Daniel 4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 4
Nebuchadnezzar’s Madness. 1 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, content and prosperous. 2 I had a terrifying dream as I lay in bed, and the images and my visions frightened me. 3 So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me to give the interpretation of the dream. 4 When the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners had come in, I related the dream before them; but none of them could tell me its meaning. 5 Finally there came before me Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god,[a] and in whom is a spirit of the holy gods.(A) I repeated the dream to him: 6 “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that a spirit of the holy gods is in you and no mystery is too difficult for you; this is the dream that I saw, tell me its meaning.
7 “These were the visions I saw while in bed: I saw a tree of great height at the center of the earth. 8 It was large and strong, with its top touching the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of the earth. 9 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, providing food for all. Under it the wild beasts found shade, in its branches the birds of the air nested; all flesh ate of it. 10 In the vision I saw while in bed, a holy watcher[b] came down from heaven 11 and cried aloud in these words:
‘Cut down the tree and lop off its branches,
strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit;
Let the beasts flee from beneath it, and the birds from its branches,
12 but leave its stump in the earth.
Bound with iron and bronze,
let him be fed with the grass of the field
and bathed with the dew of heaven;
let his lot be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
13 Let his mind be changed from a human one;
let the mind of a beast be given him,
till seven years pass over him.
14 By decree of the watchers is this proclamation,
by order of the holy ones, this sentence;
That all who live may know
that the Most High is sovereign over human kingship,
Giving it to whom he wills,
and setting it over the lowliest of mortals.’(B)
15 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me its meaning. None of the wise men in my kingdom can tell me the meaning, but you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
16 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was appalled for a time, dismayed by his thoughts. “Belteshazzar,” the king said to him, “do not let the dream or its meaning dismay you.” “My lord,” Belteshazzar replied, “may this dream be for your enemies, and its meaning for your foes. 17 The tree that you saw, large and strong, its top touching the heavens, that could be seen by the whole earth, 18 its leaves beautiful, its fruit abundant, providing food for all, under which the wild beasts lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air dwelt— 19 you are that tree, O king, large and strong! Your majesty has become so great as to touch the heavens, and your rule reaches to the ends of the earth. 20 As for the king’s vision of a holy watcher, who came down from heaven and proclaimed: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump in the earth. Bound with iron and bronze, let him be fed with the grass of the field, and bathed with the dew of heaven; let his lot be with wild beasts till seven years pass over him’— 21 here is its meaning, O king, here is the sentence that the Most High has passed upon my lord king: 22 (C)You shall be cast out from human society and dwell with wild beasts; you shall be given grass to eat like an ox and be bathed with the dew of heaven; seven years shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High is sovereign over human kingship and gives it to whom he will. 23 The command that the stump of the tree is to be left means that your kingdom shall be preserved for you, once you have learned that heaven is sovereign. 24 Therefore, O king, may my advice be acceptable to you; atone for your sins by good deeds,[c] and for your misdeeds by kindness to the poor; then your contentment will be long lasting.”
25 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 26 Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, 27 the king said, “Babylon the great! Was it not I, with my great strength, who built it as a royal residence for my splendor and majesty?” 28 While these words were still on the king’s lips, a voice spoke from heaven, “It has been decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingship is taken from you! 29 You shall be cast out from human society, and shall dwell with wild beasts; you shall be given grass to eat like an ox, and seven years shall pass over you, until you learn that the Most High is sovereign over human kingship and gives it to whom he will.” 30 [d]At once this was fulfilled. Nebuchadnezzar was cast out from human society, he ate grass like an ox, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle, and his nails like the claws of a bird.
31 When this period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven; my reason was restored to me, and I blessed the Most High, I praised and glorified the One who lives forever,
Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and whose kingdom endures through all generations.(D)
32 All who live on the earth are counted as nothing;
he does as he wills with the powers of heaven
and with those who live on the earth.
There is no one who can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
33 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and my splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles sought me out; I was restored to my kingdom and became much greater than before. 34 Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, all of whose works are right and ways just; and who is able to humble those who walk in pride.
Footnotes
- 4:5 After the name of my god: Belteshazzar, the Babylonian name given to Daniel at the king’s orders (1:7), is Balāṭ-šu-uṣur, “protect his life.” This passage implies a name connected with Bel, a Babylonian god. A spirit of the holy gods: or a holy divine spirit; or spirit of a holy God. See also vv. 6, 15; 5:11–12, 14; 6:4.
- 4:10 A holy watcher: lit., “a watcher and a holy one.” Two terms for angels. The term watcher is found in the Bible only in this chapter of Daniel, but it is common in extra-canonical Jewish literature. In 1 Enoch, the fallen angels are called watchers.
- 4:24 Good deeds: the Aramaic word ṣidqâ has the root meaning of “righteousness,” but in a late text such as this could mean “almsgiving.”
