Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree
4:0 In Aramaic texts 4:1-3 is numbered 3:31-33, and 4:4-37 is numbered 4:1-34. 1King Nebuchadnezzar,
To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:
May you prosper greatly!
2It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
3How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation.
4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 5I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. 6So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers4:7 Or Chaldeans and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)
9I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
13“In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger,4:13 Or watchman; also in verses 17 and 23 coming down from heaven. 14He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.
“ ‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times4:16 Or years; also in verses 23, 25 and 32 pass by for him.
17“ ‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’
18“This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel Interprets the Dream
19Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”
Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds— 22Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.
23“Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’
24“This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. 26The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”
The Dream Is Fulfilled
28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
31Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
33Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
34At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: “What have you done?”
36At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Dua Ho Daeɛso
1Ɔhene Nebukadnessar,
too saa nkra yi kɔmaa nnipa ne aman ne kasa ahodoɔ a ɛwɔ ewiase sɛ:
Ɛnsi mo yie mmoroso!
2Ɛyɛ me anigye sɛ mo nyinaa ahunu biribi a ɛfa nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ ne anwanwadeɛ a Ɔsorosoro Onyankopɔn ayɛ ama me.
3Hwɛ sɛdeɛ ne nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ yɛ kɛseɛ fa!
Na hwɛ sɛdeɛ tumi a ɛwɔ nʼanwanwadeɛ no mu so fa!
Nʼahennie yɛ daa ahennie;
ne tumi tene kɔ awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ nyinaa so.
4Na me, Nebukadnessar, mete mʼahemfie, medi me ho so na me ho tɔ me. 5Nanso, mesoo daeɛ bi a, ɛbɔɔ me hu yie. Meda me mpa so no, mfoni a ɛfaa mʼani so ne anisoadehunu a menyaeɛ no hunahunaa me. 6Ɛno enti, mehyɛ ma wɔfrɛɛ anyansafoɔ a wɔwɔ Babilonia nyinaa sɛ wɔmmɛkyerɛ me daeɛ no ase. 7Ɛberɛ a nkonyaayifoɔ, pɛadeɛhunufoɔ, Kaldeafoɔ ne ntafowayifoɔ no baeɛ no, mekaa daeɛ no kyerɛɛ wɔn, nanso wɔantumi ankyerɛ me aseɛ. 8Akyire yi, Daniel (a yɛtoo no din Beltesasar, a ɛyɛ me nyame din, ɛfiri sɛ, na anyame kronkron no sunsum wɔ ne mu) baa mʼanim, na mekaa daeɛ no kyerɛɛ no. 9Meka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Beltesasar, nkonyaayifoɔ panin, menim sɛ, anyame kronkron no sunsum wɔ wo mu, ɛno enti, ɛnnyɛ wo den sɛ wobɛkyerɛ ahintasɛm biara ase. Afei, me daeɛ no ni, kyerɛ me aseɛ. 10Ɛberɛ a meda me mpa so no, daeɛ a mesoeɛ ne sɛ, mehunuu dua bi a ɛsi asase mfimfini a ɛware tenteenten. 11Dua no nyini yɛɛ dutan kɛseɛ na ne tentene kɔduruu soro, a wohunu no asase so baabiara. 12Na ne nhahan yɛ frɔmm fɛɛfɛɛfɛ, na aso aba bebree, na ɛso wɔ aduane ma obiara. Na wiram mmoa te ne nwunu ase, na ewiem nnomaa nso yɛ wɔn pirebuo wɔ ne mman mu.
13“Meda me mpa so no, mehunuu ɔbɔfoɔ kronkron bi a ɔfiri soro reba fam wɔ mʼanisoadehunu no mu. 14Ɔbɔfoɔ no teaam sɛ, ‘Twa dua no to fam na twitwa ne mman no nyinaa. Poro ne nhahan no, na to nʼaba no pete. Pam mmoa no firi ne nwunu ase, na pam ewiem nnomaa no firi ne mman so. 15Nanso gya dunsini no ne ne nhini a dadeɛ ne kɔbere akyekyere, na ɛserɛ atwa ho ahyia no.
“ ‘Afei, ma ɔsoro bosuo mfɔ no kyaww, na ma ɔne mmoa ntena wɔ wiram. 16Na ma nʼadwene nsesa na ɛnyɛ sɛ aboa deɛ. Na mfeɛ nson ntwa ne tiri so.
17“ ‘Asomafoɔ asi gyinaeɛ dada; na akronkronfoɔ abu atɛn sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a ateasefoɔ nyinaa bɛte aseɛ sɛ, Ɔsorosoroni no na ɔdi ewiase ahemman so, na ɔde ma obiara a ɔpɛ, mpo, sɛ ɔyɛ onipa teta.’
18“Beltesasar, saa daeɛ yi na me Ɔhene Nebukadnessar soeɛ. Afei, kyerɛ me aseɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, anyansafoɔ a wɔwɔ mʼahemman mu nyinaa antumi ankyerɛ me aseɛ. Na wo deɛ wobɛtumi akyerɛ me, ɛfiri sɛ, anyame kronkron sunsum no wɔ wo mu.”
Daniel Kyerɛ Daeɛ No Ase
19Daniel (a wɔsane frɛ no Beltesasar no) tee daeɛ no, ɔyɛɛ basaa kakra; ne ho dwirii no na nʼadwene mu haa no. Nti, ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Beltesasar, mma daeɛ no ne nʼasekyerɛ mmɔ wo hu.”
