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.”
Ondjodi onhivali yaNebukadnesar
1 Ohamba Nebukadnesar ta lombwele ovakwaunyuni aveshe noiwana aishe nomalaka aeshe, e li kombada yedu alishe: “Ombili yeni nai kale inene! 2 Osha wapalela nge ndi shiivife omadidiliko noikumwifa ei Kalunga wOkombadambada e i ningila nge.
3 Omadidiliko aye aa manene ngahelipi
noikumwifa yaye i neenghono di fike peni?
Ouhamba waye waalushe,
nepangelo laye otali kala fiyo okoludalo noludalo.
4 “Aame, Nebukadnesar, nda kala ndi netulumuko mongulu yange nelao mouhamba wange. 5 Onda twa ondjodi, ndele oya tilifa nge, nonda li ndi neendjodimoniko momutala wange, nomamoniko aa omomutwe wange a kanifa ombili yange. 6 Opo nee ame onda lombwela ovanongo aveshe vomuBabilon va shivwe ve uye koshipala shange, opo va tomonene nge ondjodi ei. 7 Ndele ovanongo, eendudu, Ovakaldea novakoneki veenyofi ve uya, ndele ame onde va hepaululila ondjodi ei, ndelenee vo ova nyengwa oku i tomonena nge. 8 Opo nee hauxuuninwa Daniel e uya koshipala shange, oye tuu ou a lukilwa kalunga kange Beltesasar, ndele muye omu nomhepo yookalunga vayapuki. Ndele ame onde mu hepaululila ondjodi: 9 Oove Beltesasar, omukulunhu wovanongo ame ondi ku shii, nokutya mwoove mu nomhepo yookalunga vayapuki, ndele kape noshinima sha holekwa, tashi ku nyenge oku shi holola. Hepaululile nge hano omamoniko ondjodi yange nefatululo lao li tonga. 10 Ndele omamoniko omomutwe wange nda li nda mona momutala wange, oyaa: Onda mona, ndele tala, omuti wa mena pokati kounyuni ndele wo wa li mulemule. 11 Ndele omuti wakula nowa pama, ndele oxulo yao ya hanga fiyo okeulu, ndele wa monika kominghulo dedu alishe. 12 Omafo ao a li mawa noiimati yao oya li ihapu. Ndele aveshe va mona muo eendja. Oifitukuti yomoixwa oye likongela omudile meni lao, needila dokeulu oda kala moitai yao, heeno, ombelela aishe oya mona eendja kuwo.
13 “Ndele onda mona memoniko lomomutwe wange, eli nda li nda mona momutala wange, ndele tala, omweengeli muyapuki a dja meulu ndele ta kulukile poshi. 14 Ndele ye okwa ingida mokule ndele ta ti ngaha: ‘Keni po omuti ou, teteni oitai yao, pweyeni ko omafo ao, nye mu ke lihanife oiimati yao. Oifitukuti nai tembuke momudile wao needila dokeulu moitai yao. 15 Ndelenee oshifidi nomidi dasho nadi fyaale medu, sho shi kale momwiidi womoixwa, sha mangifwa omalyenge oivela ilaula noitwima. Na tutikwe komume yokeulu, nomwiidi womoixwa nau ninge eendja daye ngaashi oshimuna. 16 Omutima waye nau shituke, kau fi vali omutima womunhu, oye ta pewa omutima woshilyani. Nomafimbo aheyali nae mu xulile po ngaha. 17 Oshinima eshi osha pangelwa momhangela yovaengeli nokondjovo yovayapuki, opo ovanamwenyo va shiive nokutya, ou wOkombadambada e kwete eenghonopangelo kombada yoilongo yovanhu, ndele te i yandje kwaau Ye a hala, nomufyoonelela Ye ote mu tula mepangelo.’ 18 Emonikondjodi olo tuu olo, ame, ohamba Nebukadnesar, nde li mona. Ndele ove, Beltesasar, shiivifile nge etomono, osheshi ovanongo aveshe vomouhamba wange ova nyengwa oku li tomona. Ndelenee ove ito nyengwa, osheshi mwoove omu nomhepo yookalunga vayapuki.”
