1Thaum Nenpukajnexales ua vajntxwv tau ob xyoos, nws txawm ua ib zaj npau suav. Zaj npau suav ntawd ua rau nws ntxhov siab heev thiab pw tsis tsaug zog li. 2Yog li ntawd, nws thiaj hu cov neeg uas txawj saib tes, txawj ua yeessiv, txawj saib yaig thiab txawj saib xyab, tuaj txhais nws zaj npau suav. Thaum lawv tuaj txog lawm, 3nws hais rau lawv hais tias, “Kuv ua ib zaj npau suav tsis zoo mas kuv ntxhov siab heev; kuv xav paub hais tias zaj npau suav ntawd yog li cas thiab hais txog dabtsi?” 4Lawv hais lus Alamais rau vajntxwv hais tias, “Thov kom vajntxwv muaj sia nyob mus ibtxhis! Thov qhia vajntxwv zaj npau suav rau peb, peb yuav txhais cov ntsiab lus rau vajntxwv paub.” 5Vajntxwv hais rau lawv hais tias, “Kuv twb txiav txim siab lawm hais tias yog nej piav tsis tau zaj npau suav thiab txhais tsis tau cov ntsiab lus rau kuv paub, ces kuv yuav muab nej hlais ib daig zuj zus thiab yuav muab nej tej vajtse rhuav povtseg huv tibsi. 6Tiamsis yog nej qhia thiab txhais tau rau kuv, kuv yuav muab nqi zog thiab pub koob meej rau nej. Nej cia li piav thiab txhais rau kuv mloog tamsim no.” 7Lawv rov hais rau vajntxwv hais tias, “Yog vajntxwv piav vajntxwv zaj npau suav rau peb mloog, peb thiaj yuav paub txhais zaj npau suav ntawd.” 8Vajntxwv teb hais tias, “Kuv paub hais tias nej xav sej kuv xwb, tiamsis kom nej paub hais tias kuv twb hais tseeb rau nej lawm; 9yog nej tsis piav zaj npau suav rau kuv paub, ces nej txhua tus yuav raug txim ib yam nkaus. Nej yeej tuavhauv lawm hais tias nej yuav dag kuv ntau yam kom kuv hloov kuv tej lus, tiamsis kuv yeej tsis hloov hlo li. Nej cia li qhia kuv zaj npau suav rau kuv, kuv thiaj paub hais tias nej txawj txhais.” 10Lawv hais ntxiv rau vajntxwv hais tias, “Tej neeg uas nyob hauv ntiajteb no yeej tsis muaj ib tug uas yuav qhia tau tej uas koj hais ko rau koj paub li. Thiab tej vajntxwv, tsis hais tus uas yuav muaj hwjchim loj npaum li cas los yeej tsis muaj ib tug uas yuav hais li koj hais ko rau cov neeg uas txawj saib tes, txawj ua yeessiv thiab txawj saib xyab hlo li. 11Tej lus uas koj nug ko nyuaj heev tsis muaj leejtwg yuav teb tau rau koj; ntshai tsuas yog tej vajtswv thiaj yuav teb tau xwb, tiamsis tej vajtswv ntawd yeej tsis nrog neeg nyob ua ke.” 12Vim lawv teb li ntawd vajntxwv thiaj chim heev. Nws tau samhwm kom luag muab nws cov tuavxam tua povtseg huv tibsi. 13Ces vajntxwv thiaj tawm ib tsab ntawv samhwm rau sawvdaws paub hais tias kom muab lawv cov ntawd tua povtseg, lojxov Daniyees thiab nws peb tug phoojywg huv tibsi.
Vajtswv Qhia Zaj Npau Suav rau Daniyees
14Daniyees txawm mus cuag Ali-aus uas yog tus thawj saib cov tubrog uas zov vajntxwv lub loog. Ali-aus yog tus uas vajntxwv yuav tso mus tua vajntxwv cov tuavxam. Daniyees ua tib zoo xav ua ntej 15nws mam mus nug Ali-aus hais tias yog vim li cas vajntxwv yuav tawm tsab ntawv tawv ua luaj li ntawd? Ali-aus thiaj piav zaj ntawd rau Daniyees mloog. 16Daniyees mus cuag vajntxwv tamsim ntawd. Nws thov vajntxwv kom pub sijhawm ntev mentsis rau lawv, nws mam li qhia thiab txhais zaj npau suav ntawd rau vajntxwv. 17Daniyees rov qab los tsev, thiab nws piav zaj ntawd rau Hananiyas, Misayees thiab Axaliyas uas yog nws peb tug phoojywg mloog. 18Nws hais kom lawv thov Vajtswv tus uas nyob saum ntuj hlub lawv thiab qhia tej yam uas tsis muaj leejtwg paub rau lawv kom lawv thiaj yuav tsis raug tua nrog cov tuavxam uas nyob hauv lub nroog Npanpiloos. 19Ces hmo ntawd Daniyees txawm ua yogtoog pom thiab Vajtswv qhia zaj uas tsis muaj leejtwg paub ntawd rau Daniyees. Ces Daniyees ua Vajtswv tus uas nyob saum ntuj tsaug: 20“Vajtswv yog tus txawj ntse thiab muaj hwjchim loj! Cia li qhuas nws mus ibtxhis. 21Vajtswv yog tus tswj lub sijhawm thiab tej caij nyoog; nws tsa thiab txo tej vajntxwv; nws yog tus pub kom neeg muaj tswvyim thiab txawj ntse. 22Nws muab tej uas neeg tsis paub thiab tsis pom los nthuav qhia rau sawvdaws; nws paub tej uas nyob nraim nkoos hauv qhov tsaus ntuj nti thiab muaj qhov pom kev ci kaj nrig nyob puagncig nws. 23Kuv yawgkoob tus Vajtswv, kuv ua koj tsaug thiab hwm koj. Koj pub tswvyim thiab dag zog rau kuv. Koj teb kuv tej lus thov thiab ua rau peb paub teb vajntxwv.”
