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King Nebuchadnezzar's letter

4 This is a message from King Nebuchadnezzar.

I am sending this message to everyone in the world, the people in every nation, who speak every language. I hope that you all may have good and happy lives.

² I am happy to tell you about the powerful God who rules over everything.

He has done miracles and great things for me.
³ His miracles show his great strength.
They are very powerful.
His kingdom will continue for ever.
He will always rule.

⁴ I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace. I was comfortable and happy. Everything was very good for me. ⁵ Then I had a dream that made me very afraid. The thoughts in my mind gave me great trouble as I lay on my bed. ⁶ So I told all the wise men in Babylon to come to me. I wanted them to tell me what the dream meant.

⁷ When the magicians, enchanters, wise men and diviners came to me, I told them the dream. But none of them could tell me what the dream meant. ⁸ Last of all, Daniel came to me and I told him the dream. I call him Belteshazzar, like my god's name. The spirit of the holy gods is in this man, Daniel.

⁹ I said to him, ‘Belteshazzar you are the leader of my wise men. I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you. I know that no secret is too difficult for you to explain. Here is the dream that I saw. Tell me what it means.

¹⁰ This is the vision that I saw in my mind while I lay on my bed. I saw a tree there in front of me. It stood in the middle of the earth and it was very tall. ¹¹ The tree grew taller and stronger. Its top touched the sky, so that everyone in the world could see it. ¹² It had beautiful leaves and lots of fruits. There was enough food on it for everyone. Wild animals could live in its shade. Birds lived in its branches. It gave food for every living thing.

¹³ The vision in my mind continued while I lay on my bed. I saw a holy angel that came down from heaven. ¹⁴ The angel shouted aloud, “Cut down the tree. Cut off its branches. Tear off its leaves. Let its fruits go away to other places. The animals that are under the tree must run away. The birds that are in its branches must fly away. ¹⁵ But leave the base of the tree and its roots in the ground. Tie iron and bronze round it. Then leave it there in the grass. ^{[ a ]}

Make him wet with dew from the sky. Cause him to live with the animals in the fields of grass. ¹⁶ Take his human mind away from him. Instead, give him the mind of an animal for seven years.

¹⁷ The holy angels who take care of the earth have decided this. It is their command. Now everyone will be sure that the powerful God above rules over human kingdoms. He gives authority to rule to anyone that he chooses. He causes humble men to rule as kings.” ’

¹⁸ Then I said to Belteshazzar, ‘This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, you must tell me what it means. None of the wise men in any region of my kingdom can tell me what it means. But you can tell me, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’

Daniel explains the king's dream

¹⁹ Daniel, whose other name was Belteshazzar, was upset for a short time. His thoughts caused him a lot of trouble. The king said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or what it means cause you trouble.’

Then Belteshazzar answered the king. ‘Sir, I would like the dream to be about your enemies and not about you. ²⁰ You saw a tree that grew very tall and strong until its top touched the sky. Everyone in the world could see it. ²¹ It had beautiful leaves and lots of fruits. There was enough food on it for everyone. The wild animals lived under its shade. The birds built their nests in its branches. ²² You, the king, are like that tree. You have become great and strong. Your power reaches up to the sky. Your authority reaches to the ends of the world.

²³ In your dream, you saw a holy angel who came down from heaven. He said, “Cut down the tree and destroy it. But leave the base of the tree and its roots in the ground. Tie iron and bronze round it. Then leave it in the grass. Make him wet with dew from the sky. Cause him to live in the fields with the wild animals for seven years.”

²⁴ Now sir, this is what the dream means. The powerful God above has decided what he will do to my lord, the king. ²⁵ People will chase you away from the city, so that you have to live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cows do. Dew from the sky will make you wet. You will live in that way for seven years. Then you will understand that the powerful God above rules over human kingdoms. He gives authority to rule to anyone that he chooses. ²⁶ The command was to leave the base of the tree and its roots in the ground. This means that you will be king again later. But before that, you will have to understand that it is God in heaven who rules. ²⁷ So King Nebuchadnezzar, please do as I suggest. Stop doing bad things. Start to do things that are right. Turn away from your sins. Instead, be kind to poor people. Then, perhaps, you will continue to be comfortable and happy.’

