Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream
1 King Nebuchadnezzar sent the following message to the people of all nations, races, and languages in the world:
“Greetings! 2 Listen to my account of the wonders and miracles which the Supreme God has shown me.
3 “How great are the wonders God shows us!
How powerful are the miracles he performs!
God is king forever; he will rule for all time.
4 “I was living comfortably in my palace, enjoying great prosperity. 5 But I had a frightening dream and saw terrifying visions while I was asleep. 6 I ordered all the royal advisers in Babylon to be brought to me so that they could tell me what the dream meant. 7 Then all the fortunetellers, magicians, wizards, and astrologers were brought in, and I told them my dream, but they could not explain it to me. 8 Then Daniel came in. (He is also called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god.) The spirit of the holy gods is in him, so I told him what I had dreamed. I said to him: 9 Belteshazzar, chief of the fortunetellers, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that you understand all mysteries. This is my dream. Tell me what it means.
10 “While I was asleep, I had a vision of a huge tree in the middle of the earth. 11 It grew bigger and bigger until it reached the sky and could be seen by everyone in the world. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, and it was loaded down with fruit—enough for the whole world to eat. Wild animals rested in its shade, birds built nests in its branches, and every kind of living being ate its fruit.
13 “While I was thinking about the vision, I saw coming down from heaven an angel, alert and watchful. 14 He proclaimed in a loud voice, ‘Cut the tree down and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Drive the animals from under it and the birds out of its branches. 15 But leave the stump in the ground with a band of iron and bronze around it. Leave it there in the field with the grass.
“‘Now let the dew fall on this man, and let him live with the animals and the plants. 16 For seven years he will not have a human mind, but the mind of an animal. 17 This is the decision of the alert and watchful angels. So then, let all people everywhere know that the Supreme God has power over human kingdoms and that he can give them to anyone he chooses—even to those who are least important.’
18 “This is the dream I had,” said King Nebuchadnezzar. “Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means. None of my royal advisers could tell me, but you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel Explains the Dream
19 At this, Daniel, who is also called Belteshazzar, was so alarmed that he could not say anything. The king said to him, “Belteshazzar, don't let the dream and its message alarm you.”
Belteshazzar replied, “Your Majesty, I wish that the dream and its explanation applied to your enemies and not to you. 20 The tree, so tall that it reached the sky, could be seen by everyone in the world. 21 Its leaves were beautiful, and it had enough fruit on it to feed the whole world. Wild animals rested under it, and birds made their nests in its branches.
22 “Your Majesty, you are the tree, tall and strong. You have grown so great that you reach the sky, and your power extends over the whole world. 23 While Your Majesty was watching, an angel came down from heaven and said, ‘Cut the tree down and destroy it, but leave the stump in the ground. Wrap a band of iron and bronze around it, and leave it there in the field with the grass. Let the dew fall on this man, and let him live there with the animals for seven years.’
24 “This, then, is what it means, Your Majesty, and this is what the Supreme God has declared will happen to you. 25 You will be driven away from human society and will live with wild animals. For seven years you will eat grass like an ox and sleep in the open air, where the dew will fall on you. Then you will admit that the Supreme God controls all human kingdoms and that he can give them to anyone he chooses. 26 The angel ordered the stump to be left in the ground. This means that you will become king again when you acknowledge that God rules all the world. 27 So then, Your Majesty, follow my advice. Stop sinning, do what is right, and be merciful to the poor. Then you will continue to be prosperous.”
28 All this did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Only twelve months later, while he was walking around on the roof of his royal palace in Babylon, 30 he said, “Look how great Babylon is! I built it as my capital city to display my power and might, my glory and majesty.”
31 Before the words were out of his mouth, a voice spoke from heaven, “King Nebuchadnezzar, listen to what I say! Your royal power is now taken away from you. 32 You will be driven away from human society, live with wild animals, and eat grass like an ox for seven years. Then you will acknowledge that the Supreme God has power over human kingdoms and that he can give them to anyone he chooses.”
33 The words came true immediately. Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of human society and ate grass like an ox. The dew fell on his body, and his hair grew as long as eagle feathers and his nails as long as bird claws.
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
34 “When the seven years had passed,” said the king, “I looked up at the sky, and my sanity returned. I praised the Supreme God and gave honor and glory to the one who lives forever.
“He will rule forever,
and his kingdom will last for all time.
35 He looks on the people of the earth as nothing;
angels in heaven and people on earth
are under his control.
No one can oppose his will
or question what he does.
36 “When my sanity returned, my honor, my majesty, and the glory of my kingdom were given back to me. My officials and my noblemen welcomed me, and I was given back my royal power with even greater honor than before.
37 “And now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, honor, and glorify the King of Heaven. Everything he does is right and just, and he can humble anyone who acts proudly.”
