Daniel’s dream of four beasts
1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.
2Daniel said: ‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.
4‘The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
5‘And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, “Get up and eat your fill of flesh!”
6‘After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7‘After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast – terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
8‘While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
9‘As I looked,
‘thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
10A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.
11‘Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12(The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
13‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,7:13 The Aramaic phrase bar enash means human being. The phrase son of man is retained here because of its use in the New Testament as a title of Jesus, probably based largely on this verse. coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
The interpretation of the dream
15‘I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.
‘So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17“The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it for ever – yes, for ever and ever.”
19‘Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws – the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell – the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favour of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
23‘He gave me this explanation: “The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.7:25 Or for a year, two years and half a year
26‘ “But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed for ever. 27Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.”
28‘This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.’
Kĩroto kĩa Danieli kĩa Nyamũ Inya
17:1 Ezek 4:2; Dan 1:17Na rĩrĩ, mwaka-inĩ wa mbere wa Belishazaru mũthamaki wa bũrũri wa Babuloni, Danieli nĩarootire kĩroto, na akĩona cioneki meciiria-inĩ make akomete ũrĩrĩ-inĩ wake. Nake akĩandĩka ũhoro wa kĩroto kĩu.
2Danieli akiuga atĩrĩ: “Niĩ Danieli-rĩ, ũtukũ nĩndonire kĩoneki, na hau mbere yakwa ngĩona huho inya cia igũrũ ikĩhurutanĩra igũrũ wa iria rĩrĩa inene. 37:3 Kũg 13:1Naho hau hakiumĩra nyamũ inya ciarĩ nene kuuma iria-inĩ rĩu, na gũtirĩ yahanaga ĩrĩa ĩngĩ.
47:4 2Ath 24:1; Kũg 13:2“Nyamũ ya mbere yahaanaga ta mũrũũthi, na yarĩ na mathagu ta ma ndiiyũ. Ngĩikara ndorete nginya rĩrĩa njoya ciayo ciamunyirwo, nayo ĩgĩcooka ĩkĩoywo na igũrũ ĩkĩrũgamio na magũrũ mayo meerĩ ta mũndũ, na ĩkĩheo ngoro ta ya mũndũ.
5“Na hau mbere yakwa nĩ haarĩ na nyamũ ĩngĩ ya keerĩ, nayo yahaanaga ta nduba. Nayo nyamũ ĩyo nĩyambararĩtie mwena ũmwe wayo, na ĩkarũma mbaru ithatũ na kanua gatagatĩ ka magego mayo. Nayo ĩkĩĩrwo atĩrĩ, ‘Ũkĩra ũrĩe nyama nginya ũiganie!’
6“Thuutha ũcio ngĩrora na ngĩona hau mbere yakwa nyamũ ĩngĩ, nayo yahaanaga ta ngarĩ. Mũgongo-inĩ wayo yarĩ na mathagu mana maahaanaga ta ma nyoni. Nyamũ ĩyo yarĩ na mĩtwe ĩna, na nĩyahetwo ũhoti wa gwathana.
77:7 Dan 2:40; Kũg 12:3“Thuutha ũcio niĩ Danieli-rĩ, ũtukũ nĩndonire kĩoneki, na hau mbere yakwa ngĩona nyamũ ya kana, nayo yarĩ ya kũmakania na ya gũtua mũndũ nda, na nĩ yarĩ na hinya mũno. Nyamũ ĩyo yarĩ na magego manene ma kĩgera; na yahehenjaga na ĩgatambuura kĩrĩa yooraga, na kĩrĩa gĩatigara ĩkarangĩrĩria na magũrũ. Yarĩ na ngũũrani na nyamũ icio ingĩ cionekete mbere yayo, na yarĩ na hĩa ikũmi.