²⁸ All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹ One year later, he was walking on the flat roof of the king's palace in Babylon. ³⁰ The king said, ‘Look how great Babylon is! It is the city that I have built to be my home as king. It shows that I am a great and powerful king!’

³¹ While King Nebuchadnezzar was still boasting about his power, he heard a voice from heaven. It said, ‘I am speaking to you, King Nebuchadnezzar. I have taken away your authority to rule as king! ³² People will chase you away from the city so that you live with the wild animals. You will eat grass as cows do. I will cause you to live like that for seven years. Then you will understand that the powerful God above rules over human kingdoms. He gives authority to rule to anyone that he chooses.’

³³ Immediately the message given to Nebuchadnezzar really happened. People chased him away from the city. He ate grass as cows do. Dew from the sky made his body wet. His hair grew very long, like the feathers of an eagle. His feet became like a bird's feet.

God makes Nebuchadnezzar better

³⁴ At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up towards heaven. My own mind returned to me again. I praised the powerful God above who lives for ever. I worshipped him as a great God.

His kingdom will continue for ever.
He will always have authority to rule.
³⁵ All the people on the earth seem like nothing to him.
He does whatever he wants among the angels in heaven,
and among the people on the earth too.
Nobody can stop him.
Nobody can ask him, ‘Why are you doing that?’

³⁶ When my own mind returned to me, I also received my authority again as king. People respected me as a great king again. My officers and important men came back to work with me. I ruled again over my kingdom. I became even greater than I was before. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise the King of heaven as a great God. He always does what is right and fair. When people are proud, he can cause them to become humble.

Footnotes

4:15 The tree was a picture of King Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream About a Tree

4 King Nebuchadnezzar sent this letter to the many nations and language groups living around the world.

Greetings:

² I am very happy to tell you about the miracles and wonderful things that the Most High God did for me.

³ God has done amazing miracles!
He has done powerful miracles!
His kingdom continues forever;
his rule will continue for all generations.

⁴ I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at my palace. I was happy and successful. ⁵ I had a dream that made me afraid. I was lying on my bed, and I saw pictures and visions in my mind. These things made me very afraid. ⁶ So I gave an order that all the wise men of Babylon be brought to me to tell me what my dream meant. ⁷ When the men of magic and the Chaldeans came, I told them about the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant. ⁸ Finally, Daniel came to me. (I gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar to honor my god. The spirit of the holy gods is in him.) I told him about my dream. ⁹ I said, “Belteshazzar, you are the most important of all the men of magic. I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you. I know there is no secret that is too hard for you to understand. This was what I dreamed. Tell me what it means. ¹⁰ These are the visions I saw while I was lying in my bed: I looked, and there in front of me was a tree standing in the middle of the earth. The tree was very tall. ¹¹ The tree grew large and strong. The top of the tree touched the sky. ^{[ a ]} It could be seen from anywhere on earth. ¹² The leaves of the tree were beautiful. It had much good fruit on it. And on the tree was plenty of food for everyone. The wild animals found shelter under the tree, and the birds lived in its branches. Every animal ate from the tree.

¹³ “I was looking at those things in the vision while lying on my bed. And then I saw a holy angel coming down from heaven. ¹⁴ He spoke very loud and said, ‘Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches. Strip off its leaves. Scatter its fruit around. The animals that are under the tree will run away. The birds that are in its branches will fly away. ¹⁵ But let the stump and roots stay in the ground. Put a band of iron and bronze around it. The stump and roots will stay in the field with the grass all around it. It will live among the wild animals and plants in the fields. It will become wet with dew. ¹⁶ He will not think like a man any longer. He will have the mind of an animal. Seven seasons will pass while he is like this.’

¹⁷ “Holy angels announced this punishment so that all the people on earth may know that God Most High rules over human kingdoms. God gives those kingdoms to whoever he wants, and he chooses humble people to rule them.

¹⁸ “That is what I, King Nebuchadnezzar, dreamed. Now, Belteshazzar, ^{[ b ]} tell me what it means. None of the wise men in my kingdom can tell me what that dream means. But Belteshazzar, you can interpret the dream because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

¹⁹ Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) became very quiet for a while. What he was thinking bothered him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or its meaning make you afraid.”

