Daniel 4
Revised Standard Version
Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
4 [a] King Nebuchadnez′zar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has wrought toward me.
3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion is from generation to generation.
4 [b] I, Nebuchadnez′zar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I had a dream which made me afraid; as I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 Therefore I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chalde′ans, and the astrologers came in; and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshaz′zar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods[c]—and I told him the dream, saying, 9 “O Belteshaz′zar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods[d] is in you and that no mystery is difficult for you, here is[e] the dream which I saw; tell me its interpretation. 10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were fair and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the air dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He cried aloud and said thus, ‘Hew down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit; let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven; let his lot be with the beasts in the grass of the earth; 16 let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven times pass over him. 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will, and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnez′zar, saw. And you, O Belteshaz′zar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods[f] is in you.”
Daniel Interprets the Second Dream
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshaz′zar, was dismayed for a moment, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, “Belteshaz′zar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshaz′zar answered, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth; 21 whose leaves were fair and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all; under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the air dwelt— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And whereas the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Hew down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let him be wet with the dew of heaven; and let his lot be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’; 24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be sure for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you; break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your tranquillity.”
Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation
28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnez′zar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnez′zar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; and you shall be made to eat grass like an ox; and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnez′zar. He was driven from among men, and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnez′zar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives for ever;
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing;
and he does according to his will in the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What doest thou?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnez′zar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.
Footnotes
- Daniel 4:1 Ch 3.31 in Aramaic
- Daniel 4:4 Ch 4.1 in Aramaic
- Daniel 4:8 Or Spirit of the holy God
- Daniel 4:9 Or Spirit of the holy God
- Daniel 4:9 Cn: Aramaic visions of
- Daniel 4:18 Or Spirit of the holy God
Daniel 4
nuBibeln (Swedish Contemporary Bible)
4 Jag, Nebukadnessar, levde i lugn och ro i mitt palats och hade framgång. 2 Då fick jag en dröm som skrämde mig. Jag blev förfärad av drömbilder på min bädd och av syner jag såg. 3 Jag gav en befallning att alla visa män i Babylon skulle hämtas till mig för att tyda drömmen. 4 När magikerna, besvärjarna, astrologerna och teckentydarna kom och jag berättade drömmen för dem, kunde de inte säga vad den betydde. 5 Till slut kom Daniel till mig, han som kallas Belteshassar efter min gud. Han har heliga gudars ande i sig. Jag berättade drömmen även för honom.
6 ”Belteshassar, du den främste bland mina magiker, jag vet att heliga gudars ande bor i dig och att ingen hemlighet är för svår för dig. Det här såg jag i min dröm, tala om för mig vad det betyder: 7 Jag låg på min bädd och såg ett träd mitt på jorden. Det var mycket högt. 8 Trädet växte sig så stort och högt att det nådde upp till himlen, och det syntes till världens ände. 9 Dess lövverk var vackert, och det gav mycket frukt, tillräckligt för alla att äta. Markens djur fann skugga under det, fåglar byggde bo på dess grenar, och alla varelser fick sin föda av det.
10 Då fick jag se, där jag låg på min bädd, en helig väktare komma ner från himlen. 11 Han ropade högt: ’Hugg ner trädet! Skär av grenarna, slit av löven och sprid ut frukten, så att djuren som håller till under det flyr, liksom fåglarna från dess grenar. 12 Men lämna kvar stubben med rötterna i jorden, i markens gräs, fastbunden med en kedja av järn och koppar.
Han ska fuktas av himlens dagg och leva med djuren bland vegetationen på jorden. 13 Han ska förvandlas och få ett djurs sinne. Så ska sju år[a] gå.
14 Detta har väktarna bestämt, och denna dom har de heliga tillkännagett. För de som lever ska inse att den Högste råder över människors riken och kan ge dem till vem han vill och sätta den lägsta till härskare över dem.’
15 Så var den dröm, som jag, kung Nebukadnessar, hade. Tala nu om för mig, Belteshassar, vad den betyder! Ingen av de visa i mitt rike kan tyda den åt mig, men du kan, för heliga gudars ande är i dig.”
