Daniel 4 – NIV & CCL

New International Version

Daniel 4:1-37

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.

Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero

Danieli 4:1-37

Maloto Achiwiri a Nebukadinezara

1Mfumu Nebukadinezara anatumiza mawu awa kwa anthu a mitundu yonse, ndi chiyankhulo chilichonse, amene amakhala pa dziko lonse lapansi:

Mtendere uchuluke pakati panu!

2Chandikomera kukuwuzani zizindikiro zozizwitsa ndi zodabwitsa zimene Mulungu Wammwambamwamba wandichitira.

3Zizindikiro zake ndi zazikulu,

zozizwitsa zake ndi zamphamvu!

Ufumu wake ndi wamuyaya;

ulamuliro wake ndi wa mibadomibado.

4Ine Nebukadinezara, ndinali kwathu mʼnyumba yanga yaufumu, mwa mtendere ndipo ndinali wokhutitsidwa. 5Ndili chigonere pa bedi langa, ndinalota maloto amene anandichititsa mantha. Zinthu ndi masomphenya zimene ndinaziona zinandiopsa. 6Choncho ndinalamula kuti anthu onse a nzeru a ku Babuloni abwere pa maso panga kunditanthauzira malotowo. 7Pamene amatsenga, owombeza, alawuli ndi amawula anabwera, ndinawafotokozera maloto, koma sanathe kunditanthauzira. 8Potsiriza, anabwera Danieli uja amatchedwa Belitesezara, potsata dzina la mulungu wanga, ndipo mzimu wa milungu yoyera uli mwa iye. Iyeyu ndinamufotokozera malotowo.

9Ndinati, “Belitesezara, mkulu wa amatsenga, ndikudziwa kuti mzimu wa milungu yoyera uli mwa iwe, ndipo palibe chinsinsi chomwe sungachidziwe. Awa ndi maloto anga; unditanthauzire. 10Awa ndi masomphenya amene ine ndinaona pamene ndinali kugona pa bedi: Ndinaona, mtengo wautali kwambiri utayima pakati pa dziko lapansi. 11Mtengowo unakula ndi kulimba ndipo msonga yake inafika mpaka mlengalenga; umaonekera pa dziko lonse lapansi. 12Masamba ake anali okongola, zipatso zinali zochuluka, ndipo mu mtengomo munali chakudya chokwanira anthu onse. Zirombo zakuthengo zimapeza mthunzi mʼmunsi mwake, ndipo mbalame zamlengalenga zimakhala pa nthambi zake: Cholengedwa chilichonse chinkadya za mu mtengowu.

13“Ndikanali chigonere ndinaona mʼmasomphenya mngelo atayima pamaso panga, woyera, atatsika kuchokera kumwamba. 14Anayankhula mofuwula kuti, ‘Gwetsa mtengo ndi kusadza nthambi zake; yoyola masamba ake kuti nyama zakuthengo zithawe pa mthunzi pake ndi mbalame zithawe pa nthambi zake. 15Koma musiye tsinde ndi mizu yake mʼnthaka. Tsindelo mulimange maunyolo a chitsulo ndi mkuwa, zikhalebe mʼnthaka, nʼkudya udzu mʼmunda.

“ ‘Mumulole iye anyowe ndi mame akumwamba, ndipo iye akhale ndi nyama pakati pa zomera za mʼnthaka. 16Maganizo ake a umunthu asinthidwe ndipo apatsidwe maganizo a nyama ya kuthengo, mpaka zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri zitadutsa.

17“ ‘Angelo oyera ndiwo akutsimikiza chilangochi. Tsono anthu adziwe kuti Mulungu Wammwambamwamba ali ndi mphamvu yolamulira maufumu onse, ndipo amawapereka kwa aliyense akumufuna, ngakhale munthu wamba kuti alamulire.’

18“Amenewa ndi maloto amene ine, mfumu Nebukadinezara, ndinalota. Tsopano Belitesezara, undifotokozere tanthauzo lake, popeza palibe mwa anthu anzeru a mu ufumu wanga amene angathe kunditanthauzira. Koma iwe ukhoza, chifukwa mzimu wa milungu yoyera uli mwa iwe.”

Danieli Atanthauzira Maloto

19Pamenepo Danieli, amene amatchedwa Belitesezara, anavutika mu mtima kwambiri kwa kanthawi, ndipo anasautsidwa mʼmaganizo ake. Choncho mfumu inati, “Belitesezara usalole malotowa kapena tanthauzo lake likuopse.”

