但以理书 4
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
王的宣告
4 尼布甲尼撒王向住在全地的各國、各族和說各種語言的人宣告說：“願你們大享平安！ 2 我樂意把至高的 神向我所行的神蹟奇事宣揚出來。
3 他的神蹟多麼偉大，
他的奇事多麼有力；
他的國是永遠的國，
他的統治直到萬代！（本章第1~3節在《馬索拉文本》為3:31~33）
4 “我尼布甲尼撒安逸地住在家中，在宮裡享受榮華富貴。（本節在《馬索拉文本》為4:1） 5 我作了一個夢，這夢使我懼怕；我在床上所見的夢幻和我腦海中出現的異象，都使我驚惶。 6 我就下令把巴比倫所有的智慧人，都帶到我面前來，要他們把夢的意思向我說明。 7 於是術士、用法術的、迦勒底人和占星家都進來；我當面把那夢告訴了他們，可是他們卻不能把夢的意思向我說明。
把夢告訴但以理
8 “最後，那照著我神的名，稱為伯提沙撒的但以理，來到我面前，他裡面有聖神的靈，我就把夢告訴他： 9 ‘術士的領袖伯提沙撒啊！因為我知道你裡面有聖神的靈，沒有甚麼隱祕的事能難倒你；因此，你要把我夢中所見的異象和夢的意思告訴我。 10 我躺在床上時腦海中所見的異象是這樣：
我看見大地中間，
有一棵樹，十分高大。
11 那樹漸長，而且堅強，
高達於天，
地極所有的人都看得到。
12 它的葉子美麗，果實繁多，
所有的生物都從它得到食物；
野地的走獸在它下面歇息，
空中的飛鳥棲宿在它的枝頭上；
各種生物都從它得著供養。
13 “‘我躺在床上，在我腦海出現的異象中，我看見有一位守望者，就是聖者，從天上下來， 14 大聲呼叫，這樣說：
你們要砍下這樹，削斷枝子，
搖落葉子，打散果子，
把樹下的走獸趕散，
把樹枝上的飛鳥趕走。
15 然而，樹根的餘幹卻要留在地上，
用鐵和銅的鍊子圍住，
留在野地的青草中，
使他被天露滴濕；
使他像走獸一樣在地上的草叢中得他的分。
16 使他的心改變，不再是人的心，
給他一個獸心，
使他經過七年的時期。
17 這是守望者宣告的裁決，
是聖者頒布的決定，
好使世人都知道：
至高者在世人的國中掌權，
他喜歡把國賜給誰，就賜給誰，
甚至立最卑微的人執掌國權。
18 “‘這就是我尼布甲尼撒王所作的夢。伯提沙撒啊！你要把這夢的意思告訴我，因為我國中所有的智慧人都不能把夢的意思向我說明；只有你能，因為你裡面有聖神的靈。’”
但以理為王解夢
19 於是那稱為伯提沙撒的但以理驚愕片時，他想到的事使他驚惶。王對他說：“伯提沙撒啊！別讓這夢和夢的意思使你驚惶。”伯提沙撒回答說：“我主啊！願這夢歸給憎恨你的人，夢的意思歸給你的敵人。 20 你所見的樹漸長，而且堅強，高達於天，全地的人都看得到。 21 它的葉子美麗，果實繁多，所有的生物都從它得到食物；野地的走獸住在它下面，空中的飛鳥棲在它的枝頭上。 22 王啊！你就是那樹，越來越偉大堅強；你的威勢漸長，高達於天；你的權柄直到地極。 23 王既然看見一位守望者，就是聖者，從天上下來，說：‘你們要砍下毀壞這樹，樹根的餘幹卻要留在地上，用鐵和銅的鍊子圍住，留在野地的青草中，使他被天露滴濕；使他的分和野地的走獸一樣，直到他經過那七年的時期。’ 24 王啊！夢的意思就是這樣：這臨到我主我王的事，是至高者的裁決。 25 你必被趕逐，離開人群，和野地的走獸同住；你必像牛一樣吃草，被天露滴濕，要經過七年的時期；等到你承認至高者在世人的國中掌權，他喜歡把國賜給誰，就賜給誰。 26 守望者既然吩咐要留下樹根的餘幹，所以，等到你承認上天的至高者是掌權的，你的國就必再歸給你。 27 因此，王啊！請你接納我的勸告，施行公義，斷絕罪過，憐憫受欺壓者，斷絕罪孽，你的平安或者可以延長。”
夢境應驗
28 這一切事都在尼布甲尼撒王身上實現了。 29 過了十二個月，王在巴比倫王宮的平頂上散步的時候， 30 他說：“這大巴比倫城不是我用大能大力建造作我的京都，為顯我威嚴的榮耀嗎？” 31 這話在王的口中還沒有說完，就有聲音從天上傳下來，說：“尼布甲尼撒王啊！有話對你說：你的王權被褫奪了。 32 你必被趕逐，離開人群，和野地的走獸同住；你必像牛一樣吃草，要經過七年的時期；等到你承認至高者在世人的國中掌權，他喜歡把國賜給誰，就賜給誰。” 33 這話立刻就應驗在尼布甲尼撒身上；他被趕逐，離開人群，像牛一樣吃草，身體被天露滴濕，直到他的頭髮長得像鷹毛，指甲像鳥爪。
34 “七年的日子滿了，我尼布甲尼撒舉目望天，我的理智恢復過來，我就稱頌至高者，讚美尊崇活到永遠的 神。
他的統治永無窮盡，
他的國度直到萬代。
35 地上所有的居民，在他來說都是虛無；
在天上的萬軍中，他憑自己的意旨行事；
在地上的居民中，也是這樣；
沒有人能攔住他的手，
或問他說：‘你作甚麼？’
36 “那時，我的理智恢復過來後，為著我國的光榮，我的威嚴和光輝也都恢復過來了。我的謀臣和官員仍來求見我，我的王權重新堅立，我的權勢越發增加。 37 現在我尼布甲尼撒讚美、尊崇、榮耀天上的王，因為他所作的一切都正確，他所行的也都公平；行為驕傲的，他都能貶低。”
Daniel 4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 4
Nebuchadnezzar’s Madness. 1 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, content and prosperous. 2 I had a terrifying dream as I lay in bed, and the images and my visions frightened me. 3 So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me to give the interpretation of the dream. 4 When the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners had come in, I related the dream before them; but none of them could tell me its meaning. 5 Finally there came before me Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god,[a] and in whom is a spirit of the holy gods.(A) I repeated the dream to him: 6 “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that a spirit of the holy gods is in you and no mystery is too difficult for you; this is the dream that I saw, tell me its meaning.
