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

King Nebuchadnezzar sent this letter to all the people of every nation and language who live in all the world: “May you have much peace!

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

I am pleased to tell you about the wonderful things which the Most High God has done for me.

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

How great are the special things He shows us! How powerful are His wonderful works! His nation lasts forever, and His rule is for all people for all time.

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

“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house. Everything was going well for me there.

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

But I had a dream that made me afraid. As I lay on my bed the pictures that passed through my mind filled me with fear.

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

So I called for all the wise men of Babylon to come and tell me the meaning of my dream.

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

Then the wonder-workers, those who learn from stars, and those who use their secret ways, came in. I told them about the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant.

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

At last Daniel came to me, who was given the name Belteshazzar after the name of my god. A spirit of the holy gods is in him, and I told him about my dream. I said,

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, head of the wonder-workers, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no secret is hidden from you. So tell me what dream I had, and what it means.

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

This is what I saw in my mind as I lay on my bed: I saw a tree in the center of the land. It was very tall.

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

The tree grew and became strong. Its top went up to the sky, and it could be seen to the end of the whole 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.

Its leaves were beautiful and it had much fruit. It had enough food for everyone. The wild animals of the field rested in its shadow. The birds of the air lived in its branches. And every living thing was fed from it.

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

‘In the dreams I had as I lay on my bed, I looked and saw an angel who kept watch. He was a holy one who came down from heaven.

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

He said in a loud voice, “Cut down the tree and cut off its branches. Tear off its leaves and throw away its fruit. Let the animals run from under it and the birds fly from its 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.

Yet leave the base of the tree with its roots in the ground, and tie a chain of iron and brass around it. Leave it there in the new grass of the field. Let him be wet with the water from heaven on the grass in the early morning. Let him share with the wild animals in the grass of the earth.

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

Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and for seven years let him have the mind of an animal.

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 penalty is by the law of the angels who keep watch. This is what the holy ones have decided, so that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the nation of all people. He gives it to whomever He wants, and lets the least important of men rule over it.”

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 is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means. None of the wise men in my nation can tell me what it means, but you can. For the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’ Daniel Tells the Meaning of the Second Dream

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 (also called Belteshazzar) was afraid for a while. His thoughts filled him with fear. The king said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not be afraid of the dream or its meaning.’ Belteshazzar answered, ‘My lord, if only the dream and its meaning had to do with those who hate you and fight against you!

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

You saw the tree which grew large and strong, whose top went up to the sky and could be seen over all the earth.

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

Its leaves were beautiful and it had much fruit, enough food for all. Wild animals of the field rested under it, and birds of the air lived in its branches.

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

This tree is you, O king! For you have become great and strong. Your power has become great and has gone up to the sky, and your rule has gone 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.›

The king saw an angel who kept watch, a holy one coming down from heaven and saying, “Cut down the tree and destroy it. Yet leave its base with its roots in the ground. Put a chain of iron and brass around it and leave it in the new grass of the field. And let him be wet with the water from heaven on the grass in the early morning. Let him share with the wild animals of the field for seven years.”

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

This is what it means, O king. This is what the Most High said would happen to 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.

You will be driven away from all people and will live with the wild animals of the field. You will eat grass like cattle and become wet with the water from heaven. Seven years will pass until you understand that the Most High is ruler over the nations of men, and gives them to whomever He wants.

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

It was said that the base of the tree and its roots must be left. This means that your nation will be returned to you after you understand that it is Heaven that rules.

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

So, O king, may my words be pleasing to you. Turn away from your sins by doing what is right and good. Turn away from your wrong-doing by being kind to the poor. Then it may be that things will keep going well for you.’ The King Loses Everything

28 و َقَد حَدَثَت كُلُّ تِلكَ الأُمُورِ لِلمَلِكِ نَبُوخَذْناصَّرَ،

“All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

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

Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of his beautiful house in Babylon.

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

And he said, ‘Is not this the great Babylon which I have built as a beautiful place for the king? I have built it by my great strength and for the greatness of my power.’

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

Before the king was finished speaking, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is said: Your power over the nation has been taken from you.

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.»

You will be driven away from all people and will live with the wild animals of the field. You will eat grass like cattle. And seven years will pass until you understand that the Most High is ruler over the nations of men, and gives them to whomever He wants.’

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.

At once these words about Nebuchadnezzar came true. He was driven away from all people and began eating grass like cattle. His body became wet with the water from heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails like those of birds. Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

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.

“But at the end of that time I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven and my understanding returned to me. And I gave thanks to the Most High and praised and honored Him Who lives forever. For His nation lasts forever, and His rule is for all people for all time.

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؟

All the people of the earth are thought of as nothing. He does as He pleases with the angels of heaven and the people of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’

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 that time my understanding returned to me. And my honor and power were returned to me for the greatness of my nation. My wise men and my leaders began looking for me, and I was made king again, with even more greatness added to 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 honor the King of heaven. For all His works are true and His ways are right. And He is able to bring down those who walk in pride.”