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Verse 1

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

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

Verse 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.

I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

Verse 3

I issued a decree to bring all the wise men of Babylon before me, so they could interpret my dream for me.

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.

Verse 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.

I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

Verse 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.

I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

Verse 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.

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.

Verse 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.

Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

Verse 8

The tree grew large and strong, its top reached the heavens, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.

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 before him I told the dream, saying,

Verse 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.

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.

Verse 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.

Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

Verse 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.

The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

Verse 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.

The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

Verse 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.

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

Verse 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.

He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

Verse 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.

Nevertheless leave the stump of his 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:

Verse 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!'

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.

Verse 17

The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which was visible to the whole earth,

This matter 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 basest of men.

Verse 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—

This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, 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.

Verse 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.

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

Verse 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.’

The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

Verse 21

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

Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

Verse 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.

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.

Verse 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.

And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet 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;

Verse 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.

This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

Verse 25

All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee 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.

Verse 26

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

And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

Verse 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?"

Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

Verse 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!'

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

Verse 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.

At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

Verse 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.

The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

Verse 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.

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.

Verse 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?'

And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee 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.

Verse 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.

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 hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

Verse 34

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of Heaven, because all His works are true and His ways are just. He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

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 honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

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