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¶ Men mesaj wa Nèbikadneza voye bay tout pèp, moun tout ras nan tout peyi ki pale lòt lang toupatou sou latè: -Gwo bonjou ak anpil kè poze pou nou tout.

Se yon plezi pou mwen pou m' fè nou konnen mirak ak bèl bagay Bondye ki anwo nan syèl la fè pou mwen.

Bèl bagay li fè yo pa piti! Mirak li fè yo se gwo zafè! Bondye ap gouvènen pou tout tan. Otorite l' la la jouk sa kaba nèt.

¶ Mwen menm, Nèbikadneza, mwen t'ap viv alèz lakay mwen. Tout zafè m' t'ap mache byen nan palè a.

Men, mwen fè yon rèv ki boulvèse m' anpil. Antan m' t'ap dòmi, yon bann vye lide t'ap travay nan tèt mwen, epi mwen te fè yon vizyon ki t'ap trakase tèt mwen.

Mwen bay lòd pou yo fè chache tout nèg save ki nan lavil Babilòn pou yo vin ban m' esplikasyon rèv la.

Dènye majisyen, dènye moun ki li zetwal, dènye divinò ak dènye nèg save vini. Mwen rakonte yo rèv la, men yo pa t' ka esplike m' sa li vle di.

Apre sa, Danyèl vini devan mwen. Yo te ba li yon lòt non dapre non bondye mwen an: Yo te rele l' Beltechaza. Li gen lespri bondye yo nan li. Mwen rakonte l' rèv mwen te fè a.

Mwen di l': Beltechaza, ou menm ki chèf majisyen yo, mwen konnen ou gen lespri bondye yo nan ou, kifè pa gen mistè ou pa konprann. Men sa mwen te wè nan rèv mwen te fè a. Di m' kisa li vle di:

10 Antan mwen t'ap dòmi, mwen fè yon vizyon: Mwen wè yon gwo pyebwa byen kanpe nan mitan latè.

11 Pyebwa a grandi, li grandi jouk tèt li rive nan syèl. Toupatou sou latè moun te ka wè l'.

12 Fèy li yo te bèl. Li te chaje ak donn. Te gen kont pou tout moun manje. Li te bay gwo lonbray pou bèt nan bwa yo pare solèy. Zwezo te fè nich nan tout branch li yo. Li te bay manje pou tout kalite bèt ak pou tout moun.

13 Nan dòmi an, antan mwen t'ap kalkile sou rèv la, mwen wè yon zanj Bondye soti nan syèl la desann. Se te yonn nan zanj gadyen yo.

14 Li pale byen fò, li di konsa: Koupe pyebwa a met atè. Debranche l' nèt. Rache tout fèy li yo. Gaye tout donn li yo. Fè tout bèt soti anba lonbraj li. Fè tout zwezo vole kite branch li yo.

15 Men, kite yon gwo chouk ak tout rasin li nan tè. Mare l' ak chenn fèt an fè ak kwiv. Kite l' la konsa nan mitan zèb yo. Se pou lawouze tonbe sou nonm sa a. Se pou l' manje zèb nan savann tankou bèt nan bwa.

16 Pandan sètan, li p'ap gen lespri tankou tout moun. L'ap san konprann tankou yon bèt.

17 Se desizyon sa a zanj gadyen yo pran. Se jijman sa a zanj Bondye yo bay. Se pou tout moun sou latè konnen Bondye ki nan syèl la gen pouvwa sou tout chèf. Li bay moun li vle pouvwa pou yo gouvènen. Li pran moun ki pi ba a, li fè l' moute!

18 Men rèv mwen menm, wa Nèbikadneza, mwen te fè a. Koulye a, ou menm Beltechaza, esplike m' sa li vle di. Pa gen yonn nan tout nèg save peyi m' lan ki te ka fè m' konnen sans rèv la. Men ou menm, ou kapab, paske lespri bondye yo nan ou.

