fra Biblica1Jeg, Nebukadnezar, levede en magelig og ubekymret tilværelse her i mit palads.2Men en nat havde jeg en drøm, som forfærdede mig, og de syner, jeg så, gjorde mig skrækslagen.3Jeg tilkaldte alle Babyloniens astrologer, præster og vismænd, for at de skulle fortælle mig, hvad drømmen betød,4og de kom alle sammen. Men da jeg fortalte dem, hvad jeg havde drømt, var der ingen af dem, der kunne tyde drømmen for mig.5Til sidst kaldte jeg Daniel ind, ham som jeg har opkaldt efter min gud og givet navnet Belteshazzar. Han har de hellige guders ånd[1] i sig.6„Belteshazzar,” sagde jeg til ham, „du er den klogeste af alle mine vismænd! Jeg ved, at de hellige guders ånd er i dig, og at du kan løse ethvert mysterium. Lad mig fortælle dig min drøm, så du kan tyde den for mig:7Jeg så et stort træ, som stod midt på jorden. Det var meget højt,8og det blev ved med at vokse, til toppen nåede himlen. Det kunne ses af alle ud over jorden.9Bladene var friske og grønne, og grenene var fulde af frugt, så der var mad nok til alle. De vilde dyr søgte ind i træets skygge, fuglene byggede rede i dets grene, og alle levede af træets frugt.10Derefter så jeg i drømmen en budbringer, en engel, komme ned fra Himlen,11og han råbte: ‚Fæld træet, så dyrene flygter, og fuglene flyver væk! Hug grenene over! Riv bladene af og spred frugterne!12Men lad stubben med rødderne være. Lad den stå i græsset med en lænke af jern og bronze omkring. Han skal leve under åben himmel og gå rundt på græsmarkerne sammen med dyrene.13Tag hans menneskeforstand fra ham, så han lever som et dyr i syv år.14Denne dom er bragt af engle, for at alle mennesker kan forstå, at den højeste Gud er Konge over alle konger, og at han ønsker ydmyge ledere.’15Ja, Belteshazzar, det var, hvad jeg så i min drøm. Fortæl mig nu, hvad det betyder. Ingen af vismændene i mit rige kunne tyde min drøm. Men du kan, for de hellige guders ånd er i dig.”
Daniel tyder drømmen
16Daniel, som jeg kaldte Belteshazzar, stod længe tavs og med et forfærdet udtryk i ansigtet. Til sidst sagde jeg: „Belteshazzar, du skal ikke være bange for at fortælle mig betydningen!” Belteshazzar svarede: „Deres Majestæt, gid det forfærdelige, som denne drøm forudsiger, gjaldt Deres fjender og ikke Dem!17Det træ, De så, og som voksede sig stort og nåede himlen, så alle på jorden kunne se det,18som havde friske grønne blade og frugt nok til føde for alle, i hvis skygge dyrene hvilede, og i hvis grene fuglene byggede rede,19det træ er Dem selv, Deres Majestæt! De er blevet stor og mægtig, så Deres storhed når til himlen og Deres magt til jordens yderste grænser.20Det, De derefter så—at en engel kom ned fra Himlen og sagde: ‚Fæld træet og ødelæg det, men lad stubben med rødderne blive stående bundet med en lænke af jern og bronze. Han skal leve under åben himmel, og lad ham æde græs som dyrene, indtil der er gået syv år’—21det betyder, at den almægtige Gud har besluttet, hvad der skal ske med Dem:22De vil blive udstødt af menneskenes samfund og skal leve som et dyr. De kommer til at æde græs som kvæget og blive udsat for vejr og vind. I syv år skal De leve på den måde, indtil De indser, at den almægtige Gud er Herre over alle jordiske kongeriger, og at han giver magten til hvem, han vil.23Men når stubben med rødderne blev efterladt i jorden, betyder det, at han vil give Dem kongeværdigheden igen, så snart De erkender, at det er Himlens Gud, som har magten.24Lyt derfor til mit råd: Opgiv Deres syndige liv og gør, hvad der er ret. Hold inde med Deres ondskab og vær barmhjertig over for de fattige. Så vil det måske alligevel gå godt for Dem.”
