ kan, ó ń bọ̀ wá láti ọ̀run 14ó kígbe sókè wí pé, ‘Gé igi náà kí o sì gé àwọn ẹ̀ka rẹ̀ kúrò; gbọn ewé rẹ̀ ká, kí o sì fọ́n èso rẹ̀ dànù. Jẹ́ kí àwọn ẹranko tí ó wà lábẹ́ rẹ̀ sá àti àwọn ẹyẹ tí ó wà ní ẹ̀ka rẹ̀ kúrò. 15Ṣùgbọ́n fi kùkùté àti gbòǹgbò rẹ̀ tí a fi irin àti idẹ dè ṣẹ́kù sórí ilẹ̀ àti sí orí koríko igbó.
“ ‘Jẹ́ kí ìrì ọ̀run sẹ̀ sí i lára, kí ó sì jẹ́ kí ìpín in rẹ̀ wà pẹ̀lú àwọn ẹranko igbó láàrín ilẹ̀ ayé. 16Jẹ́ kí ọkàn rẹ̀ kí ó yí padà kúrò ní ti ènìyàn, kí a sì fún un ní ọkàn ẹranko, títí ìgbà méje yóò fi kọjá lórí i rẹ̀.
17“ ‘Olùṣọ́ ni ó gbé ìpinnu náà jáde, àṣẹ sì wá láti ọ̀dọ̀ ẹni mímọ́, kí gbogbo alààyè le mọ̀ wí pé, Ọ̀gá-ògo ni olórí ìjọba ènìyàn, ó sì ń fi fún ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó wù ú, òun sì ń gbé onírẹ̀lẹ̀ lórí i wọn.’
18“Èyí ni àlá tí èmi Nebukadnessari ọba lá. Ní ìsinsin yìí ìwọ Belṣassari, sọ ohun tí ó túmọ̀ sí fún mi, nítorí kò sí amòye kan ní ìjọba mi, tí ó lè sọ ìtumọ̀ rẹ̀ fún mi. Ṣùgbọ́n ìwọ lè sọ ìtumọ̀ rẹ̀, nítorí tí ẹ̀mí Ọlọ́run mímọ́ wà ní inú rẹ.”
Daniẹli túmọ̀ àlá náà
19Nígbà náà ni Daniẹli (ẹni tí à ń pè ní Belṣassari) páyà gidigidi fún ìgbà díẹ̀, èrò inú rẹ̀ sì bà á lẹ́rù. Nígbà náà ni ọba wí pé, “Belṣassari, má ṣe jẹ́ kí àlá náà tàbí ìtumọ̀ rẹ̀ kí ó dẹ́rùbà ọ́.”
Belṣassari sì dáhùn wí pé, “olúwa mi, kí àlá yìí jẹ́ ti àwọn ọ̀tá a rẹ, kí ìtumọ̀ rẹ̀ sì jẹ́ ti àwọn aṣòdì sí ọ: 20Igi tí ìwọ rí, tí ó dàgbà, tí ó sì lágbára, tí orí rẹ̀ sì ń kan ọ̀run, tí ó lẹ́wà àti ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ èso, tí ó ń pèsè oúnjẹ fún gbogbo ènìyàn, tí ó ṣe ààbò lórí ẹranko igbó àti èyí tí ẹ̀ka rẹ̀ pèsè ààyè fún ẹyẹ ojú ọ̀run. 21Èyí tí ewé e rẹ̀ lẹ́wà, tí èso rẹ̀ si pọ̀, nínú èyí tí oúnjẹ sì wà fún gbogbo ẹ̀dá, lábẹ́ èyí tí àwọn ẹranko igbó ń gbé, lórí ẹ̀ka èyí ti àwọn ẹyẹ ojú ọ̀run ní ibùgbé wọn. 22Ìwọ ọba ni igi náà, ìwọ ti dàgbà, o sì lágbára, títóbi i rẹ ga ó sì kan ọ̀run, ìjọba rẹ sì gbilẹ̀ títí dé òpin ayé.
23“Ìwọ ọba, rí ìránṣẹ́ ẹni mímọ́ kan, tí ó ń bọ̀ láti ọ̀run ó sì sọ pé, ‘Gé igi náà kí o sì run ún, ṣùgbọ́n fi kùkùté rẹ tí a dè pẹ̀lú irin àti idẹ sílẹ̀ nínú koríko igbó, nígbà tí gbòǹgbò rẹ̀ sì wà nínú ilẹ̀ kí o sì jẹ́ kí ìrì ọ̀run sẹ̀ sórí i rẹ̀, jẹ́ kí ìpín in rẹ̀ wà láàrín ẹranko búburú títí ìgbà méje yóò fi kọjá lórí i rẹ̀.’