19 Opo nee Daniel, ou a ifanwa Beltesasar, okwa li a haluka okafimbo, omadiladilo aye okwe mu tilifa. Ndele ohamba oya popya tai ti: “Beltesasar, ondjodi netomono layo inali ku tilifa.” Beltesasar okwa nyamukula ndele ta ti: “Omwene wange, ondjodi nai uye kombada yovatondadi voye netomono layo nali uye kombada yovanaita naave. 20 Omuti ou ove we u mona, ou wakula nowa pama, noxulo yao ya twa meulu naau wa monika kombada yedu alishe, 21 omafo ao a li mawa noiimati yao ihapu nomuwo omwa li eendja daaveshe, koshi yao oifitukuti yomoixwa ya kala mo nomoitai yao eedila dokeulu oda li mo; 22 omuti ou oove, ohamba, wa ninga omunene nowa pama, efimano loye la hapupala nola twa fiyo okeulu nepangelo loye fiyo okexulilo ledu. 23 Ndele ohamba, eshi ya mona omweengeli muyapuki, a dja meulu nokwa kulukila poshi neendjovo edi: ‘Keni po omuti ou, nye mu u nyone po, ndelenee oshifidi shao nomidi dasho nadi fyaale medu, shi kale momwiidi womoixwa, sha mangwa omalyenge oivela ilaula noitwima, nashi tutikwe komume yokeulu nomwiidi womoixwa nau ninge eendja daye, ngaashi oimuna fiyo omafimbo aheyali nae mu xulile po,’ 24 ohamba, etomono netokolo laau wOkombadambada, la hanga omwene wange, oleli: 25 Ove to tewa mo mokati kovanhu, ndele to ka kala pamwe noifitukuti yomoixwa, oto ka pewa omwiidi ngaashi eengobe, oto ka kala wa tuta komume yokeulu; ndele osho ngaho ove to pitifa po omafimbo aheyali, fiyo to ka shiiva, ou wOkombadambada oha pangele oshilongo shovanhu ndele te shi pe ou Ye a hala. 26 Ndele eshi kwa tiwa, oshifidi shomuti nashi fyaale mo medu, otashi ti, ouhamba woye to u tuvikililwa, ndele to u peululwa, ngeenge wa shiiva, kutya eulu li neenghonopangelo. 27 Onghee hano, ohamba, epukululo lange nali ku wapalele: liteeka oulunde woye nokudiinina ouyuki; liteeka owii woye nokufila eehepele onghenda. Okukala kwoye kwombili pamwe taku ku kalelele.”
Okuya eenghwengu nokuninipikwa kwaNebukadnesar
28 Oinima aishe ei oya shakeneka ohamba Nebukadnesar: 29 Eehani omulongo nambali eshi da pita po, ohamba eshi ya li tai lyange kombada yongulu youhamba waye muBabilon. 30 Ohamba oya popya tai ti: “Babilon shinene hasho tuu eshi, ame nde shi tungifa eenghono dange dihapu, shi ninge ouhamba, nde shi tungila etumbaleko leenghonopangelo dange.” 31 Ohamba manga inai mana okupopya eendjovo odo, ondaka oya dja meulu tai ti: “Ove, ohamba Nebukadnesar, oto lombwelwa: oshilongo we shi kufwa. 32 Ndele to tewatewa mokati kovanhu, ndele to ka kala pamwe noifitukuti yomoixwa, to ka lya omwiidi ngaashi eengobe, ndele ove oto ka pitifa po omafimbo aheyali, fiyo oto ka shiiva nokutya, ou wOkombadambada oku neenghono okupangela oshilongo shovanhu noku shi pa ou Ye a hala.” 33 Divadiva ondjovo ei oya wanifilwa Nebukadnesar. Ye okwa tewa mo mokati kovanhu, ndele ta li omwiidi ngaashi eengobe, nomume yokeulu oya tutika olutu laye fiyo eexwiki dokomutwe waye oda tumhilwa da fomenya onhwa, neenyala oda hongomoka mo da feenyala deedila.
34 “Ndele efimbo eli eshi la xula po, ame Nebukadnesar, onda yelula omesho ange keulu, ndele eendunge dange oda alukila nge, ndele nda pandula ou wOkombadambada, ndele nda hambelela nokufimaneka ou ta kala fiyo alushe,
ou e nepangelo tali kala fiyo alushe,
noshilongo shaye tashi kala fiyo okoludalo noludalo.
35 Noonakukala kombada yedu otava talwa ovo vongaho.
Ngaashi Ye a hala osho ta ningile omatanga ovakwaita vomeulu
noonakukala kombada yedu.
Ndele kape na ou ta dulu okukelela eke laye
noku mu lombwela: Oto ningi shike?
36 Mefimbo tuu linya onda alulilwa eendunge neenghonopangelo dange nefimano lange ola alulilwa nge okefimano loshilongo shange. Nomalenga ange novakulunhu ova ila nge ndele ame nda nangekululwa moshilongo shange. Neenghonopangelo dange oda hapupala unene neenghono. 37 Aame Nebukadnesar, paife ohandi hambelele ndele handi tumbaleke ndele handi fimaneke Ohamba yomeulu! Oilonga yaye aishe oyo yoshili, neendjila daye oda yuka. Oye ta dulu okuxutula ava hava ende melinenepeko.”
