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Daniel 4
International Children’s Bible
Daniel 4
International Children’s Bible
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree
4 King Nebuchadnezzar sent a letter. It went to the people, nations and those who speak every language in all the world. The letter said:
I wish you great wealth!
2 The Most High God has done miracles and wonderful things for me. I am happy to tell you about these things.
3 The things he has done are great.
His miracles are mighty.
His kingdom continues forever.
His rule will continue for all time.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at my palace. I was happy and successful. 5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying on my bed, I saw pictures and visions in my mind. Those things made me very afraid. 6 So I gave an order. All the wise men of Babylon were to be brought to me. I wanted them to tell me what my dream meant. 7 The fortune-tellers, magicians and wise men came. I told them about the dream. But those men could not tell me what it meant.
8 Finally, Daniel came to me. (I called him Belteshazzar to honor my god. The spirit of the holy gods is in him.) I told my dream to Daniel. 9 I said, “Belteshazzar, you are the most important of all the fortune-tellers. I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you. I know there is no secret that is too hard for you to understand. This was what I dreamed. Tell me what it means. 10 These are the visions I saw while I was lying in my bed: I looked, and there in front of me was a tree. It was standing in the middle of the earth. The tree was very tall. 11 The tree grew large and strong. The top of the tree touched the sky. It could be seen from anywhere on earth. 12 The leaves of the tree were beautiful. It had plenty of good fruit on it. On the tree was food for everyone. The wild animals found shelter under the tree. And the birds lived in its branches. Every animal ate from it.
13 “I was looking at those things in the vision while lying on my bed. And then I saw a holy angel coming down from heaven. 14 He spoke very loudly. He said, ‘Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches. Strip off its leaves. Scatter its fruit around. Let the animals that are under the tree run away. Let the birds that were in its branches fly away. 15 But let the stump and its roots stay in the ground. Put a band of iron and bronze around it. Let it stay in the field with the grass around it.
“‘Let the man become wet with dew. Let him live among the animals and plants of the earth. 16 Let him not think like a man any longer. Let him have the mind of an animal for seven years.
17 “‘Messengers gave this command. The holy ones declared the sentence. This is so all the people may know that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of men. God gives those kingdoms to anyone he wants. And he chooses people to rule them who are not proud.’
18 “That is what I, King Nebuchadnezzar, dreamed. Now Daniel, called Belteshazzar, tell me what the dream means. None of the wise men in my kingdom can explain it to me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel Explains the Dream
19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was very quiet for a while. His thoughts made him afraid. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning make you afraid.”
Then Daniel, called Belteshazzar, answered the king. He said, “My master, I wish the dream were about your enemies. And I wish its meaning were for those who are against you! 20 You saw a tree in your dream. The tree grew large and strong. Its top touched the sky. It could be seen from all over the earth. 21 Its leaves were beautiful, and it had plenty of fruit. The fruit gave food for everyone. It was a home for the wild animals. And its branches were nesting places for the birds. That is the tree you saw. 22 My king, you are that tree! You have become great and powerful. You are like the tall tree that touched the sky. And your power reaches to the far parts of the earth.
23 “My king, you saw a holy angel coming down from heaven. He said, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it. But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Put a band of iron and bronze around it. Leave it in the field with the grass. Let him become wet with dew. He will live like a wild animal for seven years.’
24 “This is the meaning of the dream, my king. The Most High God has commanded these things to happen to my master the king: 25 You will be forced away from people. You will live among the wild animals. People will feed you grass like an ox. And dew from the sky will make you wet. Seven years will pass, and then you will learn this lesson: The Most High God is ruler over the kingdoms of men. And the Most High God gives those kingdoms to anyone he wants.
26 “The stump of the tree and its roots were to be left in the ground. This means your kingdom will be given back to you. This will happen when you learn that heaven rules your kingdom. 27 So, my king, please accept my advice. I advise you to stop sinning and do what is right. Stop doing wicked things and be kind to poor people. Then you might continue to be successful.”
