Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

4 ^[a] King Nebuchadnezzar to all ^(A)peoples, nations, and languages, ^(B)that dwell in all the earth: ^(C)Peace be multiplied to you! ² It has seemed good to me to show the ^(D)signs and wonders that the ^(E)Most High God has done for me.

Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream

^4 [b] I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. ⁵ I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and ^(J)the visions of my head alarmed me. ⁶ So ^(K)I made a decree that ^(L)all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. ⁷ Then ^(M)the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but ^(N)they could not make known to me its interpretation. ⁸ At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named ^(O)Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is ^(P)the spirit of the holy gods^[c]—and I told him the dream, saying, ⁹ “O Belteshazzar, ^(Q)chief of the magicians, because I know that ^(R)the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no ^(S)mystery is too difficult for you, tell me ^(T)the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.

Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

¹⁹ Then Daniel, whose name was ^(A)Belteshazzar, was ^(B)dismayed for a while, and ^(C)his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, ^(D)may the dream be for those who hate you ^(E)and its interpretation for your enemies! ^20 (F)The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, ^21 (G)whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— ^22 (H)it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. ^(I)Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, ^(J)and your dominion to the ends of the earth. ²³ And because the king saw ^(K)a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ^(L)‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till ^(M)seven periods of time pass over him,’ ²⁴ this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, ^25 (N)that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made ^(O)to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and ^(P)seven periods of time shall pass over you, till ^(Q)you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. ²⁶ And as it was commanded ^(R)to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. ²⁷ Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by ^(S)practicing righteousness, ^(T)and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, ^(U)that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation

²⁸ All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹ At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, ³⁰ and the king answered and said, ^(V)“Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by ^(W)my mighty power as a royal residence and for ^(X)the glory of my majesty?” ^31 (Y)While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, ^32 (Z)and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, ^(AA)until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” ³³ Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. ^(AB)He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.

Nebuchadnezzar Restored

^34 (AC)At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and ^(AD)my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored ^(AE)him who lives forever,