Beltesasar buaa sɛ, “Yei deɛ, Nana, anka daeɛ no ne ne nkyerɛaseɛ no ɛmpare wo na ɛnkɔ wʼatamfoɔ so! 20Ao, Nana, wohunuu dua bi a ɛnyini yɛɛ dutan kɛseɛ a ne tentene kɔduruu soro, na wohunu no asase nyinaa so. 21Na ne nhahan yɛ frɔmm fɛɛfɛɛfɛ a aso aba bebree, na ɛso wɔ aduane ma obiara. Na wiram mmoa te ne nwunu ase, na ewiem nnomaa nso yɛ wɔn pirebuo wɔ ne mman mu. 22Nana, mesrɛ ka, saa dua no yɛ wo. Ɛfiri sɛ, woatu mpɔn, ahoɔden so ne kɛseyɛ mu. Wo kɛseyɛ no kɔduru ɔsoro, na wʼadedie no kɔ akyirikyiri kɔduru asase ano.
23“Afei, Nana, wohunuu ɔbɔfoɔ kronkron a ɔfiri soro reba fam, na ɔreka sɛ, ‘Twa dua no to fam na sɛe no. Nanso, gya dunsini no ne ne nhini a dadeɛ ne kɔbere akyekyere, na ɛserɛ atwa ho ahyia no. Afei, ma ɔsoro bosuo mfɔ no kyaww, na ma ɔne mmoa ntena wɔ wiram. Na ma nʼadwene nsesa na ɛnyɛ sɛ aboa deɛ. Na mfeɛ nson ntwa ne tiri so.’
24“Daeɛ no asekyerɛ nie, Nana, atɛn a Ɔsorosoroni no abu atia wo no nie. 25Wɔbɛpam wo afiri nnipa mu, na wo ne wiram mmoa bɛtena wiram. Wobɛwe ɛserɛ te sɛ nantwie, na ɔsoro bosuo bɛfɔ wo kyaww. Mfeɛ nson bɛtwa wo tiri so akɔsi sɛ, wobɛhunu sɛ, Ɔsorosoroni no na ɔdi ewiase ahemman so, na ɔde ma obiara a ɔpɛ. 26Hyɛ a wɔhyɛ ma wɔgyaa dunsini no ne ne nhini no wɔ asase mu no kyerɛ sɛ, sɛ wohunu sɛ ɔsoro na ɛdi tumi no a, wo nsa bɛsane aka wʼahemman. 27Ne saa enti, Ao, Nana Nebukadnessar, mesrɛ wo, tie mʼafotuo. Gyae bɔneyɛ, na yɛ deɛ ɛtene. Gyae wʼatirimuɔdensɛm na yɛ ahummɔborɔ ma ahiafoɔ, na twe wo ho firi wo tete amumuyɛ no ho. Ebia, woyɛ saa a, wobɛkɔ so adi yie.”
28Na saa nneɛma yi nyinaa baa Ɔhene Nebukadnessar so. 29Abosome dumienu akyi a na ɔretu mpase wɔ ahemfie no abansoro atifi wɔ Babilonia no, 30ɔtoo nʼani, hwɛɛ kuro no mu, na ɔkaa sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ Babilonia kuro kɛseɛ a mede me tumi akyekyere ayɛ no ɔhempɔn atenaeɛ de ahyɛ mʼahennie animuonyam ni anaa?”
31Ɛberɛ a ɔgu so reka saa nsɛm no, nne bi firi soro baa sɛ, “Wo, Ɔhene Nebukadnessar, wɔka kyerɛɛ wo sɛ wonnyɛ ɔhene wɔ ahemman yi so bio. 32Wɔbɛpam wo afiri nnipa mu. Wo ne wiram mmoa bɛtena wiram. Na wobɛwe ɛserɛ te sɛ nantwie. Mfeɛ nson bɛtwa wo tiri so kɔsi sɛ wobɛhunu sɛ, Ɔsorosoroni no di ewiase ahemman so, na ɔde ma obiara a, ɔpɛ.”
33Amonom hɔ ara nkɔmhyɛ no baa mu. Wɔpamoo Nebukadnessar firii nnipa mu. Ɔwee ɛserɛ te sɛ nantwie, na ɔsoro bosuo fɔɔ no kyaww. Ɔtenaa saa tebea no mu kɔsii sɛ, ne tirinwi yɛɛ atentene te sɛ ɔkɔdeɛ ntakra, na nʼabɔwerɛ yɛɛ sɛ anomaa bɔwerɛ.
34Saa ɛberɛ yi twaam no, me, Nebukadnessar, memaa mʼani so hwɛɛ soro. Mʼani baa me ho so, na mekamfo Ɔsorosoroni no, na metontom deɛ ɔte aseɛ daa no meyii no ayɛ sɛ:
Ne tumi yɛ daa tumi,
Na nʼahennie tene kɔ awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ nyinaa so.
35Asase so nnipa nyinaa,
wɔmmu wɔn hwee.
Ɔde ɔsoro tumi yɛ deɛ ɔpɛ biara.
Na nnipa a ɛwɔ asase so
mu biara ntumi nsi no ɛkwan
anaa ɔmmisa no sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na wɔayɛ yi?”
36Ɛberɛ a mʼani baa me ho so no, berɛ korɔ no mu ara na me anidie ne me kɛseyɛ a ɛhyɛ me ɔman no animuonyam no baeɛ. Mʼafotufoɔ ne mʼaberempɔn hwehwɛɛ me, na wɔsane de me sii mʼahennie so bio, na mʼanimuonyam bɛyɛɛ kɛse kyɛnee kane no. 37Afei, me Nebukadnessar, mekamfo ma no so, hyɛ ɔsorohene animuonyam, de anidie ma no. Ne nneyɛeɛ nyinaa yɛ pɛ, na ɛyɛ nokorɛ, na ɔbɛtumi abrɛ ahantanfoɔ ase.