Daniyees Qhia Zaj Npau Suav rau Vajntxwv
24Tom qab ntawd Daniyees thiaj mus cuag Ali-aus tus uas vajntxwv samhwm kom mus tua vajntxwv cov tuavxam. Daniyees hais tias, “Thov tsis txhob muab lawv cov ntawd tua; cia li coj kuv mus cuag vajntxwv, kuv yuav qhia thiab txhais nws zaj npau suav rau nws.” 25Ali-aus thiaj li coj Daniyees mus cuag vajntxwv thiab hais rau vajntxwv hais tias, “Kuv nrhiav tau cov Yudais uas peb ntes los ntawd muaj ib tug yuav txhais tau koj zaj npau suav.” 26Vajntxwv hais rau Daniyees (tus uas muaj dua ib lub npe hu ua Npeetesaxas) hais tias, “Koj puas muaj cuabkav qhia tau kuv zaj npau suav thiab txhais cov ntsiab lus rau kuv paub tiag?” 27Daniyees teb vajntxwv hais tias, “Vajntxwv, cov neeg uas txawj saib xyab, txawj ua yeessiv thiab txawj saib hnubqub yeej tsis muaj ib tug yuav paub txhais zaj npau suav ntawd rau koj li. 28Tsuas muaj Vajtswv tib leeg tus uas nyob saum ntuj thiaj qhia tau tej uas tsis muaj neeg paub no rau sawvdaws. Vajntxwv, Vajtswv qhia tej uas yuav muaj los yav ntom ntej no rau koj paub. Koj zaj npau suav thiab tej yogtoog uas koj pom thaum koj tseem pw yog li no: 29“Vajntxwv, thaum koj pw tsaug zog thiab koj ua npau suav pom tej uas yuav muaj los yav tom ntej; thiab Vajtswv tus uas qhia tau tej uas tsis muaj neeg paub rau sawvdaws, nws qhia tej uas yuav muaj los yav tom ntej no rau koj. 30Nimno Vajtswv twb qhia tej yam uas tsis muaj neeg paub rau kuv lawm, tsis yog vim kuv txawj ntse dua lwm tus, tiamsis yog Vajtswv xav qhia kom koj paub zaj npau suav ntawd thiab tej uas koj xav paub. 31“Vajntxwv, koj ua yogtoog pom ib tug mlom uas loj thiab siab heev sawv ntawm koj xubntiag. Tus mlom ntawd ci ntsa iab thiab txaus ntshai kawg li. 32Tus mlom ntawd lub taubhau yog tseem kub, lub hauv siab thiab ob txhais cajnpab yog nyiaj, lub duav thiab ob txhais ncejpuab ntug yog tooj liab, 33ob txhais ceg yog hlau, thiab ob txhais kotaw yog hlau xyaw av nplaum. 34Thaum koj tabtom ntsia tus mlom ntawd, txawm muaj ib lub pobzeb loj loj ntais rhe saum pobtsuas los uas tsis yog neeg txhais tes ua poob los raug tus mlom ntawd ob txhais kotaw uas yog hlau xyaw av nplaum tawg ntsoog ntxaws. 35Ces tamsim ntawd tej qhov uas yog av nplaum, yog hlau, yog tooj liab thiab yog nyiaj yog kub, txawm tawg ntsoog ntxaws ua tej daim ib yam li tej npluag nplej uas nyob hauv tshav ntaus nplej thaum lub caij ntuj qhua; ces cua muab ntsawj ya tas lawm tsis tshuav ib qho li. Tiamsis lub pobzeb uas poob los raug tus mlom ntawd txawm loj zuj zus tuaj ua ib lub roob puv nkaus ntiajteb. 36“Koj zaj npau suav muaj raws li uas kuv hais tas los no. Nimno kuv yuav qhia zaj npau suav ntawd lub ntsiab rau vajntxwv saib yog li cas. 37Vajntxwv, koj yog tus uas muaj hwjchim loj dua tej tus vajntxwv huv tibsi. Vajtswv tus uas nyob saum ntuj, tsa koj ua huabtais, nws pub koj muaj hwjchim, muaj zog thiab muaj koob meej nto moo lug. 38Vajtswv tsa koj ua tus kav txhua qhov uas muaj neeg nyob, kav ib puas tsav yam tsiaj thiab tej noog. Lub taubhau kub ntawd yog koj ntag. 39Tom qab koj, yuav muaj dua lwm lub tebchaws sawv los, lub tebchaws ntawd muaj hwjchim yau dua koj, thiab tom qab ntawd lub tebchaws peb uas yog cov tooj liab sawv los thiab yuav kav tagnrho lub ntiajteb no. 40Thiab tom qab ntawd lub tebchaws plaub yuav sawv, lub tebchaws ntawd tawv ib yam li hlau, rau qhov hlau tsoo thiab ntaus ib puas tsav yam tawg taus. Vim lub tebchaws ntawd tawv ib yam li hlau uas tsoo ib puas tsav yam tawg taus, mas nws yuav tsoo thiab ntaus cov tebchaws uas xub sawv ua ntej ntawd kom tawg tas huv tibsi. 41Txhais kotaw thiab cov ntivtaw uas koj pom av thiab hlau sib xyaws ntxaws txhais hais tias, yuav muaj ntau lub tebchaws los sib koom ua ke. Nws yuav muaj qee yam tawv ib yam li hlau, rau qhov muaj hlau thiab av nplaum sib xyaw ntxaws. 