1
Mfalme Nebukadreza, kwa watu wa kabila zote, na taifa zote, na lugha zote, wanaokaa katika dunia yote; Amani iongezeke kwenu.
King Nebuchadnezzar, To the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth: May your prosperity be multiplied.
2
Mimi nimeona vema kutangaza habari za ishara na maajabu, aliyonitendea Mungu aliye juu.
I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
3
Ishara zake ni kubwa kama nini! Na maajabu yake yana uweza kama nini! Ufalme wake ni ufalme wa milele; na mamlaka yake ni ya kizazi hata kizazi.
How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation.
4
Mimi, Nebukadreza, nalikuwa nikistarehe katika nyumba yangu, nikisitawi katika nyumba yangu ya enzi.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.
5
Nikaota ndoto iliyonitia hofu; mawazo niliyokuwa nayo kitandani mwangu, na njozi za kichwa changu, zikanifadhaisha.
I had a dream, and it frightened me; while I was in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.
6
Basi nikatoa amri kwamba wenye hekima wote wa Babeli, waletwe mbele yangu, ili kunijulisha tafsiri ya ndoto ile.
So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.
7
Ndipo wakaingia waganga, na wachawi, na Wakaldayo, na wanajimu; nikawahadithia ile ndoto; wao wasiweze kunijulisha tafsiri yake.
When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.
8
Bali hatimaye Danielii akaingia mbele yangu, ambaye jina lake ni Belteshaza, kwa kufuata jina la mungu wangu; tena ndani yake inakaa roho ya miungu watakatifu; nikamhadithia ile ndoto, nikisema,
But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream:
9
Ee Belteshaza, mkuu wa waganga, kwa sababu ninajua ya kuwa roho ya miungu watakatifu inakaa ndani yako, na ya kuwa hapana neno la siri likushindalo, niambie njozi za ndoto yangu niliyoiona, na tafsiri yake.
“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.
10
Njozi za kichwa changu kitandani mwangu zilikuwa hivi; naliona, na tazama, palikuwa na mti katikati ya nchi, urefu wake mkubwa sana.
In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass: There was a tree in the midst of the land, and its height was great.
11
Mti ule ukakua, ukawa na nguvu, urefu wake ulifika mpaka mbinguni, na kuonekana kwake mpaka mwisho wa dunia.
The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
12
Majani yake yalikuwa mazuri, na matunda yake mengi, na ndani yake chakula cha kuwatosha watu wote; wanyama wa kondeni walipata uvuli chini yake, na ndege wa angani walikaa katika matawi yake; kila kitu chenye mwili kilipata chakula kwake.
Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.
13
Nikaona katika njozi za kichwa changu kitandani mwangu, na tazama, mlinzi, naye ni mtakatifu, alishuka kutoka mbinguni.
As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
14
Akapaza sauti yake, akasema, Ukateni mti huu, yafyekeni matawi yake, yapukusieni mbali majani yake, na kuyatawanya matunda yake, wanyama na waondoke hapo chini yake, na ndege katika matawi yake.
He called out in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.
15
Walakini kiacheni kisiki cha shina lake katika ardhi, pamoja na pingu ya chuma na shaba, katika majani mororo ya kondeni; kikapate maji kwa umande wa mbinguni, na sehemu yake iwe pamoja na wanyama katika majani ya nchi;
But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven and graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth.
16
moyo wake ubadilike, usiwe moyo wa binadamu, na apewe moyo wa mnyama; nyakati saba zikapite juu yake.
Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of a beast till seven times pass him by.
17
Hukumu hii imekuja kwa agizo la walinzi, na amri hii kwa neno la watakatifu; kusudi walio hai wapate kujua ya kuwa Aliye juu anatawala katika ufalme wa wanadamu, naye humpa amtakaye, tena humtawaza juu yake aliye mnyonge.
This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’
18
Mimi, Nebukadreza, nimeiona ndoto hii; na wewe, Ee Belteshaza, eleza tafsiri yake, kwa maana wenye hekima wote wa ufalme wangu hawawezi kunijulisha tafsiri yake; bali wewe waweza, maana roho ya miungu watakatifu inakaa ndani yako.
This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
19
Ndipo Danielii, aliyeitwa jina lake Belteshaza, akashangaa kwa muda, na fikira zake zikamfadhaisha. Mfalme akajibu akasema, Ee Belteshaza, ndoto ile isikufadhaishe wala tafsiri yake. Belteshaza akajibu, akasema, Bwana wangu, ndoto hii iwapate wao wakuchukiao, na tafsiri yake iwapate adui zako.
For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!
