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La locura de Nabucodonosor

Nabucodonosor rey, a todos los pueblos, naciones y lenguas que moran en toda la tierra: ¡Paz abundante a vosotros!

Me place dar a conocer las señales y milagros que el Dios Altísimo ha hecho conmigo.

¡Cuán grandes son sus señales, y cuán potentes sus prodigios! Su reino es un reino sempiterno, y su señorío perdura de generación en generación.

Yo, Nabucodonosor, estaba tranquilo en mi casa, y floreciente en mi palacio.

Tuve un sueño que me espantó, y las imaginaciones en mi lecho y las visiones de mi cabeza me turbaron.

Por esto mandé que vinieran delante de mí todos los sabios de Babilonia, para que me mostrasen la interpretación del sueño.

Y vinieron magos, astrólogos, caldeos y adivinos, y les dije el sueño, pero no me pudieron mostrar su interpretación,

hasta que vino a mi presencia Daniel, cuyo nombre es Beltsasar, como el nombre de mi dios, y en quien mora el espíritu de los dioses santos. Le conté el sueño, diciéndole:

Beltsasar, jefe de los magos, ya que me he dado cuenta de que hay en ti espíritu de los dioses santos, y que ningún misterio se te esconde, declárame las visiones del sueño que he tenido, y su interpretación.

10 Estas fueron las visiones de mi cabeza mientras estaba en mi cama: Miré, y vi en el centro de la tierra un árbol, cuya altura era muy grande.

11 El árbol había crecido y se había hecho muy fuerte, y su copa llegaba hasta el cielo, y se le alcanzaba a ver desde todos los confines de la tierra.

12 Su follaje era hermoso y su fruto abundante, y había en él alimento para todos. Debajo de él se ponían a la sombra las bestias del campo, y en sus ramas hacían morada las aves del cielo, y se mantenía de él todo ser viviente.

13 Contemplaba las visiones de mi cabeza mientras estaba en mi cama, y he aquí que un vigilante, un santo descendía del cielo.

14 Y gritando fuertemente, decía así: Derribad el árbol, y cortad sus ramas, quitadle el follaje, y dispersad su fruto; huyan las bestias que están debajo de él, y las aves de sus ramas.

15 Mas dejaréis en la tierra el tocón y sus raíces, con ataduras de hierro y de bronce, entre la hierba del campo; sea mojado con el rocío del cielo, y comparta con las bestias la hierba de la tierra.

16 Que le sea cambiado su corazón de hombre, y le sea dado un corazón de bestia, y pasen sobre él siete tiempos.

17 La sentencia es por decreto de los vigilantes, y la resolución dictada por los santos, para que conozcan los vivientes que el Altísimo es dueño del reino de los hombres, y que a quien él quiere lo da, y puede establecer sobre él al más bajo de los hombres.

18 Yo, el rey Nabucodonosor, he tenido este sueño. Tú, pues, Beltsasar, dame la interpretación de él, porque todos los sabios de mi reino no han podido mostrarme su interpretación; mas tú puedes, porque mora en ti el espíritu de los dioses santos.

19 Entonces Daniel, cuyo nombre era Beltsasar, quedó atónito por unos momentos, y sus pensamientos lo turbaban. El rey tomó la palabra y dijo: Beltsasar, no te turben ni el sueño ni su interpretación. Beltsasar respondió y dijo: Señor mío, el sueño sea para tus enemigos, y su interpretación para tus adversarios.

20 El árbol que viste, que crecía y se hacía fuerte, y cuya copa llegaba hasta el cielo, y que se veía desde todos los confines de la tierra,

21 cuyo follaje era hermoso, y su fruto abundante, y en que había alimento para todos, debajo del cual moraban las bestias del campo, y en cuyas ramas anidaban las aves del cielo,

22 eres tú mismo, oh rey, que creciste y te hiciste fuerte, pues creció tu grandeza y ha llegado hasta el cielo, y tu dominio se extiende hasta los confines de la tierra.

23 Y en cuanto a lo que vio el rey, un vigilante, un santo que descendía del cielo y decía: Cortad el árbol y destruidlo; mas dejaréis en la tierra el tocón y sus raíces, con ataduras de hierro y de bronce, en la hierba del campo; y sea mojado con el rocío del cielo, y con las bestias del campo sea su parte, hasta que pasen sobre él siete tiempos;

24 esta es la interpretación, oh rey, y el decreto del Altísimo, que ha recaído sobre mi señor el rey:

25 Te echarán de entre los hombres, y morarás con las bestias del campo, y te apacentarán con hierba del campo como a los bueyes, y serás bañado con el rocío del cielo; y pasarán sobre ti siete tiempos, hasta que reconozcas que el Altísimo tiene el dominio sobre la realeza de los hombres, y que la da a quien él quiere.

26 Y en cuanto a la orden de dejar en la tierra el tocón y las raíces del mismo árbol, significa que tu reino te quedará firme, luego que reconozcas que todo poder viene del cielo.

27 Por tanto, oh rey, acepta mi consejo: rompe con tus pecados practicando la justicia, y con tus iniquidades haciendo misericordia para con los oprimidos, pues tal vez así se prolongará tu dicha.

