< ダニエル書 4 >

1 ネブカデネザル王全世界に住める諸民諸族諸音に諭す願くは大なる平安汝らにあれ
Nebuchadnezzar, the king, to all peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in the whole world, may peace be increased with you.
2 至高神我にむかひて徴證と奇蹟を行へり我これを知しむることを善と思ふ
The supreme God has accomplished signs and wonders with me. Therefore, it has pleased me to proclaim
3 嗚呼大なるかなその徴證嗚呼盛なるかなその奇蹟その國は永遠の國その權は世々限なし
his signs, which are great, and his wonders, which are mighty. For his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his power continues from generation to generation.
4 我ネブカデネザルわが家に安然に居りわが宮に榮え居れり
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was content in my house and prospering in my palace.
5 我一の夢を見て之がために懼れ即ち床にありてその事を想ひめぐらしその我腦中の異象のために心をなやませり
I saw a dream that terrified me, and my thoughts on my bed and the visions in my head disturbed me.
6 是に於て我命を下しバビロンの智者をことごとく我前に召よせしめてその夢の解明を我にしめさせんと爲たれば
And so a decree was established by me, that all of the wise men of Babylon should be brought in before me, and that they should reveal to me the answer to the dream.
7 すなはち博士法術士カルデヤ人卜筮師等きたりしに囚て我その夢を彼らに語りけるに彼らはその解明を我にしめすことを得ざりき
Then the seers, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers entered, and I explained about the dream in their presence, but they did not reveal its answer to me.
8 かくて後ダニエルわが前に來れり彼の名は吾神の名にしたがひてベルテシヤザルと稱へられその裏には聖神の霊やどれり我その夢を彼の前に語りて曰けらく
And then their colleague came in before me, Daniel, (whose name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, ) who has the spirit of the holy gods within his very self, and I told the dream directly to him.
9 博士の長ベルテシヤザルよ我しる汝の裏には聖神の霊やどれば如何なる秘密も汝には難き事なし我が夢に見たるところの事等を聞きその解明を我に告げよ
Belteshazzar, leader of the seers, since I know that you have in you the spirit of the holy gods, and that no mystery is unreachable to you, explain to me the visions of my dreams, which I saw, and the solution to them.
10 我が床にありて見たる吾腦中の異象は是のごとし我觀しに地の當中に一の樹ありてその丈高かりしが
This was the vision of my head on my bed. I looked, and behold, a tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was exceedingly great.
11 その樹長じて強固なり天に達するほどの高となりて地の極までも見えわたり
The tree was great and strong, and its height reached up to heaven. It could be seen all the way to the ends of the entire earth.
12 その葉は美しくその菓は饒にして一切の者その中より食を得また野の獣その蔭に臥し空の鳥その枝に棲み凡て血氣ある者みな是によりて身を養ふ
Its leaves were very beautiful, and its fruit was very abundant, and in it was food for the whole world. Under it, animals and beasts were dwelling, and in its branches, the birds of the sky were sheltered, and from it, all flesh was fed.
13 我床にありて得たる腦中の異象の中に一箇の警寤者一箇の聖者の天より下るを見たりしが
I saw in the vision of my head upon my blanket, and behold, a watcher and a holy one descended from heaven.
14 彼聲高く呼はりて斯いへり此樹を伐たふしその枝を斫はなしその葉を搖おとしその果を打散し獣をしてその下より逃はしらせ鳥をしてその枝を飛さらしめよ
He cried out loudly, and he said this: “Cut down the tree and prune its branches; shake off its leaves and scatter its fruits; let flee the beasts, which are under it, and the birds from its branches.
15 但しその根の上の斬株を地に遺しおき鐵と銅の索をかけて之を野の草の中にあらしめよ是は天よりくだる露に濕れまた地の草の中にて獣とその分を同じうせん
Nevertheless, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, and let it be bound with a band of iron and brass among the plants, which are close by, and let it be touched by the dew of heaven, and let its place be with the wild animals among the plants of the earth.
16 又その心は變りて人間の心のごとくならず獣の心を稟て七の時を經ん
Let his heart be changed from being human, and let the heart of a wild animal be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him.
17 この事は警寤者等の命によりこの事は聖者等の言による是至高者人間の國を治めて自己の意のままにこれを人に與へまた人の中の最も賤き者をその上に立たまふといふ事を一切の者に知しめんがためなり
This is the decree from the judgment of the watchers, and the decision and proclamation of the holy ones, until the living shall know that the Supreme One is ruler in the kingdom of men, and that he will give it to whomever he wills, and he will appoint the lowest man over it.”
18 我ネブカデネザル王この夢を見たりベルテシヤザルよ汝その解明を我に述よ我國の智者は執も皆その解明を我に示すことを得ざりしが汝は之を能せん其は汝の裏には聖神の霊やどればなりと
I, king Nebuchadnezzar, saw this dream. And so you, Belteshazzar, must quickly explain to me the interpretation because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to declare the meaning of it to me. But you are able because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.
19 その時ダニエル又の名はベルテシヤザルとい者暫時の間驚き居り心に深く懼れたれば王これに告て言りベルテシヤザルよ汝この夢とその解明のために懼るるにおよばずとベルテシヤザルすなはち答へて言けらく我主よ願くはこの夢汝を惡む者の上にかからん事を願くは此解明汝の敵にのぞまんことを
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, began silently to think within himself for about one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. But the king responded, saying, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream and its interpretation disturb you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, the dream is for those who hate you, and its interpretation may be for your enemies.
20 汝が見たまひし樹すなはちその長じて強くなり天に達するほどの高となりて地の極までも見えわたり
The tree that you saw was lofty and strong; its height reached toward heaven, and it could be seen throughout the whole world.