Then Belteshazzar answered the king, “My lord, I wish the dream were about your enemies, and I wish the meaning of the dream were about those against you. ^20-21 You saw a tree in your dream. The tree grew large and strong. Its top touched the sky, and it could be seen from all over the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, and it had plenty of fruit. The fruit gave plenty of food for everyone. It was a home for the wild animals, and its branches were nesting places for the birds. You saw that tree. ²² King, you are that tree! You have become great and powerful. You are like the tall tree that touched the sky—your power reaches to the far parts of the earth.

²³ “King, you saw a holy angel coming down from heaven. He said, ‘Cut the tree down and destroy it. Put a band of iron and bronze around the stump and leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Leave it in the grass in the field. It will become wet with dew. He will live like a wild animal. Seven seasons will pass while he is like this.’

²⁴ “King, this is the meaning of the dream. God Most High has commanded these things to happen to my lord the king: ²⁵ King Nebuchadnezzar, you will be forced to go away from people. You will live among the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle, and you will become wet with dew. Seven seasons will pass, and then you will learn this lesson. You will learn God Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to whoever he wants.

²⁶ “The command to leave the stump of the tree and its roots in the ground means this: Your kingdom will be given back to you. This will happen when you learn that Most High God rules your kingdom. ²⁷ So, King, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Stop doing bad things and be kind to poor people. Then you might continue to be successful.”

²⁸ All these things happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. ^29-30 Twelve months after the dream, King Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof ^{[ c ]} of his palace in Babylon. While on the roof, the king said, “Look at Babylon! I built this great city. It is my palace. I built this great place by my power. I built this place to show how great I am.”

³¹ The words were still in his mouth when a voice came from heaven. The voice said, “King Nebuchadnezzar, these things will happen to you: Your power as king has been taken away from you. ³² You will be forced to go away from people. You will live with the wild animals and eat grass like an ox. Seven seasons will pass before you learn your lesson. Then you will learn that God Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to whoever he wants.”

³³ These things happened immediately. Nebuchadnezzar was forced to go away from people. He began eating grass like an ox. He became wet from dew. His hair grew long like the feathers of an eagle, and his nails grew long like the claws of a bird.

³⁴ Then at the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven, and I was in my right mind again. Then I gave praise to God Most High. I gave honor and glory to him who lives forever.

God rules forever!
His kingdom continues for all generations.
³⁵ People on earth
are not really important.
God does what he wants
with the powers of heaven
and the people on earth.
No one can stop his powerful hand
or question what he does.

³⁶ At that time God gave me my right mind again, and he gave back my great honor and power as king. My advisors and the royal people began to ask my advice again. I became the king again—even greater and more powerful than before. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, give praise, honor, and glory to the King of Heaven. Everything he does is right. He is always fair, and he is able to make proud people humble!

Footnotes

Daniel 4:11 middle of the earth … sky The Babylonians thought the earth was flat and round like a plate or a wheel. And they thought the sky was like a glass bowl turned upside down on the earth.
Daniel 4:18 Belteshazzar Another name for Daniel.
Daniel 4:29 roof In ancient Israel, houses had flat roofs that were used as an extra room.

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

² I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

³ 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.

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

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

⁶ 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.

⁷ 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.

⁸ 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,

⁹ 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.

¹⁰ 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.

¹¹ The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

¹² 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.

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

¹⁴ 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:

¹⁵ 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:

¹⁶ 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.

¹⁷ 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.

¹⁸ 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.

¹⁹ 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.

²⁰ The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

²¹ 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:

²² 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.

²³ 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;

²⁴ This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

²⁵ 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.

²⁶ 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.

²⁷ 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.

²⁸ All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

²⁹ At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

³⁰ 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?

³¹ 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.

³² 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.

³³ 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.

³⁴ 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:

³⁵ And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

³⁶ At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

³⁷ Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

The King Acknowledges God

4 ^{[ a ]} Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples, nations, and populations of all ^{[ b ]} languages who live in all the earth: “May your ^{[ c ]} ^{( A )} peace be great! ² I am pleased to declare the signs and miracles that the ^{( B )} Most High God has done for me.

³ How great are His ^{( C )} signs
And how mighty are His miracles!
His ^{( D )} kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And His dominion is from generation to generation.

