Daniel 4

The king’s proclamation

1King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and languages throughout the earth: May your well-being increase! 2I am pleased to tell you about the signs and wonders the Most High God has done for me. 3How great are his signs!
How mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his rule endures through every generation.

The tree dream

4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my home and flourishing in my palace. 5Then I had a dream that frightened me. As I lay in bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me. 6I ordered all Babylon’s wise men brought before me to tell me what the dream meant. 7The magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners came in. I told them the dream, but they could not tell me its meaning. 8At last Daniel came before me. He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him. I told him the dream: 9“Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and no mystery defeats you. Tell me the visions of the dream I saw and their meaning. 10These were the visions in my mind as I lay in bed: I saw a tree in the middle of the earth, enormously tall. 11The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of the earth. 12Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and it held food for all. Wild animals found shade beneath it; the birds of the heavens lived in its branches. Every creature fed from it. 13As I watched the visions in my mind while lying in bed, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14He called out loudly: ‘Cut down the tree and lop off its branches! Strip its leaves and scatter its fruit! Let the animals flee from beneath it and the birds from its branches. 15But leave its stump and roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze among the grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven and share the grass of the earth with the animals. 16Let his human mind be changed and an animal’s mind given to him. Let seven times pass over him. 17This sentence comes by the watchers’ decree, this decision by the holy ones’ command, so the living may know that the Most High rules over human kingdoms. He gives kingship to whomever he wishes and sets even the lowliest of people over it.’ 18“This is the dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means. None of my kingdom’s wise men can explain it to me, but you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

Daniel’s interpretation

19Then Daniel, called Belteshazzar, was stunned for a while, his thoughts alarming him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its meaning your enemies! 20The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached the heavens and which could be seen throughout the earth— 21with its beautiful leaves, abundant fruit, and food for all, sheltering wild animals beneath it and birds of the heavens in its branches— 22that tree is you, O king. You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has reached the heavens, and your rule the ends of the earth. 23You saw a watcher, a holy one, descend from heaven and say, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze among the grass of the field. Let him be drenched with heaven’s dew and share life with the wild animals until seven times pass over him.’ 24This is its meaning, O king. This is the Most High’s decree that has come upon my lord the king: 25You will be driven from human society and live with the wild animals. You will be made to eat grass like cattle and be drenched with heaven’s dew. Seven times will pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives kingship to whomever he wishes. 26The command to leave the tree’s stump and roots means your kingdom will remain for you once you know that Heaven rules. 27So, O king, please accept my counsel: break with your sins by doing what is right, and with your wrongs by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your well-being may last longer.”

The king brought low

28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve months later, he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon. 30The king said, “Isn’t this great Babylon, which I built as a royal residence by my mighty power and for my majestic glory?” 31While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, this is said to you: Your kingship has been taken away. 32You will be driven from human society and live with the wild animals. You will be made to eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass over you until you know that the Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives kingship to whomever he wishes.” 33The sentence against Nebuchadnezzar took effect at once. He was driven from human society, ate grass like cattle, and was drenched with heaven’s dew. His hair grew like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

Understanding restored

34At the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my reason returned. I blessed the Most High and praised and honored the one who lives forever:
His rule is everlasting,
and his kingdom endures through every generation. 35All earth’s inhabitants count as nothing.
He does as he wishes with heaven’s army
and those who inhabit the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or ask him, “What have you done?” 36At that time my reason returned. My splendor and majesty returned with the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, I was restored to my kingdom, and still greater honor was given to me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven. Everything he does is true, and all his ways are just. He is able to humble those who walk in pride.