Belitesezara anayankha kuti, “Mbuye wanga, ndikanakonda malotowa akanakhudza adani anu okha, ndi tanthauzo lake kwa iwo okusautsani! 20Mtengo munawuona uja, umene unkakulirakulira kwambiri ndi kulimba, ndi msonga yake inafika mlengalenga, ndi kuonekera ku dziko lonse lapansi, 21mtengo umene masamba ake anali okongola ndiponso unali ndi zipatso zochuluka zokwanira kudya anthu onse a dziko lapansi. Mtengowu unkapereka mthunzi ku zirombo zonse zakuthengo, ndipo mbalame zamlengalenga zinayika zisa pa nthambi zake. 22Inu mfumu, ndinu mtengo umenewo! Inu mwakhala wamkulu ndi wamphamvu; ukulu wanu wakula mpaka wakhudza mlengalenga, ndipo ufumu wanu wafika mpaka ku malo akutali a dziko lapansi.

23“Inu mfumu munaona mthenga woyera, akuchokera kumwamba ndipo anati, ‘Gwetsani mtengo ndipo muwuwononge, koma musiye tsinde ndi mizu yake. Tsindelo mulimange ndi unyolo wa chitsulo ndi mkuwa ndipo mulisiye pakati pa udzu wa mʼmunda. Mulole kuti linyowe ndi mame akumwamba. Likhale ngati nyama zakuthengo, mpaka zaka zidutse zisanu ndi ziwiri.’

24“Tanthauzo lake ndi ili mfumu, izi ndi zimene Mulungu Wammwambamwamba watsimikiza kuti zikugwereni mbuye wanga mfumu: 25Inu mudzachotsedwa pakati pa anthu ndipo mudzakhala ndi nyama zakuthengo; mudzadya udzu monga ngʼombe ndi kunyowa ndi mame akumwamba. Zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri zidzadutsa mpaka mudzavomereze kuti Mulungu Wammwambamwamba ndiye mwini ulamuliro pa ma ufumu a anthu, ndipo amawapereka kwa aliyense amene Iye wafuna. 26Lamulo losiya tsinde la mtengo ndi mizu yake litanthauza kuti ufumu wanu udzabwezeredwa kwa inu mukadzavomereza kuti Mulungu ndiye amalamulira. 27Nʼchifukwa chake mfumu, chikukomereni kulandira malangizo anga: Lekani machimo ndipo muzichita zabwino, lekani mphulupulu zanu ndipo muzikomera mtima anthu opsinjika. Nʼkutheka kuti mtendere wanu udzapitirira.”

Maloto Akwaniritsidwa

28Zonsezi zinamuchitikira mfumu Nebukadinezara. 29Itapita miyezi khumi ndi iwiri, pamene mfumu inkayenda pa denga la nyumba ya ufumu ya ku Babuloni, 30iye anati, “Kodi Babuloni si mzinda wamphamvu ndi wokongola umene ndinamanga ndi mphamvu zanga ngati nyumba yanga yaufumu, kuonetsera ulemerero wa ufumu wanga?”

31Akuyankhulabe izi mawu anamveka kuchokera kumwamba kuti, “Imvani izi, mfumu Nebukadinezara: Ufumu wako wachotsedwa. 32Udzachotsedwa pakati pa anthu ndipo udzakhala ndi zirombo zakuthengo; udzadya udzu monga ngʼombe. Zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri zidzadutsa mpaka iwe utavomereza kuti Wammwambamwamba ndiye mwini ulamuliro pa maufumu a anthu ndipo amawupereka kwa aliyense amene iye afuna.”

33Nthawi yomweyo zonse zimene zinanenedwa zokhudza Nebukadinezara zinakwaniritsidwa. Iye anachotsedwa pakati pa anthu ndipo ankadya udzu ngati ngʼombe. Thupi lake linanyowa ndi mame akumwamba mpaka tsitsi lake linakula ngati nthenga za chiwombankhanga ndi zikhadabo ngati zikhadabo za mbalame.

34Pomaliza pa zaka zimenezo ine, Nebukadinezara ndinakweza maso anga kumwamba, ndipo nzeru zanga zinabwereramo. Kenaka ndinatamanda Wammwambamwamba; ndinamupatsa ulemu ndi kumulemekeza Iye amene akhala nthawi zonse.

Ulamuliro wake ndi ulamuliro wa nthawi zonse;

ufumu wake udzakhala ku mibadomibado.

35Anthu onse a dziko lapansi

ali chabe pamaso pake.

Pakati pa angelo akumwamba

ndi anthu a dziko lapansi

palibe amene akhoza kumuletsa

Mulungu kuchita zimene afuna.

Kapena kunena kwa Iye kuti, “Kodi mwachita chiyani?”

36Pa nthawi yomweyo nzeru zanga zinabwereramo. Ndinalandiranso ulemu wanga ndi ufumu wanga. Nduna ndi akalonga anga anandilandiranso. Ndipo anandibwezera ufumu wanga ndi kukhalanso wamphamvu kuposa kale. 37Tsopano ine Nebukadinezara, ndikutamanda, kukweza ndi kulemekeza Mfumu yakumwamba chifukwa zonse zimene amachita ndi zoyenera ndipo njira zake zonse ndi zachilungamo. Ndipo onse amene amayenda modzikuza adzawatsitsa.