Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful king of Babylon who conquered Jerusalem and led the Jews into exile. He is known from the book of Daniel for his dreams, the fiery furnace, and his temporary madness. In the end, he honored Daniel's God as 'King of Kings.'
13He carried off from there all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace, and he stripped away all the gold objects that Solomon king of Israel had made for the temple of the LORD—just as the LORD had said.
14He carried all Jerusalem into exile: all the officials and all the fighting men, ten thousand captives in all, and every craftsman and metalworker. No one was left except the poorest people of the land.
38wherever human beings dwell, he has given into your hand the beasts of the field and the birds of the air, and made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
44In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will stand forever.
47The king said to Daniel, "Truly your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings, the revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."
19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the look on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual,
25"But look," he said, "I see four men, unbound, walking around in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!"
26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near the door of the blazing furnace and called out, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.
27The satraps, prefects, governors, and the king's counselors crowded around and saw these men: the fire had no power over their bodies, not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unharmed, and no smell of fire clung to them.
28Then Nebuchadnezzar declared, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him! They set aside the king's command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
29Therefore I decree that any people, nation, or language that speaks offensively against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to rubble, for there is no other god who can rescue like this."
30At that very moment the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from human society and ate grass like an ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew long like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.
31When the days were completed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me. I blessed the Most High; I praised and honored him who lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion and whose kingdom endures from generation to generation.
32All who dwell on the earth are counted as nothing. He does as he pleases with the host of heaven and with those who dwell on the earth. No one can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"
33At that 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 nobles sought me out, I was restored to my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.
34Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are truth and his ways are just, and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
34Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are truth and his ways are just, and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.