Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
1 In the second year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had a dream. It worried him so much that he couldn't sleep, 2 so he sent for his fortunetellers, magicians, sorcerers, and wizards to come and explain the dream to him. When they came and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I'm worried about a dream I've had. I want to know what it means.”
4 They answered the king in Aramaic, “May Your Majesty live forever! Tell us your dream, and we will explain it to you.”
5 The king said to them, “I have made up my mind that you must tell me the dream and then tell me what it means. If you can't, I'll have you torn limb from limb and make your houses a pile of ruins. 6 But if you can tell me both the dream and its meaning, I will reward you with gifts and great honor. Now then, tell me what the dream was and what it means.”
7 They answered the king again, “If Your Majesty will only tell us what the dream was, we will explain it.”
8 At that, the king exclaimed, “Just as I thought! You are trying to gain time, because you see that I have made up my mind 9 to give all of you the same punishment if you don't tell me the dream. You have agreed among yourselves to go on telling me lies because you hope that in time things will change. Tell me what the dream was, and then I will know that you can also tell me what it means.”
10 The advisers replied, “There is no one on the face of the earth who can tell Your Majesty what you want to know. No king, not even the greatest and most powerful, has ever made such a demand of his fortunetellers, magicians, and wizards. 11 What Your Majesty is asking for is so difficult that no one can do it for you except the gods, and they do not live among human beings.”
12 At that, the king flew into a rage and ordered the execution of all the royal advisers in Babylon. 13 So the order was issued for all of them to be killed, including Daniel and his friends.
God Shows Daniel What the Dream Means
14 Then Daniel went to Arioch, commander of the king's bodyguard, who had been ordered to carry out the execution. Choosing his words carefully, 15 he asked Arioch why the king had issued such a harsh order. So Arioch told Daniel what had happened.
16 Daniel went at once and obtained royal permission for more time, so that he could tell the king what the dream meant. 17 Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. 18 He told them to pray to the God of heaven for mercy and to ask him to explain the mystery to them so that they would not be killed along with the other advisers in Babylon. 19 Then that same night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he praised the God of heaven:
20 “God is wise and powerful!
Praise him forever and ever.
21 He controls the times and the seasons;
he makes and unmakes kings;
it is he who gives wisdom and understanding.
22 He reveals things that are deep and secret;
he knows what is hidden in darkness,
and he himself is surrounded by light.
23 I praise you and honor you, God of my ancestors.
You have given me wisdom and strength;
you have answered my prayer
and shown us what to tell the king.”
Daniel Tells the King the Dream and Explains It
24 So Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had commanded to execute the royal advisers. He said to him, “Don't put them to death. Take me to the king, and I will tell him what his dream means.”
25 At once Arioch took Daniel into King Nebuchadnezzar's presence and told the king, “I have found one of the Jewish exiles who can tell Your Majesty the meaning of your dream.”
26 The king said to Daniel (who was also called Belteshazzar), “Can you tell me what I dreamed and what it means?”
27 Daniel replied, “Your Majesty, there is no wizard, magician, fortuneteller, or astrologer who can tell you that. 28 But there is a God in heaven, who reveals mysteries. He has informed Your Majesty what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you the dream, the vision you had while you were asleep.
29 “While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about the future; and God, who reveals mysteries, showed you what is going to happen. 30 Now, this mystery was revealed to me, not because I am wiser than anyone else, but so that Your Majesty may learn the meaning of your dream and understand the thoughts that have come to you.
31 “Your Majesty, in your vision you saw standing before you a giant statue, bright and shining, and terrifying to look at. 32 Its head was made of the finest gold; its chest and arms were made of silver; its waist and hips of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 While you were looking at it, a great stone broke loose from a cliff without anyone touching it, struck the iron and clay feet of the statue, and shattered them. 35 At once the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold crumbled and became like the dust on a threshing place in summer. The wind carried it all away, leaving not a trace. But the stone grew to be a mountain that covered the whole earth.
36 “This was the dream. Now I will tell Your Majesty what it means. 37 Your Majesty, you are the greatest of all kings. The God of heaven has made you emperor and given you power, might, and honor. 38 He has made you ruler of all the inhabited earth and ruler over all the animals and birds. You are the head of gold. 39 After you there will be another empire, not as great as yours, and after that a third, an empire of bronze, which will rule the whole earth. 40 And then there will be a fourth empire, as strong as iron, which shatters and breaks everything. And just as iron shatters everything, it will shatter and crush all the earlier empires. 41 You also saw that the feet and the toes were partly clay and partly iron. This means that it will be a divided empire. It will have something of the strength of iron, because there was iron mixed with the clay. 42 The toes—partly iron and partly clay—mean that part of the empire will be strong and part of it weak. 43 You also saw that the iron was mixed with the clay. This means that the rulers of that empire will try to unite their families by intermarriage, but they will not be able to, any more than iron can mix with clay. 44 At the time of those rulers the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never end. It will never be conquered, but will completely destroy all those empires and then last forever. 45 You saw how a stone broke loose from a cliff without anyone touching it and how it struck the statue made of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God is telling Your Majesty what will happen in the future. I have told you exactly what you dreamed, and have given you its true meaning.”
The King Rewards Daniel
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed to the ground and gave orders for sacrifices and offerings to be made to Daniel. 47 The king said, “Your God is the greatest of all gods, the Lord over kings, and the one who reveals mysteries. I know this because you have been able to explain this mystery.” 48 Then he gave Daniel a high position, presented him with many splendid gifts, put him in charge of the province of Babylon, and made him the head of all the royal advisers. 49 At Daniel's request the king put Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon; Daniel, however, remained at the royal court.
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.
