Daniel 4:22-34

English Standard Version

^22 (A)it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. ^(B)Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, ^(C)and your dominion to the ends of the earth. ²³ And because the king saw ^(D)a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ^(E)‘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 ^(F)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 (G)that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made ^(H)to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and ^(I)seven periods of time shall pass over you, till ^(J)you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. ²⁶ And as it was commanded ^(K)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 ^(L)practicing righteousness, ^(M)and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, ^(N)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, ^(O)“Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by ^(P)my mighty power as a royal residence and for ^(Q)the glory of my majesty?” ^31 (R)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 (S)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, ^(T)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. ^(U)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 (V)At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and ^(W)my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored ^(X)him who lives forever,