87:8 Dan 8:9; Kũg 13:5-6“Rĩrĩa ndeciiragia ũhoro wa hĩa icio-rĩ, ngĩona hau mbere yakwa harĩ na rũhĩa rũngĩ, na rwarĩ rũnini, rũkĩmera gatagatĩ ka icio ingĩ; nacio hĩa ithatũ cia iria ciarĩ cia mbere ikĩmunyũka biũ, ikĩrweherera. Naruo rũhĩa rũu rwarĩ na maitho ta ma mũndũ na kanua kaaragia ndeto cia mwĩtĩĩo.
97:9 Kũg 1:14; Ezek 1:15“O ndorete ngĩona,
“itĩ cia ũnene ikĩigwo handũ ha cio,
nake Ũrĩa-Ũtũire-ho-kuuma-o-Tene agĩikarĩra gĩtĩ gĩake.
Nacio nguo ciake cierũhĩte ta ira;
na njuĩrĩ cia mũtwe wake ikerũha ta guoya wa ngʼondu.
Gĩtĩ gĩake kĩa ũnene kĩarĩrĩmbũkaga nĩnĩmbĩ cia mwaki,
namo magũrũ makĩo maarĩ ma mwaki ũgwakana.
107:10 Isa 30:27; Kũg 5:11Rũũĩ rwa mwaki nĩ rwathereraga
ruumĩte hau mbere yake.
Nake agatungatĩrwo nĩ ndungata ngiri maita ngiri;
na andũ ngiri ikũmi maita ngiri ikũmi makarũgama mbere yake.
Igooti rĩgĩikara thĩ rĩciirithanie,
namo mabuku makĩhingũrwo.
117:11 Kũg 19:20“Ningĩ ngĩthiĩ na mbere gũcũthĩrĩria nĩ ũndũ wa ciugo cia mwĩgaatho iria rũhĩa rũu rwaragia. Ngĩikara ndorete nginya nyamũ ĩyo ĩkĩũragwo, na mwĩrĩ wayo ũkĩanangwo na ũgĩikio thĩinĩ wa mwaki ũcio wakanaga. 12(Nyamũ icio ingĩ nĩciatuunyĩtwo ũhoti wacio wa gwathana, no nĩcietĩkĩrĩtio ciikarange muoyo kwa ihinda.)
137:13 Math 8:20; Zef 1:14“Ningĩ-rĩ, ũtukũ nĩndonire kĩoneki, ngĩona hau mbere yakwa harĩ na mũndũ wahaanaga ta mũrũ wa mũndũ, agĩũka arĩ igũrũ rĩa matu. Nake agĩkuhĩrĩria Ũcio-Ũtũire-ho-kuuma-o-Tene na agĩtwarwo harĩa aarĩ. 147:14 Thab 72:11; Ahib 12:28Nake akĩheo wathani, na riiri, na hinya wa gwathana; nacio iruka ciothe, na ndũrĩrĩ, na andũ a mĩario yothe makĩmũhooya. Wathani wake nĩ wathani wa gũtũũra tene na tene, na ndũgaathira, naguo ũthamaki wake ndũrĩ hĩndĩ ũkaanangwo.
Ũtaũri wa Kĩroto kĩu
15“Niĩ Danieli nĩndatangĩkire roho-inĩ, nacio cioneki iria ciahĩtũkĩire meciiria-inĩ makwa igĩĩthĩĩnia mũno. 16Ngĩkuhĩrĩria ũmwe wa acio maarũngiĩ hau, ngĩmũũria andaarĩrie ma ya ũhoro ũcio wothe.
“Nĩ ũndũ ũcio akĩndaũrĩra maũndũ macio mothe, akĩnjĩĩra atĩrĩ: 17‘Nyamũ icio inya nene nĩ mothamaki mana marĩa makaarahũka gũkũ thĩ. 187:18 Isa 60:12-14; Kũg 2:26; 20:4No rĩrĩ, andũ arĩa atheru a Ũrĩa-ũrĩ-Igũrũ-Mũno nĩo makaamũkĩra ũthamaki na matũũre naguo nginya tene, ĩĩ, ti-itherũ, matũũre naguo nginya tene na tene.’
