²⁵ that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven ^[a]periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes. ²⁶ And in that it was commanded to leave the stump ^[b]with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will be ^[c]assured to you after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules. ²⁷ Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you: ^[d]break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity.’

The Vision Fulfilled

²⁸ “All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king. ²⁹ Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. ³⁰ The king ^[e]reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal ^[f]residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ ³¹ While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice ^[g]came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: ^[h]sovereignty has been removed from you, ³² and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven ^[i]periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the 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 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 ^[j]that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my ^[k]reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever;