Daniel 4
Lexham English Bible
Nebuchadnezzar Declares What the Most High God Has Done for Him
4 [a] Nebuchadnezzar the king to all of the nations, the peoples and languages that live in the whole earth: “May your prosperity increase! 2 It is pleasing to me to recount the signs and wonders that the Most High God worked for me. 3 How great are his signs and wonders, how strong is his kingdom, an everlasting kingdom;[b] and his sovereignty is from generation to generation.
The Dream and the King’s Search for an Interpreter
4 “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was content in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 And I saw a dream and a revelation on my bed and it frightened me, and the visions of my head terrified me. 6 And a decree was sent out,[c] ordering that all the wise men of Babylon were to be brought in before me so that they may make known to me the explanation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians,[d] the conjurers,[e] the astrologers[f] and the diviners came in and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its explanation.[g] 8 Then at last[h] Daniel came before me whose name was[i] Belteshazzar, according to[j] the name of my god, and in whom was the spirit of the holy gods,[k] and I related the dream to him.[l]
9 “‘O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians,[m] I myself know that the spirit[n] of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult[o] for you. Now tell me the visions of my dream that I saw, and its explanation.[p] 10 Now these were the visions of my head as I was lying on my bed: I was gazing[q] and, look, a tree was in the midst of the earth, and its height was exalted.
11 The tree grew and it became strong,
and its height reached to heaven,[r]
and it was visible to the end of the whole earth.[s]
12 Its foliage was beautiful,
and its fruit abundant,
and in it was provision for all.
Under it the animals[t] of the field sought shade,
and in its branches the birds of heaven[u] nested,
and from it all the living beings were fed.
13 “‘I was looking in the vision of my head as I lay on my bed, and look, a watcher,[v] and a holy one, came down from heaven.
14 He cried aloud[w] and so he said:
“Cut down the tree and chop off its branches;
shake off its foliage and scatter its fruit.
Let the animals flee from under it,
and the birds from its branches.
15 But the stump of its roots
leave in the earth,
along with[x] a band of iron and bronze;
leave it in the grass of the field.
And in[y] the dew of heaven
let it[z] be watered,
and with the animals[aa]
let his lot be in the grass of the earth.
16 Let his mind be changed from that of a human,[ab]
and let the mind of an animal be given to him,
and let seven times pass over him.
17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers,
and the decision by the command of the holy ones,
in order that[ac] the living will know
that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind,
and to whomever[ad] he wills he gives it,
and he even sets the humblest of men over it.”
18 “‘This is the dream that I, Nebuchadnezzar the king, saw. Now[ae] you, Belteshazzar, declare its explanation, for[af] all of the wise men of my kingdom were not able to make the explanation known to me, but you are able because the spirit of holy gods is in you.’
Daniel Relates and Interprets the Dream
19 “Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was distressed for some time,[ag] and his thoughts disturbed him. The king answered and he said, ‘Belteshazzar, let the dream and its explanation not disturb you.’ Belteshazzar answered and said, ‘My lord, may the dream and its explanation be for those who hate you and for your enemies. 20 The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong and its height reached to heaven[ah] and it was visible to the end of the whole earth,[ai] 21 and its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and so there was provision for all in it, and the animals[aj] of the field lived under it and in its branches nest the birds of heaven,[ak] 22 —it is you, O king, who have grown great and you have grown strong, and so your greatness has increased and it has reached to heaven[al] and your sovereignty to the end of the earth. 23 And inasmuch that the king saw the watcher, a holy one coming down from heaven[am] and he said, “Cut down the tree and destroy it, but the stump of its root in the earth leave with a band of iron and bronze in the grass of the field, and let it be watered with the dew of heaven and let his lot be with the animals of the field until seven times have passed over him.”[an] 24 This is the explanation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king: 25 you will be driven away from human society[ao] and you will dwell[ap] with the animals[aq] of the field, and you will be caused to graze grass like the oxen yourself,[ar] and you will be watered with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time will pass over you until that you have acknowledged that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind, and to whom he wills[as] he gives it. 26 And in that[at] they said to leave alone the stump of the tree’s root, so your kingdom will be restored for you when[au] you acknowledge that heaven is sovereign. 27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you and your sin remove[av] with righteousness and your iniquity with having mercy on the oppressed, in case there might be a prolongation of your prosperity.’”[aw]
God Judges the King for His Hubris
28 All this happened[ax] to Nebuchadnezzar the king. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace[ay] of Babylon. 30 And the king answered and said, “Is this not the great Babylon which I have built as a royal palace by the strength of my own power, and for the glory of my own majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the mouth of the king, a voice from heaven came, saying, ‘To you, King Nebuchadnezzar, it is declared that the kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you will be driven away from human society[az] and your dwelling will be with the animals[ba] of the field and they will cause you to graze the grass like oxen, and seven times will pass over you, until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind and that he gives it to whom he wills.’ 33 Immediately[bb] the word was fulfilled concerning[bc] Nebuchadnezzar, and he was expelled from human society[bd] and he ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven until his hair was like the hair of an eagle and his nails grew like a bird’s claws.
