1 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.
Mawoloto a Nebukadineza e bubili
1 Mambo Nebukadineza kayisa ndayidzo ku bathu bose be zwitjaba ne njudzi ne bendimi dzakathubukana dzimu shango eti,
“Mbakiso ngaibe namwi! 2 Ndinge kushatha kukulu kuti ndimuzibise ngekwe matjenamiso makulu andakathamigwa ne Ndzimu Upezhugwi zhugwi.
3 “Zwilakidzo zwawo kundili zwikulu seni!
Matjenamiso awo makulu seni!
Bushe gwawo nde gusingapele,
mbuso wawo ugelile tjatjose kudwa mu tjizekugwana kunoti ku tjizekugwana.”
4 “Imi Nebukadineza ndakabe ndili mu nzi wangu we bushe ndili gele ndina tjimwe ne tjimwe kakale ndakabhudilila. 5 Koga ndakati limwe zhuba abe ne mawoloto akanditotomosa. Ndakati nditjakaizela mu bulawo gwangu, abona mbono dzinotjisa kwazo. 6 Ndizo ndakadana balume bose bakatjenjela be Bhabhiloni kuti bazhe kundili bawonditjenesela mawoloto iyawa. 7 Ngono kwakati be malipa ne ng'anga ne mashabi ne batjenjedu be nyenyedzi basinozha, ndakababudza ngekwe mawoloto angu koga bakasitubule kunditjenesela iwo. 8 Ngono kwakati kubupelo kukazha Daniyele iye wakabe idang'wa Bheliteshazari, zina laakalongwa le ndzimu wangu, ngono ambudza mawoloto angu nditi, 9 ‘Bheliteshazari, she we bana malipa, ndoziba kuti meya dze midzimu yakayengemala imu kuli kakale unohwisisa masazibgwe wose. Ndiwo mawoloto angu iyawa undibudze kuti anodwani.’
10 “Ndakati ndakaizela abona kulimile nti nkulukulu mbeli kwangu, nti iwoyu wakabe uli pakati kwe shango, nti iwoyu wakabe uli nlefulefu kunotjenamisa. 11 Nti iwoyu wakabe wakabhata ukula ukadza ukakutha ku makole ubong'wa ne mmwe ne mmwe mu shango. 12 Nti iwoyu wakabe una mazhani akanaka ne mitjelo minjinji ili zojiwa zwe bathu bose mu shango. Phuka dze shango dzakabe dzibutha kusi kwawo, nyuni idzo dzakabaka mashaka adzo muuli zwitjili zose zwakabe zwija mitjelo yawo.
13 “Ndakati nditji mu bulawo nditjakumbula ngekwe mbono idzedzi:
“Ndakabona kuzha nlisi
n'yengemali edelukuka edwa kudzimu.
14 Wakadanilila nge hwi lipezhugwi eti,
‘Temani nti iwoyu, thubulani thabi dzawo
upulule mazhani awo, paladzani mitjelo yawo!
Tatilani kutjena phuka dzakabutha kusi kwawo
ne nyuni dzakabaka mu thabi dzawo.
15 Koga musiye bhato lawo lina midzi yalo.
“ ‘Ngono mulisunge nge butale ne phangula, lisale pasi mu bushwa.
Ngaahwigwe nge khawa ye zhuzhugwi,
ngaagale mu shango ne phuka.
16 Atshene moyo uwe we bunthu ukashanduka,
atshene kapiwa moyo we phuka kwe makole ali kutendeka.
17 Zibiso iyeyi yakabe idwa ku batjengeti,
ili tjasungwa ndibo bakayengemala.
“ ‘Kuti ndizo kubupelo bapenyu bazibe kuti Upezhugwi zhugwi ndiwo unobusa bathu bose ne bushe gose nde gugwe kakale unogupa waunoshaka kugupa ne bathu ibabo banolingigwa pasi dumbu.’
18 “Ndidzo hwope dzandakabenadzo idzedzi imi Nebukadineza. Ndizoke iwe Bheliteshazari, tjinditjenesela kuti mawoloto iyawa anodwani ngoti akuna we batjenjedu be bushe gwangu watubula kunditjenesela hwope idzedzi koga iwe unotubula ngobe una meya ye midzimu yakayengemala mukuli.”
Daniyele unotjenesa mawoloto
19 Kudwapo Daniyele iye unodang'wa Bheliteshazari kasheta matama tjibaka tjifupi, nkumbulu uwe ukantjisa. Mambo kabe eti, “Bheliteshazari, hwope idzedzi ne tjeneso yadzo dzisitongo kutotomosa.”
