Daniel 4

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.2 It hath seemed good unto me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wrought toward me.3 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 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.5 I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.6 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 Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.8 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 I told the dream before him, saying,9 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 Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and, behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and the height thereof was great.11 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 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed from it.13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven.14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.15 Nevertheless leave the stump of its 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 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 The sentence 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 lowest of men.18 This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, 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 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken dumb for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adversaries.20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;21 whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the birds of the heavens had their habitation:22 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 And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless 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 this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king:25 that thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and shalt be wet 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 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.29 At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon.30 The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?31 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 and thou shalt be driven from men; and they dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made 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 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 hair was grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.34 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 honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.35 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 At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me.37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Daniel 4

1 s “King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and language groups that live in all the land: Peace and prosperity!t

2 I am delighted to tell you about the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me.

3 “How great are his signs!
How mighty are his wonders!
His kingdom will last forever,t
and his authority continues from one generation to the next.”

Nebuchadnezzar Dreams of a Tree Chopped Down

4 ss I, Nebuchadnezzar, was relaxing in my home,t living luxuriouslyt in my palace.5 I saw a dream thatt frightened me badly. The things I imagined while lying on my bed – these visions of my mind – were terrifying me.6 So I issued an ordert for all the wise men of Babylon to be broughtt before me so that they could make known to me the interpretation of the dream.7 When the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners entered, I recounted the dream for them. But they were unable to make known its interpretation to me.8 Later Daniel entered (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god,s and in whom there is a spirit of the holy gods). I recounted the dream for him as well,9 saying, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, in whom I know there to be a spirit of the holy gods and whom no mystery baffles, considers my dream that I saw and set forth its interpretation!

10 Here are the visions of my minds while I was on my bed.
While I was watching,
there was a tree in the middle of the land.t
It was enormously tall.t

11 The tree grew large and strong.
Its top reached far into the sky;
it could be seent from the borders of all the land.t

12 Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful;
on it there was food enough for all.
Under it the wild animalst used to seek shade,
and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest.
All creaturest used to feed themselves from it.

13 While I was watching in my mind’s visionst on my bed,
a holy sentinelt came down from heaven.

14 He called out loudlyt as follows:t
‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches!
Strip off its foliage
and scatter its fruit!
Let the animals flee from under it
and the birds from its branches!

15 But leave its taproott in the ground,
with a band of iron and bronze around its
surrounded by the grass of the field.
Let it become damp with the dew of the sky,
and let it live witht the animals in the grass of the land.

16 Let his mindt be altered from that of a human being,
and let an animal’s mind be given to him,
and let seven periods of times go by fort him.

17 This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels;
this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones,
so thats those who are alive may understand
that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms,t
and he bestows them on whomever he wishes.
He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’

18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare itss interpretation, for none of the wise men int my kingdom are able to make known to me the interpretation. But you can do so, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

19 Then Daniel (whose name is also Belteshazzar) was upset for a brief time;t his thoughts were alarming him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream and its interpretation alarm you.” But Belteshazzar replied, “Sir,t if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries!20 The tree that you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky, and which could be seent in all the land,21 whose foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful, and from which there was food available for all, under whose branches wild animalst used to live, and in whose branches birds of the sky used to nest –22 it is you,s O king! For you have become great and strong. Your greatness is such that it reaches to heaven, and your authority to the ends of the earth.23 As for the king seeing a holy sentinel coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its taproot in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, surrounded by the grass of the field. Let it become damp with the dew of the sky, and let it live with the wild animals, until seven periods of time go by for him’ –24 this is the interpretation, O king! It is the decision of the Most High that this has happened to my lord the king.25 You will be drivent from human society,t and you will livet with the wild animals. You will be fedt grass like oxen,s and you will become damp with the dew of the sky. Seven periods of time will pass by for you, beforet you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.26 They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heavens rules.

27 Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged.”t
28 Now all of this happenedt to King Nebuchadnezzar.29 After twelve months, he happened to be walking around on the battlementst of the royal palace of Babylon.30 The king uttered these words: “Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residencet by my own mighty strengtht and for my majestic honor?”31 While these words were still on the king’s lips,t a voice came down from heaven: “It is hereby announced to you,t King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingdom has been removed from you!

32 You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you beforet you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.”

33 Now in that very momentt this pronouncement aboutt Nebuchadnezzar came true.t He was driven from human society, he ate grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until his hair became long like an eagle’s feathers, and his nails like a bird’s claws.t

34 But at the end of the appointed timet I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked upt toward heaven, and my sanity returned to me.
I extolled the Most High,
and I praised and glorified the one who lives forever.
For his authority is an everlasting authority,
and his kingdom extends from one generation to the next.

35 All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing.s
He does as he wishes with the army of heaven
and with those who inhabit the earth.
No one slapst his hand
and says to him, ‘What have you done?’
36 At that time my sanity returned to me. I was restoreds to the honor of my kingdom, and my splendor returned to me. My ministers and my nobles were seeking me out, and I was reinstateds over my kingdom. I became even greater than before.

37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all his deeds are right and his ways are just. He is able to bring down those who livet in pride.