Prophetia Danielis, 4

1. Ego Nabuchodonosor quietus eram in domo mea et florens in palatio meo;

1. King Nebuchadnez'zar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you!

2. somnium vidi, quod perterruit me, et cogitationes in stratu meo et visiones capitis mei conturbaverunt me.

2. It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has wrought toward me.

3. Et per me propositum est decretum, ut introducerentur in conspectu meo cuncti sapientes Babylonis, ut solutionem somnii indicarent mihi.

3. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

4. Tunc ingrediebantur harioli, magi, Chaldaei et haruspices; et somnium narravi in conspectu eorum, et solutionem eius non indicaverunt mihi;

4. I, Nebuchadnez'zar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.

5. donec denique ingressus est in conspectu meo Daniel, cui nomen Baltassar secundum nomen dei mei et qui habet spiritum deorum sanctorum in semetipso. Et somnium coram ipso locutus sum:

5. I had a dream which made me afraid; as I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.

6. Baltassar, princeps hariolorum, quem ego scio quod spiritum deorum sanctorum habeas in te, et omne sacramentum non est impossibile tibi, visiones somnii mei, quas vidi, et solutionem eius narra.

6. Therefore I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

7. Visio capitis mei in cubili meo: Videbam, et ecce arbor in medio terrae, et altitudo eius nimia.

7. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chalde'ans, and the astrologers came in; and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.

8. Magna arbor et fortis, et proceritas eius contingens caelum; aspectus illius erat usque ad terminos universae terrae.

8. At last Daniel came in before me -- he who was named Belteshaz'zar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods -- and I told him the dream, saying,

9. Folia eius pulcherrima, et fructus eius nimius, et esca universorum in ea. Subter eam habitabant bestiae agri, et in ramis eius conversabantur volucres caeli, et ex ea vescebatur omnis caro.

9. "O Belteshaz'zar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is difficult for you, here is the dream which I saw; tell me its interpretation.

10. Videbam in visione capitis mei super stratum meum, et ecce vigil et sanctus de caelo descendit.

10. The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and its height was great.

11. Clamavit fortiter et sic ait: “Succidite arborem et praecidite ramos eius, excutite folia eius et dispergite fructus eius. Fugiant bestiae de sub ea, et volucres de ramis eius.

11. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth.

12. Verumtamen germen radicum eius in terra sinite et in vinculo ferreo et aereo in herbis agri, et rore caeli tingatur, et cum feris pars eius in herba terrae.

12. Its leaves were fair and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the air dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

13. Cor eius ab humano commutetur, et cor ferae detur ei, et septem tempora mutentur super eum.

13. "I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.

14. In sententia vigilum decretum est, et sermo sanctorum petitio, ut cognoscant viventes quoniam dominatur Excelsus in regno hominum et, cuicumque voluerit, dabit illud et humillimum hominem constituet super eo”.

14. He cried aloud and said thus, `Hew down the tree and cut 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. Hoc somnium vidi ego rex Nabuchodonosor. Tu ergo, Baltassar, interpretationem narra, quia omnes sapientes regni mei non queunt solutionem edicere mihi; tu autem potes, quia spiritus deorum sanctorum in te est”.

15. But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven; let his lot be with the beasts in the grass of the earth;

16. Tunc Daniel, cuius nomen Baltassar, obstupuit quasi una hora, et cogitationes eius conturbabant eum. Respondens autem rex ait: “Baltassar, somnium et interpretatio eius non conturbent te”. Respondit Baltassar et dixit: “Domine mi, somnium his, qui te oderunt, et interpretatio eius hostibus tuis sit.

16. let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven times pass over him.

17. Arborem, quam vidisti sublimem atque robustam, cuius altitudo pertingit ad caelum, et aspectus illius in omnem terram,

17. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will, and sets over it the lowliest of men.'

