[1] King Nebuchadnez'zar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell
in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! [2] It has seemed good to me
to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has wrought toward me.
[3] How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. [4]
I, Nebuchadnez'zar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.
[5] I had a dream which made me afraid; as I lay in bed the fancies and the
visions of my head alarmed me. [6] Therefore I made a decree that all the
wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known
to me the interpretation of the dream. [7] Then the magicians, the
enchanters, the Chalde'ans, and the astrologers came in; and I told them
the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. [8] At
last Daniel came in before me--he who was named Belteshaz'zar after the
name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods--and I told him
the dream, saying, [9] "O Belteshaz'zar, chief of the magicians, because I
know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is
difficult for you, here is the dream which I saw; tell me its
interpretation. [10] The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I
saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and its height was
great. [11] The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven,
and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. [12] Its leaves were fair
and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field
found shade under it, and the birds of the air dwelt in its branches, and
all flesh was fed from it. [13] "I saw in the visions of my head as I lay
in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. [14] He
cried aloud and said thus, `Hew down the tree and cut off its branches,
strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit; let the beasts flee from under
it and the birds from its branches. [15] But 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 him be wet with the dew of heaven; let his lot be with
the beasts in the grass of the earth; [16] let 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. [17] The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision
by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the
Most High rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will, and sets
over it the lowliest of men.' [18] This dream I, King Nebuchadnez'zar, saw.
And you, O Belteshaz'zar, 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." [19] Then Daniel,
whose name was Belteshaz'zar, was dismayed for a moment, and his thoughts
alarmed him. The king said, "Belteshaz'zar, let not the dream or the
interpretation alarm you." Belteshaz'zar answered, "My lord, may the dream
be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! [20] The
tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to
heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth; [21] whose leaves
were fair and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all; under
which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of
the air dwelt-- [22] it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong.
Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the
ends of the earth. [23] And whereas the king saw a watcher, a holy one,
coming down from heaven and saying, `Hew down the tree and destroy it, but
leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and
bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let him be wet with the dew
of heaven; and let his lot be with the beasts of the field, till seven
times pass over him'; [24] this is the interpretation, O king: It is a
decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, [25] that
you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the
beasts of the field; you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you
shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you,
till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to
whom he will. [26] And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots
of the tree, your kingdom shall be sure for you from the time that you know
that Heaven rules. [27] Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to
you; break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities
by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening
of your tranquillity." [28] All this came upon King Nebuchadnez'zar. [29]
At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace
of Babylon, [30] and the king said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I
have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my
majesty?" [31] While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a
voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnez'zar, to you it is spoken: The
kingdom has departed from you, [32] and you shall be driven from among men,
and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; and you shall be
made to eat grass like an ox; and seven times shall pass over you, until
you have learned that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it
to whom he will." [33] Immediately the word was fulfilled upon
Nebuchadnez'zar. He was driven from among men, and ate grass like an ox,
and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as
eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws. [34] At the end of
the days I, Nebuchadnez'zar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason
returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him
who lives for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his
kingdom endures from generation to generation; [35] all the inhabitants of
the earth are accounted as nothing; and he does according to his will in
the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can
stay his hand or say to him, "What doest thou?" [36] At the same time my
reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and
splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was
established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. [37]
Now I, Nebuchadnez'zar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for
all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride
he is able to abase.

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