King Nebuchadnezzar's Letter about His Second Dream
1 King Nebuchadnezzar sent the following letter to the people of all nations and races on the earth:
Greetings to all of you!
2 I am glad to tell about
the wonderful miracles
God Most High
has done for me.
3 His miracles are mighty
and marvelous.
He will rule forever,
and his kingdom
will never end.
4 I was enjoying a time of peace and prosperity, 5 when suddenly I had some horrifying dreams and visions. 6 Then I commanded every wise man in Babylonia to appear in my court, so they could explain the meaning of my dream. 7 After they arrived, I told them my dream, but they were not able to say what it meant. 8 Finally, a young man named Daniel came in, and I told him the dream. The holy gods had given him special powers, and I had renamed him Belteshazzar after my own god.
9 I said, “Belteshazzar, not only are you the wisest of all advisors and counselors, but the holy gods have given you special powers to solve the most difficult mysteries. So listen to what I dreamed and tell me what it means:
10 In my sleep I saw
a very tall tree
in the center of the world.
11 It grew stronger and higher,
until it reached to heaven
and could be seen
from anywhere on earth.
12 It was covered with leaves
and heavy with fruit—
enough for all nations.
Wild animals enjoyed its shade,
birds nested in its branches,
and all creatures on earth
lived on its fruit.
13 “While I was in bed, having this vision, a holy angel came down from heaven 14 and shouted:
‘Chop down the tree
and cut off its branches;
strip off its leaves
and scatter its fruit.
Make the animals leave its shade
and send the birds flying
from its branches.
15 But leave its stump and roots
in the ground,
surrounded by grass
and held by chains
of iron and bronze.
‘Make sure that this ruler
lives like the animals
out in the open fields,
unprotected from the dew.
16 Give him the mind
of a wild animal
for seven long years.
17 This punishment is given
at the command
of the holy angels.
It will show to all who live
that God Most High
controls all kingdoms
and chooses for their rulers
persons of humble birth.’
18 “Daniel, that was the dream that none of the wise men in my kingdom were able to understand. But I am sure that you will understand what it means, because the holy gods have given you some special powers.”
19 For a while, Daniel was terribly confused and worried by what he was thinking. But I said, “Don't be bothered either by the dream or by what it means.”
Daniel replied:
Your Majesty, I wish the dream had been against your enemies. 20 You saw a tree that grew so big and strong that it reached up to heaven and could be seen from anywhere on earth. 21 Its leaves were beautiful, and it produced enough fruit for all living creatures; animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. 22 Your Majesty, that tree is you. Your glorious reputation has reached heaven, and your kingdom covers the earth.
23 Then you saw a holy angel come down from heaven and say, “Chop down the tree and destroy it! But leave its stump and roots in the ground, fastened there by a chain of iron and bronze. Let it stay for seven years out in the field with the wild animals, unprotected from the dew.”
24 Your Majesty, God Most High has sent you this message, and it means 25 that you will be forced to live with the wild animals, far away from humans. You will eat grass like a wild animal and live outdoors for seven years, until you learn that God Most High controls all earthly kingdoms and chooses their rulers. 26 But he gave orders not to disturb the stump and roots. This is to show that you will be king once again, after you learn that the God who rules from heaven is in control. 27 Your Majesty, please be willing to do what I say. Turn from your sins and start living right; have mercy on those who are mistreated. Then all will go well with you for a long time.
The Rest of Nebuchadnezzar's Letter about His Second Dream
28-30 About twelve months later, I was walking on the flat roof of my royal palace and admiring the beautiful city of Babylon, when these things started happening to me. I was saying to myself, “Just look at this wonderful capital city that I have built by my own power and for my own glory!”
31 But before I could finish speaking, a voice from heaven interrupted:
King Nebuchadnezzar, this kingdom is no longer yours. 32 You will be forced to live with the wild animals, away from people. For seven years you will eat grass, as though you were an ox, until you learn that God Most High is in control of all earthly kingdoms and that he is the one who chooses their rulers.
33 This was no sooner said than done—I was forced to live like a wild animal; I ate grass and was unprotected from the dew. As time went by, my hair grew longer than eagle feathers, and my fingernails looked like the claws of a bird.
34 Finally, I prayed to God in heaven, and my mind was healed. Then I said:
“I praise and honor
God Most High.
God lives forever,
and his kingdom
will never end.
35 To him the nations
are far less than nothing;
God controls the stars in the sky
and everyone on this earth.
When God does something,
we cannot change it
or even ask why.”
36 At that time my mind was healed, and once again I became the ruler of my glorious kingdom. My advisors and officials returned to me, and I had greater power than ever before. 37 That's why I say:
“Praise and honor the King
who rules from heaven!
Everything he does
is honest and fair,
and he can shatter the power
of those who are proud.”
Tori Ṛiri Nebukadenezara ro
1 'Bädri'ba Nebukadenezara zo lazo ono te lidri tu'dei cini ro, beti toto, ndi se cini kabe kala toto ata 'bädri cini yasi be ri ekye: “Mede ämiri. 2 Ma orivoya riyä si taka'daro ndi talaro ro se Lu 'Desi para kaka'dabe märi ono tana itivoya erine ämiri.
