Daniel 4
1 Kong Nebukadnezar til alle Folk: der bor på hele Jorden: Fred være med eder i rigt Mål!
Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell on all the earth, May your welfare increase.
2 De Tegn og Undere, den højeste Gud har øvet imod mig, finder jeg for godt at kundgøre.
The signs and wonders which the most high God hath wrought toward me I find it for good to make known.
3 Hvor store er dog hans Tegn, hvor vældige dog hans Undere! Hans Rige er et evigt Rige, hans Herredømme fra Slægt til Slægt.
His signs—how great are they! and his wonders— how mighty are they! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his rule is over every generation.
4 Jeg, Nebukadnezar, levede tryg i mit Slot og livsglad i mit Palads.
Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
5 Men da skuede jeg et Drømmesyn, og det slog mig med Rædsel, og Tankebilleder på mit Leje og mit Hoveds Syner forfærdede mig.
I saw a dream which terrified me; and the thoughts upon my couch and the visions of my head troubled me.
6 Derfor påbød jeg, at alle Babels Vismænd skulde føres frem for mig, for at de skulde tyde mig Drømmen.
Therefore made I a decree to bring before me all the wise men of Babylon, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Så kom Drømmetyderne, Manerne, Kaldæerne og Stjernetyderne ind, og jeg sagde dem Drømmen, men de kunde ikke tyde mig den.
Then came up the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and the dream did I recite before them; but its interpretation did they not make known unto me.
8 Men til sidst trådte Daniel, som har fået Navnet Beltsazzar efter min Guds Navn, og i hvem hellige Guders Ånd er, frem for mig, og jeg sagde ham Drømmen:
But at the last came up before me Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and the dream did I recite before him, [saying, ]
9 Beltsazzar, du Øverste for Drømmetyderne, i hvem jeg ved, at hellige Guders Ånd er, og hvem ingen Hemmelighed er for svar! Hør, hvad jeg så i Drømme, og tyd mig det!
O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, of whom I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and that no secret is concealed from thee, tell me the visions of my dream which I have seen, with its interpretation.
10 Dette var mit Hoveds Syner på mit Leje: Jeg skuede, og se, et Træ stod midt på Jorden, og det var såre højt.
And the visions of my head on my couch were, [that] I saw, and behold, there was a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.
11 Træet voksede og blev vældigt, dets Top nåede Himmelen, og det sås til Jordens Ende;
The tree grew, and was strong, and its height reached unto heaven, and it was visible to the end of all the earth.
12 dets Løv var fagert, dets Frugter mange, så der var Føde til alle derpå; under det fandt Markens Dyr Skygge, i dets Grene boede Himmelens Fugle, og alt Kød fik Næring deraf.
Its foliage was splendid, and its fruit large, and on it was food for all: under it sought the beasts of the field for shade, and in its boughs dwelt the fowls of heaven, and from it was fed all flesh.
13 Og videre skuede jeg i mit Hoveds Syner på mit Leje, og se, en Vægter, en Hellig, kom ned fra Himmelen.
I saw in the visions of my head on my couch, and, behold, a watcher who was also a holy one came down from heaven.
14 Han råbte med høj Røst: "Fæld Træet, hug Grenene af, afriv Løvet og spred Frugterne; Dyrene skal fly fra deres Bo derunder og Fuglene fra dets Grene!
He called with might, and thus he said, Hew down the trees and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; let the beasts flee away from under it, and the fowls from among its branches:
15 Dog skal I lade Stubben med Rødderne blive i Jorden, men bundet med en Kæde af Jern og kobber i Markens Græs; af Himmelens Dug skal han vædes, og som Dyrene skal han æde Markens Urter;
Nevertheless leave the body of its roots in the earth, but [bound] with fetters of iron and copper, among the grass of the field; and let it be made wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the beasts on the herbage of the earth;
16 hans Menneskehjerte skal fratages ham og et Dyrehjerte gives ham, og syv Tider skal gå hen over ham.
Let his heart be changed not to be human, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times elapse over him.
17 Således er det fastsat ved Vægternes Råd, og ved de Helliges Bud er Sagen afgjort, for at de levende må sande, at den Højeste er Herre over Menneskenes Rige og kan give det, til hvem han vil, og ophøje den ringeste blandt Menneskene til Hersker over det!"
Through the resolve of the watchers is this decree, and by the order of the holy ones is this decision: to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and that he can give it to whomsoever he pleaseth, and can set up over it the lowest of men.
18 Det var dette Drømmesyn, som jeg, Kong Nebukadnezar, skuede, og du, Beltsazzar, tyd mig det! Thi ingen af mit Riges Vismænd kan tyde mig det; du derimod evner det, thi i dig bor hellige Guders Ånd.
This dream have I, king Nebuchadnezzar, seen; but thou, O Belteshazzar, relate its interpretation, 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 Så stod Daniel, som havde fået Navnet Beltsazzar, en Stund rædselslagen, og hans Tanker forfærdede ham. Men Kongen tog til Orde og sagde: Beltsazzar, lad ikke Drømmen og dens Udtydning forfærde dig!" Men Beltsazzar svarede: "Herre, måtte drømmen gælde dine Fjender og dens Udtydning dine Avindsmænd!
Then was Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, astounded for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king then commenced, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or its interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, O that the dream might be for those that hate thee, and its interpretation for thy enemies.
