To The Word – Day 202

₁Ngomnyaka wesithathu wokubusa kukaJehoyakimi, inkosi yakwaJuda, kwafika uNebukadinesari, inkosi yaseBabele, eJerusalema, walivimbezela. ₂INkosi yanikela esandleni sakhe uJehoyakimi, inkosi yakwaJuda, nenxenye yezitsha zendlu kaNkulunkulu, waziyisa ezweni laseShineyari endlini kankulunkulu wakhe, waziyisa izitsha endlini yengcebo kankulunkulu wakhe.

₃Inkosi yakhuluma ku-Ashipenazi, induna yabathenwa bayo, ukuba athathe kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli abozalo lwenkosi nezikhulu, abalethe, ₄abafana abangenasici, ababukeka kahle, abanengqondo ekuhlakanipheni konke, abanolwazi ekwazini, abanokuqonda ekwazini, abanamandla ukukhonza endlini yenkosi, abafundise izincwadi nolimi lwamaKaledi. ₅Inkosi yabamisela isabelo semihla ngemihla sokudla kwenkosi nesewayini eliphuzayo, bondliwe iminyaka emithathu; kuyakuthi ngasekugcineni kwayo beme phambi kwenkosi.

₆Kulabo kwakukhona kubantwana bakwaJuda oDaniyeli, noHananiya, noMishayeli, no-Azariya. ₇Induna yabathenwa yabetha amagama; uDaniyeli yametha ngokuthi uBeliteshasari, noHananiya uShadiraki, noMishayeli uMeshaki, no-Azariya u-Abedi Nego.

₈Kepha uDaniyeli wazimisela enhliziyweni yakhe ukuba angazingcolisi ngesabelo sokudla kwenkosi nangewayini eliphuzayo; wayesecela enduneni yabathenwa ukuba angazingcolisi. ₉UNkulunkulu wamnika uDaniyeli ukuba athole umusa nobumnene emehlweni enduna yabathenwa. ₁₀Induna yabathenwa yathi kuDaniyeli: “Mina ngiyesaba ukuthi inkosi yami, inkosi, emisile ukudla kwenu nokuphuza kwenu, iyakubona ubuso benu ukuba buxhozekile kunabafana abayintanga yenu, nilifake engozini ikhanda lami enkosini.”

₁₁Wayesethi uDaniyeli encekwini, induna yabathenwa ebiyibeke phezu koDaniyeli, noHananiya, noMishayeli, no-Azariya: ₁₂“Ake ulinge izinceku zakho izinsuku eziyishumi, basiphe imifino yokudla namanzi okuphuza. ₁₃Bese bubekwa ubuso bethu phambi kwakho kanye nobuso babafana abadla isabelo sokudla kwenkosi, wenze ezincekwini zakho njengokubona kwakho.” ₁₄Yabalalela kule nto, yabalinga izinsuku eziyishumi.

₁₅Ngasekugcineni kwezinsuku eziyishumi ubuso babo babonakala bubuhle, babekhuluphele emzimbeni kunabo bonke abafana ababedla isabelo sokudla kwenkosi. ₁₆Inceku yayisisusa isabelo sokudla newayini lokuphuza, yabapha imifino.

₁₇Laba bafana abane uNkulunkulu wabanika ukwazi nokuqonda encwadini nasekuhlakanipheni; uDaniyeli wayenengqondo kuyo yonke imibono namaphupho.

₁₈Ngasekugcineni kwezinsuku inkosi eyayishilo ukuthi bazakungeniswa ngazo, induna yabathenwa yabangenisa phambi kukaNebukadinesari. ₁₉Inkosi yakhuluma nabo; phakathi kwabo bonke akufunyaniswanga muntu onjengoDaniyeli, noHananiya, noMishayeli, no-Azariya; base bemi ngaphambi kwenkosi. ₂₀Ezintweni zonke zokuhlakanipha nezokuqonda inkosi eyayibabuza ngazo yabafumanisa bedlula kayishumi zonke izanusi nabathwebulayo ababesembusweni wayo wonke.

₂₁UDaniyeli wayekhona kwaze kwaba ngumnyaka wokuqala kaKoresi inkosi.

₁Ngomnyaka wesibili wokubusa kukaNebukadinesari uNebukadinesari waphupha amaphupho; umoya wakhe wakhathazeka, nobuthongo bakhe bambalekela. ₂Yayisiyaleza inkosi ukuba kubizwe izanusi, nabathwebulayo, nabalumbi, namaKaledi ukuba bachazele inkosi amaphupho ayo. Bangena, bema phambi kwenkosi. ₃Inkosi yayisithi kubo: “Ngiphuphe iphupho, umoya wami ukhathazekile ukulazi iphupho.”

