1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. 3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. 10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. 11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. 13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: 15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: 16 Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. 17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. 18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. 20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: 22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. 23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? 31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
1 尼布甲尼撒王向住在全地的各国、各族和说各种语言的人宣告说: "愿你们大享平安!
2 我乐意把至高的 神向我所行的神迹奇事宣扬出来。
3 他的神迹多么伟大, 他的奇事多么有力; 他的国是永远的国, 他的统治直到万代! (本章第1-3节在《马索拉抄本》为3:31-33)
4 "我尼布甲尼撒安逸地住在家中, 在宫里享受荣华富贵。(本节在《马索拉抄本》为4:1)
5 我作了一个梦, 这梦使我惧怕; 我在床上所见的梦幻和我脑海中出现的异象, 都使我惊惶。
6 我就下令把巴比伦所有的智慧人, 都带到我面前来, 要他们把梦的意思向我说明。
7 于是术士、用法术的、迦勒底人和占星家都进来; 我当面把那梦告诉了他们, 可是他们却不能把梦的意思向我说明。
8 "最后, 那照着我神的名, 称为伯提沙撒的但以理, 来到我面前, 他里面有圣神的灵, 我就把梦告诉他:
9 ‘术士的领袖伯提沙撒啊! 因为我知道你里面有圣神的灵, 没有什么隐秘的事能难倒你; 因此, 你要把我梦中所见的异象和梦的意思告诉我。
10 我躺在床上时脑海中所见的异象是这样: 我看见大地中间, 有一棵树, 十分高大。
11 那树渐长, 而且坚强, 高达于天, 地极所有的人都看得到。
12 它的叶子美丽, 果实繁多, 所有的生物都从它得到食物; 野地的走兽在它下面歇息, 空中的飞鸟栖宿在它的枝头上; 各种生物都从它得着供养。
13 "‘我躺在床上, 在我脑海出现的异象中, 我看见有一位守望者, 就是圣者, 从天上下来,
14 大声呼叫, 这样说: 你们要砍下这树, 削断枝子, 摇落叶子, 打散果子, 把树下的走兽赶散, 把树枝上的飞鸟赶走。
15 然而, 树根的余干却要留在地上, 用铁和铜的链子围住, 留在野地的青草中, 使他被天露滴湿; 使他像走兽一样在地上的草丛中得他的分。
16 使他的心改变, 不再是人的心, 给他一个兽心, 使他经过七年的时期。
17 这是守望者宣告的裁决, 是圣者颁布的决定, 好使世人都知道: 至高者在世人的国中掌权, 他喜欢把国赐给谁, 就赐给谁, 甚至立最卑微的人执掌国权。
18 "‘这就是我尼布甲尼撒王所作的梦。伯提沙撒啊! 你要把这梦的意思告诉我, 因为我国中所有的智慧人都不能把梦的意思向我说明; 只有你能, 因为你里面有圣神的灵。’"
19 于是那称为伯提沙撒的但以理惊愕片时, 他想到的事使他惊惶。王对他说: "伯提沙撒啊! 别让这梦和梦的意思使你惊惶。"伯提沙撒回答说: "我主啊! 愿这梦归给憎恨你的人, 梦的意思归给你的敌人。
20 你所见的树渐长, 而且坚强, 高达于天, 全地的人都看得到。
21 它的叶子美丽, 果实繁多, 所有的生物都从它得到食物; 野地的走兽住在它下面, 空中的飞鸟栖在它的枝头上。
22 王啊! 你就是那树, 越来越伟大坚强; 你的威势渐长, 高达于天; 你的权柄直到地极。
23 王既然看见一位守望者, 就是圣者, 从天上下来, 说: ‘你们要砍下毁坏这树, 树根的余干却要留在地上, 用铁和铜的链子围住, 留在野地的青草中, 使他被天露滴湿; 使他的分和野地的走兽一样, 直到他经过那七年的时期。’
24 王啊! 梦的意思就是这样: 这临到我主我王的事, 是至高者的裁决。
25 你必被赶逐, 离开人群, 和野地的走兽同住; 你必像牛一样吃草, 被天露滴湿, 要经过七年的时期; 等到你承认至高者在世人的国中掌权, 他喜欢把国赐给谁, 就赐给谁。
26 守望者既然吩咐要留下树根的余干, 所以, 等到你承认上天的至高者是掌权的, 你的国就必再归给你。
27 因此, 王啊! 请你接纳我的劝告, 施行公义, 断绝罪过, 怜悯受欺压者, 断绝罪孽, 你的平安或者可以延长。"
28 这一切事都在尼布甲尼撒王身上实现了。
29 过了十二个月, 王在巴比伦王宫的平顶上散步的时候,
30 他说: "这大巴比伦城不是我用大能大力建造作我的京都, 为显我威严的荣耀吗?"
31 这话在王的口中还没有说完, 就有声音从天上传下来, 说: "尼布甲尼撒王啊! 你的王权被褫夺了。
32 你必被赶逐, 离开人群, 和野地的走兽同住; 你必像牛一样吃草, 要经过七年的时期; 等到你承认至高者在世人的国中掌权, 他喜欢把国赐给谁, 就赐给谁。"
33 这话立刻就应验在尼布甲尼撒身上; 他被赶逐, 离开人群, 像牛一样吃草, 身体被天露滴湿, 直到他的头发长得像鹰毛, 指甲像鸟爪。
34 "七年的日子满了, 我尼布甲尼撒举目望天, 我的理智恢复过来, 我就称颂至高者, 赞美尊崇活到永远的 神。他的统治永无穷尽, 他的国度直到万代。
35 地上所有的居民, 在他来说都是虚无; 在天上的万军中, 他凭自己的意旨行事; 在地上的居民中, 也是这样; 没有人能拦住他的手, 或问他说: ‘你作什么?’
36 "那时, 我的理智恢复过来后, 为着我国的光荣, 我的威严和光辉也都恢复过来了。我的谋臣和官员仍来求见我, 我的王权重新坚立, 我的权势越发增加。
37 现在我尼布甲尼撒赞美、尊崇、荣耀天上的王, 因为他所作的一切都正确, 他所行的也都公平; 行为骄傲的, 他都能贬低。"