The Vision of a Great Tree

⁴ “ ^{[ d ]} I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and ^{( E )} happy in my palace. ⁵ I saw a ^{( F )} dream and it startled me; and these appearances as I lay on my bed and the ^{( G )} visions ^{[ e ]} in my mind kept alarming me. ⁶ So I gave orders to ^{( H )} bring into my presence all the wise men of Babylon, so that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. ⁷ Then the ^{( I )} soothsayer priests, the sorcerers, the ^{[ f ]} Chaldeans, and the diviners came in and I related the dream ^{[ g ]} to them, but they could not make its ^{( J )} interpretation known to me. ⁸ But finally Daniel came in before me, whose name is ^{( K )} Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and in whom is ^{[ h ]} ^{( L )} a spirit of the holy gods; and I related the dream ^{[ i ]} to him, saying , ⁹ ‘Belteshazzar, ^{( M )} chief of the soothsayer priests, since I know that ^{( N )} a spirit of the holy gods is in you and ^{( O )} no secret baffles you, ^{( P )} tell me the visions of my dream which I have seen, along with its interpretation.

¹⁰ ‘Now these were the ^{( Q )} visions ^{[ j ]} in my mind as I lay on my bed: I was looking, and behold, there was a ^{( R )} tree in the middle of the ^{[ k ]} earth and its height was great.

¹¹ The tree grew large and became strong
And its height ^{( S )} reached to the sky,
And it was visible to the end of the whole earth.
¹² Its foliage was ^{( T )} beautiful and its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
The ^{( U )} animals of the field ^{[ l ]} found ^{( V )} shade under it,
And the ^{( W )} birds of the sky lived in its branches,
And all ^{[ m ]} living creatures fed from it.

¹³ ‘I was looking in the ^{( X )} visions ^{[ n ]} in my mind as I lay on my bed, and behold, ^{( Y )} an angelic watcher, a ^{( Z )} holy one, descended from heaven.

¹⁴ He shouted out and spoke as follows:
“ ^{( AA )} Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Shake off its foliage and scatter its fruit;
Let the ^{( AB )} animals flee from under it
And the birds from its branches.
¹⁵ Yet ^{( AC )} leave the stump ^{[ o ]} with its roots in the ground,
But with a band of iron and bronze around it
In the new grass of the field;
And let him be drenched with the dew of heaven,
And let ^{[ p ]} him share with the animals in the grass of the earth.
¹⁶ Let his ^{[ q ]} mind change from that of a human
And let an animal’s ^{[ r ]} mind be given to him,
And let ^{( AD )} seven ^{[ s ]} periods of time pass over him.
¹⁷ This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers,
And the decision is a command of the holy ones,
In order that the living may ^{( AE )} know
That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind,
And ^{( AF )} He grants it to whomever He wishes
And sets over it the ^{( AG )} lowliest of people.”

¹⁸ This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its interpretation, since none of the ^{( AH )} wise men of my kingdom is able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, because a ^{( AI )} spirit of the holy gods is in you.’

Daniel Interprets the Vision

¹⁹ “Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while as his ^{( AJ )} thoughts alarmed him. The king responded and said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not ^{( AK )} let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.’ Belteshazzar replied, ‘ ^{( AL )} My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you, and its interpretation to ^{( AM )} your adversaries! ²⁰ The ^{( AN )} tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth, ²¹ and whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which the animals of the field lived and in whose branches the birds of the sky settled— ²² it is ^{( AO )} you, O king; for you have become great and grown strong, and your ^{[ t ]} majesty has become great and reached to the sky, and your ^{( AP )} dominion to the end of the earth. ²³ And in that the king saw an angelic watcher, a holy one, descending from heaven and saying, “ ^{( AQ )} Chop down the tree and destroy it; yet leave the stump ^{[ u ]} with its roots in the ground, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field, let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let ^{[ v ]} him share with the animals of the field until ^{( AR )} seven ^{[ w ]} periods of time pass over him,” ²⁴ this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has ^{( AS )} come upon my lord the king: ²⁵ that you be ^{( AT )} driven away from mankind and your dwelling place be with the animals of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven ^{[ x ]} periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the ^{( AU )} Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and ^{( AV )} bestows it on whomever He wishes. ²⁶ And in that it was commanded to ^{( AW )} leave the stump ^{[ y ]} with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will ^{[ z ]} remain as yours after you recognize that it is ^{( AX )} Heaven that rules. ²⁷ Therefore, O king, may my ^{( AY )} advice be pleasing to you: ^{( AZ )} wipe away your sin by doing righteousness, and your wrongdoings by ^{( BA )} showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a ^{( BB )} prolonging of your prosperity.’