₄Ayesekhuluma amaKaledi enkosini ngesi-Aramu, athi: “Mana njalo, nkosi; yisho ezincekwini zakho iphupho, thina sibonise incazelo.”

₅Inkosi yaphendula, yathi kumaKaledi: “Izwi liphumile kimi lokuthi uma ningazisi iphupho nencazo yalo, niyakuhlahlelwa, izindlu zenu zibe yiquba. ₆Kepha uma nibonisa iphupho nencazo yalo, niyakwamukela kimi izipho nemivuzo nodumo olukhulu; ngalokho ngiboniseni iphupho nencazo yalo.”

₇Abuye aphendula, athi: “Inkosi mayisho iphupho ezincekwini zayo, thina sibonise incazelo.”

₈Inkosi-ke yaphendula yathi: “Ngiyazi impela ukuthi niyazenzela isikhathi, ngokuba nibona ukuthi izwi liphumile kimi ₉lokuthi uma ningangazisi iphupho, umthetho munye nje ngani, ngokuba nilungisile amazwi amanga nawonakeleyo okukhuluma phambi kwami, kuze kuguquke isikhathi: ngalokho ngitsheleni iphupho, ngize ngazi ukuthi ningangibonisa incazelo yalo.”

₁₀AmaKaledi aphendula phambi kwenkosi, athi: “Akukho muntu emhlabeni ongabonisa indaba yenkosi, ngokuba akukho nkosi, nanduna, nambusi owake wabuza indaba enjalo nakwesisodwa isanusi, nothwebulayo, naKaledi. ₁₁Futhi kuyinto elukhuni eyifunayo inkosi, kakho omunye ongayibonisa phambi kwenkosi ngaphandle kwawonkulunkulu abangahlali nabasenyameni.”

₁₂Ngalokho inkosi yathukuthela, yafutheka kakhulu, yayaleza ukuba kubhujiswe bonke abahlakaniphileyo baseBabele. ₁₃Isimemezelo saphuma sokuthi abahlakaniphileyo babeyakubulawa; bamfuna uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe ukuba babulawe.

₁₄Khona uDaniyeli wabuyisela impendulo ngokuhlakanipha nangokuqonda ku-Ariyoki induna yemilindankosi owayephumile ukubulala abahlakaniphileyo baseBabele; ₁₅wathatha wathi ku-Ariyoki induna yenkosi: “Siphumeleni enkosini lesi simemezelo esicindezelayo na?” U-Ariyoki wayesemazisa uDaniyeli indaba. ₁₆UDaniyeli wayesengena, wacela enkosini ukuba imnike isikhathi ukuze abonise inkosi incazelo.

₁₇UDaniyeli wayeseya endlini yakhe, wazisa oHananiya, noMishayeli, no-Azariya, abangane bakhe, le ndaba ₁₈ukuba bacele umusa kuNkulunkulu wasezulwini ngale mfihlakalo, ukuze uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe bangabhubhi kanye nabanye abahlakaniphileyo baseBabele. ₁₉Khona yabonakaliswa imfihlakalo kuDaniyeli ngombono ebusuku. UDaniyeli wambonga uNkulunkulu wasezulwini. ₂₀UDaniyeli wathatha wathi:

₂₄Ngalokho uDaniyeli wangena ku-Ariyoki obemiswe yinkosi ukuba abhubhise abahlakaniphileyo baseBabele. Wahamba, washo kanje kuye, wathi: “Ungababhubhisi abahlakaniphileyo baseBabele; ngingenise phambi kwenkosi, ngibonise inkosi incazelo.”

₂₅U-Ariyoki wayeseshesha ukumngenisa uDaniyeli phambi kwenkosi, washo kanje kuyo, wathi: “Ngifumene umuntu wabathunjwa bakwaJuda oyakwazisa inkosi incazelo.”

₂₆Inkosi yaphendula, yathi kuDaniyeli, ogama lakhe lalinguBeliteshasari: “Ungangazisa iphupho engilibonileyo nencazo yalo na?”

