1 « مِنَ المَلِكِ نَبُوخَذْناصَّرَ إلَى كُلِّ الشُّعُوبِ وَالأُمَمِ وَاللُّغاتِ، السّاكِنِينَ فِي كُلِّ البُلدانِ، فَليَكُنْ لَكُمُ الخَيرُ وَالسَّلامُ دائِماً.

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

2 « أجِدُ سُرُوراً عَظِيماً فِي أنْ أُخبِرَكُمْ بِالآياتِ وَالعَجائِبِ الَّتِي عَمِلَها اللهُ العَلِيِّ لِي.

I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

3 « آياتُهُ عَظِيمَةٌ! عَجائِبُهُ قَوِيَّةٌ! مُلْكُهُ مُلْكٌ أبَدِيٌّ، وَسُلطانُهُ سَيَدُومُ عَبرَ كُلِّ الأجيالِ.

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

4 « أنا، نَبُوخَذْناصَّرَ، كُنتُ أستَرِيحُ مُطمَئِناً فِي قَصرِي،

I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

5 ف َرَأيتُ حُلماً أفزَعَنِي. وَأزعَجَتنِي أفكارِي وَتَخَيُّلاتِي وَأنا عَلَى فِراشِي.

I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

6 ح ِينَئِذٍ، أصدَرتُ أمراً بِإحْضارِ كُلِّ حُكَماءِ بابِلَ كَي يُفَسِّرُوا لِيَ الحُلمَ.

Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

7 و َحِينَ جاءَ المُنَجِّمُونَ وَالسَّحَرَةُ وَالكَلْدانِيُّونَ وَالوُسَطاءُ، أخْبَرْتُهُمْ عَنْ حُلمِي، لَكِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَستَطِيعُوا تَفسِيرَهُ.

Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

8 و َأخِيراً، دَخَلَ دانِيالُ أمامِي، وَهُوَ الَّذِي أُعْطِيَ اسْمَ ‹بَلْطْشاصَّرُ› إكراماً لإلَهِي. وَكانَ رُوحُ الآلِهَةِ القِدِّيسِينَ فِيهِ، فَأخبَرتُهُ عَن حُلمِي فَقُلْتُ لَهُ:

But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

9 « يا بَلْطْشاصَّرُ، يا رَئِيسَ المُنَّجِمِينَ، أعرِفُ أنَّ رُوحَ الآلِهَةِ القِدِّيسِينَ فِيكَ، وَلا يُوجَدُ سِرٌّ يَصعُبُ عَلَيكَ مَعرِفَتُهُ، فَفَسِّرْ لِيَ الحُلمَ الَّذِي رَأيتُهُ.

O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

10 ك ُنتُ مُستَلقِياً عَلَى فِراشِي حِينَ بَدَأتُ أرَى رُؤَىً فِي ذِهنِي. وَفَجأةً كانَتْ هُناكَ شَجَرَةٌ طَوِيلَةٌ جِدّاً تَنمُو فِي الأرْضِ،

Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

11 ك انَت هَذِهِ الشَّجَرَةُ كَبِيرَةً وَقَوِيَّةً جِدّاً، وَبَلَغَ ارتِفاعُها إلَى السَّماءِ، وَكانَ الجَمِيعُ يَراها.

The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

12 ك انَت أوراقُها جَمِيلَةً، وَثَمَرُها وَفِيراً، وَكانَت تُعطِي طَعاماً لِلجَمِيعِ، وَكانَتِ حَيواناتُ البَرِّيَةِ تَستَظِلُّ تَحتَها، وَالطُّيُورُ تَسكُنُ فِي أغصانِها، وَكُلُّ الكائِناتِ تَأكُلُ مِنها.

The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

13 « وَبَينَما كُنتُ أرَى هَذا فِي حُلمِي وَعَلَى فِراشِي، نَزَلَ مُراقِبٌ قِدِّيسٌ مِنَ السَّماءِ وَصَرَخَ:

I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

14 ‹ اقطَعُوا الشَّجَرَةَ! قُصُّوا أغصانَها! انزَعُوا أوراقَها! انثُرُوا ثِمارَها! وَلتَهرِبِ الحَيواناتُ البَرِّيَّةُ مِنْ تَحتِها وَالطُّيُورُ مِنْ أغصانِها.

He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

15 ل َكِنِ اترُكُوا جِذْعَها وَجُذُورَها فِي الأرْضِ. أوْثِقُوا جِذْعَها بِحَدِيدٍ وَنُحاسٍ فِي وَسَطِ نَباتاتِ الغابَةِ. اترُكُوهُ لِيَبتَلَّ مِنْ نَدَى السَّماءِ بَينَ الحَيواناتِ فِي الأراضِي العُشبِيَّةِ.

Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

16 س َيَفقِدُ عَقلَهُ البَشَرِيَّ، وَيُفَكِّرُ كَالحَيواناتِ، إلَى أنْ تَمْضيَ عَلَيهِ سَبعَةُ مَواسِمَ.›

Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

17 « هَذا الإعلانُ مَرسُومٌ أمَرَ بِهِ المُراقِبُونَ القِدِّيسُونَ لِكَي تَعرِفَ كُلُّ المَخلُوقاتِ أنَّ اللهَ العَلِيَّ يَحْكُمُ مَملَكَةَ البَشَرِ. وَهُوَ يُعطِيها لِمَن يَشاءُ، وَيُقِيمُ أوضَعَ النّاسِ عَلَيها.

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

18 « هَذا هُوَ الحُلمُ الَّذِي رَأيتُهُ، أنا المَلِكَ نَبُوخَذْناصَّرَ. وَالآنَ يا بَلْطْشاصَّرُ، فَسِّرْ لِيَ الحُلمَ، لأنَّهُ لا أحَدَ مِنَ الحُكَماءِ الآخَرِينَ يَستَطِيعُ تَفسِيرَهُ، أمّا أنتَ فَتَستَطِيعُ لأنَّ رُوحَ الآلِهَةِ القِدِّيسِينَ فِيكَ.»

This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, 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 ف َبَقِيَ دانِيالُ – وَيُدْعَى أيضاً بَلْطْشاصَّرَ – صامِتاً نَحوَ ساعَةٍ كامِلَةٍ وَهُوَ مُنزَعِجٌ مِنْ أفكارِهِ. فَقالَ لَهُ المَلِكُ: «يا بَلْطْشاصَّرُ، لا تَدَعِ الحُلمَ وَتَفسِيرَهُ يُزعِجانِكَ.» فَأجابَ بَلْطْشاصَّرُ: «يا سَيِّدِي، أتَمَنَّى لَوْ أنَّ هَذا الحُلمَ عَن أعدائِكَ!

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

20 ف َالشَّجَرَةُ الكَبِيرَةُ القَوِيَّةُ الَّتِي رَأيتَها، وَوَصَلَ ارتِفاعُها إلَى السَّماءِ، حَتَّى كانَتْ مَرئِيَّةً مِنْ أقاصِي الأرْضِ –

The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

21 ا لشَّجَرَةُ ذاتَ الأوراقِ الجَّمِيلَةِ وَالثَّمَرِ الكَثِيرِ، وَفِي أغصانِها طَعامٌ لِلجَمِيعِ، وَقَد سَكَنَتِ الحَيواناتُ البَرِّيَّةُ تَحتَها وَعَشَّشَتِ الطُّيُورُ فِي أغْصانِها –

Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

22 ه ِيَ أنتَ أيُّها المَلِكُ! فَقَد صِرتَ عَظِيماً وَقَوِيّاً، وَجَمَعتَ ثَروَةً عَظِيمَةً، وَوَصَلَتْ قُوَّتُكَ إلَى السَّماءِ وَسُلطانُكَ إلَى أقاصِي الأرْضِ.

It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

23 « أمّا المُراقِبُ القِدِّيسُ الَّذِي رَأيتَهُ يَنزِلُ مِنَ السَّماءِ، وَالَّذِي قالَ: ‹اقطَعُوا الشَّجَرَةَ وَأهلِكُوها تَماماً، لَكِنِ اتْرُكُوا جِذعَها وَجُذُورَها فِي الأرْضِ مُقَيَّدَةً بِقُيُودٍ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ وَنُحاسٍ وَسَطَ الحُقُولِ. فَهُناكَ سَتَبتَلُّ بِنَدَى السَّماءِ، وَتَبقَى بَينَ الحَيواناتِ البَرِّيَّةِ حَتَّى تَكتَمِلَ سَبعَةُ مَواسِمٍ.›

And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

24 « فَيا سَيِّدِي المَلِكِ، هَذا هُوَ تَفسِيرُ ما قالَهُ المُراقِبُ فِي الحُلمِ: هَذا هُوَ الحُكمُ الَّذِي أصدَرَهُ اللهُ العَلِيُّ عَلَى سَيِّدِي المَلِكِ:

This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

25 س َيَطرُدُونَكَ مِنْ بَينِ النّاسِ، وَسَتَعِيشُ بَينَ الحَيواناتِ البَرِّيَّةِ وَسَتَأكُلُ العُشبَ كَالبَقَرِ، وَسَتَبتَلُّ بِنَدَى السَّماءِ. وَسَتَمُرُّ عَلَيكَ سَبْعَةُ مَواسِمٍ قَبلَ أنْ يَعُودَ إلَيكَ عَقلُكَ وَتَعرِفَ أنَّ اللهَ العَلِيَّ يَحكُمُ عَلَى مَملَكَةِ البَشَرِ. وَهُوَ يُعطِيها لِمَن يَشاءُ.

That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

26 « وَعِندَما قالَ المُراقِبُ القدِّيسُ: ‹اترُكُوا جِذْعَها وَجُذُورَها،› فَهَذا لِتَعلَمَ أنَّ مَملَكَتَكَ سَتَعُودُ إلَيكَ، عِنْدَما تُدْرِكَ أنَّ السِّيادَةَ هِيَ لِرَبِّ السَّماءِ.