- 4:30–32 There is no historical record that these events happened to Nebuchadnezzar. Scholars have long suspected that the story originally involved Nabonidus, the father of Belshazzar, who was absent from Babylon and lived at Teima in the Arabian desert for a number of years. This suggestion is now strengthened by the Prayer of Nabonidus, found at Qumran, which is closely related to chap. 4. The biblical author’s chief interest was not in the historicity of this popular tale, but in the object lesson it contained for the proud “divine” kings of the Seleucid dynasty.
Daniel 4
La Biblia de las Américas
Sueño y locura de Nabucodonosor
4 [a]Nabucodonosor, rey, a todos los pueblos, naciones y lenguas que habitan en toda la tierra: Que abunde vuestra paz[b](A). 2 Me ha parecido bien declarar las señales y maravillas que ha hecho conmigo el Dios Altísimo(B).
3 ¡Cuán grandes son sus señales,
y cuán poderosas sus maravillas(C)!
Su reino es un reino eterno,
y su dominio de generación en generación(D).
4 [c]Yo, Nabucodonosor, estaba tranquilo en mi casa y próspero(E) en mi palacio. 5 Tuve[d] un sueño que me hizo temblar(F); y estas fantasías, estando en mi cama, y las visiones de mi mente[e] me aterraron(G). 6 Por lo cual di órdenes que trajeran ante mí a todos los sabios de Babilonia para que me dieran a conocer la interpretación del sueño(H). 7 Entonces vinieron los magos[f], los encantadores, los caldeos[g] y los adivinos y les[h] conté el sueño; pero no pudieron darme su interpretación(I). 8 Pero al fin vino ante mí Daniel, cuyo nombre es Beltsasar(J), como el nombre de mi dios, en quien está el espíritu de los dioses santos[i](K), y yo le[j] conté el sueño, diciendo: 9 «Oh Beltsasar, jefe de los magos, ya que sé que en ti está el espíritu de los dioses santos(L) y que ningún misterio(M) te confunde, declárame las visiones del sueño que he visto, y su interpretación(N). 10 Y las visiones de mi mente[k], que vi estando en mi cama(O), fueron así:
Vi un árbol en medio de la tierra,
cuya altura era muy grande(P).
11 El árbol creció y se hizo fuerte,
su copa[l] llegaba hasta el cielo(Q),
y era visible desde los confines de la tierra.
12 Su follaje era hermoso(R) y su fruto abundante,
y en él había alimento para todos.
Debajo de él hallaban sombra(S) las bestias del campo,
las aves del cielo hacían morada en sus ramas(T),
y de él se alimentaban todos los seres vivientes[m].
13 »En las visiones de mi mente[n] que vi estando en mi cama(U), he aquí, un vigilante, un santo(V), descendió del cielo(W). 14 Clamando fuertemente, dijo así:
“Derribad el árbol, cortad sus ramas(X),
arrancad su follaje, desparramad su fruto;
huyan las bestias que están debajo de él(Y),
y las aves de sus ramas.
15 Pero dejad en tierra el tocón[o] con[p] sus raíces(Z),
con ataduras de hierro y bronce
entre la hierba del campo;
que se empape con el rocío del cielo,
y comparta[q] con las bestias la[r] hierba de la tierra.
16 Sea cambiado su corazón de hombre,
y séale dado corazón de bestia,
y pasen sobre él siete tiempos[s](AA).
17 Esta sentencia es por decreto de los vigilantes,
y la orden es por decisión de los santos,
con el fin de que sepan los vivientes
que el Altísimo domina sobre el reino de los hombres,
y se lo da a quien le place(AB),
y pone sobre él al más humilde de los hombres(AC)”.
18 Este es el sueño que yo, el rey Nabucodonosor, he tenido[t]. Y tú, Beltsasar, dime su interpretación, ya que ninguno de los sabios de mi reino ha podido darme a conocer su interpretación(AD); pero tú puedes, porque el espíritu de los dioses santos está en ti(AE)».
19 Entonces Daniel, a quien llamaban Beltsasar, se quedó atónito por un momento, y le turbaron sus pensamientos(AF). El rey habló, y dijo: «Beltsasar, no dejes que el sueño ni su interpretación te turben(AG)». Beltsasar respondió, y dijo: «Señor mío(AH); sea el sueño para los que te odian, y su interpretación para tus adversarios(AI). 20 El árbol que viste, que se hizo fuerte y corpulento, cuya copa[u] llegaba hasta el cielo y que era visible en toda la tierra(AJ), 21 y cuyo follaje era hermoso y su fruto abundante, y en el 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, oh rey, que te has hecho grande y fuerte, y tu grandeza ha crecido y ha llegado hasta el cielo, y tu dominio(AK) hasta los confines de la tierra(AL). 23 Y en cuanto al vigilante, al santo que el rey vio, que descendía del cielo y decía: “Derribad el árbol y destruidlo, pero dejad el tocón con[v] sus raíces en la tierra, con ataduras de hierro y bronce en la hierba del campo, y que se empape con el rocío del cielo, y que comparta[w] con las bestias del campo(AM), hasta que pasen sobre él siete tiempos[x](AN)”, 24 esta es la interpretación, oh rey, y este es el decreto del Altísimo que ha venido sobre mi señor el rey(AO): 25 Serás echado de entre los hombres, y tu morada estará con las bestias del campo, y te darán hierba para comer como al ganado, y serás empapado con el rocío del cielo; y siete tiempos[y] pasarán sobre ti, hasta que reconozcas que el Altísimo domina sobre el reino de los hombres y que lo da a quien le place(AP). 26 Y en cuanto a la orden de dejar el tocón con[z] las raíces del árbol(AQ), tu reino te será afirmado[aa] después que reconozcas que es el Cielo el que gobierna(AR). 27 Por tanto, oh rey, que mi consejo te sea grato(AS): pon fin a[ab] tus pecados haciendo justicia, y a tus iniquidades(AT) mostrando misericordia a los pobres(AU); quizás sea prolongada tu prosperidad(AV)».