₂₇UDaniyeli waphendula phambi kwenkosi, wathi: “Imfihlakalo eyibuzayo inkosi, abahlakaniphileyo, nabathwebulayo, nezanusi, nabahlola imihlola, bangeyibonise yona inkosi. ₂₈Kepha kukhona uNkulunkulu ezulwini owambula izimfihlakalo; wazisile inkosi uNebukadinesari okuyakuba khona ngezinsuku ezizayo. Iphupho lakho nemibono yekhanda lakho embhedeni wakho nakhu:

₂₉“Wena-ke, nkosi, imicabango yakho yokuyakuba khona emva kwalokhu yafika kuwe usembhedeni wakho; owambula izimfihlakalo ukwazisile okuyakuba khona. ₃₀Mina-ke, akungokuhlakanipha enginakho kunabanye abakhona ukuthi le mfihlakalo yambuliwe kimi, kepha kungukuba inkosi yaziswe incazelo nokuba wazi imicabango yenhliziyo yakho.

₃₁“Wena nkosi wabona, bheka, isithombe esikhulu. Lesi sithombe esasisikhulu nesikucwebezela kwaso kwakukuhle sema phambi kwakho, nesimo saso sasesabeka. ₃₂Lesi sithombe-ke, ikhanda laso liyigolide elihle, isifuba saso nezingalo zaso kuyisiliva, isisu saso namathanga aso kuyithusi, ₃₃imilenze yaso iyinsimbi, izinyawo zaso inxenye yinsimbi, inxenye yibumba. ₃₄Wawusubona ukuthi kwaqheshulwa itshe kungengazandla, lashaya isithombe ezinyaweni zaso eziyinsimbi nebumba, lazichoboza. ₃₅Kwase kuchotshozwa kanyekanye insimbi, nebumba, nethusi, nesiliva, negolide, kwaba njengamakhoba ezibuya zasehlobo, kwasuswa ngumoya, akutholwanga ndawo; itshe elalisishaya isithombe laba yintaba enkulu, lawugcwalisa umhlaba wonke.

₃₆“Yilelo iphupho; nencazo siyakuyisho phambi kwenkosi. ₃₇Wena nkosi uyinkosi yamakhosi onikwe umbuso, namandla, nodumo nguNkulunkulu wasezulwini. ₃₈Ezindaweni zonke lapho abantwana babantu behlezi khona, izilwane zasendle nezinyoni zezulu uzinikele esandleni sakho, wenze ukuba ubuse phezu kwazo zonke. Wena uyikhanda legolide.

₃₉“Emva kwakho kuyakuvuka omunye umbuso omncane kunawe, nomunye umbuso wesithathu wethusi oyakubusa emhlabeni wonke. ₄₀Umbuso wesine uyakuqina njengensimbi, ngokuba insimbi ichoboza, igxobe konke; nanjengensimbi ekwaphula konke lokhu, uyakugxoba, waphule. ₄₁Njengalokho wabona izinyawo nezinzwani, inxenye iyibumba lombumbi, inxenye insimbi, uyakuba ngumbuso owahlukeneyo; kepha kuyakuba kuwo amandla ensimbi, njengokuba wabona insimbi ixubene nebumba lodaka. ₄₂Njengalokho izinzwani zezinyawo zaziyinsimbi inxenye, nenxenye ibumba, umbuso uyakuba namandla nganxanye, ngakwenye inxenye ube buthakathaka. ₄₃Njengalokho wabona insimbi ixubene nebumba lodaka, bayakuzixubanisa nenzalo yabantu, kepha abayikunamathelana omunye nomunye, njengokuba insimbi ingahlangani nebumba.

₄₄“Ezinsukwini zalawo makhosi uNkulunkulu wasezulwini uyakumisa umbuso ongasoze wachithwa nobukhosi bawo bungayikushiyelwa kwabanye abantu, kepha uyakuchoboza, uqede yonke le mibuso, wona uqobo ume phakade. ₄₅Njengalokho wabona itshe ukuthi laqheshulwa entabeni kungengazandla, nokuthi lachoboza insimbi, nethusi, nebumba, nesiliva, negolide, uNkulunkulu omkhulu uyazisile inkosi okuyakuba khona emva kwalokhu; iphupho liqinisile, nencazo yalo iyiqiniso.”

₄₆Inkosi uNebukadinesari yayisiwa ngobuso, yakhuleka kuDaniyeli, yayaleza ukuba banikele ngomnikelo nangempepho kuye. ₄₇Inkosi yamphendula uDaniyeli, yathi: “Ngempela uNkulunkulu wakho unguNkulunkulu wawonkulunkulu, neNkosi yamakhosi, umambuli wezimfihlakalo, lokhu ubunamandla okubonakalisa le mfihlakalo.”