And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

27 ل ِذَلِكَ أيُّها المَلِكُ اسْمَعْ نَصِيحَتِي. كَفِّرْ عَنْ خَطاياكَ بِالبِرِّ، وَعَنْ شَرِّكَ بِالإحسانِ لِلفُقَراءِ. فَحِينَئِذٍ، تَكُونُ لَكَ حَياةٌ طَوِيلَةٌ هادِئَةٌ.»

Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

28 و َقَد حَدَثَت كُلُّ تِلكَ الأُمُورِ لِلمَلِكِ نَبُوخَذْناصَّرَ،

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

29 ف َبَعدَ اثنَي عَشَرَ شَهراً كانَ المَلِكُ يَتَمَشَّى عَلَى سَطحِ قَصرِهِ،

At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 ح ِينَ قالَ: «هَذِهِ هِيَ بابِلُ المَدِينَةُ العَظِيمَةُ الَّتِي بَنَيتُها بِقُوَّتِي لِتَصِيرَ عاصِمَةَ مَملَكَتِي وَلأُظْهِرَ مَجدِي!»

The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

31 و َبَينَما كانَ لايَزالُ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِهَذِهِ الكَلِماتِ، جاءَ صَوْتٌ مِنَ السَّماءِ يَقُولُ: «اسمَعْ ما سَيَحدُثُ لَكَ أيُّها المَلِكُ نَبُوخَذْناصَّرُ: سَتُنزَعُ مَملَكَتُكَ مِنكَ.

While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

32 و َسَتُطرَدُ مِنْ بَينِ النّاسِ لِتَعِيشَ بَينَ الحَيواناتِ البَرِّيَّةِ، وَسَتَأكُلُ العُشبَ كَالبَقَرِ، وَسَتَمُرُّ عَلَيكَ سَبعَةُ مَواسِمٍ قَبلَ أنْ تَعُودَ إلَى عَقلِكَ وَتَعرِفَ أنَّ اللهَ العَلِيَّ يَحكُمُ عَلَى مَملَكَةِ البَشَرِ. وَهُوَ يُعطِيها لِمَن يَشاءُ.»

And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33 و َفَورَ انتِهاءِ هَذِهِ الرِّسالَةِ، طُرِدَ نَبُوخَذْناصَّرُ مِنْ بَينِ النّاسِ، وَصارَ مَجنُوناً. وَبَدَأ يَأكُلُ العُشبَ كَالبَقَرِ، وَابتَلَّ جَسَدُهُ بِنَدَى السَّماءِ. طالَ شَعرُهُ وَتَلَبَّدَ حَتَّى صارَ مِثلَ رِيشِ النَّسرِ. وَطالَت أظافِرُهُ حَتَّى صارَت كَمَخالِبِ الطُّيُورِ.

The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

34 و َتابَعَ نَبُوخَذْناصَّرُ كَلامَهُ بِقَولِهِ: «وَفِي نِهايَةِ الوَقتِ المُعَيَّنِ، رَفَعتُ أنا نَبُوخَذْناصَّرُ، عَينَيَّ نَحوَ السَّماءِ فَعادَ إلَيَّ عَقلِي. حِينَئِذٍ، بارَكتُ اللهَ العَلِيَّ، وَمَجَّدتُ الَّذِي يَحيا إلَى الأبَدِ وَالَّذِي يَملُكُ إلَى الأبَدِ، وَمُلكُهُ يَستَمِرُّ عَبرَ الأجيالِ.

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

35 « أمامَ قُوَّةِ اللهِ، كُلُّ البَشَرِ عَلَى الأرْضِ كَلا شَيءٍ! هُوَ يَعمَلُ ما يُرِيدُ بِجُندِ السَّماءِ أوْ بِسُكّانِ الأرْضِ! لا يُوجَدُ مَنْ يَستَطِيعُ مَنْعَهُ أوْ مَنْ يَسألُهُ ماذا تَعمَلُ؟

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

36 « فِي ذَلِكَ اليَومِ، أعادَ اللهُ إلَيَّ عَقلِي وَمَجدَ مَملَكَتِي وَكَرامَتِي. وَعادَت هَيئَتِي إلَى طَبِيعَتِها. وَعادَ المُستَشارُونَ وَالنُبَلاءُ يَطلُبُونَ نَصِيحَتِي مِنْ جَدِيدٍ. وَعُدْتُ إلَى مَركِزِي كَمَلِكٍ عَلَى مَملَكَتِي. وَحَصَلتُ عَلَى ثَروَةٍ أعظَمَ مِمّا كانَ لِي.

At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

37 أ نا نَبُوخَذْناصَّرَ أُسَبِّحُ وَأحمَدُ وَأُكرِمُ مَلِكَ السَّماءِ الَّذِي كُلُّ أعمالِهِ حَقٌّ وَطُرُقُهُ مُستَقِيمَةٌ، وَهُوَ يَقدِرُ أنْ يُذِلَّ المُتَكَبِّرِينَ.»

Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.