7 “These were the visions I saw while in bed: I saw a tree of great height at the center of the earth. 8 It was large and strong, with its top touching the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of the earth. 9 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, providing food for all. Under it the wild beasts found shade, in its branches the birds of the air nested; all flesh ate of it. 10 In the vision I saw while in bed, a holy watcher[b] came down from heaven 11 and cried aloud in these words:
‘Cut down the tree and lop off its branches,
strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit;
Let the beasts flee from beneath it, and the birds from its branches,
12 but leave its stump in the earth.
Bound with iron and bronze,
let him be fed with the grass of the field
and bathed with the dew of heaven;
let his lot be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
13 Let his mind be changed from a human one;
let the mind of a beast be given him,
till seven years pass over him.
14 By decree of the watchers is this proclamation,
by order of the holy ones, this sentence;
That all who live may know
that the Most High is sovereign over human kingship,
Giving it to whom he wills,
and setting it over the lowliest of mortals.’(B)
15 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me its meaning. None of the wise men in my kingdom can tell me the meaning, but you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
16 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was appalled for a time, dismayed by his thoughts. “Belteshazzar,” the king said to him, “do not let the dream or its meaning dismay you.” “My lord,” Belteshazzar replied, “may this dream be for your enemies, and its meaning for your foes. 17 The tree that you saw, large and strong, its top touching the heavens, that could be seen by the whole earth, 18 its leaves beautiful, its fruit abundant, providing food for all, under which the wild beasts lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air dwelt— 19 you are that tree, O king, large and strong! Your majesty has become so great as to touch the heavens, and your rule reaches to the ends of the earth. 20 As for the king’s vision of a holy watcher, who came down from heaven and proclaimed: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump in the earth. Bound with iron and bronze, let him be fed with the grass of the field, and bathed with the dew of heaven; let his lot be with wild beasts till seven years pass over him’— 21 here is its meaning, O king, here is the sentence that the Most High has passed upon my lord king: 22 (C)You shall be cast out from human society and dwell with wild beasts; you shall be given grass to eat like an ox and be bathed with the dew of heaven; seven years shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High is sovereign over human kingship and gives it to whom he will. 23 The command that the stump of the tree is to be left means that your kingdom shall be preserved for you, once you have learned that heaven is sovereign. 24 Therefore, O king, may my advice be acceptable to you; atone for your sins by good deeds,[c] and for your misdeeds by kindness to the poor; then your contentment will be long lasting.”
25 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 26 Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, 27 the king said, “Babylon the great! Was it not I, with my great strength, who built it as a royal residence for my splendor and majesty?” 28 While these words were still on the king’s lips, a voice spoke from heaven, “It has been decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingship is taken from you! 29 You shall be cast out from human society, and shall dwell with wild beasts; you shall be given grass to eat like an ox, and seven years shall pass over you, until you learn that the Most High is sovereign over human kingship and gives it to whom he will.” 30 [d]At once this was fulfilled. Nebuchadnezzar was cast out from human society, he ate grass like an ox, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle, and his nails like the claws of a bird.
31 When this period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven; my reason was restored to me, and I blessed the Most High, I praised and glorified the One who lives forever,
Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and whose kingdom endures through all generations.(D)
32 All who live on the earth are counted as nothing;
he does as he wills with the powers of heaven
and with those who live on the earth.
There is no one who can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
33 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and my splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles sought me out; I was restored to my kingdom and became much greater than before. 34 Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, all of whose works are right and ways just; and who is able to humble those who walk in pride.
Footnotes
- 4:5 After the name of my god: Belteshazzar, the Babylonian name given to Daniel at the king’s orders (1:7), is Balāṭ-šu-uṣur, “protect his life.” This passage implies a name connected with Bel, a Babylonian god. A spirit of the holy gods: or a holy divine spirit; or spirit of a holy God. See also vv. 6, 15; 5:11–12, 14; 6:4.
- 4:10 A holy watcher: lit., “a watcher and a holy one.” Two terms for angels. The term watcher is found in the Bible only in this chapter of Daniel, but it is common in extra-canonical Jewish literature. In 1 Enoch, the fallen angels are called watchers.
- 4:24 Good deeds: the Aramaic word ṣidqâ has the root meaning of “righteousness,” but in a late text such as this could mean “almsgiving.”
- 4:30–32 There is no historical record that these events happened to Nebuchadnezzar. Scholars have long suspected that the story originally involved Nabonidus, the father of Belshazzar, who was absent from Babylon and lived at Teima in the Arabian desert for a number of years. This suggestion is now strengthened by the Prayer of Nabonidus, found at Qumran, which is closely related to chap. 4. The biblical author’s chief interest was not in the historicity of this popular tale, but in the object lesson it contained for the proud “divine” kings of the Seleucid dynasty.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
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