The King Praises and Extols the Most High God
34 “But at the end of that period,[be] I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and then my reason returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and the one who lives forever[bf] I praised and I honored.
“For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty,
and his kingdom continues from generation to generation.
35 And all the dwellers of the earth
are regarded as nothing,
and he does according to[bg] his desire
in the host of heaven and among the dwellers of earth,
and there is not one who can hold back his hand,
or ask him,[bh] ‘What are you doing?’
36 “At that time[bi] my reason returned to me, and also the glory of my kingdom and my majesty and splendor returned to me, and my advisers and my lords[bj] searched me out, and I was established over my kingdom and abundant greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the king of heaven, for all his works are truth,[bk] and his ways are justice and that he is able to humble those who walk in pride.”
Footnotes
- Daniel 4:1 Daniel 4:1–4:37 in the English Bible is 3:31–4:34 in the Hebrew Bible
- Daniel 4:3 Literally “a kingdom of eternity”
- Daniel 4:6 Literally “put/placed”
- Daniel 4:7 Or “soothsayer-priests”
- Daniel 4:7 Or “enchanters”
- Daniel 4:7 Literally “Chaldeans”
- Daniel 4:7 Or “interpretation”
- Daniel 4:8 Literally “until another”
- Daniel 4:8 Literally “who name his”
- Daniel 4:8 Literally “like”
- Daniel 4:8 Literally “and who the spirit of gods holy in him”
- Daniel 4:8 Literally “and the dream before him I told”
- Daniel 4:9 Or “soothsayer-priests”
- Daniel 4:9 Or “a spirit”
- Daniel 4:9 Literally “every mystery is not difficult”
- Daniel 4:9 Or “interpretation”
- Daniel 4:10 Literally “seeing”
- Daniel 4:11 Or “the sky”
- Daniel 4:11 Literally “and its appearance was to the end of the whole earth”
- Daniel 4:12 Aramaic “animal”
- Daniel 4:12 Or “the sky”
- Daniel 4:13 Or “angelic being”
- Daniel 4:14 Literally “in strength”
- Daniel 4:15 Literally “and with”
- Daniel 4:15 Or “with”
- Daniel 4:15 Or “him,” that is, the king
- Daniel 4:15 Aramaic “animal”
- Daniel 4:16 Or “the human”
- Daniel 4:17 Literally “until matter that”
- Daniel 4:17 Literally “to whom that”
- Daniel 4:18 Or “And”
- Daniel 4:18 Literally “all of because that”
- Daniel 4:19 Literally “for one hour”
- Daniel 4:20 Or “the sky”
- Daniel 4:20 Literally “its appearance to the all the earth”
- Daniel 4:21 Aramaic “animal”
- Daniel 4:21 Or “the sky”
- Daniel 4:22 Or “the sky”
- Daniel 4:23 Or “the sky”
- Daniel 4:23 Literally “until that seven times they pass over him”
- Daniel 4:25 Literally “from the humankind”
- Daniel 4:25 Literally “your dwelling will be”
- Daniel 4:25 Aramaic “animal”
- Daniel 4:25 Literally “with respect to you”
- Daniel 4:25 Literally “that he wills”
- Daniel 4:26 Literally “And for”
- Daniel 4:26 Literally “from that”
- Daniel 4:27 Or “replace”
- Daniel 4:27 Literally “if will be prolongation for your prosperity”
- Daniel 4:28 Literally “It came upon”
- Daniel 4:29 Literally “the place of the kingdom”
- Daniel 4:32 Literally “the humankind”
- Daniel 4:32 Aramaic “animal”
- Daniel 4:33 Literally “In that hour”
- Daniel 4:33 Literally “over”
- Daniel 4:33 Literally “the humankind”
- Daniel 4:34 Literally “the day”
- Daniel 4:34 Literally “the one living forever”
- Daniel 4:35 Literally “as”
- Daniel 4:35 Literally “or asks to him”
- Daniel 4:36 Literally “In it the time”
- Daniel 4:36 Or “nobles”
- Daniel 4:37 Or “true”
Daniel 4
Legacy Standard Bible
Nebuchadnezzar Declares the Most High God
4 [a]Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples, nations, and men of every tongue that inhabit all the earth: “May your [b](A)peace abound! 2 It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the (B)Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are His (C)signs,
And how strong are His wonders!
His (D)kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And His [c]dominion is from generation to generation.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Tree
4 “[d]I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and (E)flourishing in my palace. 5 I saw a (F)dream, and it made me fearful; and these fantasies as I lay on my bed and the (G)visions in my head kept alarming me. 6 So I gave a decree to (H)bring into my presence all the wise men of Babylon, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the [e](I)magicians, the conjurers, the [f]Chaldeans, and the diviners came in, and I said the dream [g]to them, but they could not make its (J)interpretation known to me. 8 But at last Daniel came in before me, whose name is (K)Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and in whom is [h](L)a spirit of the holy gods; and I said the dream [i]to him: 9 ‘O Belteshazzar, (M)chief of the magicians, since I know that (N)a spirit of the holy gods is in you, and (O)no mystery is difficult for you, (P)say to me the visions of my dream which I have seen, along with its interpretation.