3 “Taka'daro se Lu kaka'dabe märi ono orivoya tapara yi!
Talaro ro se nda koyebe ono orivoya ta mbara yi!
Miri 'bädri'ba ndaro ro orivoya äduako; ago nda mirina vo 'da rriro.
4 “Ma Nebukadenezara ma ori rritiako ori ayani 'bäru märigä, ago ma orivoya ŋgadriamba be zo'desi miri ro maro ya. 5 Oko tori aza ezitate mädri se tana 'ba mate a'done turituriro. Rulofo ndi lindri se mandrebe 'dooko ma u'duvoya para maro dri ana 'ba mate a'done lä'bilä'biro. 6 Ta'dota ma'ba tate tavouni'bai cini Babelona ro ezine makandra ànya kedreyi takaci tori ana ro robe märi. 7 Ndi ezi taäŋgu'bai, taläkä'bai, kwozoi, ndi tavouni'bai 'bi'bi si be te, ago miti tori maro te ànyari, oko ànya niyi kote takacina itine märi. 8 Äduro oko Daniele ikyite makandra. (Nda se äzi ävuruna be Beletesazara, ävuru lu maro ro dri ono.) Ago se orivoya tori Lu se Alokado Fopara ndra robe 'do ndi miti tori maro tana te ndäri makye: 9 Mi Beletesazara, mi orivoya opi taäŋgu'bai ro, mäni ndi tori Lu se Alokado Fopara ndra ono ro orivoya mi ya, ago ta dämbidämbiro aza a'done rritiro miri te i'do. Ono ni tori se kezitabe mädri owo, nyiti takacina märi.”
10 “Rulofo se mandre be 'dooko ma u'duvoya para dri ni no: mandre ce azate kitoriya 'bädri roya ago ocana orivoya kaca. 11 Ce ana ugu ombate ago a'dote mbaraekye, ago dridopi na sate le vokuru ya, ago lidri cini 'bädri ya ni ndi ondrene. 12 Kyibi na orivoya liŋgyiekye, ago doŋgo na orivoya amba, ojo ndi ŋga cini 'bädri ya ri onyane. Koronyai vocowa ro riyite lindri na ya, ago arii mo zo te gwoṛi nai yasi, ago ŋga cini lidriidriro nyayi doŋgo na te.
13 “Ondro madri ugu ta rulofo se ono ro tana usuna u'duvoyasi para dri oko, mandre vookwa'ba alokado alodi te ikyivoya vuru ni vo'buyakuru yasi. 14 Nda ayotate kporo amba si ekye: ‘Miga ce 'do vuru ago nyofo gwoṛi nai ago mivu kyibi nai ago nyalari doŋgo nai. Minja koronyai ni zeleigyesi ndi arii be ni gwoṛi nai yasi. 15 Oko nye'be lupa na ndi paji na be kedre gyini ya, ago nyembe logo ndi atala be si. Nye'be kori lau kitoriya käyi luru lowo roya.
“ ‘Mi'ba nduruṛi vo'buyakuru ro koso mano ono dri, ago mi'ba nda kori koronyai vocowa ro be käyi lako. 16 Mi'ba tausu drî ndaro ro ka'do ko tausu lidri ro ronye, oko ozo tausu drî koronyai ro ro ayani ndäri, ndäri a'done inye ndroa na njidrieri. 17 Vookwa'bai ozoyi ota ono ni ànya se alokado iyi ayoyi tase arabe ono tana ni. Tana, ŋgase cini lidriidriro kuni robe anjioko Lu se Fopara ndra ono orivoya mbara be miri 'bädri'ba lidri ro dri, ago kani ozona 'dise nda kolebe ri, ca 'dise tipari lidri lako ono nda kani eŋgana 'desi ro 'di cini dri.’ ”
18 Nebukadenezara ekye: “Ono ni tori se kezitabe mädri owo. Oko Yauono Beletesazara, nyiti takacina märi. Tana alo aza tavouni'bai 'bädri maro ro ni ko itine märi, oko minina ndi, tana tori lui alokado ro orivoya mi ya.”
Daniele Edretazevo Tori rote
19 'Dooko Daniele, se ävuru na Beletesazara ono, edrete fere ataako larolaro ro tavousune, ago 'bädri'ba atate ndäri ekye: “Beletesazara, nya'do ko turituriro ni ta tori ono ro ndi takacina na be itivoya.”
Beletesazara zatadrite ekye: “'Desi aba maro, tori ono ndi takacina be tana udina ṛo kyila'baazii miro ayani. 20 Mindre, ce se kombabe kaca ago ṛatararo ago dridopi na kosabe le vokuru ya, se 'di cini 'bädri ya ni ndi ondrene ono te. 21 Kyibina orivoya liŋgyiekye, ago doŋgo amba be ojo ndi ŋga cini 'bädri ya ri onyane. Koronyai vocowa ro lolite lindrina ya, ago arii moyi zo te gwoṛi nai yasi.