₄₈Inkosi yamkhulisa uDaniyeli, yamupha izipho eziningi ezinkulu, yamenza ukuba abuse sonke isifunda saseBabele, abe ngumholi wababusi babahlakaniphileyo baseBabele. ₄₉UDaniyeli wacela enkosini, yabeka oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego phezu kwezindaba zesifunda saseBabele, kepha uDaniyeli wayesesangweni lenkosi.

₁UNebukadinesari, inkosi, wenza isithombe segolide, ubude baso buyizingalo ezingamashumi ayisithupha, ububanzi baso buyizingalo eziyisithupha, wasibeka ethafeni laseDura esifundeni saseBabele. ₂UNebukadinesari inkosi wayesethumela ukubutha izikhulu, nababusi, nezinduna, nabahluleli, nabaphathizikhwama, nabomkhandlu, nabameli, nabo bonke abaphathizifunda ukuba beze ekwahlukaniselweni kwesithombe uNebukadinesari inkosi asimisileyo. ₃Khona izikhulu, nababusi, nezinduna, nabahluleli, nabaphathizikhwama, nabomkhandlu, nabameli, nabo bonke abaphathizifunda babuthelwa ukwahlukaniselwa kwesithombe uNebukadinesari inkosi abesimisile, bema phambi kwesithombe uNebukadinesari asimisileyo.

₄Kwase kumemeza ummemezeli ngamandla, wathi: “We nina bantu nezizwe, nezilimi, niyayalwa ₅ukuba ngesikhathi enizwa ngaso ukukhala kwecilongo, negenkle, nehabhu,* nomqangala, nogubhu, negemfe, nazo zonke izinhlobo zokubethwa, niwe phansi, nikhuleke esithombeni segolide uNebukadinesari inkosi asimisileyo. ₆Ongawi phansi, akhuleke, uyakuphonswa ngasona leso sikhathi phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo.”

₇Ngalokho lapho abantu bezwa ukukhala kwecilongo, negenkle, nehabhu,* nomqangala, nogubhu, nazo zonke izinhlobo zokubethwa, bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi bawa phansi, bakhuleka esithombeni segolide asimisileyo uNebukadinesari inkosi.

₈Ngalokho kwasondela ngaleso sikhathi amadoda amaKaledi, ahleba abaJuda. ₉Athatha athi kuNebukadinesari inkosi: “Mana njalo, nkosi. ₁₀Wena nkosi ukhiphe isimemezelo sokuba bonke abantu abezwa ukukhala kwecilongo, negenkle, nehabhu,* nomqangala, nogubhu, negemfe, nazo zonke izinhlobo zokubethwa bawe phansi, bakhuleke esithombeni segolide, ₁₁nokuba ongawi phansi, akhuleke, aphonswe phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo. ₁₂Kukhona amadoda abaJuda owabeke phezu kwezindaba zesifunda saseBabele, oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego; lawa madoda, nkosi, awakunakanga; awakhonzi onkulunkulu bakho, awakhuleki esithombeni segolide osimisileyo.”

₁₃Khona uNebukadinesari wayaleza ngolaka nangokufutheka ukuba kulethwe oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego. Base beletha lawo madoda phambi kwenkosi. ₁₄UNebukadinesari wathatha wathi kuwo: “Kungamabomu yini, Shadiraki, Meshaki, no-Abedi Nego ningakhonzi unkulunkulu wami, ningakhuleki esithombeni segolide engisimisileyo, na? ₁₅Manje uma nilungele ukuba ngesikhathi enizwa ngaso ukukhala kwecilongo, negenkle, nehabhu,* nomqangala, nogubhu, negemfe, nazo zonke izinhlobo zokubethwa, niwe phansi, nikhuleke esithombeni engisenzileyo, kuhle; kepha uma ningakhuleki, niyakuphonswa ngasona leso sikhathi phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo; ngumuphi lowo nkulunkulu oyakunikhulula ezandleni zami na?”

₁₆OShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego baphendula, bathi enkosini: “Nebukadinesari, thina asidingi ukukuphendula kule ndaba. ₁₇Uma kunjalo, uNkulunkulu wethu esimkhonzayo unamandla okusikhulula esithandweni somlilo ovuthayo; yebo, uyakusikhulula esandleni sakho, nkosi. ₁₈Kepha noma kungenjalo, makwazeke kuwe nkosi ukuthi asiyikukhonza onkulunkulu bakho, ngeke sakhuleka esithombeni segolide osimisileyo.”