The Vision Fulfilled

²⁸ “All of this ^{( BC )} happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king. ²⁹ ^{( BD )} Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. ³⁰ The king began speaking and was saying, ‘Is this not Babylon the ^{( BE )} great, which I myself have built as a royal ^{[ aa ]} residence by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty?’ ³¹ While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice ^{[ ab ]} came from heaven, saying , ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: ^{[ ac ]} sovereignty has been removed from you, ³² and ^{( BF )} you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the animals of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and ^{( BG )} seven ^{[ ad ]} periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the ^{( BH )} Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’ ³³ Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was ^{( BI )} driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws .

³⁴ “But at the end of ^{[ ae ]} that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my ^{[ af ]} reason returned to me, and I blessed the ^{( BJ )} Most High and praised and honored ^{( BK )} Him who lives forever;

For His dominion is an ^{( BL )} everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
³⁵ ^{( BM )} All the inhabitants of the earth are of no account,
But ^{( BN )} He does according to His will among the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of earth;
And ^{( BO )} no one can ^{[ ag ]} fend off His hand
Or say to Him, ‘ ^{( BP )} What have You done?’

³⁶ At that time my ^{[ ah ]} ^{( BQ )} reason returned to me. And my majesty and ^{( BR )} splendor were ^{[ ai ]} restored to me for the honor of my kingdom, and my state counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my ^{[ aj ]} sovereignty, and surpassing ^{( BS )} greatness was added to me. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of ^{( BT )} heaven, for ^{( BU )} all His works are ^{[ ak ]} true and His ways ^{[ al ]} just; and He is able to humble those who ^{( BV )} walk in pride.”

Footnotes

Daniel 4:1 Ch 3:31 in Aram
Daniel 4:1 Lit tongues
Daniel 4:1 Or welfare ; or prosperity
Daniel 4:4 Ch 4:1 in Aram
Daniel 4:5 Lit of my head
Daniel 4:7 Probably master astrologers, diviners, etc.
Daniel 4:7 Lit before
Daniel 4:8 Or possibly the Spirit of the holy God , and so throughout the ch
Daniel 4:8 Lit before
Daniel 4:10 Lit of my head
Daniel 4:10 Or land , and so throughout the ch
Daniel 4:12 Or dwelt under it
Daniel 4:12 Lit flesh
Daniel 4:13 Lit of my head
Daniel 4:15 Lit of
Daniel 4:15 Lit his share be with
Daniel 4:16 Lit heart
Daniel 4:16 Lit heart
Daniel 4:16 I.e., years
Daniel 4:22 Lit greatness
Daniel 4:23 Lit of
Daniel 4:23 Lit his share be with
Daniel 4:23 I.e., years
Daniel 4:25 I.e., years
Daniel 4:26 Lit of
Daniel 4:26 Lit be enduring to you
Daniel 4:30 Lit house
Daniel 4:31 Lit fell
Daniel 4:31 Or kingdom
Daniel 4:32 I.e., years
Daniel 4:34 Lit the days
Daniel 4:34 Lit understanding
Daniel 4:35 Lit strike against
Daniel 4:36 Lit understanding
Daniel 4:36 Lit returning
Daniel 4:36 Or kingdom
Daniel 4:37 Lit truth
Daniel 4:37 Lit justice

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

4 ^{[ a ]} King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the nations and peoples of every language, ^{( A )} who live in all the earth:

May you prosper greatly! ^{( B )}

² It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs ^{( C )} and wonders that the Most High God ^{( D )} has performed for me.

³ How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders! ^{( E )}
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures ^{( F )} from generation to generation.

⁴ I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented ^{( G )} and prosperous. ⁵ I had a dream ^{( H )} that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, ^{( I )} the images and visions that passed through my mind ^{( J )} terrified me. ^{( K )} ⁶ So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret ^{( L )} the dream for me. ⁷ When the magicians, ^{( M )} enchanters, astrologers ^{[ b ]} and diviners ^{( N )} came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. ^{( O )} ⁸ Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, ^{( P )} after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods ^{( Q )} is in him.)

