Daniel 4:1-13

New International Version

4 ^[a]King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the nations and peoples of every language,^(A) who live in all the earth:

May you prosper greatly!^(B)

² It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs^(C) and wonders that the Most High God^(D) has performed for me.

⁴ I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented^(G) and prosperous. ⁵ I had a dream^(H) that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed,^(I) the images and visions that passed through my mind^(J) terrified me.^{(K) 6} So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret^(L) the dream for me. ⁷ When the magicians,^(M) enchanters, astrologers^[b] and diviners^(N) came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.^{(O) 8} Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar,^(P) after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods^(Q) is in him.)

⁹ I said, “Belteshazzar, chief^(R) of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods^(S) is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. ¹⁰ These are the visions I saw while lying in bed:^(T) I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous.^{(U) 11} The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.^{(V) 12} Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches;^(W) from it every creature was fed.

¹³ “In the visions I saw while lying in bed,^(X) I looked, and there before me was a holy one,^(Y) a messenger,^[c] coming down from heaven.