Daniel 4

1 King Nebuchadnezzar, To the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth: May your prosperity be multiplied.

1 尼布甲尼撒王曉諭住在全地各方、各國、各族的人說：「願你們大享平安！

2 I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

2 我樂意將至高的上帝向我所行的神蹟奇事宣揚出來。

3 How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation.

3 他的神蹟何其大！ 他的奇事何其盛！ 他的國是永遠的； 他的權柄存到萬代！

4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.

4 「我－尼布甲尼撒安居在宮中，平順在殿內。

5 I had a dream, and it frightened me; while I was in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.

5 我做了一夢，使我懼怕。我在床上的思念，並腦中的異象，使我驚惶。

6 So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.

6 所以我降旨召巴比倫的一切哲士到我面前，叫他們把夢的講解告訴我。

7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.

7 於是那些術士、用法術的、迦勒底人、觀兆的都進來，我將那夢告訴了他們，他們卻不能把夢的講解告訴我。

8 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:

8 末後那照我神的名，稱為伯提沙撒的但以理來到我面前，他裏頭有聖神的靈，我將夢告訴他說：

9 “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.

9 『術士的領袖伯提沙撒啊，因我知道你裏頭有聖神的靈，甚麼奧祕的事都不能使你為難。現在要把我夢中所見的異象和夢的講解告訴我。』

10 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.

10 「我在床上腦中的異象是這樣：我看見地當中有一棵樹，極其高大。

11 The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.

11 那樹漸長，而且堅固，高得頂天，從地極都能看見，

12 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.

12 葉子華美，果子甚多，可作眾生的食物；田野的走獸臥在蔭下，天空的飛鳥宿在枝上；凡有血氣的都從這樹得食。

13 As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

13 「我在床上腦中的異象，見有一位守望的聖者從天而降。

14 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.

14 大聲呼叫說：『伐倒這樹！砍下枝子！搖掉葉子！拋散果子！使走獸離開樹下，飛鳥躲開樹枝。

15 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.

15 樹墩卻要留在地內，用鐵圈和銅圈箍住，在田野的青草中讓天露滴濕，使他與地上的獸一同吃草，

16 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.

16 使他的心改變，不如人心，給他一個獸心，使他經過七期 。

17 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.’

17 這是守望者所發的命，聖者所出的令，好叫世人知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜與誰就賜與誰，或立極卑微的人執掌國權。』

18 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.”

18 「這是我－尼布甲尼撒王所做的夢。伯提沙撒啊，你要說明這夢的講解；因為我國中的一切哲士都不能將夢的講解告訴我，惟獨你能，因你裏頭有聖神的靈。」

19 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!

19 於是稱為伯提沙撒的但以理驚訝片時，心意驚惶。王說：「伯提沙撒啊，不要因夢和夢的講解驚惶。」伯提沙撒回答說：「我主啊，願這夢歸與恨惡你的人，講解歸與你的敵人。

20 The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,

20 你所見的樹漸長，而且堅固，高得頂天，從地極都能看見；

21 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—

21 葉子華美，果子甚多，可作眾生的食物；田野的走獸住在其下；天空的飛鳥宿在枝上。

22 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.

22 「王啊，這漸長又堅固的樹就是你。你的威勢漸長及天，你的權柄管到地極。

23 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.’

23 王既看見一位守望的聖者從天而降，說：『將這樹砍伐毀壞，樹墩卻要留在地內，用鐵圈和銅圈箍住；在田野的青草中，讓天露滴濕，使他與地上的獸一同吃草，直到經過七期。』

24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:

24 「王啊，講解就是這樣：臨到我主我王的事是出於至高者的命。

25 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.

25 你必被趕出離開世人，與野地的獸同居，吃草如牛，被天露滴濕，且要經過七期。等你知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜與誰就賜與誰。

26 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.

26 守望者既吩咐存留樹墩，等你知道諸天掌權，以後你的國必定歸你。

27 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.”

27 王啊，求你悅納我的諫言，以施行公義斷絕罪過，以憐憫窮人除掉罪孽，或者你的平安可以延長。」

28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

28 這事都臨到尼布甲尼撒王。

29 Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,

29 過了十二個月，他遊行在巴比倫王宮裏 。

30 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?”

30 他說：「這大巴比倫不是我用大能大力建為京都，要顯我威嚴的榮耀嗎？」

31 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.

31 這話在王口中尚未說完，有聲音從天降下，說：「尼布甲尼撒王啊，有話對你說，你的國位離開你了。

32 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.”

32 你必被趕出離開世人，與野地的獸同居，吃草如牛，且要經過七期。等你知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜與誰就賜與誰。」

33 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.

33 當時這話就應驗在尼布甲尼撒的身上，他被趕出離開世人，吃草如牛，身被天露滴濕，頭髮長長，好像鷹毛；指甲長長，如同鳥爪。

34 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.

34 日子滿足，我－尼布甲尼撒舉目望天，我的聰明復歸於我，我便稱頌至高者，讚美尊敬活到永遠的上帝。 他的權柄是永有的； 他的國存到萬代。

35 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?’”

35 世上所有的居民都算為虛無； 在天上的萬軍和世上的居民中， 他都憑自己的意旨行事。 無人能攔住他手， 或問他說，你做甚麼呢？

36 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.

36 那時，我的聰明復歸於我，為我國的榮耀、威嚴，和光耀也都復歸於我；並且我的謀士和大臣也來朝見我。我又得堅立在國位上，至大的權柄加增於我。

37 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.

37 現在我－尼布甲尼撒讚美、尊崇、恭敬天上的王；因為他所做的全都誠實，他所行的也都公平。那行動驕傲的，他能降為卑。