The King’s Dream Comes True
28 All these things happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months after the dream, King Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof[a] of his palace in Babylon. 30 And he said, “Look at Babylon. I built this great city. It is my palace. I built this great place by my power to show how great I am.”
31 The words were still in his mouth when a voice came from heaven. The voice said, “King Nebuchadnezzar, these things will happen to you: Your royal power has been taken away from you. 32 You will be forced away from people. You will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like an ox. Seven years will pass before you learn this lesson: The Most High God rules over the kingdoms of men. And the Most High God gives those kingdoms to anyone he wants.”
33 Those things happened quickly. Nebuchadnezzar was forced to go away from people. He began eating grass like an ox. He became wet from dew. His hair grew long like the feathers of an eagle. And his nails grew long like the claws of a bird.
34 Then at the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven. And I could think correctly again. Then I gave praise to the Most High God. I gave honor and glory to him who lives forever.
God’s rule is forever.
His kingdom continues for all time.
35 People on earth
are not truly important.
God does what he wants
with the powers of heaven
and the people on earth.
No one can stop his powerful hand.
No one can question the things he does.
36 So, at that time I could think correctly again. And God gave back my great honor and power as king. The people who advise me and the royal family came to me for help again. I became king again. And I became even greater and more powerful than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, give praise and honor and glory to the King of heaven. Everything he does is right. He is always fair. And he is able to make proud people humble.
Footnotes
- 4:29 roof In Bible times houses were built with flat roofs. The roof was used for drying things such as flax and fruit. And it was used as an extra room, as a place for worship and as a place to sleep in the summer.
Daniel 4
King James Version
Daniel 4
King James Version
4 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Daniel 4
La Bible du Semeur
Daniel 4
La Bible du Semeur
4 Moi, Nabuchodonosor, je vivais tranquille dans ma maison et je jouissais de la prospérité dans mon palais. 2 J’ai alors fait un rêve qui m’a rempli d’effroi ; les pensées qui m’ont hanté sur mon lit et les visions de mon esprit m’ont épouvanté. 3 J’ai donc ordonné de convoquer auprès de moi tous les sages de Babylone, pour qu’ils me fassent connaître l’interprétation de mon rêve. 4 Les mages, les magiciens, les astrologues et les devins se sont présentés. Je leur ai exposé le rêve, mais ils n’ont pas pu m’en faire connaître l’interprétation.
5 A la fin, s’est présenté devant moi Daniel, nommé aussi Beltshatsar, d’après le nom de mon dieu[a]. L’esprit des dieux saints réside en lui. Je lui ai raconté mon rêve et je lui ai dit : 6 Beltshatsar, chef des mages, je sais que l’esprit des dieux saints réside en toi, et qu’aucun mystère n’est trop difficile pour toi, écoute donc les visions que j’ai eues dans mon rêve et donne-m’en l’interprétation. 7 Voici quelles étaient les visions de mon esprit pendant que j’étais couché sur mon lit : je regardais et voici ce que j’ai vu :
Au milieu de la terre ╵se dressait un grand arbre, ╵dont la hauteur était immense.
8 L’arbre grandit ╵et devint vigoureux.
Son sommet atteignait le ciel ;
et l’on pouvait le voir ╵depuis les confins de la terre.
9 Son feuillage était magnifique
et ses fruits abondants.
Il portait de la nourriture ╵pour tout être vivant.
Les animaux sauvages ╵venaient s’abriter à son ombre
et les oiseaux ╵se nichaient dans ses branches.
Tous les êtres vivants ╵se nourrissaient de ses produits.
10 Pendant que, sur mon lit, je contemplais les visions de mon esprit, je vis apparaître un de ceux qui veillent[b], un saint qui descendait du ciel. 11 Il cria d’une voix forte :
« Abattez l’arbre ! ╵Coupez ses branches !
Arrachez son feuillage ╵et dispersez ses fruits,
et que les animaux ╵s’enfuient de dessous lui,
que les oiseaux ╵quittent ses branches !
12 Laissez cependant dans la terre ╵la souche et ses racines,
liées de chaînes de fer et de bronze
au milieu de l’herbe des champs.
