1
Katika mwaka wa kwanza wa Belshaza, mfalme wa Babeli, Danielii aliona ndoto, na maono ya kichwa chake, kitandani mwake; basi akaiandika ndoto, akatoa habari ya jumla ya mambo hayo.
In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.
2
Danielii akanena, akisema, Naliona katika maono yangu wakati wa usiku; na tazama, hizo pepo nne za mbinguni zilivuma kwa nguvu juu ya bahari kubwa.
Daniel declared: “In my vision in the night I looked, and suddenly the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea.
3
Ndipo wanyama wakubwa wanne wakatoka baharini, wote wa namna mbalimbali.
Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:
4
Wa kwanza alikuwa kama simba, naye alikuwa na mabawa ya tai; nikatazama, hata mabawa yake yakafutuka manyoya, akainuliwa katika nchi, akasimamishwa juu kwa miguu miwili kama mwanadamu; naye akapewa moyo wa kibinadamu.
The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man and given the mind of a man.
5
Na tazama, mnyama mwingine, wa pili, kama dubu, naye aliinuliwa upande mmoja, na mifupa mitatu ya mbavu ilikuwamo kinywani mwake katika meno yake; wakamwambia mnyama huyo hivi, Inuka, ule nyama tele.
Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’
6
Kisha nikatazama, na kumbe! Mnyama mwingine, kama chui, naye juu ya mgongo wake alikuwa na mabawa manne kama ya ndege; mnyama huyo alikuwa na vichwa vinne; akapewa mamlaka.
Next, as I watched, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
7
Baadaye nikaona katika njozi ya usiku, na tazama, mnyama wa nne, mwenye kutisha, mwenye nguvu, mwenye uwezo mwingi, naye alikuwa na meno ya chuma, makubwa sana; alikula na kuvunja vipande vipande, na kuyakanyaga mabaki kwa miguu yake; na umbo lake lilikuwa mbali kabisa na wale wa kwanza, naye alikuwa na pembe kumi.
After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.
8
Nikaziangalia sana pembe zake, na tazama, pembe nyingine ikazuka kati yao, nayo ilikuwa ndogo, ambayo mbele yake pembe tatu katika zile za kwanza zikang'olewa kabisa; na tazama, katika pembe hiyo mlikuwa na macho kama macho ya mwanadamu, na kinywa kilichokuwa kikinena maneno makuu.
While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.
9
Nikatazama hata viti vya enzi vikawekwa, na mmoja aliye mzee wa siku ameketi; mavazi yake yalikuwa meupe kama theluji, na nywele za kichwa chake kama sufu safi; kiti chake cha enzi kilikuwa miali ya moto, na gurudumu zake moto uwakao.
As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
10
Mto kama wa moto ukatoka ukapita mbele zake; maelfu elfu wakamtumikia, na elfu kumi mara elfu kumi wakasimama mbele zake; hukumu ikawekwa, na vitabu vikafunuliwa.
A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.
11
Nikatazama wakati huo; kwa sababu ya sauti ya yale maneno makubwa iliyoyasema ile pembe; nalitazama hata mnyama yule akauawa, mwili wake ukaharibiwa, akatolewa ateketezwe kwa moto.
Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.
12
Na kwa habari za wale wanyama wengine, walinyang'anywa mamlaka yao; walakini maisha yao yalidumishwa kwa wakati na majira.
As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but they were granted an extension of life for a season and a time.
13
Nikaona katika njozi za usiku, na tazama, mmoja aliye mfano wa mwanadamu akaja pamoja na mawingu ya mbingu akamkaribia huyo mzee wa siku, wakamleta karibu naye.
In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.
14
Naye akapewa mamlaka, na utukufu, na ufalme, ili watu wa kabila zote, na taifa zote, na lugha zote, wamtumikie; mamlaka yake ni mamlaka ya milele, ambayo hayatapita kamwe, na ufalme wake ni ufalme usioweza kuangamizwa.
And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
15
Basi, mimi Danielii, roho yangu ilihuzunika mwilini mwangu, na hayo maono ya kichwa changu yakanifadhaisha.
I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit, and the visions in my mind alarmed me.
16
Nikamkaribia mmoja wa hao waliosimama karibu, nikamwuliza maana ya kweli ya hayo yote. Basi akaniambia, akanijulisha tafsiri ya mambo hayo.
I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me the interpretation of these things:
17
Wanyama hao wakubwa walio wanne ni wafalme wanne watakaotokea duniani.
‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth.
18
Lakini watakatifu wake Aliye juu wataupokea ufalme, na kuumiliki huo ufalme milele, naam hata milele na milele.
But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’
19
Kisha nalitaka kujua maana ya yule mnyama wa nne, aliyekuwa mbali na wenziwe wote, mwenye kutisha sana, ambaye meno yake yalikuwa ya chuma, na makucha yake ya shaba; aliyekula, na kuvunja vipande vipande, na kuyakanyaga mabaki kwa miguu yake;
Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left.
20
na habari za zile pembe kumi zilizokuwa kichwani mwake, na ile pembe nyingine iliyozuka, ambayo mbele yake zilianguka pembe tatu; yaani, pembe ile yenye macho, na kanwa lililonena makuu, ambayo kuonekana kwake kulikuwa hodari kuliko wenzake.
I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.
21
Nikatazama, na pembe iyo hiyo ilifanya vita na watakatifu, ikawashinda;
As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them,
22
hata akaja huyo mzee wa siku, nao watakatifu wake Aliye juu wakapewa hukumu; na majira yakawadia watakatifu waumiliki ufalme.
until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.
23
Akanena hivi, Huyo mnyama wa nne atakuwa ni ufalme wa nne juu ya dunia, utakaokuwa mbali na falme zile zote, nao utakula dunia yote, na kuikanyaga, na kuivunja vipande vipande.
This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.
24
Na habari za zile pembe kumi, katika ufalme huo wataondoka wafalme kumi; na mwingine ataondoka baada ya hao; naye atakuwa mbali na hao wa kwanza; naye atawashusha wafalme watatu.
And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings.
25
Naye atanena maneno kinyume chake Aliye juu, naye atawadhoofisha watakatifu wake Aliye juu; naye ataazimu kubadili majira na sheria; nao watatiwa mikononi mwake kwa wakati, na nyakati mbili, na nusu wakati.
He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.
26
Lakini hukumu itawekwa, nao watamwondolea mamlaka yake, kuipoteza na kuiangamiza, hata milele.
But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.
27
Na ufalme, na mamlaka, na ukuu wa ufalme, chini ya mbingu zote, watapewa watu wa watakatifu wake Aliye juu; ufalme wake ni ufalme wa milele, na wote wenye mamlaka watamtumikia na kumtii.
Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’
28
Huu ndio mwisho wa jambo lile. Nami, Danielii, fikira zangu zilinifadhaisha, na uso wangu ulinibadilika; lakini naliliweka jambo hilo moyoni mwangu.
Thus ends the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself.”