28 Todo esto le sucedió(AW) al rey Nabucodonosor. 29 Doce meses después(AX), paseándose por la azotea del palacio real de Babilonia, 30 el rey reflexionó[ac], y dijo: «¿No es esta la gran Babilonia que yo he edificado como residencia[ad] real con la fuerza de mi poder y para gloria de mi majestad(AY)?». 31 Aún estaba la palabra en la boca del rey, cuando una voz vino[ae] del cielo: «Rey Nabucodonosor, a ti se te declara: El reino te ha sido quitado, 32 y serás echado de entre los hombres, y tu morada estará con las bestias del campo; te darán hierba para comer como al ganado, y siete tiempos[af] pasarán sobre ti, hasta que reconozcas que el Altísimo domina sobre el reino de los hombres, y que lo da a quien le place(AZ)». 33 En aquel mismo instante se cumplió la palabra acerca de Nabucodonosor: fue echado de entre los hombres, comía hierba como el ganado y su cuerpo se empapó con el rocío del cielo(BA) hasta que sus cabellos crecieron como las plumas de las águilas y sus uñas como las de las aves.
34 Pero al fin de los días, yo, Nabucodonosor, alcé mis ojos al cielo, y recobré mi razón[ag], y bendije al Altísimo y alabé y glorifiqué al que vive para siempre;
porque su dominio es un dominio eterno(BB),
y su reino permanece de generación en generación(BC).
35 Y todos los habitantes de la tierra son considerados como nada(BD),
mas Él actúa conforme a su voluntad en el ejército del cielo
y entre los habitantes de la tierra(BE);
nadie puede detener[ah] su mano(BF),
ni decirle: «¿Qué has hecho(BG)?».
36 En ese momento recobré mi razón[ai]. Y mi majestad y mi esplendor me fueron devueltos(BH) para gloria(BI) de mi reino, y mis consejeros[aj] y mis nobles vinieron a buscarme; y fui restablecido en mi reino[ak], y mayor grandeza me fue añadida(BJ). 37 Ahora yo, Nabucodonosor, alabo, ensalzo y glorifico al Rey del cielo(BK), porque sus obras son todas verdaderas[al] y justos[am] sus caminos(BL); Él puede humillar(BM) a los que caminan con soberbia.
Footnotes
- Daniel 4:1 Los vers. 1-3 aparecen en el texto arameo como 3:31-33
- Daniel 4:1 O, vuestro bienestar
- Daniel 4:4 En arameo, cap. 4:1
- Daniel 4:5 Lit., Vi
- Daniel 4:5 Lit., cabeza
- Daniel 4:7 O, sacerdotes adivinos, y así en el vers. 9
- Daniel 4:7 O, astrólogos
- Daniel 4:7 Lit., ante ellos
- Daniel 4:8 O posiblemente, el espíritu del Dios santo, y así en el resto del cap.
- Daniel 4:8 Lit., ante él
- Daniel 4:10 Lit., cabeza
- Daniel 4:11 O, altura
- Daniel 4:12 Lit., toda carne
- Daniel 4:13 Lit., cabeza
- Daniel 4:15 O, cepa, y así en los vers. 23 y 26
- Daniel 4:15 Lit., de
- Daniel 4:15 Lit., sea su porción
- Daniel 4:15 O, en la
- Daniel 4:16 I.e., años
- Daniel 4:18 Lit., he visto
- Daniel 4:20 O, altura
- Daniel 4:23 Lit., de
- Daniel 4:23 Lit., sea su porción
- Daniel 4:23 I.e., años
- Daniel 4:25 I.e., años
- Daniel 4:26 Lit., de
- Daniel 4:26 Lit., duradero
- Daniel 4:27 O, redime ahora
- Daniel 4:30 Lit., respondió
- Daniel 4:30 Lit., casa
- Daniel 4:31 Lit., respondió
- Daniel 4:32 I.e., años
- Daniel 4:34 Lit., conocimiento
- Daniel 4:35 Lit., golpear
- Daniel 4:36 Lit., conocimiento
- Daniel 4:36 O, altos oficiales
- Daniel 4:36 O, soberanía
- Daniel 4:37 Lit., verdad
- Daniel 4:37 Lit., justicia
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.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
