Daniel 4

1I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.

2I saw a dream, and it frightened me; and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head terrified me.

3And by me a decree was issued to bring before me all the wise men of Babylon, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

4Then the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners came in, and I told the dream before them, but they did not make its interpretation known to me.

5At last Daniel came in before me—he whose name was Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told the dream before him:

6Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, whom I know has the spirit of the holy gods in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw, and its interpretation.

7These were the visions of my head as I lay on my bed: and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.

8The tree grew large and became strong, and its height reached to the heavens, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth.

9Its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shade, and in its branches the birds of the heavens dwelt, and from it all flesh was fed.

10I was looking in the visions of my head as I lay on my bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.

11He cried aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree, and cut off its branches; strip off its foliage, and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from beneath it, and the birds from its branches.’

12Nevertheless, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze in the grass of the field; and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.

13Let his heart be changed from that of a man, and let the heart of a beast be given to him, and let seven times pass over him.

14The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the decision by the word of the holy ones, so that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom he wills, and sets up over it the lowliest of men.

15This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, Belteshazzar, tell its interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make its interpretation known to me, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.

16Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was appalled for about an hour, and his thoughts terrified him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation terrify you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies.”

17The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and was visible to all the earth—

18Its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field lived, and in its branches the birds of the heavens dwelled.

19You are the king, who has grown great and strong; your greatness has become great and reached to heaven, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

20And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, with a band of iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field until seven times pass over him’—

21This is the interpretation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king:

22And you will be driven away from men, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will be made to eat grass like oxen, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he wills.

23And because they said to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will remain yours from the time that you know that Heaven rules.

24Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, that there may perhaps be a prolonging of your prosperity.

25All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

26At the end of twelve months, he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.

27The king answered and said, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”

28While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “To you it is said, King Nebuchadnezzar, the kingdom has departed from you.”

29And you will be driven away from men, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he wills.

30At that moment the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from among men, and he ate grass like oxen, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

31At the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted 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.

32And all the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing, and he does according to his will among the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and there is no one who can strike his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

33At that time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my nobles sought me, and I was reestablished over my kingdom, and surpassing greatness was added to me.

34I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, because all his works are truth, and his ways are justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.