22 “Mi ni ce ana owo 'bädri'ba se mbate ago te mbaraekye, kaca ago ṛatararo. Mimbate, a'do 'desi miro mbate ago sate le vokuru ya, ago mbara miri miro ro sate le 'bädri cini yasi. 23 Ondro mi 'bädri'ba nyadri ugu ondrena oko, vookwa'ba se alokado ono ikyite ni vo'buyakuru yasi se atate ekye: ‘Miga ce 'do vuru ago nyepere anya, oko nye'be lupana ndi pajina be gyini ya, nyembe lomvo na logo ndi atala be si, ago nye'be kori käyi luru lowo roya. Mi'ba nduruṛi koso mano ono dri, ago mi'ba nda kori lau koronyai be ndroa na njidrieri.’
24 “Tori se ono takacina ni no 'desi maro 'bädri'ba, ono ni tase Lu se Fopara ndra ono kayobe ka oyebe a'done miri owo. 25 Anjana mi 'da ni lidri lakosi ago mirina 'da koronyai vocowa robe. Minyana käyi 'da oso 'daŋgo ronye, ago nduruṛi vokuru ro osona 'da midri ndroa na njidrieri. 'Dooko minina ndi anjioko Lu se Fopara ndra ono kani miri 'bädri'ba lidri ro mirina, ago kani ozona 'dise nda konjibe ri. 26 Oso ozotate lupa ce ro ndi pajina be e'bene gyini ya ana ronye, kpa inye anjioko migo nya'dona 'da kpa to'di 'bädri'ba ro ondro minite Lu kani 'bädri cini mirina owo. 27 Ka'do inye 'Desi, 'bädri'ba miri tazevoedre maro voro. Nye'be takozi oye miye takado ayani, nye'be taundi oye ago kyaka'da yauni 'dise abe ezana ri. 'Dooko azaya nya'dona ndi kandrakado be rriro.”
28 Tase cini ono a'dote 'bädri'ba Nebukadenezara ri. 29 Ädu imba 'butealo foritu rosi, ondro nda kate ugu aba drî kurusi zo'desi miri ro ndaro Babelona ya drisi oko, 30 nda atate ekye: “Inye'do ono ṛoko Babelona 'desi se mabete mbara amba maro si 'bakici 'desi ro, 'desi maro ndi a'do para maro be ka'dazana owo ya?” 31 Teinye dri ata ri okyeako ni kala ndaro yasi oko, ata ikyite vuru ni vo'buyakuru yasi ekye: “'Bädri'ba Nebukadenezara, nyeri tase mabe atana ono! Yauono äru mbara 'bädri'ba ro teni mirigyesi. 32 Anjana mi 'da ni lidri lakosi, ago mirina te koronyai vocowa robe; minyana te käyi ayani oso 'daŋgo ronye ndroa na njidrieri. 'Dooko minina ndi anjioko Lu se Fopara ndra ono orivoya mbara be miri 'bädri'ba lidri ro dri, ago kani ozona 'dise nda konjibe ri.” 33 Dori ata kwoi a'dote inye. Anja Nebukadenezara teni lidri lakosi, ago nyate käyi ayani oso 'daŋgo ronye. Nduruṛi vokuru ro sote nda dri; madale drikyiri ndaro usite jumu'di oso tara'bi ägyiribi ro ronye, ago konyi ndaro locote gyolofo oso konyi ari ro ronye.
Nebukadenezara ka Lu Räṛu
34 Nebukadenezara ekye: “Ondro ndroa se njidrieri ana kokyete oko.” Ma Nebukadenezara meŋga mi maro te kuru vokuru ya, ago tavousu maro egote kadoro. Märäṛu Lu se Fopara ndra ono te, ago mozo taoro ndi räṛu be te nda se kabe ori äduako ono ri makye:
“Nda mirina 'di ndi äduako,
ago miri 'bädri'ba ndaro ro orina ndi tu cini si.
35 Nda ka lidri cini se kabe ori 'bädri ya ono ondrena ta awi ro;
nda ka ŋgase nda kolebe oyena
malaika vo'buyakuru ro ndi lidri 'bädri robe ri.
'Diaza ni ko ole ndaro lagane zo
kode nda ejine tase nda kabe oyena ta.
36 “Ondro tavousu maro kegote kadoro oko, taoro maro, 'desi maro, ndi 'desi miri 'bädri'ba maro robe ologo kpate märi. Dri'bai losi ro maro ndi 'di'desii maro be räṛuyi ma te. Ologo mbara 'bädri'ba ro maro te märi, ago ma'dote orooro ro para ndrani se käti ana ri.
37 “Ago yauono, ma Nebukadenezara, märäṛu ago maro 'Bädri'ba Vo'buyakuru rote. Ŋgase cini nda kabe oyena orivoya kado ago ŋgye, ago nda orivoya mbara be 'dise kabe taoye driuŋgyi si logone vuru.”