Daniel tyder drömmen
16 Daniel, som kallades Belteshassar, blev för en stund förvirrad och förskräckt av sina tankar. Men kungen sa till honom: ”Belteshassar, låt inte drömmen och dess betydelse skrämma dig!” Belteshassar svarade: ”Min herre, om drömmen ändå kunde gälla dina fiender, och dess innebörd dina motståndare! 17 Trädet som du såg växa så stort och högt, med en topp som nådde upp till himlen, synligt över hela världen, 18 och som hade ett vackert lövverk och som gav mycket frukt, tillräckligt för alla att äta, under vilket markens djur levde och på vars grenar fåglar bodde – 19 det är du själv, o kung. Du har vuxit dig så stor och stark att din makt når ända upp till himlen, och du regerar ända ut till världens ände.
20 Kungen såg en helig väktare komma ner från himlen och säga: ’Hugg ner trädet och förstör det, men lämna stubben med rötterna kvar i jorden, i markens gräs, fastbunden med en kedja av järn och koppar. Han ska fuktas av himlens dagg och leva med markens djur, tills sju år har gått.’ 21 Det här är tydningen, o kung, och detta är vad den Högste har beslutat att låta drabba dig, min herre och kung: 22 Du kommer att drivas bort från mänskliga boningar och få bo bland markens djur, äta gräs som oxar och fuktas av himlens dagg. Så ska det vara under sju år, tills du har insett att den Högste regerar över människors riken och ger dem åt vem han vill. 23 Men befallningen att lämna kvar stubben med rötterna betyder att du ska få tillbaka ditt rike igen, när du har insett att det är himlen som regerar. 24 Lyd därför mitt råd, o kung, gör dig av med din synd genom att göra det som är rättfärdigt och med din skuld genom att vara barmhärtig mot de fattiga! Då kan det hända att din framgång får bestå.”
Drömmen går i uppfyllelse
25 Allt detta drabbade kung Nebukadnessar. 26 Tolv månader senare gick kungen omkring på taket till sitt palats i Babylon 27 och sa för sig själv: ”Är inte detta det stora Babylon, som jag själv har byggt till ett kungligt residens, med min mäktiga kraft, till mitt majestäts ära!”
28 Medan orden fortfarande var på hans läppar, kom en röst från himlen: ”Kung Nebukadnessar, detta är bestämt för dig: Ditt rike har tagits ifrån dig. 29 Du ska drivas bort ur människors närhet och få bo bland markens djur och äta gräs som oxarna. Så ska sju år gå, tills du inser att den Högste regerar över människors riken och ger dem åt vem han vill.”
30 I samma stund gick orden i uppfyllelse. Nebukadnessar blev bortförd och fick äta gräs som oxarna, och hans kropp fuktades av himlens dagg. Hans hår växte och blev långt som en örns fjädrar och hans naglar som fågelklor.
31 Men när den tiden hade gått, lyfte jag, Nebukadnessar, min blick mot himlen. Mitt förstånd återvände, och jag prisade den Högste och lovade och ärade honom som lever i evighet.
Hans välde är ett evigt välde,
hans rike varar från generation till generation.
32 Alla jordens invånare
är att betrakta som ingenting.
Han gör vad han vill
med både himlens krafter och jordens folk.
Ingen kan hindra honom eller säga:
”Vad har du gjort?”
33 Samtidigt som jag fick tillbaka mitt förstånd, fick jag också tillbaka min härlighet och glans, till ära för mitt rike. Mina rådgivare och stormän sökte upp mig, jag fick tillbaka min tron och blev till och med mäktigare än tidigare. 34 Jag, Nebukadnessar, prisar nu och upphöjer och ärar himlens kung, för allt som han gör är sant och rätt. Han har makt att krossa de högmodiga.
Footnotes
- 4:13 Mer ordagrant tider (tidsperioder).
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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Swedish Contemporary Bible (nuBibeln) Copyright © 2015 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.