Oruroto orutjavari rwa Nebukadnesar
1 Ombara Nebukadnesar wa hinda ombuze koviwaṋa na komihoko avihe na komaraka aehe mouye a tja: “Ohange onene ku eṋe amuhe!” 2 Purateneye komaserekarerero wandje wovihimise novikumise Ndjambi wOkombandambanda mbye ndji tjitira.
3 “Ovihimise Ndjambi mbye tjita ku eṱe ovyo, tjiri, ovinene nai!
Ovihimise eye mbye tjita, tjiri, ovinamasa!
Ndjambi Ombara nga aruhe. Ouhona we mau karerere nga aruhe.
Eye ma honapara okuza komuhoko nga komuhoko.”
4 Nebukadnesar wa hungira komurungu a tja: “Ami mba hupa nawa mondjuwo yandje youhona ambi nohange nouṋingandu ounene. 5 Nungwari mba urumisiwa i oruroto rwandje nu mba tirisiwa i ovirimunikise ngunda amba rara. 6 Ami mba rakiza ovayandjandunge vouhona avehe mObabilon kutja ve etwe ku ami, ve sore okundjiraera omaheero woruroto ndwi. 7 Ozombuke nozondjai nozonganga novatjiwe vozonyose avehe otji va hitisiwa moyandje, nami arire tji mbe ve raere oruroto rwandje; nungwari owo kave sorere ko okundjimangururira rwo. 8 Tjazumba Daniel otja hita. Eye wina aa isanewa Beltsasar, nu wa rukirwa mena romukuru wandje. Ombepo yoomukuru ovazere i ri mu ye, ami otji mbe mu raera oviṋa, mbi mba rotere. Ami mba tja nai ku ye: 9 Beltsasar, munene wozombuke, ami me tjiwa kutja ombepo yoomukuru ovazere i ri move, nokutja ove mo tjiwa oviundikwa avihe. Oruroto rwandje orondwi. Ndji raera kutja maru hee tjike.
10 “Ngunda amba rara mba muna otjirimunikise tjomuti omure tjinene mbwa ri mokati kehi. 11 Owo we kura nau rire omunamasa nga tji wa vaza keyuru, nu aa u sora okumunikwa i omundu auhe mouye. 12 Omaso wawo ya ri omawa omamanise, nu wa twako ovihape mbya yenena okuriwa i ovandu avehe mouye. Ovipuka vyokuti tjandje mavi suva momuzire wawo, nozonḓera za tungu oviruwo mozondavi zawo, novinamuinyo avihe tjandje mavi ri ovihape vyawo.
13 “Ami ngunda ame ripura notjirimunikise hi mba muna omuengeri omuyapuke ngwa ri omutjevere epatje ama rauka keyuru. 14 Eye wa zuvarisa neraka enene a tja: ‘Kee omuti nu mu pumbure ozondavi zawo, poreye omaso wawo mu rimbe ovihape vyawo. Rambeye ovipuka kehi yawo nozonḓera mozondavi zawo. 15 Nungwari otjiunda tji eseye mehi atji nekwamo rotjitenda nongoporo ndje tji kondoroka. Tji eseye mbo mokuti mehozu.
“ ‘Nambano u eseye omueme u wire komurumendu ngwi, nu mu eseye a ture puna ovipuka nomiti mokuti. 16 Oure wozombura hambombari eye ke nokukara nomeripuriro womundu, nungwari ma kara nomeripura wotjipuka. 17 Indji oyo ondyero yovaengeri ovayapuke mbe ri ovatjevere nomapatje. Nambano, ve eseye ovandu ngamwa akuhe ve tjiwe kutja Ndjambi wOkombandambanda u nouvara kombanda yomauhona wovandu, nokutja eye u ye yandja ku auhe eye ngu ma toorora nangarire komundu omurisusuparise tjinene.’ ”
18 Ombara Nebukadnesar wa tja nai: “Indwi orwo oruroto ndu mba rotere. Nambano, Beltsasar, ndji raera kutja oruroto ndwi maru hee tjike. Kape nomuyandjandunge wouhona ngwa sora okundjiraera posi ya ove porwe, orondu ombepo yoomukuru ovazere i ri move.”
Daniel ma handjaura oruroto
19 Komuhingo mbwi Daniel, wina ngu isanewa Beltsasar, wa uruma na kumwa nga tjaa ha sora okuhungira embo. Ombara ya tja nai ku ye: “Beltsasar, o urumisiwa i oruroto ndwi nombuze yarwo.”
Beltsasar wa zira a tja: “Muhona ombara, ami me zeri kutja oruroto ndwi nomahandjauriro warwo ru pwire ovanavita na ove, nungwari aru ha pwire ove. 20 Omuti mbwi omure tjinene nai nga tji mau kavaza keyuru aa u yenene okumunika ku auhe mouye. 21 Nomaso wawo ya ri omawa omamanise, novihape vyawo vya yenena okuparura ouye auhe. Ovipuka vyokuti aavi suva kehi yawo, nozonḓera za tunga oviruwo vyazo mozondavi zawo.
