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DanielKapitel 4

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I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.
I saw a dream that frightened me; as I lay on my bed, the thoughts and the visions that passed through my head terrified me.
So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.
At last Daniel came in before me—he who is called Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream:
"Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Tell me the visions I saw in my dream, and give me their interpretation.
These were the visions that passed through my head as I lay on my bed: I looked, and there stood a tree at the center of the earth, and its height was great.
The tree grew large and strong; its top reached to heaven, and it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.
Its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shade, in its branches the birds of the sky nested, and from it every living thing was fed.
As I lay on my bed I looked at the visions passing through my head, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
He called out with power and said: 'Cut down the tree and lop off its branches; strip away its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from beneath it and the birds from its branches.
But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts among the plants of the earth.
Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let the mind of a beast be given to him, and let seven times pass over him.
This sentence stands by decree of the watchers, this verdict by the word of the holy ones, so that the living may know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he wills, and sets over it the lowliest of men.'
This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its interpretation, since none of the wise men of my kingdom is able to make it known to me. But you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
Then Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was stunned for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies!
The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached to heaven and which was visible to all the earth,
whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived and in whose branches the birds of the sky made their home—
that tree is you, O king. You have grown great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.
And as for what the 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, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field until seven times pass over him'—
this is the interpretation, O king; it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king.
You will be driven away from human society, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will be made to eat grass like an ox and will be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times will pass over you, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he wills.
And as for the command to leave the stump with the roots of the tree: your kingdom will be kept secure for you, from the time you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
Therefore, O king, may my counsel please you: break with your sins by doing what is right, and with your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; perhaps then your prosperity will continue."
All of this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,
the king said, "Is this not the great Babylon that I have built as a royal residence by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"
The words were still in the king's mouth when a voice fell from heaven: "To you it is declared, King Nebuchadnezzar: the kingdom has departed from you.
You will be driven away from human society, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven times will pass over you, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he wills."
At 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.
When 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.
All 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?"
At 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.
Now 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.
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