19“Ningĩ ngĩenda kũmenya gĩtũmi kĩa nyamũ ĩyo ya kana ĩrĩa yarĩ na ngũũrani na icio ingĩ na yarĩ ya kũmakania mũno, ĩrĩ na magego mayo ma kĩgera na ndwara cia gĩcango, nyamũ ĩyo yahehenjaga na ĩgatambuuranga kĩrĩa yooraga, na ĩkarangĩrĩria na magũrũ kĩrĩa gĩatigara. 20O na ningĩ ngĩenda kũmenya ũhoro wa hĩa icio ikũmi ciarĩ mũtwe wayo na wa rũhĩa rũu rũngĩ rwacookire kũmera, o na wa hĩa icio ithatũ ciamunyũkire rũu rũngĩ rwamera, menye ũhoro wa rũhĩa rũu ruonagwo ta rwarĩ rũnene gũkĩra icio ingĩ, na rwarĩ na maitho na kanua kaaragia ndeto cia mwĩgaatho. 217:21 Kũg 13:7O njũũthĩrĩirie-rĩ, rũhĩa rũu rũgĩtharĩkĩra andũ arĩa atheru, rũkĩrũa nao na rũkĩmahoota, 227:22 Mar 8:35o nginya rĩrĩa Ũcio-Ũtũire-ho-kuuma-o-Tene ookire na agĩtuĩra andũ acio atheru a Ũrĩa-ũrĩ-Igũrũ-Mũno ciira wa kĩhooto, narĩo ihinda rĩgĩkinya makĩĩgwatĩra ũthamaki.
23“Ningĩ akĩndaarĩria akĩnjiguithia atĩrĩ: ‘Nyamũ ĩyo ya kana nĩ ũthamaki wa kana ũrĩa ũkaagĩa gũkũ thĩ. Ũgaakorwo ũrĩ na ngũũrani na mothamaki marĩa mangĩ mothe, na nĩũkaniina thĩ yothe, ũmĩrangĩrĩrie na ũmĩhehenje. 247:24 Kũg 17:12Nacio hĩa icio ikũmi nĩ athamaki ikũmi arĩa makoima thĩinĩ wa ũthamaki ũcio. Na thuutha wao mũthamaki ũngĩ nĩakarahũka, ũrĩ na ngũũrani na arĩa angĩ maarĩ mbere yake; na nĩagatooria athamaki acio atatũ. 257:25 Isa 37:23; Mar 1:15; Kũg 11:2Nĩakaaria ndeto cia gũcambia Ũrĩa-ũrĩ-Igũrũ-Mũno, na ahinyĩrĩrie andũ ake arĩa atheru, o na agerie kũgarũra mahinda na mawatho marĩa matue. Nao andũ arĩa atheru nĩmakaneanwo moko-inĩ make kwa ihinda rĩmwe, na mahinda meerĩ, na nuthu ya ihinda.
26“ ‘No igooti nĩrĩgaikara thĩ rĩciirithanie, na thuutha wa ũguo acooke atunywo wathani wake, na wanangwo biũ nginya tene. 277:27 Luk 1:33; Kũg 11:15; Thab 22:27Ningĩ wathani, na ũhoti, na ũnene wa mothamaki marĩa marĩ gũkũ thĩ guothe cinengerwo andũ arĩa atheru, andũ a Ũrĩa-ũrĩ-Igũrũ-Mũno. Ũthamaki wake nĩ ũthamaki wa gũtũũra nginya tene na tene, nao aathani othe nĩmakamũhooyaga na mamwathĩkagĩre.’
287:28 Isa 21:3; Ayub 4:15“Ũhoro ũcio ũgĩthirĩra hau. Niĩ Danieli-rĩ, nĩndatangĩkire mũno meciiria-inĩ makwa, na ngĩtukia gĩthiithi, no ngĩikara ngĩĩcũũranagia ũhoro ũcio ngoro-inĩ yakwa.”