Qu’il soit trempé ╵de la rosée du ciel,
qu’il se nourrisse d’herbe ╵avec les animaux.
13 Cet homme perdra la raison
et se prendra pour une bête
jusqu’à ce qu’aient passé sept temps[c].
14 Cette sentence ╵est un décret de ceux qui veillent ;
cette résolution ╵est un ordre des saints,
afin que tous les vivants sachent ╵que le Très-Haut domine ╵sur toute royauté humaine,
qu’il accorde la royauté ╵à qui il veut,
et qu’il établit roi ╵le plus insignifiant des hommes. »
15 Tel est le rêve que j’ai eu, moi le roi Nabuchodonosor. Quant à toi, Beltshatsar, donne-m’en l’interprétation puisque tous les sages de mon royaume s’en sont montrés incapables ; mais toi, tu le peux, car l’esprit des dieux saints réside en toi.
Daniel interprète le rêve
16 Alors Daniel, nommé aussi Beltshatsar, demeura un moment interloqué : ses pensées l’effrayaient. Le roi reprit et dit : Beltshatsar, que le songe et son explication ne t’effraient pas !
– Mon Seigneur, répondit Beltshatsar, je souhaiterais que ce songe s’applique à tes ennemis, et sa signification à tes adversaires !
17 Tu as vu un arbre grandir et devenir vigoureux, sa cime touchait le ciel et on le voyait de toute la terre. 18 Cet arbre au feuillage magnifique et aux fruits abondants portait de la nourriture pour tous les êtres vivants. Les animaux sauvages venaient s’abriter sous lui et les oiseaux nichaient dans ses branches. 19 Cet arbre, ô roi, c’est toi ! Car tu es devenu grand et puissant. Ta grandeur s’est accrue, elle atteint jusqu’au ciel et ta domination s’étend jusqu’aux confins de la terre. 20 Le roi a vu ensuite l’un de ceux qui veillent, un saint, descendre du ciel et crier : « Abattez l’arbre et détruisez-le ! Laissez toutefois en terre la souche avec les racines, mais liées de chaînes de fer et de bronze au milieu de l’herbe des champs, qu’il soit trempé de la rosée du ciel, et qu’il se nourrisse d’herbe avec les animaux des champs jusqu’à ce que sept temps aient passé. »
21 Voici ce que cela signifie, ô roi ! Il s’agit là d’un décret du Très-Haut prononcé contre mon seigneur le roi.
22 On te chassera du milieu des humains et tu vivras parmi les bêtes des champs. On te nourrira d’herbe comme les bœufs et tu seras trempé de la rosée du ciel. Tu seras dans cet état durant sept temps, jusqu’à ce que tu reconnaisses que le Très-Haut est le maître de toute royauté humaine et qu’il accorde la royauté à qui il lui plaît. 23 Mais si l’on a ordonné de préserver la souche avec les racines de l’arbre, c’est que la royauté te sera rendue dès que tu auras reconnu que le Dieu des cieux est souverain. 24 C’est pourquoi, ô roi, voici mon conseil : puisses-tu juger bon de le suivre ! Détourne-toi de tes péchés et fais ce qui est juste ! Mets un terme à tes injustices en ayant compassion des pauvres ! Peut-être ta tranquillité se prolongera-t-elle.
Le rêve se réalise
25 Tous ces événements s’accomplirent pour le roi Nabuchodonosor. 26 En effet, douze mois plus tard, il se promenait sur la terrasse du palais royal de Babylone.
27 Il prit la parole et dit : N’est-ce pas là Babylone la grande que moi j’ai bâtie pour en faire une résidence royale ? C’est par la grandeur de ma puissance et pour la gloire de ma majesté que j’ai fait cela.
28 Ces paroles étaient encore sur ses lèvres, qu’une voix retentit du ciel : Roi Nabuchodonosor, écoute ce qu’on te dit : le pouvoir royal t’est retiré ! 29 On te chassera du milieu des humains et tu vivras avec les bêtes des champs, on te nourrira d’herbe comme les bœufs. Tu seras dans cet état durant sept temps, jusqu’à ce que tu reconnaisses que le Très-Haut est maître de toute royauté humaine et qu’il accorde la royauté à qui il lui plaît.