₁₉Khona uNebukadinesari wagcwala ukufutheka, nesimo sobuso bakhe saguquka ngenxa yoShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego; wakhuluma wayaleza ukuba isithando somlilo sishiswe kasikhombisa ngaphezu kwalokho okuke kwabonwa sishiswa ngakho. ₂₀Wayeseyaleza amadoda anamandla asempini yakhe ukuba abophe oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego, abaphonse esithandweni somlilo ovuthayo. ₂₁Aboshwa-ke lawa madoda egqoke amayembe, namabhulukwe, nezigqoko, nezinye izingubo, aphonswa phakathi kwesithando somlilo ovuthayo. ₂₂Ngalokho ngokuba isiyalezelo senkosi sasicindezele, nesithando somlilo sasishisa kakhulu, ilangabi lomlilo lawabulala lawo madoda abakhuphula oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego. ₂₃Kepha lawa madoda amathathu, oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego, awela phansi eboshiwe phakathi nesithando somlilo ovuthayo.

₂₄Khona uNebukadinesari inkosi wethuka, wasuka wakhuluma, wathi kwabomkhandlu wakhe: “Angithi siphonse amadoda amathathu eboshiwe phakathi komlilo na?”

Baphendula, bathi enkosini: “Uqinisile, nkosi.”

₂₅Yaphendula yathi: “Bhekani, ngibona amadoda amane akhululekileyo ehamba phakathi komlilo, awachithwanga; ukubonakala kweyesine kunjengendodana yawonkulunkulu.”

₂₆Wayesesondela uNebukadinesari emnyango wesithando somlilo ovuthayo; wakhuluma wathi: “Shadiraki, Meshaki, no-Abedi Nego, nina zinceku zikaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, phumani nize lapha.” Base bephuma oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego phakathi komlilo. ₂₇Izikhulu, nababusi, nezinduna, nabomkhandlu wenkosi babuthana, babona lawo madoda ukuthi umlilo awubanga namandla emizimbeni yawo, kungahamukanga lunwele olulodwa emakhanda awo, engaguqukanga amayembe awo, lingasondelanga kuwo nephunga lomlilo.

₂₈UNebukadinesari wakhuluma wathi: “Makabongwe uNkulunkulu wawoShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego, othumile ingelosi yakhe, wakhulula izinceku zakhe ebezimethemba, zaze zaguqula izwi lenkosi, zanikela imizimba yazo ukuba zingakhonzi, zingakhuleki kunkulunkulu noyedwa, uNkulunkulu wabo kuphela. ₂₉Ngalokho ngikhipha isimemezelo sokuba bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi ezikhuluma okungafanele ngoNkulunkulu wawoShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego ziyakuhlahlelwa, izindlu zazo zenziwe iquba, ngokuba akakho omunye unkulunkulu ongophula ngale ndlela.”

₃₀Inkosi yabaphakamisa oShadiraki, noMeshaki, no-Abedi Nego esifundeni saseBabele.

₁UNebukadinesari inkosi kubo bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi ezakhe emhlabeni wonke: ukuthula makuvame kinina.

₂Bekukuhle kimi ukwazisa izibonakaliso nezimangaliso uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke azenzile kimi.

₄Mina Nebukadinesari ngangihlezi ngokuthula, ngatamasa endlini yami yobukhosi. ₅Ngase ngibona iphupho, langethusa; imicabango embhedeni wami nemibono yekhanda lami yangesabisa. ₆Ngalokho ngakhipha isimemezelo sokuba kulethwe bonke abahlakaniphileyo baseBabele phambi kwami, ukuze bangazise incazelo yephupho. ₇Zase zifika izanusi, nabathwebulayo, namaKaledi, nabahlola imihlola, ngabatshela iphupho, kepha abangazisanga incazelo yalo. ₈Kodwa ngasekugcineni kwangena uDaniyeli phambi kwami ogama lakhe linguBeliteshasari njengegama likankulunkulu wami, okuye umoya wawonkulunkulu abangcwele; ngamtshela iphupho, ngathi:

₉“Beliteshasari, wena nduna yezanusi, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi umoya wawonkulunkulu abangcwele ukuwe nokuthi awukhathazwa mfihlakalo, ngitshele imibono yephupho lami engilibonileyo nencazo yalo. ₁₀Yayinje imibono yekhanda lami ngisembhedeni wami: ngabona, bheka, nanko umuthi phakathi nomhlaba, nokuphakama kwawo kwakukukhulu. ₁₁Umuthi wakhula, waqina, ubude bawo bafinyelela ezulwini nokubonakala kwawo kwaze kwaba sekugcineni komhlaba. ₁₂Amaqabunga awo ayemahle, nezithelo zawo zaziziningi, kukhona kuwo ukudla kubo bonke; izilwane zasendle zazinomthunzi phansi kwawo, izinyoni zezulu zazihlala emagatsheni awo, nenyama yonke yondliwa kuwo.