18. et rami eius pulcherrimi, et fructus eius nimius, et esca omnium in ea, subter eam habitantes bestiae agri, et in ramis eius commorantes aves caeli,

18. This dream I, King Nebuchadnez'zar, saw. And you, O Belteshaz'zar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

19. tu es, rex, qui magnificatus es et invaluisti, et magnitudo tua crevit et pervenit usque ad caelum, et potestas tua in terminos terrae.

19. Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshaz'zar, was dismayed for a moment, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, "Belteshaz'zar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshaz'zar answered, "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

20. Quod autem vidit rex vigilem et sanctum descendere de caelo et dicere: “Succidite arborem et dissipate illam; attamen germen radicum eius in terra dimittite, et vinculo ferreo et aereo in herbis agri, et rore caeli conspergatur, et cum feris sit pars eius, donec septem tempora mutentur super eum”,

20. The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth;

21. haec est interpretatio, rex, et sententia Altissimi, quae pervenit super dominum meum regem:

21. whose leaves were fair and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all; under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the air dwelt --

22. et eicient te ab hominibus, et cum bestiis feris erit habitatio tua, et fenum ut boves comedes et rore caeli infunderis; septem quoque tempora mutabuntur super te, donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus super regnum hominum et, cuicumque voluerit, det illud.

22. it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.

23. Quod autem praeceperunt, ut relinqueretur germen radicum eius, id est arboris, regnum tuum tibi manebit, postquam cognoveris potestatem caeli.

23. And whereas the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, `Hew down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let him be wet with the dew of heaven; and let his lot be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him';

24. Quam ob rem, rex, consilium meum placeat tibi, et peccata tua eleemosynis redime et iniquitates tuas misericordiis pauperum; sic longitudo erit prosperitati tuae”.

24. this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,

25. Omnia haec venerunt super Nabuchodonosor regem.

25. that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will.

26. Post finem mensium duodecim in palatio regni Babylonis deambulabat;

26. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be sure for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.

27. responditque rex et ait: “Nonne haec est Babylon magna, quam ego aedificavi in domum regni, in robore fortitudinis meae et in gloria decoris mei?”.

27. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you; break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your tranquillity."

28. Cum adhuc sermo esset in ore regis, vox de caelo ruit: “Tibi dicitur, Nabuchodonosor rex: Regnum tuum transiit a te,

28. All this came upon King Nebuchadnez'zar.

29. et ab hominibus te eicient, et cum bestiis feris erit habitatio tua: fenum quasi boves comedes; et septem tempora mutabuntur super te, donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus in regno hominum et, cuicumque voluerit, det illud”.

29. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,

30. Eadem hora sermo completus est super Nabuchodonosor, et ex hominibus abiectus est et fenum ut boves comedit, et rore caeli corpus eius infectum est, donec capilli eius in similitudinem aquilarum crescerent, et ungues eius quasi avium.

30. and the king said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?"

31. “Igitur post finem dierum ego Nabuchodonosor oculos meos ad caelum levavi, et sensus meus redditus est mihi, et Altissimo benedixi et Viventem in sempiternum laudavi et glorificavi, quia potestas eius potestas sempiterna, et regnum eius in generationem et generationem;

31. While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnez'zar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,

32. et omnes habitatores terrae apud eum in nihilum reputati sunt: iuxta voluntatem enim suam facit tam in virtutibus caeli quam in habitatoribus terrae, et non est qui resistat manui eius et dicat ei: “Quid facis?”.

32. and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; and you shall be made to eat grass like an ox; and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."

33. In ipso tempore sensus meus reversus est ad me, et ad honorem regni mei maiestas mea et splendor meus reversa sunt ad me; et optimates mei et magistratus mei requisierunt me, et in regno meo constitutus sum, et magnificentia amplior addita est mihi.

33. Immediately the word was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnez'zar. He was driven from among men, and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.

34. Nunc igitur ego Nabuchodonosor laudo et magnifico et glorifico Regem caeli, quia omnia opera eius veritas, et viae eius iudicium, et gradientes in superbia potest humiliare”.

34. At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnez'zar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

35.

35. all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing; and he does according to his will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What doest thou?"

36.

36. At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.

37.

37. Now I, Nebuchadnez'zar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.