19 ¶ Lè sa a, Danyèl ki te rele Beltechaza tou, rete yon bon ti tan li pa di anyen, paske tèt li te boulvèse. Wa a di l' konsa: -Beltechaza monchè, pa kite rèv la ak esplikasyon l' lan boulvèse tèt ou! Beltechaza reponn: -Monwa, mwen ta swete rèv la ak tout esplikasyon l' lan pa pou ou, men pou lènmi ou yo, pou moun ki pa vle wè ou yo.

20 Pyebwa ou te wè ki t'ap grandi, ki t'ap gwosi jouk tèt li rive nan syèl la kifè dènye moun sou latè te ka wè l' la,

21 pyebwa ki te gen fèy li yo bèl, ki te chaje donn kont pou tout moun sou latè te manje, ki te gen bèt nan bwa rete anba lonbray li ak zwezo ki te fè nich nan tout branch li yo,

22 pyebwa sa a se ou menm, monwa, ki grandi, ki vin fò. Ou sitèlman grandi ou rive jouk nan syèl la. Ou chèf sou tout latè.

23 Apre sa, antan wa a t'ap gade, li wè yon zanj Bondye soti nan syèl la desann, epi ki di: Koupe pyebwa a mete l' atè, detwi li. Men, kite chouk la nan tè ak tout rasin li yo. Mare l' ak chenn fèt an fè ak kwiv. Lèfini, kite l' nan mitan zèb yo. Kite lawouze tonbe sou nonm sa a, kite l' viv ak bèt nan bwa yo pandan sètan.

24 Bon, koulye a, men sa rèv la vle di monwa. Men sa Bondye ki anwo nan syèl la di ki pral rive ou.

25 Yo pral voye ou byen lwen pou ou pa mache sou moun. Ou pral rete ak bèt nan bwa pandan sètan. Ou pral manje zèb tankou bèf, ou pral dòmi deyò pou lawouze bat ou. Apre sa, w'a rekonèt se Bondye nan syèl la ki kontwole tout chèf sou latè. Se li menm ki bay moun li vle dwa pou yo gouvènen.

26 Zanj yo te di pou yo te kite chouk la ak tout rasin li yo nan tè. Sa vle di w'ap moute wa ankò lè w'a rekonèt se Bondye nan syèl la k'ap gouvènen sou tout latè.

27 Se poutèt sa, monwa, koute konsèy m'ap ba ou. Fè sa ki dwat devan Bondye pou kouvri peche ou yo. Gen pitye pou pòv malere yo pou kouvri tout mechanste ou yo! Konsa, monwa, w'a ka viv alèz ak kè poze pou lontan ankò.

28 ¶ Tou sa Danyèl te di a rive wa Nèbikadneza vre.

29 Douz mwa apre sa, wa a t'ap pwonmennen sou teras palè li a lavil Babilòn,

30 li di konsa: -Gade jan lavil Babilòn lan vin gran non! Se mwen menm ki bati l' ak fòs kouraj mwen pou l' sèvi m' kapital peyi a, pou fè wè jan mwen gen pouvwa, jan mwen grannèg.

31 Wa a pa t' ankò fèmen bouch li, lè yon vwa rete nan syèl la, li di: -Wa Nèbikadneza, koute sa m'ap di ou. Depi jòdi a, yo wete pouvwa a nan men ou. Ou pa wa ankò.

32 Yo p'ap kite ou mache sou moun. Ou pral rete ak bèt nan bwa. Ou pral manje zèb tankou bèf pandan sètan, jouk w'a rekonèt se Bondye nan syèl la ki kontwole tout chèf sou latè. Se li menm ki bay moun li vle dwa pou yo gouvènen.

33 Lamenm sa pawòl la te di a rive vre. Yo mete wa a deyò pou l' pa mache sou moun. Li t'ap manje zèb tankou bèf. Lawouze tonbe sou tout kò l'. Cheve nan tèt li pouse tankou plim malfini, zong li yo vin long tankou grif zwezo.