20 Det Træ, du så, og som voksede og blev vældigt, så Toppen nåede Himmelen og det sås over hele Jorden,
The tree that thou hast seen, which grew, and was strong, the height of which reached unto the heaven, and which was visible to all the earth;
21 hvis Løv var fagert, og hvis Frugter var mange, det, som alle fik Næring af, under hvilket Markens Dyr fandt Bo, og i hvis Grene Himmelens Fugle byggede Rede,
The foliage of which was splendid, and the fruit of which was large, and on which was food for all; under which dwelt the beasts of the field, and in the boughs of which nestled the fowls of the heaven: —
22 det er dig selv, o Konge, som er blevet stor og mægtig, hvis Storhed er vokset, så den når Himmelen, og hvis Herredømme rækker til Jordens Ende.
It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; and thy greatness is grown apace, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion is to the end of the earth.
23 Og når Kongen så, at en Vægter, en Hellig, steg ned fra Himmelen og bød: Fæld Træet og ødelæg det! Dog skal I lade Stubben med Rødderne blive i Jorden, men bundet med en Kæde af Jern og kobber i Markens Græs; af Himmelens Dug skal han vædes, og med Markens Dyr skal han dele Lod, indtil syv Tider er gået hen over ham
And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, who said, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the body of its roots in the earth, but [bound] in fetters of iron and copper, among the grass of the field; and let it be made wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times elapse over it: —
24 så betyder det, o Konge, og det er den Højestes Råd, som er udgået over min Herre Kongen:
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the resolve of the Most High, which will come over my lord the king:
25 Du skal udstødes af Menneskenes Samfund og bo hlandt Markens Dyr; Urter skal du have til Føde som Kvæget, og af Himmelens Dug skal du vædes; og syv Tider skal gå hen over dig, til du skønner, at den Højeste er Herre over Menneskenes Rige og kan give det, til hvem han vil.
They will drive thee away from men, and with the beasts of the field is thy dwelling to be, and they will suffer thee to eat herbs like oxen, and they will suffer thee to be made wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times will elapse over thee; until that thou wilt know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth.
26 Men når der blev givet Påbud om at levne Træets Stub med Rødderne, så betyder det, at dit Rige atter skal blive dit, så snart du skønner, at Himmelen har Magten.
And whereas they ordered to leave the body of the roots of the tree: thy kingdom will remain unto thee, as soon as thou wilt know that the Heavens do rule.
27 Derfor, o Konge, lad mit Råd være dig til Behag. Gør Ende på dine Synder med Retfærd og på dine Misgerninger med Barmhjertighed mod de fattige, om din Lykke måske kunde vare!"
Therefore, O king, let my counsel be agreeable unto thee, and atone for thy sins by righteousness, and for thy iniquities by showing kindness to the poor: perhaps thy prosperity may [thereby] endure long.
28 Alt dette ramte nu Kong Nebukadnezar.
All this came over king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 Tolv Måneder senere, da Kongen vandrede på Taget af det kongelige Palads i Babel,
At the end of twelve months he was walking upon the royal palace at Babylon.
30 udbrød han: "Er dette ikke det store Babel, som jeg byggede til Kongesæde ved min vældige Magt, min Herlighed til Ære?"
The king commenced, and said, Is not this Babylon the great, that I myself have built for a royal residence by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?
31 Men før Kongen endnu havde talt ud, lød en Røst fra Himmelen: "Det gives dig til Kende, Kong Nebukadnezar, at dit Kongedømme er taget fra dig!
The word was still in the king's mouth, when there fell a voice from heaven, [saying, ] To thee it is said, O king Nebuchadnezzar, The kingdom departeth from thee.
32 Af Menneskenes Samfund skal du udstødes og bo blandt Markens Dyr; Urter skal du have til Føde som Kvæget; og syv Tider skal gå hen over dig, til du skønner, at den Højeste er Herre over Menneskenes Rige og kan give det, til hvem han vil!"
And from men will they drive thee away, and with the beasts of the field shall thy dwelling be; herbs like oxen will they suffer thee to eat, and seven times shall elapse over thee: until thou wilt know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth.
33 I samme Stund fuldbyrdedes Ordet på Nebukadnezar; han blev udstødt af Menneskenes Samfund og åd Græs som Kvæget, og hans Legeme vædedes af Himmelens Dug, til hans Hår blev langt som Ørnefjer og hans Negle som Fuglekløer.
At the same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar; and from men was he driven away, and herbs like oxen had he to eat, and with the dew of heaven was his body made wet: till his hair was grown like eagles' [feathers], and his nails were like birds' [claws].—
34 Men da Tiden var omme, løftede jeg, Nebukadnezar, mine Øjne til Himmelen og fik min forstand igen, og jeg priste den Højeste og lovede og ærede ham, som lever evindelig, hvis Herredømme er evigt, og hvis Rige står fra Slægt til Slægt.
But at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes unto heaven, and my understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and glorified the Everliving, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and whose kingdom is over every generation;
35 Alle, som bor på Jorden, er for intet at regne; han handler efter sit Tykke med Himmelens Hær og med dem, som bor på Jorden, og ingen kan holde hans Hånd tilbage og sige til ham: "Hvad gør du?"
And [by whom] all the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nought; and [who] according to his pleasure doth with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth; while there is none that can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
36 I samme Stund fik jeg min Forstand igen; jeg fik også min Herlighed og Glans igen, mit Rige til Ære; mine Rådsherrer og Stormænd søgte mig, jeg blev genindsat i mit Rige, og endnu større Magt blev mig givet.
At the same time my understanding returned unto me; and with the glory of my kingdom, my honor and my splendor returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought for me: and I was replaced in my kingdom, and additional greatness was added unto me.
37 Nu lover, ophøjer og ærer jeg, Nebukadnezar, Himmelens Konge: Alle hans Gerninger er Sandhed, hans Veje Retfærd, og han kan ydmyge dem, som vandrer i Hovmod.
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and glorify the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and whose ways are justice; and who is able to bring low those that walk in pride.