42Cov ntivtaw uas yog av xyaw hlau, txhais hais tias lub tebchaws ntawd ib txhia muaj zog thiab ib txhia tsis muaj zog. 43Qhov uas koj pom muaj av nplaum xyaw hlau, txhais hais tias cov nomtswv uas kav lub tebchaws ntawd yuav tso lawv tej tub tej ntxhais sib yuav kom nyob tau ua ke, tiamsis lawv yuav koom tsis tau ua ke ib yam li hlau thiab av nplaum yeej tsis sib lo li. 44Lub sijhawm uas cov nomtswv ntawd tseem kav tebchaws, Vajtswv tus uas nyob saum ntuj yuav tsa ib lub tebchaws uas yuav nyob mus tsis paub kawg li. Lub tebchaws ntawd yuav tsis muaj leejtwg kovyeej nws, nws yuav rhuav tej tebchaws ntawd kom puastsuaj tas, tiamsis nws yuav nyob mus ibtxhis. 45Qhov uas koj pom lub pobzeb uas tsis yog neeg txhais tes ua ntais poob saum pobtsuas los raug tus mlom neeg uas ib qhov yog hlau, ib qhov yog tooj liab, ib qho yog av, ib qhov yog nyiaj, thiab ib qho yog kub ntawd yog Vajtswv tus muaj hwjchim loj kawg nkaus qhia kom koj paub tej uas yuav muaj los yav ntom ntej no. Koj zaj npau suav muaj raws li kuv hais tas los no. Nimno kuv twb piav thiab txhais koj zaj npau suav lub ntsiab meej rau koj lawm.”
Vajntxwv Muab Koob Meej rau Daniyees
46Vajntxwv Nenpukajnexales txhos caug ntua hauv av pe Daniyees, thiab nws hais kom luag cia li muab qoobloo thiab tshuaj tsw qab tuaj fij rau Daniyees. 47Vajntxwv hais tias, “Koj tus Vajtswv yog tus uas muaj hwjchim loj dua tej vajtswv, nws yog tus Tswv uas kav tagnrho tej vajntxwv thiab yog tus uas qhia tej uas neeg tsis paub rau sawvdaws. Kuv paub li no, rau qhov nws qhia koj txhais tau tej uas tsis muaj leejtwg paub.” 48Vajntxwv tsa Daniyees ua ib tug nomtswv loj thiab muab tej khoom muaj nqis ntau yam rau Daniyees. Nws tsa Daniyees ua tus kav lub xeev Npanpiloos thiab cia Daniyees ua tus thawj saib vajntxwv cov tuavxam. 49Daniyees thov vajntxwv tsa Sadalas, Mesakas thiab Anpenekaus ua cov saib haujlwm hauv lub xeev Npanpiloos, tiamsis Daniyees ua tus loj nrog vajntxwv hauv lub loog.
2
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
1In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers⚓ to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.⚓ ” 4Then the astrologers answered the king,⚓ “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.” 5The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 6But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.” 7Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.” 8Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.” 10The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.” 12This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 13So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death. 14When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. 17Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 21He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
Daniel Interprets the Dream
24Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.” 25Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.” 26The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?” 27Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: 29“As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. 30As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind. 31“Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. 36“This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. 39“After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. 44“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.” 46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” 48Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. 49Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.