₁₃“Ngabona emibonweni yekhanda lami ngisembhedeni wami, bheka, nango umlindi ongcwele ehla ezulwini. ₁₄Wamemeza ngamandla, washo kanje, wathi: ‘Gawula umuthi, unqume amagatsha awo, uvuthulule amaqabunga awo, uhlakaze izithelo zawo; izilwane mazisuke phansi kwawo, nezinyoni emagatsheni awo. ₁₅Nokho shiya isiqu sezimpande zawo emhlabathini, sinesibopho sensimbi nesethusi, ohlazeni lwasendle, simanziswe ngamazolo ezulu, isabelo saso sibe nezilwane zasetshanini bomhlaba; ₁₆inhliziyo yakhe iyakuguqulwa ingabi ngeyomuntu, aphiwe inhliziyo yesilwane, kudlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwakhe.

₁₇“ ‘Kunqunyiwe ngesimemezelo sabalindi nangesiyalezo sezwi labangcwele ukuba abaphilayo bazi ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ayinike amthandayo, amise phezu kwayo ophansi phakathi kwabantu.’

₁₈“Leli phupho ngalibona mina Nebukadinesari; wena Beliteshasari, yisho incazelo, njengokuba bonke abahlakaniphileyo bombuso wami bengazi ukungazisa incazelo; kepha wena ungakwenza, ngokuba umoya wawonkulunkulu abangcwele ukuwe.”

₁₉Khona uDaniyeli ogama lakhe lalinguBeliteshasari wamangala isikhashana, imicabango yakhe yamesabisa. Inkosi yathatha yathi: “Beliteshasari, iphupho nencazo makungakwesabisi.”

UBeliteshasari waphendula wathi: “Nkosi, iphupho malibe kwabakuzondayo, nencazo yalo kuzo izitha zakho. ₂₀Umuthi owawubonayo, owakhula, waqina, obude bawo bafinyelela ezulwini nokubonakala kwawo kwaze kwaba sekugcineni komhlaba; ₂₁omaqabunga awo ayemahle, nezithelo zawo zaziziningi, kukhona ukudla kuwo kubo bonke; ozilwane zasendle zahlala phansi kwawo, nezinyoni zezulu zakha emagatsheni awo: ₂₂nguwe nkosi okhulile waqina, ngokuba ubukhulu bakho bukhulile bufinyelele ezulwini nokubusa kwakho kuze kube sekugcineni komhlaba.

₂₃“Njengalokho inkosi yabona umlindi ongcwele ehla ezulwini, ethi: ‘Gawula umuthi, uwuchithe, kepha shiya isiqu sezimpande zawo emhlabathini, sinesibopho sensimbi nesethusi, ohlazeni lwasendle, simanziswe ngamazolo ezulu, isabelo saso sibe nezilwane zasendle, kuze kudlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwaso,’ ₂₄nansi incazelo, nkosi: kuyisimemezelo soPhezukonke esiyehlele inkosi yami, inkosi, ₂₅sokuthi uyakuxoshwa kubantu, inhlalo yakho ibe nezilwane zasendle, udliswe utshani njengezinkabi, umanziswe ngamazolo ezulu, kudlule izikhathi eziyisikhombisa phezu kwakho, uze wazi ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ayinike amthandayo. ₂₆Njengalokho bayaleza ukuba kushiywe isiqu sezimpande zomuthi, umbuso wakho uyakuqina kuwe, lapho usufundile ukuthi izulu liyabusa. ₂₇Ngalokho, nkosi, masamukeleke kuwe isiluleko sami, unqamule izono zakho ngokulunga, nobubi bakho ngokuba nomusa kwabampofu; mhlawumbe kungelulwa ukuthula kwakho.”

₂₈Konke lokho kwamehlela uNebukadinesari. ₂₉Ngasekugcineni kwezinyanga eziyishumi nambili wayehamba endlini yamakhosi eBabele. ₃₀Inkosi yathatha yathi: “Angithi yileli Babele elikhulu engilakhile libe yindlu yobukhosi ngezikhwepha zamandla ami, libe ludumo lobukhosi bami, na?”

