Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
1 During the second year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had such horrible nightmares that he could not sleep. 2 So he called in his counselors, advisors, magicians, and wise men, 3 and said, “I am disturbed by a dream that I don't understand, and I want you to explain it.”
4 They answered in Aramaic, “Your Majesty, we hope you live forever! We are your servants. Please tell us your dream, and we will explain what it means.”
5 But the king replied, “No! I have made up my mind. If you don't tell me both the dream and its meaning, you will be chopped to pieces and your houses will be torn down. 6 However, if you do tell me both the dream and its meaning, you will be greatly rewarded and highly honored. Now tell me the dream and explain what it means.”
7 “Your Majesty,” they said, “if you will only tell us your dream, we will interpret it for you.”
8 The king replied, “You're just stalling for time, 9 because you know what's going to happen if you don't come up with the answer. You've decided to make up a bunch of lies, hoping I might change my mind. Now tell me the dream, and that will prove that you can interpret it.”
10 His advisors explained, “Your Majesty, you are demanding the impossible! No king, not even the most famous and powerful, has ever ordered his advisors, magicians, or wise men to do such a thing. 11 It can't be done, except by the gods, and they don't live here on earth.”
12-13 This made the king so angry that he gave orders for every wise man in Babylonia to be put to death, including Daniel and his three friends.
God Tells Nebuchadnezzar's Dream to Daniel
14 Arioch was the king's official in charge of putting the wise men to death. He was on his way to have it done, when Daniel very wisely went to him 15 and asked, “Why did the king give such cruel orders?” After Arioch explained what had happened, 16 Daniel rushed off and said to the king, “If you will just give me some time, I'll explain your dream.”
17 Daniel returned home and told his three friends. 18 Then he said, “Pray that the God who rules from heaven will be merciful and explain this mystery, so that we and the others won't be put to death.” 19 In a vision one night, Daniel was shown the dream and its meaning. Then he praised the God who rules from heaven:
20 “Our God, your name
will be praised
forever and forever.
You are all-powerful,
and you know everything.
21 You control human events—
you give rulers their power
and take it away,
and you are the source
of wisdom and knowledge.
22 “You explain deep mysteries,
because even the dark
is light to you.
23 You are the God
who was worshiped
by my ancestors.
Now I thank you and praise you
for making me wise
and telling me the king's dream,
together with its meaning.”
Daniel Interprets the Dream
24 Daniel went back to Arioch, the official in charge of executing the wise men. Daniel said, “Don't kill those men! Take me to the king, and I will explain the meaning of his dream.”
25 Arioch rushed Daniel to the king and announced, “Your Majesty, I have found out that one of the men brought here from Judah can explain your dream.”
26 The king asked Daniel, “Can you tell me my dream and what it means?”
27 Daniel answered:
Your Majesty, not even the smartest person in all the world can do what you are demanding. 28-29 But the God who rules from heaven can explain mysteries. And while you were sleeping, he showed you what will happen in the future. 30 However, you must realize that these mysteries weren't explained to me because I am smarter than everyone else. Instead, it was done so that you would understand what you have seen.
31 Your Majesty, what you saw standing in front of you was a huge and terrifying statue, shining brightly. 32 Its head was made of gold, its chest and arms were silver, and from its waist down to its knees, it was bronze. 33 From there to its ankles it was iron, and its feet were a mixture of iron and clay.
34 As you watched, a stone was cut from a mountain—but not by human hands. The stone struck the feet, completely shattering the iron and clay. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed and blown away without a trace, like husks of wheat at threshing time. But the stone became a tremendous mountain that covered the entire earth.
36 That was the dream, and now I'll tell you what it means. 37 Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings, and God has highly honored you with power 38 over all humans, animals, and birds. You are the head of gold. 39 After you are gone, another kingdom will rule, but it won't be as strong. Then it will be followed by a kingdom of bronze that will rule the whole world. 40 Next, a kingdom of iron will come to power, crushing and shattering everything.
41-42 This fourth kingdom will be divided—it will be both strong and brittle, just as you saw that the feet and toes were a mixture of iron and clay. 43 This kingdom will be the result of a marriage between kingdoms, but it will crumble, just as iron and clay don't stick together.