21 その葉は美しくその果は饒にして一切の者その中より食を得またその下に野の獣臥しその枝に空の鳥棲たる者
And its branches were very beautiful, and its fruit very abundant, and in it was food for all. Under it, dwelt the beasts of the field, and in its branches, the birds of the air stayed.
22 王よ是はすなはち汝なり汝は長じて強くなり汝の勢ひは盛にして天におよび汝の權は地の極にまでおよべり
It is you, O king, who has been greatly esteemed, and you have grown strong. And you have increased your power, and it reaches towards heaven, and your rule is to the ends of the whole earth.
23 王また一箇の警寤者一箇の聖者の天より下りて斯言ふを見たまへり云くこの樹を伐たふして之をそこなへ但し其根の上の斬株を地に遺しおき鐵と銅の索をかけて之を野の草の中にあらしめよ是は天より下る露に濡れ野の獣とその分を同じうして七の時を經ん
Yet the king also saw a watcher and a holy one descend from heaven and say: ‘Cut down the tree and scatter it; however, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, and let it be bound with iron and brass, among the surrounding plants, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heaven, and let his feeding be with the wild beasts, until seven periods of time pass over him.’
24 王よその解明は是の如し是即ち至高者の命にして王我主に臨まんとする者なり
This is the interpretation of the judgment of the Most High, which has reached my lord, the king.
25 即ち汝は逐れて世の人と離れ野の獣とともに居り牛のごとくに草を食ひ天よりくだる露に濡れん是の如くにして七の時を經て汝つひに知ん至高者人間の國を治めて自己の意のままに之を人に與へ給ふと
They will expel you from among men, and your dwelling will be with the beasts and the wild animals, and you will eat hay like an ox, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Likewise, seven periods of time will pass over you, until you know that the Supreme One rules over the kingdom of men, and he gives it to whomever he wills.
26 又彼らその樹の根の上の斬株を遺しおけと言たれば汝の國は汝が天は主たりと知にいたる時まで汝を離れん
But, since he commanded that the stump of its roots, that is, of the tree, should be left behind, your kingdom will be left for you, after you have realized that power is from divinity.
27 然ば王よ吾諌を容れ義をおこなひて罪を離れ貧者を憐みて惡を離れよ然らば汝の平安あるひは長く続かんと
Because of this, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you. And redeem your sins with alms, and your iniquities with mercy towards the poor. Perhaps he will forgive your offenses.”
28 この事みなネブカデネザル王に臨めり
All these things came upon king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 十二箇月を經て後王バビロンの王宮の上に歩みをり
After the end of twelve months, he was taking a walk in the palace of Babylon.
30 王すなはち語りて言ふ此大なるバビロンは我が大なる力をもて建て京城となし之をもてわが威光を耀かす者ならずや
And the king spoke out loud, saying, “Isn’t this the great Babylon, which I have built, as the home of the kingdom, by the strength of my power and in the glory of my excellence?”
31 その言なほ王の口にある中に天より聲降りて言ふネブカデネザル王よ汝に告ぐ汝は國の位を失はん
And while the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice rushed down from heaven, “To you, O king Nebuchadnezzar, it is said: ‘Your kingdom will be taken away from you,
32 汝は逐れて世の人と離れ野の獣と共に居り牛のごとくに草を食はん斯の如くにして七の時を經て汝つひに知ん至高者人間の國を治めて己れの意のままにこれを人に與へたまふと
and they will expel you from among men, and your dwelling will be with the beasts and the wild animals. You will eat hay like an ox, and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Supreme One rules in the kingdom of men, and he gives it to whomever he wills.’”
33 その時直にこの事ネブカデネザルに臨み彼は逐れて世の人に離れ牛のごとくに草を食ひてその身は天よりくだる露に濡れ終にその髮毛は鷲の羽のごとくになりその爪は鳥の爪のごとくになりぬ
The same hour, the sentence was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven away from among men, and he ate hay like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair increased like the feathers of eagles, and his nails like those of birds.
34 斯てその日の滿たる後我ネブカデネザル目をあげて天を望みしにわが分別性我に歸りたれば我至高者に感謝しその永遠に生る者を讃かつ崇めたり彼の御宇は永遠の御宇彼の國は世々かぎり無し
Therefore, at the end of these days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my mind was restored to me. And I blessed the Most High, and I praised and glorified him who lives forever. For his power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.
35 地上の居民は凡て無き者のごとし天の衆群にも地の居民にも彼はその意のままに事をなしたまふ誰も彼の手をおさへて汝なんぞ然するやと言ことを得る者なし
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing before him. For he acts according to his own will, with the inhabitants of the earth just as with the holy inhabitants of heaven. And there is no one who can resist his hand, or say to him, “Why have you done this?”
36 この時わが分別性かく我に歸りたりしがわが國の榮光につきてはまた我の尊嚴と光耀我にかへれり且また大臣牧伯等我に請求めて我ふたたび國の祚を踐み前よりも著しく威光を増たり
At the same time, my mind returned to me, and I arrived at the honor and glory of my kingdom. And my appearance was given back to me. And my nobles and my magistrates needed me. And I was restored to my kingdom, and even greater majesty was added to me.
37 是において我ネブカデネザル今は天の王を讃頌へかつ崇む彼の作爲は凡て眞實彼の道は正義自ら高ぶる者は彼能くこれを卑くしたまふ
Therefore I, Nebuchadnezzar, now praise, and magnify, and glorify the King of heaven, because all his works and the judgments of his way are true, and those who go forth in arrogance, he is able to bring low.

< ダニエル書 4 >