Daniel

Nebuchadnezzar Confesses God’s Kingdom

1King Nebuchadnezzar, To the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth: May your prosperity be multiplied.

2I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

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

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Tree

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

5I had a dream, and it frightened me; while I was in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.

6So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.

7When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers,and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.

8But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream:

9“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.

10In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass: There was a tree in the midst of the land,and its height was great.

11The tree grew large and strong;its top reached the sky,and it was visibleto the ends of the earth.

12Its leaves were beautiful,its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all.Under it the beasts of the field found shelter,in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.

13As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher,a holy one, coming down from heaven.

14He called out in a loud voice: ‘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.

15But leave the stump with its roots in the ground,with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heavenand graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth.

16Let his mind be changed from that of a man,and let him be given the mind of a beast till seven times pass him by.

17This decision is the decree of the watchers,the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will knowthat the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankindand gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’

18This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

19For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!

20The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,

21whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested—

22you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.

23And you, O king, 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 in the ground,with a band of iron and bronze around it,in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven,and graze with the beasts of the field till seven times pass him by.’

24This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:

25You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.

26As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules.

27Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”

The Second Dream Fulfilled

28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

29Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,

30the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”

31While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you.

32You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”

33At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, 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.

Nebuchadnezzar Restored

34But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

35All the peoples of the earthare counted as nothing,and He does as He pleaseswith the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth.There is no one who can restrain His handor say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

36At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me.

37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

1Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

2It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me.

3How great are his signs!How mighty are his wonders!His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.His dominion is from generation to generation.

4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.

5I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

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

7Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in; and I told them the dream, but they didn’t make known to me its interpretation.

8But 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. I told the dream before him, saying,

9“Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.

10These were the visions of my head on my bed: I saw, and behold, a tree in the middle of the earth; and its height was great.

11The tree grew and was strong. Its height reached to the sky and its sight to the end of all the earth.

12Its leaves were beautiful, and it had much fruit, and in it was food for all. The animals of the field had shade under it, and the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

13“I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a holy watcher came down from the sky.

14He 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.

15Nevertheless 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 the sky. Let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth.

16Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let an animal’s heart be given to him. Then let seven times pass over him.

17“‘The sentence 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 rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.’

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

19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or the interpretation, trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries.

20The tree that you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to the sky and its sight to all the earth;

21whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit plentiful, and in it was food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation—

22it is you, O king, that have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown, and reaches to the sky, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

23“Whereas the king saw a holy watcher coming down from the sky and saying, ‘Cut down the tree, and destroy it; 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 the sky. Let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him.’

24“This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come on my lord the king:

25You will be driven from men and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You will be made to eat grass as oxen, and will be wet with the dew of the sky, 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.

26Whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be sure to you after you know that Heaven rules.

27Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.”

28All this came on the King Nebuchadnezzar.

29At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon.

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

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

32You shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen. 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.’”

33This was fulfilled the same hour on Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; and his body was wet with the dew of the sky until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

34At 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 from generation to generation.

35All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth;and no one can stop his hand,or ask him, “What are you doing?”

36At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me.

37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol 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.