₃₁Izwi lisesemlonyeni wenkosi, kwehla ezulwini izwi, lithi: “We nkosi Nebukadinesari, kukhulunyiwe kuwe ukuthi: Umbuso usukile kuwe; ₃₂uyakuxoshwa kubantu, inhlalo yakho ibe nezilwane zasendle, udliswe utshani njengezinkabi, kudlule phezu kwakho izikhathi eziyisikhombisa, uze wazi ukuthi oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ayinike amthandayo.”

₃₃Ngasona leso sikhathi le nto yagcwaliseka phezu kukaNebukadinesari: waxoshwa kubantu, wadliswa utshani njengezinkabi, umzimba wakhe wamanziswa ngamazolo ezulu, zaze zakhula izinwele zakhe njengezimpaphe zezinkozi nezinzipho zakhe njengamazipho ezinyoni.

₃₄Ngasekugcineni kwezinsuku mina Nebukadinesari ngaphakamisa amehlo ami ezulwini, nomqondo wami wabuyela kimi, ngambonga oPhezukonke, ngamdumisa, ngamtusa yena ohlezi phakade.

₃₆Ngasona leso sikhathi wabuyela kimi umqondo wami, nobukhosi bami nokucwebezela kwami kwabuyela kimi, kwaba ludumo lombuso wami; abomkhandlu bami nezinduna zami bangifuna; ngase ngibekwa embusweni wami, ngenezelwa ubukhulu obudluleleyo. ₃₇Kalokhu-ke mina Nebukadinesari ngiyatusa, ngiyaphakamisa, ngiyidumisa iNkosi yezulu, ngokuba yonke imisebenzi yayo iyiqiniso, nezindlela zayo zingukwahlulela; abahamba ngokuzidla inamandla okubathobisa.

₁UBelishasari inkosi wenzela izinduna zakhe eziyinkulungwane idili, waphuza iwayini ngaphambi kwaleyo nkulungwane. ₂UBelishasari esalinambitha iwayini wayaleza ukuba kulethwe izitsha zegolide nezesiliva, uNebukadinesari uyise ayezikhiphe ethempelini laseJerusalema, ukuba inkosi nezikhulu zayo, nawomkayo, nezancinza zayo baphuze ngazo. ₃Base beletha izitsha zegolide ezazikhishwe ethempelini lendlu kaNkulunkulu yaseJerusalema, inkosi, nezikhulu zayo, nawomkayo, nezancinza zayo baphuza ngazo. ₄Baphuza iwayini, batusa onkulunkulu begolide, nabesiliva, nabethusi, nabensimbi, nabomuthi, nabetshe.

₅Ngasona leso sikhathi kwavela iminwe yesandla somuntu, yaloba maqondana nothi lwezibani kokunamekiweyo kodonga lwendlu yenkosi; inkosi yabona inxenye yesandla esalobayo. ₆Kwase kuguquka ukucwebezela kwayo, nemicabango yayo yayesabisa, zaxhega izinyonga zokhalo lwayo, namadolo ayo ashayana.

₇Inkosi yamemeza ngamandla ukuba kulethwe abathwebulayo, namaKaledi, nabahlola imihlola. Yayisikhuluma inkosi, yathi kwabahlakaniphileyo baseBabele: “Ongafunda lo mbhalo, angitshele incazelo yawo uyakwembathiswa okububende, abe nomgexo wegolide entanyeni yakhe, abuse engowesithathu embusweni.”

₈Base bengena bonke abahlakaniphileyo benkosi, kepha behluleka ukuwufunda umbhalo nokwazisa inkosi incazelo. ₉Khona inkosi uBelishasari yesaba kakhulu, nokucwebezela kwayo kwaguquka kuyo, nezinduna zayo zamangala.

₁₀Ngenxa yamazwi enkosi nawezinduna zayo kwase kungena inkosikazi endlini yedili; inkosikazi yakhuluma yathi: “Mana njalo, nkosi; imicabango yakho mayingakwesabisi, kungaguquki ukucwebezela kwakho. ₁₁Kukhona embusweni wakho umuntu okukuye umoya wawonkulunkulu abangcwele; ezinsukwini zikayihlo kwafunyanwa kuye ukukhanya nokuqonda nokuhlakanipha njengokuhlakanipha kwawonkulunkulu; inkosi uNebukadinesari, uyihlo yambeka induna yezanusi, neyabathwebulayo, neyamaKaledi, neyabahlola imihlola, yebo, nkosi, uyihlo, ₁₂ngokuba kwafunyanwa umoya odluleleyo, nokwazi, nokuqonda ukuchaza amaphupho, nokubonakalisa izimfumbe, nokuthukulula amafindo kuye uDaniyeli lowo inkosi eyambiza ngokuthi uBeliteshasari; kalokhu makabizwe uDaniyeli, uyakubonakalisa incazelo.”