44-45 During the time of those kings, the God who rules from heaven will set up an eternal kingdom that will never fall. It will be like the stone that was cut from the mountain, but not by human hands—the stone that crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. Your Majesty, in your dream the great God has told you what is going to happen, and you can trust this interpretation.
Daniel Is Promoted
46 King Nebuchadnezzar bowed low to the ground and worshiped Daniel. Then he gave orders for incense to be burned and a sacrifice of grain to be offered in honor of Daniel. 47 The king said, “Now I know that your God is above all other gods and kings, because he gave you the power to explain this mystery.” 48 The king then presented Daniel with a lot of gifts; he promoted him to governor of Babylon Province and put him in charge of the other wise men. 49 At Daniel's request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to high positions in Babylon Province, and he let Daniel stay on as a palace official.
Oruroto rwa Nebukadnesar
1 Mombura oitjavari Nebukadnesar tjari ombara, wa rotere oruroto. Oruroto ndwi aa ru mu kurungisa tjinene nga tjaa ha sora okurara; 2 neye otja rakizire kutja ozombuke, ozondjai, ozombetere nozonganga kutja ve ye okumumangururira oruroto rwe. Owo tji ve ya okukurama komurungu we, 3 arire tja tja nai ku wo: “Ami me kurungisiwa i oruroto ndu mba rotere. Me vanga okutjiwa kutja maru hee tjike.”
4 Owo va zira ombara mOtjiaramea ave tja: “Muhona ombara nga hupe orure! Tu raera oruroto rwoye, neṱe matu ku handjaurire.”
5 Ombara ya tja ku wo: “Ami mba tye kutja eṋe mu ndji raere oruroto rwandje nu tjazumba mu ndji tjivise kutja maru hee tjike. Tji mu hi nokusora, me tjiti kutja mu kewe movindimbu pekepeke, nokutja ozondjuwo zeṋu ze rire ovitambatundu. 6 Nungwari tji mamu sora okundjiraera oruroto nomaheero warwo, ami me mu pe ondjambi yoviyandjewa noyondangu onene. Nambano ndji raereye kutja oruroto rwa ri orwatjike nu maru hee tjike.”
7 Owo va zira ombara rukwao ave tja: “Andakuzu omuhona ombara me tu serekarerere indwi oruroto, eṱe matu ru handjaura.”
8 Komambo nga ombara ya zira ai tja: “Pe ri otja punga ambe ripura! Eṋe mamu vanga okumwina po oruveze komurungu, tjinga amamu tjiwa kutja ami mba tye 9 okumuvera amuhe pamwe tji mu hi nokundjiraera oruroto. Mwa zuvasana kutja mamu kara pokundjikorera ovizeze, tjinga amamu undju kutja mokati kotuveze mape ya omarundurukiro. Ndji raereye kutja oruroto rwa ri orwatjike, ami otji me tjiwa kutja eṋe wina mamu sora okundjiraera omaheero warwo.”
10 Ovayandjandunge va zira ave tja: “Kape nomundu kombanda yehi ngu ma sora okukuraera, muhona ombara, imbi mbi movanga okutjiwa. Kape nombara nangarire indji onene nonauvara tjinene ndja vangere otjiṋa otja ihi kozombuke na kozondjai na kozonganga zayo. 11 Ove, muhona ombara, otjiṋa tji mo ningire otjo otjizeu tjinene nai nga tji pe hi nomundu ngu ma sora okukumangururira tjo, posi yoomukuru vovisenginina, nungwari owo kave tura mokati kovandu.”
12 Komambo nga ombara otji ya ṱomazenge tjinene, nu ai rakiza kutja ovayandjandunge avehe vombara mObabilon ve ṱe. 13 Omarakiza otji ya tjivisiwa kutja owo avehe ve ṱe puna Daniel nomapanga we wina.
Ndjambi ma raisire Daniel kutja oruroto maru hee tjike
14 Daniel wa ya ku Arjok, omuhongore wovatjevere vombara; Arjok ongwa rakizirwe kutja a zepe ozonongo za Babilon. Daniel wa hungira nounongo nozondunge, 15 notja pura Arjok a tja: “Okutjavi ombara tji ya tjivisa omarakiza omakukutu nai?” Arjok otja serekarerera Daniel avihe mbya tjitwa.