20
Ule mti uliouona, uliokua, ukawa na nguvu, urefu wake ukafika mpaka mbinguni, na kuonekana kwake mpaka dunia yote;
The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,
21
ambao majani yake yalikuwa mazuri, na matunda yake mengi, na ndani yake chakula cha kuwatosha wote; ambao chini yake wanyama wa kondeni walikaa, na ndege wa angani walikuwa na makao yao katika matawi yake;
whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested—
22
ni wewe, Ee mfalme, uliyekua, na kupata nguvu; maana ukuu wako umekua na kufika mpaka mbinguni, na mamlaka yako yamefika mpaka mwisho wa dunia.
you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.
23
Tena, kwa kuwa mfalme alimwona mlinzi, naye ni mtakatifu, akishuka kutoka mbinguni, akisema, Ukateni mti huu, mkauangamize; ila kiacheni kisiki cha shina lake katika ardhi, pamoja na pingu ya chuma na shaba, katika majani mororo ya kondeni; kikatiwe maji kwa umande wa mbinguni, na sehemu yake iwe pamoja na wanyama wa kondeni, hata nyakati saba zipite juu yake;
And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and graze with the beasts of the field till seven times pass him by.’
24
tafsiri yake ni hii, Ee mfalme, nayo ni amri yake Aliye juu, iliyomjia bwana wangu, mfalme;
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:
25
ya kuwa utafukuzwa mbali na wanadamu, na makao yako yatakuwa pamoja na wanyama wa kondeni, nawe utalazimishwa kula majani kama ng'ombe, nawe utatiwa maji kwa umande wa mbinguni, na nyakati saba zitapita juu yako; hata utakapojua ya kuwa Aliye juu ndiye anayemiliki katika ufalme wa wanadamu, naye humpa yeye amtakaye, awaye yote.
You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.
26
Na kwa kuwa waliamuru kukiacha kisiki cha shina lake; ufalme wako utakuwa imara kwako, baada ya wewe kujua ya kuwa mbingu ndizo zinazotawala.
As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
27
Kwa sababu hiyo, Ee mfalme, shauri langu lipate kibali kwako; ukaache dhambi zako kwa kutenda haki, ukaache maovu yako kwa kuwahurumia maskini; huenda ukapata kuzidishiwa siku zako za kukaa raha.
Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”
28
Hayo yote yakampata mfalme Nebukadreza.
All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29
Baada ya miezi kumi na miwili, alikuwa akitembea ndani ya jumba la kifalme katika Babeli.
Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,
30
Mfalme akanena, akasema, Mji huu sio Babeli mkubwa nilioujenga mimi, uwe kao langu la kifalme, kwa uwezo wa nguvu zangu, ili uwe utukufu wa enzi yangu?
the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”
31
Hata neno lile lilipokuwa katika kinywa cha mfalme, sauti ilikuja kutoka mbinguni, ikisema, Ee mfalme Nebukadreza, maneno haya unaambiwa wewe; Ufalme huu umeondoka kwako.
While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you.
32
Nawe utafukuzwa mbali na wanadamu, na makao yako yatakuwa pamoja na wanyama wa kondeni; utalishwa majani kama ng'ombe, na nyakati saba zitapita juu yako, hata utakapojua ya kuwa Aliye juu ndiye anayemiliki katika ufalme wa wanadamu, naye humpa amtakaye, awaye yote.
You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”
33
Saa iyo hiyo jambo hilo likatimizwa, likampata Nebukadreza; alifukuzwa mbali na wanadamu, akala majani kama ng'ombe, na mwili wake ulilowa maji kwa umande wa mbinguni, hata nywele zake zikakua, zikawa kama manyoya ya tai, na kucha zake kama kucha za ndege.
At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
34
Hata mwisho wa siku hizo, mimi, Nebukadreza, nikainua macho yangu kuelekea mbingu, fahamu zangu zikanirudia; nikamhimidi Yeye aliye juu, nikamsifu na kumheshimu Yeye aishiye milele; kwa maana mamlaka yake ni mamlaka ya milele, na ufalme wake hudumu toka kizazi hata kizazi;
But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35
na watu wote wanaokaa duniani wamehesabiwa kuwa si kitu, naye hufanya kama atakavyo, katika jeshi la mbinguni, na katika hao wanaokaa duniani; wala hapana awezaye kuuzuia mkono wake, wala kumwuliza, Unafanya nini wewe?
All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
36
Basi wakati uo huo fahamu zangu zikanirudia, na kwa ajili ya utukufu wa ufalme wangu, enzi yangu na fahari yangu zikanirudia; na mawaziri wangu, na madiwani wangu, wakaja kunitafuta; nami nikathibitika katika ufalme wangu, nikaongezewa enzi kupita kiasi.
At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me.
37
Basi mimi, Nebukadreza, namhimidi Mfalme wa mbinguni, namtukuza na kumheshimu; maana matendo yake yote ni kweli, na njia zake ni za adili; na wale waendao kwa kutakabari, yeye aweza kuwadhili.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.