Dan 4:1-9 : 1 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.
2 I had a dream that made me afraid; as I lay on my bed, the thoughts in my mind and the visions of my head terrified me.
3 I issued a decree to bring all the wise men of Babylon before me, so they could interpret my dream for me.
4 Then the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not explain its meaning to me.
5 Finally, Daniel came before me (whose name is Belteshazzar, named after my god, and in whom the spirit of the holy gods resides), and I told him the dream.
6 O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Here are the visions of my dream that I saw; interpret them for me.
7 These were the visions I saw while lying on my bed: I looked, and there stood a tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was enormous.
8 The tree grew large and strong, its top reached the heavens, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
9 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and it provided food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and every creature was fed from it.
10 In the visions I saw while lying on my bed, I looked, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
11 He called out loudly and said: ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.
12 But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze, surrounded by the tender grass of the field. Let it be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let it live with the animals among the plants of the earth.
13 Let his mind be changed from that of a human, and let the mind of a beast be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him.
14 This decision is by the decree of the watchers and the sentence by the command of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men, and He gives them to whomever He will and sets the lowliest of men over them.
15 This is the dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, explain its meaning, because none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.
16 Then Daniel, also called Belteshazzar, was stunned for a moment, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king spoke and said, 'Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.' Belteshazzar answered, 'My lord, may the dream concern your enemies and its interpretation concern your adversaries!'
17 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which was visible to the whole earth,
18 whose foliage was beautiful and fruit abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens nested—
19 you, O king, are that tree! You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your rule extends to the ends of the earth.
20 And you saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots bound with iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field. Let it be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let it live with the animals of the field until seven periods of time pass over it.’
21 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king:
22 You will be driven away from people, and you will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to whomever He chooses.
23 The command to leave the stump with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
24 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: Break off your sins by pursuing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be a lengthening of your prosperity.
25 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
26 At the end of twelve months, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,
27 the king said, "Is not this the great Babylon which I have built as a royal residence by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"
28 Even as the words were on the king's lips, a voice came from heaven: ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: The kingdom has departed from you!'
29 You will be driven away from people, and your dwelling will be with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle, and seven times will pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to whomever He pleases.
30 Immediately, what was spoken about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people, ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
31 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me. I praised the Most High, honored, and glorified Him who lives forever: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
32 All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?'
33 At the same time, my understanding returned to me. My honor and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom. My counselors and nobles sought me out, and I was reestablished in my kingdom, and even greater greatness was added to me.