34 ¶ Wa a di ankò: -Apre sètan sa yo, mwen menm Nèbikadneza, mwen leve je m' mwen gade syèl la. Bonnanj mwen vin sou mwen. Mwen di Bondye nan syèl la mèsi, mwen fè lwanj Bondye k'ap viv pou tout tan tout tan an, mwen rekonèt jan li gen pouvwa. L'ap donminen pou tout tan. Gouvènman li ap la jouk sa kaba.

35 Li pa pran moun k'ap viv sou latè yo pou anyen. Li fè sa li vle ak lame zanj ki nan syèl la, ansanm ak tout moun ki sou latè. Pesonn pa ka kenbe tèt avè l'. Pesonn pa ka mande l' kont!

36 Lè bonnanj mwen tounen sou mwen, yo renmèt mwen pouvwa mwen, otorite mwen ak tout bèl bagay mwen te genyen. Konseye mwen yo ak chèf k'ap sèvi mwen yo voye chache m', yo mete m' wa ankò. Mwen vin gen plis pouvwa pase anvan.

37 Koulye a, mwen menm Nèbikadneza, m'ap fè fèt pou wa ki nan syèl la, m'ap fè lwanj pou li, m'ap di jan li gen pouvwa. Tou sa li fè bon. Li pa fè paspouki pou pesonn. Li konn jan pou l' fè ak moun ki kite lògèy vire tèt yo. L'ap desann kòlèt yo.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

[a]King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the nations and peoples of every language,(A) who live in all the earth:

May you prosper greatly!(B)

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs(C) and wonders that the Most High God(D) has performed for me.

How great are his signs,
    how mighty his wonders!(E)
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
    his dominion endures(F) from generation to generation.

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented(G) and prosperous. I had a dream(H) that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed,(I) the images and visions that passed through my mind(J) terrified me.(K) So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret(L) the dream for me. When the magicians,(M) enchanters, astrologers[b] and diviners(N) came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.(O) Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar,(P) after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods(Q) is in him.)

I said, “Belteshazzar, chief(R) of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods(S) is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed:(T) I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous.(U) 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.(V) 12 Its 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;(W) from it every creature was fed.

13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed,(X) I looked, and there before me was a holy one,(Y) a messenger,[c] coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree(Z) 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.(AA) 15 But 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. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times[d] pass by for him.(AB)

17 “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High(AC) is sovereign(AD) over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest(AE) 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.(AF) But you can,(AG) because the spirit of the holy gods(AH) is in you.”(AI)

Daniel Interprets the Dream

19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified(AJ) him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”(AK)

Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with 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(AL) 22 Your Majesty, you are that tree!(AM) 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.(AN)

23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one,(AO) 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.’(AP)

24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree(AQ) the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched(AR) with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High(AS) is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.(AT) 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots(AU) means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.(AV) 27 Therefore, 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.(AW) It may be that then your prosperity(AX) will continue.(AY)

The Dream Is Fulfilled

28 All this happened(AZ) to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory(BA) of my majesty?”(BB)

31 Even 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.(BC) 32 You 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.”(BD)

33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched(BE) with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.(BF)

34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity(BG) was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.(BH)

His dominion is an eternal dominion;
    his kingdom(BI) endures from generation to generation.(BJ)
35 All the peoples of the earth
    are regarded as nothing.(BK)
He does as he pleases(BL)
    with the powers of heaven
    and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back(BM) his hand(BN)
    or say to him: “What have you done?”(BO)

36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom.(BP) My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt(BQ) and glorify(BR) the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.(BS) And those who walk in pride(BT) he is able to humble.(BU)

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 4:1 In Aramaic texts 4:1-3 is numbered 3:31-33, and 4:4-37 is numbered 4:1-34.
  2. Daniel 4:7 Or Chaldeans
  3. Daniel 4:13 Or watchman; also in verses 17 and 23
  4. Daniel 4:16 Or years; also in verses 23, 25 and 32

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

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.

I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

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.

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.

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,

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.