24“Èyí ni ìtumọ̀ àlá rẹ ọba àti àṣẹ tí Ọ̀gá-ògo mú wá sórí ọba olúwa mi: 25A ó lé ọ jáde kúrò láàrín ènìyàn, ìwọ yóò sì máa gbé láàrín ẹranko búburú: ìwọ yóò jẹ koríko bí i màlúù, ìrì ọ̀run yóò sì sẹ̀ sára rẹ. Ìgbà méje yóò sì kọjá lórí rẹ, títí ìwọ yóò fi mọ̀ wí pé Ọ̀gá-ògo ń jẹ ọba lórí ìjọba ènìyàn, ó sì ń fi fún ẹni tí ó bá wù ú. 26Bí wọ́n ṣe pàṣẹ pé kí wọn fi kùkùté àti gbòǹgbò igi náà sílẹ̀, èyí túmọ̀ sí wí pé a ó dá ìjọba rẹ padà fún ọ lẹ́yìn ìgbà tí o bá ti mọ̀ wí pé, Ọ̀run jẹ ọba. 27Nítorí náà ọba, jẹ́ kí ìmọ̀ràn mi jẹ́ ìtẹ́wọ́gbà fún ọ, kọ ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ rẹ sílẹ̀ kí o sì ṣe rere, àti ìwà búburú rẹ nípa ṣíṣe àánú fún àwọn tálákà. Ó lè jẹ́ pé nígbà náà ni ìwọ yóò ṣe rere.”
Àlá náà ṣẹ
28Gbogbo nǹkan wọ̀nyí ṣẹlẹ̀ sí Nebukadnessari ọba. 29Lẹ́yìn oṣù kejìlá, bí ọba ṣe ń rìn káàkiri lórí òrùlé ààfin ìjọba Babeli, 30Ó sọ pé, “Èyí ha kọ́ ni Babeli ńlá tí mo kọ́ gẹ́gẹ́ bí ilé ọba, nípa agbára à mi àti fún ògo ọláńlá à mi?”
31Bí ọba ṣe ń sọ ọ̀rọ̀ náà lọ́wọ́ ohùn kan wá láti ọ̀run “Ìwọ Nebukadnessari ọba, ìwọ ni a ti pàṣẹ nípa rẹ̀, a ti gba ìjọba à rẹ kúrò ní ọwọ́ ọ̀ rẹ. 32A ó lé ọ kúrò láàrín àwọn ènìyàn, ìwọ yóò sì lọ máa gbé àárín àwọn ẹranko igbó; ìwọ yóò jẹ koríko bí i màlúù, ìgbà méje yóò kọjá lórí i rẹ títí ìwọ yóò fi mọ̀ wí pé, Ọ̀gá-ògo jẹ ọba lórí ìjọba ènìyàn àti pé ó ń fi fún ẹni tí ó bá wù ú.”
33Lẹ́sẹ̀kẹsẹ̀ ni ohun tí a sọ nípa Nebukadnessari ṣẹlẹ̀ sí i. A lé e kúrò láàrín ènìyàn, ó sì ń jẹ koríko bí i màlúù, ìrì ọ̀run sì ń sẹ̀ sí ara rẹ̀, títí irun orí rẹ̀ fi gùn bí i ti ìyẹ́ ẹyẹ idì, tí èékánná rẹ̀ sì dàbí i ti ẹyẹ.
34Ní òpin ìgbà náà, Èmi, Nebukadnessari gbé ojú mi sókè sí ọ̀run, iyè mi sì sọjí. Mo fi ọpẹ́ fún Ọ̀gá-ògo; mo fi ọlá àti ògo fún ẹni tí ó wà láéláé.
Ìjọba rẹ̀ ìjọba títí ayé ni
ìjọba rẹ̀ wà láti ìran dé ìran
35Gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn ayé
ni a kà sí asán.
Ó ń ṣe bí ó ti wù ú,
pẹ̀lú àwọn ogun ọ̀run,
àti gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn ayé
tí kò sì ṣí ẹnìkankan tí ó lè dí i lọ́wọ́
tàbí sọ fún un wí pé: “Kí ni ìwọ ń ṣe?”
36Ní àkókò kan náà, iyè mi padà, ọlá àti ògo dídán mi padà tọ̀ mí wá fún ògo ìjọba mi. Àwọn ìgbìmọ̀ àti àwọn ọlọ́lá mi, wá mi rí, wọ́n sì dá mi padà sórí ìjọba mi, mo sì di alágbára ju ti ìṣáájú lọ. 37Báyìí, èmi, Nebukadnessari fi ọpẹ́, mo sì gbé Ọlọ́run ga, mo sì fi ògo fún ọba ọ̀run, nítorí pé gbogbo nǹkan tí ó ṣe ló dára, gbogbo ọ̀nà rẹ̀ sì tọ́. Gbogbo àwọn tó sì ń rìn ní ìgbéraga ni ó le rẹ̀ sílẹ̀.
