Daniel 4
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 4[a]
1 [b]I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in contentment at home and enjoying the luxury of my palaces. 2 However, as I lay in my bed, I had a dream that frightened me, and the visions that I experienced in my mind were a source of torment.
3 Therefore, I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon were to be brought before me and offer me their interpretation of the dream. 4 When the magicians, the soothsayers, the Chaldeans, and the diviners arrived, I related to them the content of the dream, but they were unable to explain its meaning.
5 Finally Daniel, whom I had renamed Belteshazzar, after the name of my god and in whom resides the Spirit of the holy God, came into my presence, and I related to him my dream. 6 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the Spirit of the holy God resides in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you to resolve. Listen to the dream that I experienced, and tell me its interpretation.
7 “These were the visions that came to me as I lay in my bed:
“I beheld a tree at the center of the earth,
and its height was great.
8 The tree became ever taller and stronger
until its top reached the heavens,
and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
9 Its foliage was beautiful,
and its fruit was abundant,
providing fruit for all.
The wild beasts found shade under it,
the birds of the air rested in its branches,
and from it all living creatures were nourished.
10 “In the vision I saw as I lay in my bed, I next beheld a holy sentinel coming down from heaven. 11 He shouted loudly:
“ ‘Hew down the tree and lop off its branches;
strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit.
12 However, leave the stump and its roots in the ground,
bound with iron and bronze
in the grass of the field.
Let him be bathed by the dew of heaven,
and let his lot be to eat, among wild beasts,
the grass of the earth.
13 Let his mind be changed from that of a human,
and let the mind of a beast be given to him,
until seven years pass over him.
14 ‘Such is the sentence decreed by the sentinel,
the verdict announced by the holy ones,
so that all who live may learn
that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mortals.
He confers it on whomever he wishes
and appoints over it the lowliest of men.’
15 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now I am depending upon you, Belteshazzar, to interpret its meaning, although none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret its meaning, you can do so because the Spirit of the holy God resides in you.”
16 Daniel Interprets the Dream.[c] Then Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was greatly upset and confused. The king said, “Belteshazzar, do not allow the dream and its meaning to terrify you.” Belteshazzar replied, “My lord, may the dream be meant for those who hurt you, and its interpretation for your enemies. 17 The tree that you saw, which grew great and strong, with its top reaching the sky so that it could be seen throughout the entire earth, 18 a tree with beautiful foliage and abundant fruit, providing food for all and affording shade for the wild beasts, with the birds of heaven dwelling in its branches— 19 that tree is you, O king. You have grown great and strong. Your power has increased and now reaches the sky; your sovereignty extends to the ends of the earth.
20 “In regard to the king’s vision of a holy sentinel descending from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump and its roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; let him be bathed by the dew of heaven, and let his lot be with the wild beasts until seven years pass over him,’ 21 this is the interpretation, O king. It is a decree that the Most High has issued upon my lord the king:
22 “You will be banished from human society,
and you will dwell among the wild animals.
You will be forced to eat grass like oxen,
and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven.
Seven years will pass over you
until you have learned
that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men
and gives it to whomever he wishes.
23 “As for the command to leave untouched the stump and the roots of the tree, this means that your kingdom will once again be subject to your rule once you come to acknowledge the sovereignty of Heaven.[d] 24 May the king be willing to take my advice. Atone for your sins with deeds of righteousness, and for your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed. If you do so, you will enjoy a long and peaceful life.”[e]
25 The Dream Is Fulfilled. All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 26 At the end of twelve months, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace, 27 the king said, “How magnificent Babylon is! Was it not built as a royal residence by my mighty strength and for my majestic glory?”[f]
28 These words were not completely out of his mouth when a voice came from heaven:
“To you, King Nebuchadnezzar, it is decreed:
your kingdom has been taken from you.
29 You shall be banished from human society
as you are forced to dwell with wild beasts
and feed on grass as the oxen do.
Seven years shall pass over you
until you have learned
that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men
and gives it to whomever he wishes.”
30 This sentence was immediately fulfilled. Nebuchadnezzar was cast out from human society, and he ate grass as oxen do. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails became like a bird’s talons.
31 When the period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven and my power of reasoning was restored to me.
I blessed the Most High,
and I praised and glorified him
who lives forever.
32 All who dwell on earth count for nothing;
he does as he pleases with the powers of heaven[g]
and the inhabitants on earth.
No one can stay his hand
or say to him, “What are you doing?”
33 At that very moment my power of reason returned to me, and my glory and splendor were restored to me. My counselors and my lords sought my counsel. I was reestablished in my kingdom, and my power was greatly increased.
34 Therefore, now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
praise and exalt and glorify
the King of heaven.
For all of his works are right,
and all of his ways are just.
Also, he is able to humble
all those who follow the path of pride.
Footnotes
- Daniel 4:1 There do exist, in fact, some documents about a king who withdrew for some years to an oasis and who consulted a Jewish seer. This would be Nabonidus, who reigned a half-century after Nebuchadnezzar (556–539 B.C.). Everyone knows of the immense pride of Nebuchadnezzar, who turned his city into one of the wonders of the world. In our story, the author has drawn on recollections and information that were not accurate, while reserving the right to attribute everything to the person with whom he is concerned, Nebuchadnezzar.
- Daniel 4:1 The king is tormented by the way in which a tree, the symbol par excellence of life and immortality (see Gen 3:9), is treated in his dream. In the Bible, a tree serves also to describe the destiny of a person, of a sovereign (Pss 1:3; 37:35; Ezek 31). By reserving to Daniel the responsibility for interpreting the king’s nightmare, the author shows the superiority of Jewish wisdom in explaining the difficult mysteries of human existence.
- Daniel 4:16 This is a kind of prophecy that announces the lot reserved for Nebuchadnezzar: this most prestigious and most acclaimed of kings will undergo a trial before being converted unless he changes his present ways.
- Daniel 4:23 God is called Heaven in order not to profane God’s name by uttering it; to him alone, dominion belongs.
- Daniel 4:24 A classic locus for the doctrine of the efficacy of good works.
- Daniel 4:27 The words of the king are similar to those found in royal inscriptions of the Mesopotamian kings.
- Daniel 4:32 The powers of heaven are the heavenly creatures.
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
King James Version
4 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