Drømmens opfyldelse
25Det viste sig, at alt, hvad Daniel havde sagt, gik i opfyldelse.26Tolv måneder senere, da jeg, kong Nebukadnezar, opholdt mig på taget af mit palads i Babylon,27udbrød jeg: „Se, hvor prægtig Babylon er blevet! Jeg har opført denne storslåede by og gjort den til min kongelige residens som et udtryk for min enestående magt og til ære for mig, som den store konge, jeg er.”28Endnu inden jeg havde talt færdig, lød der en stemme fra Himlen: „Det skal du vide, kong Nebukadnezar, at nu bliver kongedømmet taget fra dig!29Du vil blive udstødt af menneskenes samfund og kommer til at leve som et dyr og æde græs som kvæget. I syv år skal du leve på den måde, indtil du indser, at den almægtige Gud er Herre over alle jordens konger, og at han giver magten til hvem, han vil.”30Det varede ikke længe, før det hele gik i opfyldelse. Jeg blev udstødt af menneskenes samfund og måtte æde græs som kvæget. Jeg levede under åben himmel, til mit hår blev langt og stift som ørnefjer, og mine negle blev som fuglekløer.31Da syv år var gået, bad jeg Himlens Gud om nåde, og jeg fik min forstand igen. Da priste jeg den almægtige Gud og tilbad ham, som lever for evigt. Hans herredømme er evigt, og hans rige får aldrig ende.32Alverdens nationer er intet at regne i sammenligning med ham. Han råder over en hær af engle og gennemfører sin vilje blandt jordens folk. Ingen kan sætte sig op imod ham eller gå i rette med ham.33Jeg fik således min forstand igen og fik min tidligere kongelige ære og værdighed tilbage. Mine rådgivere og embedsmænd opsøgte mig, og jeg blev genindsat på tronen med endnu større magt og herlighed end før.34Derfor priser, ophøjer og ærer jeg, kong Nebukadnezar, i dag Himlens Konge. Alt, hvad han gør, er retfærdigt og godt, og han ydmyger dem, der fremturer i hovmod.
1[1] King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! (Dan 3,4; Dan 6,25; 1.Pet 1,2; 2.Pet 1,2)2It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. (Dan 3,26; Dan 6,27; Joh 4,48)3How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation. (Dan 2,44; Dan 4,2)
Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
4[2] I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.5I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. (Dan 2,28; Dan 7,15)6So 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. (Dan 2,12; Dan 3,10)7Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. (Dan 2,2; Dan 2,27; Dan 4,18; Dan 5,8; Dan 5,15)8At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods[3]—and I told him the dream, saying, (1.Mos 41,38; Es 63,14; Dan 1,7; Dan 2,11; Dan 4,18; Dan 5,11)9“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. (Dan 2,18; Dan 2,48; Dan 4,5; Dan 4,8; Dan 5,11)10The 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. (Ez 31,3; Dan 4,5)11The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. (Salm 37,35)12Its leaves were beautiful 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 heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. (Ez 31,6; Ez 31,7)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. (5.Mos 33,2; Dan 4,5; Dan 4,23; Zak 14,5; Judas 1,14)14He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. (Ez 31,12; Dan 3,4; Dan 4,23; Matt 3,10; Luk 3,9)15But 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 portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.16Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. (1.Krøn 29,30; Dan 4,23; Dan 4,25)17The 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.’ (1.Sam 2,8; Jer 27,5; Dan 4,13; Dan 4,25; Dan 4,32; Dan 5,21)18This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me 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.” (1.Mos 41,8; Dan 1,7; Dan 4,7; Dan 4,8; Dan 5,8; Dan 5,15)
Daniel Interprets the Second Dream
19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! (1.Sam 25,26; 2.Sam 18,32; Dan 3,24; Dan 4,18; Dan 5,6)20The 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, (Dan 4,10)21whose leaves were beautiful 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 heavens lived— (Dan 4,12)22it 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. (Jer 27,6; Ez 31,3)23And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop 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 portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’ (Dan 4,13; Dan 4,14; Dan 4,16)24this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,25that 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 periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. (Salm 106,20; Dan 4,17; Dan 4,23; Dan 4,32; Dan 5,21)26And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. (Dan 4,15; Dan 4,23)27Therefore, 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 prosperity.” (Ord 16,6; Jer 18,8; Jonas 3,10; Matt 6,1; Matt 25,35; Luk 11,41; Ap G 8,22; 2.Tim 2,25)
Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation
28All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.29At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,30and the king answered and 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?” (Dan 2,37; Dan 4,36; Dan 5,20)31While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, (Dan 5,5; Luk 12,20)32and 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 periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” (Dan 4,17; Dan 4,25; Dan 5,21)33Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. 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. (Dan 4,32)
Nebuchadnezzar Restored
34At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; (Salm 10,16; Dan 2,44; Dan 4,26; Dan 4,36; Dan 6,26; Dan 12,7; Åb 4,10)35all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (Job 9,12; Salm 115,3; Es 14,27; Es 40,17; Es 45,9; Rom 9,20; Heb 1,13)36At 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. (Job 42,12; Dan 3,24; Dan 4,30; Dan 4,34; Dan 5,1; Dan 5,18; Dan 6,7; Dan 6,17; Matt 6,33)37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, 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 humble. (5.Mos 32,4; Salm 33,4; Ord 20,23; Dan 4,34; Dan 5,20; Dan 5,23; Åb 15,3)