⁹ I said, “Belteshazzar, chief ^{( R )} of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods ^{( S )} is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. ¹⁰ These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: ^{( T )} I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. ^{( U )} ¹¹ The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. ^{( V )} ¹² Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; ^{( W )} from it every creature was fed.

¹³ “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, ^{( X )} I looked, and there before me was a holy one, ^{( Y )} a messenger, ^{[ c ]} coming down from heaven. ¹⁴ He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree ^{( Z )} and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. ^{( AA )} ¹⁵ But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.

“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. ¹⁶ Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times ^{[ d ]} pass by for him. ^{( AB )}

¹⁷ “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High ^{( AC )} is sovereign ^{( AD )} over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest ^{( AE )} of people.’

¹⁸ “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. ^{( AF )} But you can, ^{( AG )} because the spirit of the holy gods ^{( AH )} is in you.” ^{( AI )}

Daniel Interprets the Dream

¹⁹ Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified ^{( AJ )} him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.” ^{( AK )}

Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! ²⁰ The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, ²¹ with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds ^{( AL )} — ²² Your Majesty, you are that tree! ^{( AM )} You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. ^{( AN )}

²³ “Your Majesty saw a holy one, ^{( AO )} a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ ^{( AP )}

²⁴ “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree ^{( AQ )} the Most High has issued against my lord the king: ²⁵ You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched ^{( AR )} with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High ^{( AS )} is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. ^{( AT )} ²⁶ The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots ^{( AU )} means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. ^{( AV )} ²⁷ Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. ^{( AW )} It may be that then your prosperity ^{( AX )} will continue. ^{( AY )} ”

The Dream Is Fulfilled

²⁸ All this happened ^{( AZ )} to King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹ Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, ³⁰ he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory ^{( BA )} of my majesty?” ^{( BB )}

³¹ Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. ^{( BC )} ³² You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” ^{( BD )}

³³ Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched ^{( BE )} with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. ^{( BF )}

³⁴ At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity ^{( BG )} was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. ^{( BH )}

His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom ^{( BI )} endures from generation to generation. ^{( BJ )}
³⁵ All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing. ^{( BK )}
He does as he pleases ^{( BL )}
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back ^{( BM )} his hand ^{( BN )}
or say to him: “What have you done?” ^{( BO )}

³⁶ At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. ^{( BP )} My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt ^{( BQ )} and glorify ^{( BR )} the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. ^{( BS )} And those who walk in pride ^{( BT )} he is able to humble. ^{( BU )}

Footnotes

Daniel 4:1 In Aramaic texts 4:1-3 is numbered 3:31-33, and 4:4-37 is numbered 4:1-34.
Daniel 4:7 Or Chaldeans
Daniel 4:13 Or watchman ; also in verses 17 and 23
Daniel 4:16 Or years ; also in verses 23, 25 and 32

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Table of Contents

King Nebuchadnezzar's letter

Daniel explains the king's dream

God makes Nebuchadnezzar better

Footnotes

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream About a Tree

Footnotes

The King Acknowledges God

The Vision of a Great Tree

Daniel Interprets the Vision

The Vision Fulfilled

Footnotes

Cross references

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

Daniel Interprets the Dream

The Dream Is Fulfilled

Footnotes

Cross references

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BibleStudyIt Daniel 4

Daniel 4's Chapter Tabs Scroll past these tabs to continue or click on one of them to navigate out of this webpage.

Scroll past these tabs to continue or click on one of them to navigate out of this webpage.

Read Chapter

Your Private Notes

Proxy widget

Submit Art

Submit Notes

King Nebuchadnezzar's letter

Daniel explains the king's dream

God makes Nebuchadnezzar better

Footnotes

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream About a Tree

Footnotes

The King Acknowledges God

The Vision of a Great Tree

Daniel Interprets the Vision

The Vision Fulfilled

Footnotes

Cross references

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

Daniel Interprets the Dream

The Dream Is Fulfilled

Footnotes

Cross references

Share this page

Daniel 4's Chapter Tabs
Scroll past these tabs to continue or click on one of them to navigate out of this webpage.