28 Todo esto sobrevino al rey Nabucodonosor.

29 Al cabo de doce meses, mientras se paseaba por el palacio real de Babilonia,

30 se puso a hablar el rey y dijo: ¿No es ésta la gran Babilonia que yo edifiqué con la fuerza de mi poder, para residencia real y para gloria de mi majestad?

31 Aún estaban estas palabras en la boca del rey, cuando vino una voz del cielo: A ti se te dice, rey Nabucodonosor: El reino ha sido quitado de ti;

32 y de entre los hombres te arrojarán, y con las bestias del campo será tu habitación, y como a los bueyes te apacentarán; y pasarán sobre ti siete tiempos, hasta que reconozcas que el Altísimo tiene el dominio sobre la realeza de los hombres, y la da a quien él quiere.

33 En el mismo instante se cumplió la palabra sobre Nabucodonosor, y fue echado de entre los hombres; y comía hierba como los bueyes, y su cuerpo se mojaba con el rocío del cielo, hasta que su pelo creció como plumas de águila, y sus uñas como las de las aves.

34 Mas al cabo del tiempo señalado, yo, Nabucodonosor, alcé mis ojos al cielo, y recobré la razón; entonces bendije al Altísimo, y alabé y glorifiqué al que vive para siempre, cuyo dominio es sempiterno, y su reino por todas las generaciones.

35 Todos los habitantes de la tierra son considerados ante él como nada; y él hace lo que le place con el ejército del cielo, y con los habitantes de la tierra, y no hay quien detenga su mano, y le diga: ¿Qué haces?

36 En el mismo momento mi razón me fue devuelta, y para gloria de mi reino, mi dignidad y mi grandeza volvieron a mí, y mis gobernadores y mis consejeros me buscaron; y fui restablecido en mi reino, y se me dio una grandeza todavía mayor.

37 Ahora pues, yo, Nabucodonosor, alabo, engrandezco y glorifico al Rey del cielo, porque todas sus obras son verdaderas, y sus caminos justos; y él puede humillar a los que andan con soberbia.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream

Nebuchadnezzar the king,

(A)To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

Peace be multiplied to you.

I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders (B)that the Most High God has worked for me.

(C)How great are His signs,
And how mighty His wonders!
His kingdom is (D)an everlasting kingdom,
And His dominion is from generation to generation.

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid, (E)and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head (F)troubled me. Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. (G)Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation. But at last Daniel came before me (H)(his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; (I)in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying: “Belteshazzar, (J)chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.

10 “These were the visions of my head while on my bed:

I was looking, and behold,
(K)A tree in the midst of the earth,
And its height was great.
11 The tree grew and became strong;
Its height reached to the heavens,
And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.
12 Its leaves were lovely,
Its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
(L)The beasts of the field found shade under it,
The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches,
And all flesh was fed from it.

13 “I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was (M)a watcher, (N)a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He cried [a]aloud and said thus:

(O)‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
(P)Let the beasts get out from under it,
And the birds from its branches.
15 Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth,
Bound with a band of iron and bronze,
In the tender grass of the field.
Let it be wet with the dew of heaven,
And let him graze with the beasts
On the grass of the earth.
16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
Let him be given the heart of a beast,
And let seven (Q)times[b] pass over him.

17 ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order (R)that the living may know
(S)That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
(T)Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the (U)lowest of men.’

18 “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, (V)since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, (W)for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”

Daniel Explains the Second Dream

19 Then Daniel, (X)whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts (Y)troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.”

Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may (Z)the dream [c]concern those who hate you, and its interpretation [d]concern your enemies!

20 (AA)“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, 21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home— 22 (AB)it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, (AC)and your dominion to the end of the earth.

23 (AD)“And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, (AE)and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven [e]times pass over him’; 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 25 They shall (AF)drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you (AG)eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven [f]times shall pass over you, (AH)till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and (AI)gives it to whomever He chooses.

26 “And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that (AJ)Heaven[g] rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; (AK)break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. (AL)Perhaps there may be (AM)a [h]lengthening of your prosperity.”

Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation

28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking [i]about the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king (AN)spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”

31 (AO)While the word was still in the king’s mouth, (AP)a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And (AQ)they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven [j]times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”

33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

34 And (AR)at the end of the [k]time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him (AS)who lives forever:

For His dominion is (AT)an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
35 (AU)All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
(AV)He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
(AW)No one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him, (AX)“What have You done?”

36 At the same time my reason returned to me, (AY)and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was (AZ)restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was (BA)added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, (BB)praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, (BC)all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. (BD)And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 4:14 Lit. with strength
  2. Daniel 4:16 Possibly years
  3. Daniel 4:19 be for
  4. Daniel 4:19 for
  5. Daniel 4:23 Possibly years
  6. Daniel 4:25 Possibly years
  7. Daniel 4:26 God
  8. Daniel 4:27 prolonging
  9. Daniel 4:29 Or upon
  10. Daniel 4:32 Possibly years
  11. Daniel 4:34 Lit. days

This is the proclamation of Nebuchadnezzar the king, which he sent to people of every language in every nation of the world:

Greetings:

I want you all to know about the strange thing that the Most High God did to me. It was incredible—a mighty miracle! And now I know for sure that his kingdom is everlasting; he reigns forever and ever.

