Daniel 4

1Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all peoples, nations, and languages dwelling in all the earth: May your peace increase.

2It pleased me to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.

3How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and his dominion from generation to generation.

4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.

5I saw a dream that terrified me, and thoughts upon my bed and visions of my head troubled me.

6I issued a decree to bring all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might reveal to me the dream's interpretation.

7Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers entered, and I told the dream before them, but they did not reveal its interpretation to me.

8At last Daniel came before me, whose name is Belteshazzar—like the name of my god—and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; before him I declared the dream.

9Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods resides in you and no secret is too hard for you, declare to me the visions of my dream that I saw and its interpretation.

10Visions of my head on my bed—I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was immense.

11The tree grew great and strong, its height reaching to the heavens and its sight to the end of all the earth.

12Its leaves were fair, its fruit much, and meat for all was in it; the beasts of the field were shaded under it, the birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

13I saw in visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven.

14He cried with might and said thus: Hew down the tree, cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.

15Nevertheless, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze amid the tender grass of the field; let the dew of heaven drench it, and let his portion be with the wild beasts in the grass of the earth.

16Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven times pass over him.

17The matter follows the watchers' decree, the demand the holy ones' word, so the living will know that the Most High rules in mankind's kingdom, grants it to whomever he desires, and raises the lowliest of men over it.

18I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen this dream. You, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can reveal the interpretation to me. But you can, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.

19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, stood stunned for one hour, his thoughts dismaying him. The king answered and said, "Belteshazzar, let not the dream and the interpretation trouble you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, my lord, the dream is for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies."

20The tree you saw that grew great and strong, its height reaching to the heavens and its sight to all the earth.

21whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, with food for all in it; under it beasts of the field dwelt, and birds of the sky made their home in its branches.

22You, O king, have grown great and become strong, for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

23As the king saw a watcher and a holy one descend from heaven and declare, “Cut down the tree and mar it, but spare the stump of its roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field; let heaven’s dew soak it, and let his share be among the beasts of the field, until seven seasons pass upon him.”

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

25They will drive you from mankind, and with field beasts your home will be; they will feed you grass like oxen, and with heaven's dew they will drench you, as seven seasons pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and bestows it on whomever he wills.

26They commanded the stump of the tree's roots to remain; your kingdom stands secure for you after you know that the heavens rule.

27Therefore, O king, let my counsel please you: break off your sins by righteousness and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if perhaps your prosperity may be prolonged.

28Everything happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

29At the end of twelve months he was walking in the palace of Babylon's kingdom.

30The king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the house of the kingdom by the strength of my power and for the glory of my majesty?"

31While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven, saying, "Nebuchadnezzar the king, your kingdom has departed from you."

32They will drive you from people and make your home with the beasts of the wild; they will feed you grass like oxen, and seven times will pass over you until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whomever he wills.

33That hour the decree took effect on Nebuchadnezzar: driven from humankind, he ate grass like oxen, his body soaked with heaven's dew until his hair grew like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.

34At the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me; I blessed the Most High, praised and honored the one who lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and whose kingdom endures from generation to generation.

35All the inhabitants of the earth count as nothing, and he does as he wills in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; no one can restrain his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

36At that time my understanding returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me; my counselors and nobles sought me out, my kingdom was firmly established, and excellent greatness was added to me.

37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of heaven, for all his works are truth, his ways are judgment, and those who walk in pride he can humble.