16 Daniel wa ya tjimanga kombara ne keiningira kutja i mu pe oruveze ndwa yenene kutja a sore okuiraera omaheero woruroto. 17 Tjazumba Daniel wa yaruka konganda na kaserekarerera omapanga we ooHananja na Misael na Asarja oviṋa avihe mbya tjitwa. 18 Eye we ve raera kutja ve kumbe ku Ndjambi weyuru e ve ṱire otjari, nokumuningira kutja e ve handjaurire otjiundikwa tjoruroto kokutja owo avehe ave ha ṱu puna ovayandjandunge ovakwao mObabilon. 19 Mouṱuku tjingewo mbo otjiundikwa tjoruroto otji tja raisiwa ku Daniel motjirimunikise; neye arire tja tanga Ndjambi weyuru a tja:
20 “Ndjambi eye onongo nomunauvara!
Eye nga tangwe aruhe nga aruhe.
21 Eye u rundurura otuveze mombura
eye u zika nokuisa po ozombara;
eye ongu yandja ounongo nondjiviro.
22 Eye u vandurura oviṋa ovikoto nu oviundikwa;
eye u tjiwa imbi mbya horekwa monḓorera,
neye omuini wa kondorokwa i ondjerera.
23 Ami me ku tanga nu me ku yozike,
Ndjambi wootate mukururume.
Ove we ndji pe ounongo nomasa;
Ove wa yakura ongumbiro yandje
nu we tu raisire imbi mbi matu sokutjivisa kombara.”
Daniel ma raere oruroto kombara nu me ru handjaura
24 Daniel otja ya ku Arjok ngwa rakizirwe i ombara kutja a zepe ovayandjandunge vayo. Eye wa katja nai ku Arjok: “O zepa ovayandjandunge vombara. Ndji twara kombara, nami me keiraera kutja oruroto rwayo maru hee tjike.”
25 Kamanga Arjok wa twara Daniel komurungu wombara Nebukadnesar ne kemu raera nai: “Ami mba muna Omujuda umwe omuhuurwa, eye ma sora okukumangururira oruroto rwoye, muhona ombara.”
26 Ombara ya tja nai ku Daniel, wina ngwa rukirwe Beltsasar: “Ove, tjiri, mo sora okundjiraera oruroto ndu mba rotere nokutja maru hee tjike?”
27 Daniel wa zira a tja: “Muhona ombara, kape nonganga poo ondjai poo ombuke poo omutjiwe wozonyose ngu ma yenene okukuraera oruroto rwoye. 28 Nungwari mu na Ndjambi meyuru ngu vandurura oviundikwa. Eye me ku tjivisa, muhona ombara, imbi mbi mavi tjitwa moruveze ndu maru ya. Nambano ami me ku raere oruroto, ihi otjirimunikise tji wa ri na tjo ngunda awa rara.
29 “Ove, muhona ombara, ngunda awa rara wa ri amo roto oruveze ndu maru ya; nu Ndjambi ngu vandurura oviundikwa wa ri ame ku raisire imbi mbi mavi tjitwa. 30 Nambano otjiundikwa hi tja vandururwa ku ami, kamena rokutja owami onongo pu avehe, nungwari eye wa tjitira kutja ove, muhona ombara, u sore okurihonga omaheero woruroto rwoye, nu wina u sore okuzuva nawa omeripuriro nge ya move.
31 “Muhona ombara, motjirimunikise tjoye ove wa muna otjiserekarera tjomundu otjinene tji tja kurama momurungu woye; otjo aatji yere nokukeṋakeṋa nu tja ri otjitirise okutjimuna. 32 Otjiuru tjatjo tja ungurwa pongoldo oheze; otjari nomaoko watjo vya ungurwa posilveri; omavango nopehuri patjo vya ungurwa pongoporo; 33 omarama watjo ya ungurwa potjitenda, nozombaze zatjo za ungurwa ohinga potjitenda nohinga pomunoko. 34 Ove ngunda amo tara ku tjo otji pa rauka ewe enene okuza ketjo ape hi nomundu ngwa ṱunu ku ro, ari vete ozombaze zotjitenda nozomunoko zotjiserekarera tjomundu hi nari ze ṱukuṱura. 35 Kamanga otjitenda nomunoko nongoporo nosilveri nongoldo otji vya ṱukuṱuka avi rire oruuma rwopotjitondero moruteṋi. Ombepo ye vi hinga avihe nga tji pe ha serwe okaṋa oparukaze. Nungwari indi ewe ra rira ondundu ndja vandeka ehi arihe.