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in peace and prosperity, when one night I had a dream that greatly frightened me. I called in all the wise men of Babylon to tell me the meaning of my dream, but when they came—the magicians, astrologers, fortune-tellers, and wizards—and I told them the dream, they couldn’t interpret it. At last Daniel came in—the man I named Belteshazzar after my god—the man in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and I told him the dream.

“O Belteshazzar, master magician,” I said, “I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and no mystery is too great for you to solve. Tell me what my dream means:

10-11 “I saw a very tall tree out in a field, growing higher and higher into the sky until it could be seen by everyone in all the world. 12 Its leaves were fresh and green, and its branches were weighted down with fruit, enough for everyone to eat. Wild animals rested beneath its shade and birds sheltered in its branches, and all the world was fed from it. 13 Then as I lay there dreaming, I saw one of God’s angels[a] coming down from heaven.

14 “He shouted, ‘Cut down the tree; lop off its branches; shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit. Get the animals out from under it and the birds from its branches, 15 but leave its stump and roots in the ground, banded with a chain of iron and brass, surrounded by the tender grass. Let the dew of heaven drench him and let him eat grass with the wild animals! 16 For seven years let him have the mind of an animal instead of a man. 17 For this has been decreed by the Watchers, demanded by the Holy Ones. The purpose of this decree is that all the world may understand that the Most High dominates the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he wants to, even the lowliest of men!’

18 “O Belteshazzar, that was my dream; now tell me what it means. For no one else can help me; all the wisest men of my kingdom have failed me. But you can tell me, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

19 Then Daniel[b] sat there stunned and silent for an hour, aghast at the meaning of the dream. Finally the king said to him: “Belteshazzar, don’t be afraid to tell me what it means.”

Daniel replied: “Oh, that the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my lord, and not to you! 20 For the tree you saw growing so tall, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see, 21 with its fresh green leaves, loaded with fruit for all to eat, the wild animals living in its shade, with its branches full of birds— 22 that tree, Your Majesty, is you. For you have grown strong and great; your greatness reaches up to heaven, and your rule to the ends of the earth.

23 “Then you saw God’s angel[c] coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump and the roots in the earth surrounded by tender grass, banded with a chain of iron and brass. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. For seven years let him eat grass with the animals of the field.’

24 “Your Majesty, the Most High God has decreed—and it will surely happen— 25 that your people will chase you from your palace, and you will live in the fields like an animal, eating grass like a cow, your back wet with dew from heaven. For seven years this will be your life, until you learn that the Most High God dominates the kingdoms of men and gives power to anyone he chooses. 26 But the stump and the roots were left in the ground! This means that you will get your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules.

27 “O King Nebuchadnezzar, listen to me—stop sinning; do what you know is right; be merciful to the poor. Perhaps even yet God will spare you.”

28 But all these things happened to Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months after this dream, he was strolling on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, 30 and saying, “I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence and as the capital of my empire.”

31 While he was still speaking these words, a voice called down from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you: You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. 32 You will be forced out of the palace to live with the animals in the fields and to eat grass like the cows for seven years, until you finally realize that God parcels out the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he chooses.”

33 That very same hour this prophecy was fulfilled. Nebuchadnezzar was chased from his palace and ate grass like the cows, and his body was wet with dew; his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.

34 “At the end of seven years[d] I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High God and honored him who lives forever, whose rule is everlasting, his kingdom evermore. 35 All the people of the earth are nothing when compared to him; he does whatever he thinks best among the angels of heaven, as well as here on earth. No one can stop him or challenge him, saying, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’ 36 When my mind returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My counselors and officers came back to me, and I was reestablished as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before.

37 “Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of Heaven, the Judge of all, whose every act is right and good; for he is able to take those who walk proudly and push them into the dust!”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 4:13 one of God’s angels, literally, “a watcher, a holy one.”
  2. Daniel 4:19 Then Daniel, literally, “Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar.”
  3. Daniel 4:23 God’s angel, literally, “a holy watcher.”
  4. Daniel 4:34 At the end of seven years, literally, “At the end of the days.”

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

[a]King Nebuchadnezzar,

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

May you prosper greatly!(B)

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

How great are his signs,
    how mighty his wonders!(E)
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
    his dominion endures(F) from generation to generation.

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented(G) and prosperous. 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) So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret(L) the dream for me. 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) 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.)

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

  1. Daniel 4:1 In Aramaic texts 4:1-3 is numbered 3:31-33, and 4:4-37 is numbered 4:1-34.
  2. Daniel 4:7 Or Chaldeans
  3. Daniel 4:13 Or watchman; also in verses 17 and 23
  4. Daniel 4:16 Or years; also in verses 23, 25 and 32

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

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.

I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

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.

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.

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,

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.