Daniel 4:18-23

New International Version

¹⁸ “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me.^(A) But you can,^(B) because the spirit of the holy gods^(C) is in you.”^(D)

Daniel Interprets the Dream

¹⁹ Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified^(E) him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”^(F)

Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! ²⁰ The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, ²¹ with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds^(G)— ²² Your Majesty, you are that tree!^(H) You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.^(I)

²³ “Your Majesty saw a holy one,^(J) a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’^(K)