Daniel 4

1. Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you.

2. It seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for 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 and it terrified me, and my thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head alarmed me.

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

7. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in. And I told them the dream, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.

8. But at 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 you, and no secret causes you trouble, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen and its meaning.

10. Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.

11. The tree grew and was strong, and its height reached unto heaven; the sight of it reached to the end of all the earth.

12. Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit plentiful, and in it was food for all. The animals of the field sought shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its boughs, and all flesh was fed by 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 this, ‘Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches; shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals get away from under it, and the birds from its branches.

15. Nevertheless, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field. And let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth.

16. Let his heart be changed from a man’s and a beast’s heart be given to him. And let seven times pass over him.

17. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, so that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets up over it the basest of men.’

18. This dream, I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make the meaning known to me. But you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

19. Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king spoke and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, the dream is to those who hate you, and the interpretation to your foes.

20. The tree that you saw, which became great and strong, whose height reached to the heaven, and the sight of it to all the earth,

21. Whose leaves were fair, and its fruit plentiful, and in it was food for all, under which the animals of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the birds of the heavens had their home—

22. It is you, O king, for you have become great and strong, for your greatness has grown and reached unto heaven, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

23. And as the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, ‘Cut the tree down and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots of it in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the animals of the field until seven times pass over him.’

24. This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:

25. That you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass like oxen. And you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He will.

26. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots, your kingdom shall be sure to you after you shall have known that the heavens do rule.

27. Therefore, O king, let my advice be pleasing to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, so there may be lengthening of your prosperity.”

28. All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

29. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30. The king spoke and said, “Is this not great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”

31. While the word was yet in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven, saying, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken. The kingdom has departed from you.

32. And you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills.”

33. The same hour the thing was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar. And he was driven from men, and ate grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the heavens until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

34. And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him Who lives forever, for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation.

35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing; and He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. And none can stay His hand, or say to Him, “What are You doing?”

36. At that time my reason returned to me. And the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. And my advisers and my lords sought me out, and I was established in my kingdom, and surpassing greatness was added to me.

37. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are truth and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to abase.