22 “Muhona ombara, oove ngu u ri omuti mbwi omure nomunamasa. Ove wa hapa tjinene nai nga tji wa kavaza keyuru, nouvara woye wa tandavara mouye auhe. 23 Muhona ombara, ove ngunda iyo tarere, omuengeri wa rauka keyuru na tja: ‘Kee omuti u ze po, nungwari ihi otjiunda tji eseye mehi. Tji mangeye ekwamo rotjitenda nongoporo nu mu tji ese mo mokuti momahozu. U eseye omueme u wire kombanda yomurumendu ngwi, nu mu mu ese a ture puna ovipuka oure wozombura hambombari.’
24 “Oruroto ndwi maru hee nai, muhona ombara, noviṋa Ndjambi wOkombandambanda mbya hungira kutja mavi tjitwa kove, ovyo mbi: 25 Ove mo rambwa nu mo isiwa mo mokati kovandu nu mo katura puna ovipuka vyokuti. Oure wozombura hambombari mo ri ehozu tjimuna onduwombe, nu mo rara mouhaiya wokuti omueme ku mau ke ku ningenisa. Nu mo itavere kutja Ndjambi wOkombandambanda ongu honaparera omauhona aehe wovandu, nokutja ongu ye yandja ku auhe eye ngwa toorora. 26 Ovaengeri va rakiza kutja otjiunda tjomuti tji isiwe mehi. Ihi matji hee kutja ove mo rire ombara rukwao tji wa itavere kutja Ndjambi ongu honaparera ouye auhe. 27 Nambano, muhona ombara, puratena komaronga wandje. Isa okutjita ouvi, tjita imbi mbi ri ovisemba, nu u ṱotjari novasyona. Notji mo karerere omuṋingandu.”
28 Oviṋa avihe mbi vya tjitwa kombara Nebukadnesar. 29 Kombunda yomieze omurongo na vivari ombara ngunda amai ryanga kombanda yomututu wondjuwo yayo youhona mObabilon, 30 otji ya tja nai: “Tara, Babilon tjiri otjinene nai! Ami mbe tji tunga kutja tji rire otjihuro tjandje ohongora okuraisa ouvara nomasa wandje nongeṋangeṋeno youhona wandje.”
31 Omambo nga ngunda aye hiya pita motjinyo tje kwa za eraka meyuru nda tja nai: “Mbara Nebukadnesar, puratena ku inga ngu me hungire! Ouvara wouhona woye nambano mau isiwa po pove. 32 Mo rambwa nu mo isiwa mo mokati kovandu, mo kakara puna ovipuka vyokuti nu mo karya ehozu tjimuna onduwombe oure wozombura hambombari. Otji mo itavere kutja Ndjambi wOkombandambanda u nouvara kombanda yomauhona wovandu, nokutja eye ma sora okuyeyandja ku auhe eye ngwa toorora.”
33 Omambo nga ya rira ouatjiri tjimanga. Nebukadnesar wa rambwa na isiwa mo mokati kovandu na karya ehozu tjimuna onduwombe. Omueme wa ningenisa orutu rwe, nozondjise ze za hapa okurira ozonde otja omainya wonguvi, nozonyara ze za rira ozonde otja ozonyara zonḓera.
Nebukadnesar ma tanga Ndjambi
34 Ombara Nebukadnesar wa tja nai: “Ozombura hambombari tji za kapita ami mba tara keyuru, nozondunge zandje otji za kotoka. Ami mba tanga Ndjambi wOkombandambanda ne hivirike nondjozokiro ingwi umwe ngu karerera nga aruhe.”
“Eye ma honapara nga aruhe,
nouhona we mau karerere nga aruhe,
okuza komuhoko nga komuhoko.
35 Eye u tara kovandu kombanda
yehi otja mbe ri oviṋa uriri;
ovaengeri meyuru novandu kombanda yehi
ve ri kehi youvara we.
Kape na ngu ma pirukire ombango ye,
na ngu ma pura imbi eye mbi ma tjiti.
36 “Ozondunge zandje tji za kotoka, ondjozikiro yandje nouvara wandje nongeṋangeṋeno youhona wandje otji vya kotorwa ku ami wina. Ovaungure vandje vouhona novaingona vandje ve ndji yakura, nami mba yarurirwa ouvara wouhona wandje, na wina ondjozikiro onene tjinene komeho yarutenga.
37 “Nu nambano ami, Nebukadnesar, me tanga nu me yozike nu me yerisa Ombara yEyuru. Oviṋa avihe mbye tjita ovyo ovisemba noviwa, neye ma susuparisa imba mbu mave ritongamisa.”