Bheliteshazari kashandula eti, “Tetshi wangu, tshene hwope idzedzi dzikabe dza ibabo bakamubenga ne tjeneso yadzo ibe ye zwita zwenyu kusi imwi! 20 Nti wamakabona nlefulefu ukutha ku makole, wakabe ubong'wa nge mmwe ne mmwe mu shango, 21 mazhani awo akanaka una mitjelo minjinji wakabe una zojiwa zwe bathu bose mu shango ne phuka dze shango dzakabe dzibutha mu ntutshi wawo ne nyuni dzakabaka mashaka mu thabi dzawo unodwa sahwoku:
22 “Imwi bushe gwangu, mu nti iwoyu! Mabe nkulu kakale makasima, bukulu gwenyu bukulu gokutha ku zhuzhugwi ne bushe gwenyu gotendebukila mbizho dzose dze shango. 23 Imwi mambo makati mutjakalingilila kose ikoku, nlisi, n'yengemali kadeluka edwa kudzimu kati, ‘Temani nti muukolomodze koga musiye bhato lawo lakasungwa nge butale ne phangula pasi mu bushwa, ngaawigwe nge khawa ye zhuzhugwi, ngaatjile se phuka dze shango kudzina kwapinda makole ali kutendeka.’
24 “Tjeneso ya ikoku inodwa sa woku mambo wangu, i sumikiliso yalingisanyiwa imwi tetshi wangu mambo inodwa kuna Upezhugwi zhugwi: 25 Mowotatigwa kutjena ne bathu mukatjila ne phuka dze shango, mowoja bushwa se ng'ombe mukawigwa nge khawa ye zhuzhugwi. Ikoku kowotola makole ali kutendeka kudzina muamutjila kuti Upezhugwi zhugwi ndiwo nkulu kupinda mibuso yose ye bathu ne kuti kakale ndiwo unopa mbuso nthu wawada. 26 Ndaulo yekuti nti usiyiwe bhato lawo ne midzi kodwa kuti bushe gwenyu mowogubgwilizigwa apa matjiamutjila kuti bushe gwe kudzimu ndigo koga gunolaula. 27 Ndizo ngwenu mambo wangu, tshene mungaamutjila gumbuludzo langu kumuli lekuti letjani kutjinya muthame tjinoamutjilika, muletje bubi gwenyu mube ne lubu muna banotshambilidziwa. Ndiko koga kungathama kuti kubhudilila kwenyu kungadwilila.”
28 Kose ikoku kwakashingikalila Mambo Nebukadineza. 29 Kwakati shule kwe mimwedzi ili gumi lina mibili, mambo kabe eyenda yenda mu denga le ng'umba ye bushe mu Bhabhiloni, 30 ngono kabe eti, “Apa ate Bhabhiloni iwoyu nkulu zwingapa wandakabaka nge simba langu gulu kube bugalo gwa bomambo ne gudzo le bushe gwangu kene?”
31 Wakati koga asathu aligila matama awe hwi likadwa kudzimu liti, “Mambo Nebukadineza ndakakubhatila matama awa: Wawotolegwa bushe gugo. 32 Unowotatigwa kutjena ne bathu ngono unowotjila ne phuka dze shango ukaja bushwa se ng'ombe. Ikoku kowoshingikala makole ali kutendeka kudzina waamutjila kuti Upezhugwi zhugwi ndiwo nkulu kupinda mibuso yose ye bathu ne kuti kakale ndiwo unopa mbuso nthu wawada.”
33 Matama iyawa kashingikala ipapo sekwa alebgwa ebudziwa Nebukadineza. Wakatatigwa kutjena ne bathu kaja bushwa se ng'ombe mbili uwe ukawigwa nge khawa kudzina mbethe uwe ukula usala unga misiba ye dzu, hwomba dzidze dzinga hwomba dze nyuni.
Nebukadineza unokudza Ndzimu
34 “Kwakati makole ali kutenda asinopinda, imi Nebukadineza alinga kudzimu, nkumbulo wangu ukabuya kundili ngono akudza Upezhugwi zhugwi, awukudza ndiwuteta iwo unotjilila tjatjose.
“Ngobe simba lawo ndelinogalila tjatjose
bushe gwawo ndegusingapele,
35 bagali bose be shango abate bali tjimwe,
unoshinga kuda kwawo ne babhayani be ngwa be zhuzhugwi.
Akuna ungauma mbeli
kene kaudwa kati, ‘Mathamani?’
36 “Nge tjibaka itjetjo tjandakabuigwa nge nkumbulo wangu, tetiwa ne gudzo langu ne bushe gwangu zwikandibuyila. Makulukota ne bakumbuludzi bangu bakandiamutjila ngono apiwa bushe gwangu ngono ndikabe ne simba linopinda lekutanga.
37 “Ngono ngwenu imi Nebukadineza, ndokudza Mambo we kudzimu ngobe tjimwe ne tjimwe tjabanothama tjakalulwama ne zila dzabo dzose dzakatambunuka. Ngono unotubula yisapasi bose banozwikudza.”