36 “Indwi ondwa ri oruroto. Nambano, muhona ombara, ami me ku raere kutja orwo maru hee tjike. 37 Muhona ombara, oove omunauvara pozombara azehe; Ndjambi weyuru we ku zika u rire ombara, nu we ku pa ouvara nomasa nondjozikiro. 38 Eye we ku ziki okurira omunane wovature avehe mouye, nomunane wovipuka nozonḓera azehe wina. Oove ngu u ri otjiuru tjongoldo. 39 Kombunda yoye mape ya ouhona warwe, nowo kau nokurira ounene tjimuna imbwi owoye; nu kombunda youhona mbwi mape kara ouhona outjatatu mbu mau rire ouhona wongoporo nu mbu mau honaparere ehi arihe. 40 Tjazumba mape ya ouhona outjaine mbu mau rire oukukutu tjimuna otjitenda tji tji teya nokuṱukuṱura oviṋa avihe. Notja otjitenda punga atji nyanyaura oviṋa avihe, ouhona mbwi opunga amau nyanyaura nokuṱukuṱura omauhona aehe, nga ri po komurungu wawo. 41 Ove wina wa muna kutja ozombaze nominwe vyazo vya ri ohinga yotjitenda nohinga yomunoko. Ihi matji hee kutja owo mau rire ouhona mbu mau haṋika. Owo mau rire oukukutu tjimuna otjitenda, mu wo tjinga amwa ri otjitenda tji tja rungwa nomunoko. 42 Ominwe mbya ri ohinga yotjitenda nohinga yomunoko mavi hee kutja orukondwa rumwe rwouhona maru rire orunamasa norukwao aru rire orungundi. 43 Ove wina wa muna kutja otjitenda tja rungwa nomunoko. Ihi matji hee kutja ovanane vouhona mbo mave kondjo okuwanisa omaṱunḓu wawo mokukupasana nungwari owo kamaave sora okuwanisa omaṱunḓu wawo tjimuna otjitenda tji tji hi nokusora okurungwa nomunoko. 44 Moruveze ndwi ovanane mbo ngunda amave honapara, Ndjambi weyuru ma ziki ouhona mbu hi na indu maau yanda ko. Owo kamaau haverwa ko, nungwari mau nyono omauhona aehe ngo, nu tjazumba owo au karerere nga aruhe. 45 Ove wa muna indi ewe tji ra wire okuza ketjo ngunda ape hi nomundu ngwa ṱuna ku ro, na indu tji ra veta otjiserekarera tjomundu tji tja ungurwa potjitenda nongoporo nomunoko nosilveri nongoldo. Ndjambi omunene me ku tjivisa, muhona ombara, imbi mbi mavi katjitwa moruveze ndu maru ya. Ami mbe ku raere nawanawa imbi mbi wa roto, nu mbe ku handjaurire ouatjiri womaheero woruroto.”
Ombara mai sutu Daniel ondjambi
46 Ombara Nebukadnesar otja wa onḓurumika mondjozikiro na rakiza kutja Daniel a eterwe ombunguhiro yovikurya noyovyomoro omuwa. 47 Ombara ya tja nai ku Daniel: “Ndjambi woye eye omunene tjinene poomukuru avehe, nu oMuhona kombanda yozombara azehe, neye u vandurura oviundikwa. Ami me tjiwa otjiṋa hi ove tjinga awa sora okuvandurura otjiundikwa hi.” 48 Ombara opu ya yerera Daniel a rire omuyozikwa wayo; oyo ye mu pa oviyandjewa oviwa ovingi, ai mu ziki okurira omutjevere worukondwa aruhe rwotjihuro Babilon nai mu ziki kutja a rire otjiuru tjovayandjandunge avehe vombara. 49 Otja komaningiriro wa Daniel ombara ya zika Sadrak na Mesak na Abed-Nego kutja ve rire ovatjevere voviungura avihe vyorukondwa rwotjihuro Babilon; nungwari Daniel omuini wa kara pondjuwo youhona.