30 Au même instant, la sentence prononcée contre Nabuchodonosor fut exécutée : il fut chassé du milieu des hommes, il se mit à manger de l’herbe comme les bœufs et son corps fut trempé par la rosée du ciel, sa chevelure devint aussi longue que des plumes d’aigle et ses ongles ressemblaient aux griffes des oiseaux.
31 Au terme du temps annoncé, moi, Nabuchodonosor, je levai les yeux vers le ciel, et la raison me revint. Je remerciai le Très-Haut, je louai celui qui vit éternellement, et je proclamai sa gloire :
sa souveraineté ╵est éternelle
son règne dure d’âge en âge.
32 Tous les habitants de la terre ╵ne comptent pour rien devant lui,
et il agit comme il l’entend
envers l’armée des êtres ╵qui vivent dans le ciel ╵et envers les habitants de la terre.
Personne ne peut s’opposer ╵à ses interventions
ou lui reprocher : « Que fais-tu ? »
33 A l’heure même, la raison me revint, la gloire de ma royauté, la majesté et la splendeur me furent rendues : mes conseillers et mes dignitaires me rappelèrent et je fus réinstallé sur mon trône avec un surcroît de grandeur. 34 Maintenant, moi, Nabuchodonosor, je loue, j’exalte et je glorifie le Roi des cieux, car il agit en accord avec ses paroles[d] et tout ce qu’il fait est juste, il a le pouvoir d’abaisser ceux qui vivent dans l’orgueil.
Footnotes
- 4.5 Voir 1.7 et note.
- 4.10 Dans la Bible, le terme « veillants » pour désigner les anges se trouve seulement dans Daniel, mais il est fréquent dans les livres apocryphes.
- 4.13 Ce terme, qui peut avoir le sens de « temps » (2.8), de « moment » (3.5) ou de « saison », désigne ici très certainement une année (voir 7.25). De même dans les v. 20, 22, 29.
- 4.34 D’autres comprennent : il agit avec droiture.
Daniel 4
New International Version
Daniel 4
New International Version
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree
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.
3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!(E)
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures(F) from generation to generation.
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. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree(Z) and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.(AA) 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.
“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times[d] pass by for him.(AB)
17 “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High(AC) is sovereign(AD) over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest(AE) of people.’
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.(AF) But you can,(AG) because the spirit of the holy gods(AH) is in you.”(AI)
Daniel Interprets the Dream
19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified(AJ) him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”(AK)
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(AL)— 22 Your Majesty, you are that tree!(AM) 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.(AN)
23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one,(AO) 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.’(AP)
24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree(AQ) the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched(AR) with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High(AS) is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.(AT) 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots(AU) means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.(AV) 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.(AW) It may be that then your prosperity(AX) will continue.(AY)”
The Dream Is Fulfilled
28 All this happened(AZ) to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory(BA) of my majesty?”(BB)
31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.(BC) 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”(BD)
33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched(BE) with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.(BF)
34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity(BG) was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.(BH)
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom(BI) endures from generation to generation.(BJ)
35 All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.(BK)
He does as he pleases(BL)
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back(BM) his hand(BN)
or say to him: “What have you done?”(BO)
36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom.(BP) My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt(BQ) and glorify(BR) the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.(BS) And those who walk in pride(BT) he is able to humble.(BU)
Footnotes
- Daniel 4:1 In Aramaic texts 4:1-3 is numbered 3:31-33, and 4:4-37 is numbered 4:1-34.
- Daniel 4:7 Or Chaldeans
- Daniel 4:13 Or watchman; also in verses 17 and 23
- Daniel 4:16 Or years; also in verses 23, 25 and 32
International Children’s Bible (ICB) 
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
La Bible du Semeur (BDS)
La Bible Du Semeur (The Bible of the Sower) Copyright © 1992, 1999 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.