10 ‘Now these were the (Q)visions in my head as I lay on my bed: I was looking, and behold, there was a (R)tree in the midst of the [j]earth, and its height was great.
11 The tree grew large and became strong,
And its height (S)reached to the sky,
And it was visible to the end of the whole earth.
12 Its foliage was (T)beautiful and its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
The (U)beasts of the field found (V)shade under it,
And the (W)birds of the sky inhabited its branches,
And all flesh fed itself from it.
13 ‘I was looking in the (X)visions in my head as I lay on my bed, and behold, (Y)a [k]watcher, a (Z)holy one, descended from heaven.
14 He called out loudly and said thus:
“(AA)Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit;
Let the (AB)beasts flee from under it
And the birds from its branches.
15 Yet (AC)leave the stump [l]with its roots in the earth,
But with a band of iron and bronze around it
In the new grass of the field;
And let him be drenched with the dew of heaven,
And let [m]him share with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
And let the heart of a beast be given to him,
And let (AD)seven [n]periods of time pass over him.
17 This edict is by the resolution of the watchers,
And the decision is a command of the holy ones,
In order that the living may (AE)know
That the Most High is the powerful ruler over the kingdom of mankind
And (AF)gives it to whom He wishes
And sets up over it the (AG)lowliest of men.”
18 This is the dream which I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, say to me its interpretation, inasmuch as none of the (AH)wise men of my kingdom is able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for a (AI)spirit of the holy gods is in you.’
Daniel Interprets the Dream
19 “Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while as his (AJ)thoughts were alarming him. The king answered and said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not (AK)let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.’ Belteshazzar answered and said, ‘(AL)My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to (AM)your adversaries! 20 The (AN)tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth, 21 and whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field inhabited, and in whose branches the birds of the sky dwelt— 22 it is (AO)you, O king; for you have become great and grown strong, and your greatness has become even greater and reached to the sky and your [o](AP)dominion to the end of the earth. 23 But in that the king saw a watcher, a holy one, descending from heaven and saying, “(AQ)Chop down the tree and destroy it; yet leave the stump [p]with its roots in the earth, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field, and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let [q]him share with the beasts of the field until (AR)seven [r]periods of time pass over him,” 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the resolution of the Most High, which has (AS)reached my lord the king: 25 that you be (AT)driven away from mankind and your place of habitation be with the beasts of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven [s]periods of time will pass over you, until you know that the (AU)Most High is the powerful ruler over the kingdom of mankind and (AV)gives it to whomever He wishes. 26 And in that they said to (AW)leave the stump [t]with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will endure for you after you know that it is (AX)Heaven that rules with power. 27 Therefore, O king, may my (AY)advice seem good to you: [u](AZ)break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by (BA)showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a (BB)prolonging of your prosperity.’
The Dream Is Accomplished
28 “All this (BC)reached Nebuchadnezzar the king. 29 (BD)At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king answered and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the (BE)great, which I myself have built as a royal house by the strength of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ 31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice [v]came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is said: the kingdom has been removed from you, 32 and (BF)you will be driven away from mankind, and your place of habitation will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and (BG)seven [w]periods of time will pass over you until you know that the (BH)Most High is the powerful ruler over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whomever He wishes.’ 33 Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was accomplished; and he was (BI)driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
34 “But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes toward heaven, and my knowledge returned to me, and I blessed the (BJ)Most High and praised and honored (BK)Him who lives forever;
For His [x]dominion is an (BL)everlasting [y]dominion,
And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 (BM)And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
But (BN)He does according to His will in the host of heaven
And among the inhabitants of earth;
And (BO)no one can strike against His hand
Or say to Him, ‘(BP)What have You done?’
36 At that time my (BQ)knowledge returned to me. And my majesty and (BR)splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my high officials and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my kingdom, and extraordinary (BS)greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of (BT)heaven, for (BU)all His works are [z]true and His ways [aa]just, and He is able to humble those who (BV)walk in pride.”
Footnotes
- Daniel 4:1 Ch 3:31 in Aram
- Daniel 4:1 Or welfare, prosperity
- Daniel 4:3 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
- Daniel 4:4 Ch 4:1 in Aram
- Daniel 4:7 Or soothsayer priests, so in ch
- Daniel 4:7 Or master astrologers
- Daniel 4:7 Lit before
- Daniel 4:8 Or the Spirit of the holy God, so in ch
- Daniel 4:8 Lit before
- Daniel 4:10 Or land, so in ch
- Daniel 4:13 Angel, so in ch
- Daniel 4:15 Lit of
- Daniel 4:15 Lit his portion be with
- Daniel 4:16 Years
- Daniel 4:22 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
- Daniel 4:23 Lit of
- Daniel 4:23 Lit his portion be with
- Daniel 4:23 Years
- Daniel 4:25 Years
- Daniel 4:26 Lit of
- Daniel 4:27 Or redeem now your sins
- Daniel 4:31 Lit fell
- Daniel 4:32 Years
- Daniel 4:34 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
- Daniel 4:34 Or powerful reign; or in Heb powerful rule
- Daniel 4:37 Lit truth
- Daniel 4:37 Lit justice
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.
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