₁₃Khona uDaniyeli wangeniswa phambi kwenkosi. Inkosi yakhuluma, yathi kuDaniyeli: “Wena unguDaniyeli lowo ongowabathunjwa bakwaJuda, abalethwa yinkosi ubaba, bevela kwaJuda na? ₁₄Ngizwile ngawe ukuthi umoya wawonkulunkulu ukuwe nokuthi kufunyenwe kuwe ukukhanya nokuqonda nokuhlakanipha okudluleleyo. ₁₅Manje-ke kungeniswe phambi kwami abahlakaniphileyo nabathwebulayo ukuba bafunde lo mbhalo, bangazise incazelo yawo, kepha behluleka ukubonakalisa incazelo yale ndaba. ₁₆Kepha ngizwe ngawe ukuthi ungaveza izincazelo, uthukulule amafindo; manje-ke uma ungafunda lo mbhalo, ungazise incazelo yawo, uyakwembathiswa okububende, ube nomgexo wegolide entanyeni yakho, ubuse ube ngowesithathu embusweni.”

₁₇Wayesephendula uDaniyeli, wathi phambi kwenkosi: “Izipho zakho mazibe kuwe, umuphe omunye imivuzo yakho; nokho ngiyakufundela inkosi umbhalo, ngiyazise incazelo.

₁₈“E nkosi, uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wanika uNebukadinesari uyihlo umbuso, nobukhulu, nodumo, nobukhosi; ₁₉ngenxa yobukhulu owamnika bona, bonke abantu, nezizwe, nezilimi bathuthumela, besaba phambi kwakhe; athanda ukumbulala wambulala, athanda ukumyeka wamyeka; athanda ukumphakamisa wamphakamisa, athanda ukumthobisa wamthobisa. ₂₀Kepha lapho inhliziyo yakhe yaziphakamisa, nomoya wakhe waba lukhuni waze wazidla, wehliswa esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi, balususa udumo lwakhe kuye; ₂₁waxoshwa kubantwana babantu; inhliziyo yakhe yaba njengeyezilwane, nenhlalo yakhe yayinezimbongolo zasendle; wadliswa utshani njengezinkabi, nomzimba wakhe wamanziswa ngamazolo ezulu, waze wazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke ubusa imibuso yabantu, ubeka phezu kwayo amthandayo.

₂₂“Nawe ndodana yakhe, Belishasari, awuthobanga inhliziyo yakho, noma wazi konke lokho, ₂₃kepha uziphakamisile eNkosini yasezulwini; balethe izitsha zendlu yakhe phambi kwakho; wena nezinduna zakho, nawomkakho, nezancinza zakho niphuzile iwayini ngazo, utusile wena onkulunkulu besiliva, nabegolide, nabethusi, nabensimbi, nabomuthi, nabetshe abangaboni, abangezwa, abangazi; kodwa uNkulunkulu omphefumulo wakho usesandleni sakhe, nokungezakhe zonke izindlela zakho awumdumisanga. ₂₄Yayisithunywa le nxenye yesandla ivela kuye, walotshwa lo mbhalo.

₂₅“Yilo umbhalo owalotshwa: MENE, MENE TEKEL, UFARSIN.

₂₆“Nansi incazelo yale nto: MENE: uNkulunkulu ubalile umbuso wakho, uwuqedile. ₂₇TEKEL: ulinganisiwe esilinganisweni, ufunyenwe ulula. ₂₈PERES: umbuso wakho wahlukene, unikelwe kumaMede namaPheresiya.”

₂₉Khona uBelishasari wayaleza, bamembathisa uDaniyeli okububende, bafaka umgexo wegolide entanyeni yakhe, benza isimemezelo ngaye ukuthi ubeyakubusa engowesithathu embusweni.

₃₀Ngalobo busuku uBelishasari inkosi yamaKaledi wabulawa. ₃₁UDariyu umMede wamukela umbuso eneminyaka engamashumi ayisithupha nambili.