Daniel 4
Evangelical Heritage Version
Nebuchadnezzar’s Letter
4 From King Nebuchadnezzar:[a]
To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell on the entire earth:
May your peace and prosperity increase.
2 It seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God did for me.
3 How great are his signs!
How mighty are his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom,
and his dominion extends from generation to generation.
Nebuchadnezzar Seeks the Meaning of His Dream
4 When I, Nebuchadnezzar, was carefree in my house and prospering in my palace, 5 I saw a dream that frightened me. The images I saw while I was on my bed and the visions in my head alarmed me. 6 So I issued a decree to bring before me all of the wise men of Babylon so that they could give the interpretation of the dream and make it known to me. 7 Then the magicians, the spell casters, the astrologers, and the diviners came, and I told them the dream. However, they could not make its meaning known to me. 8 Afterward, Daniel came before me (whose name is Belteshazzar, like the name of my god, and a spirit of the holy gods dwells in him), and I told him the dream.
9 Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that a spirit of the holy gods dwells in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you, take a look at the dream I saw and interpret it for me. 10 I was seeing visions in my head while I was on my bed:
There was a tree standing in the middle of the earth,[b] and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong. Its height reached to heaven, and it was visible to the ends of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit was plentiful. On it there was enough food for all. Under the tree the wild animals had shade, and the birds of the air lived in its branches. All living creatures fed themselves from it.
13 I was on my bed, watching the visions in my head, and I saw a watcher,[c] who was a holy one, come down from heaven. 14 He called out loudly, and this is what he said:
Chop down the tree and cut off its branches. Strip its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it, and the birds from its branches. 15 However, leave the stump with its root in the ground, with an iron and bronze band around it. Leave it with the grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew from the sky. Let its place be with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let its mind be changed from that of a human, let the mind of an animal be given to it, and let seven times pass over it.
17 The proclamation is a decree of the watchers, and the matter is a command of the holy ones, so that all the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdoms of men. He gives them to whomever he wishes, and he appoints the lowliest men over them.
18 This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, you, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, because none of the wise men of my kingdom are able to make the meaning known to me. But you are able, because a spirit of the holy gods is in you.
Daniel Explains Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was horrified for a moment, and his thoughts troubled him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream and its meaning trouble you.”
Belteshazzar answered, “My Lord, if only the dream were about your enemies and its meaning about your foes!”
20 The tree which you saw grew and became strong. Its height reached to heaven, and it was visible to the whole earth. 21 Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit was abundant. On it there was food for all. The wild animals lived under it, and the birds of the air lived in its branches.
22 You are the tree, Your Majesty. For you have grown, and you have become great. Your greatness has increased and reached to heaven. Your dominion reaches to the ends of the earth. 23 And you, Your Majesty, saw a watcher, who was a holy one, coming down from heaven, and he said, “Chop down the tree and destroy it. However, leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with an iron and bronze band around it. Let it be with the grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew from the sky. Its place will be with the wild animals, until seven times pass over it.”
24 This is the interpretation, Your Majesty:
It is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord, the king. 25 You will be driven away from humans, and your dwelling will be with the wild animals. You will have to eat plants as bulls do, and you will be wet with the dew from the sky. Seven times will pass over you until you know that the Most High rules the kingdoms of men, and he gives them to whomever he wishes. 26 Because they said to leave the stump with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will remain yours when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
27 Therefore, Your Majesty, let my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins with righteousness and from your guilty deeds by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be extended.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Is Fulfilled
28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on top of the palace of his kingdom in Babylon. 30 The king said, “Isn’t this the great Babylon that I built for a royal residence by my mighty power and my majestic glory?”
31 While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice came down from heaven. It said, “It is announced to you, King Nebuchadnezzar: The kingdom has been taken away from you. 32 You will be driven away from humans, and your dwelling will be with the wild animals. Grass will be fed to you as grass is fed to bulls, and seven times will pass over you until you know that the Most High rules the kingdoms of men, and he gives them to whomever he wishes.”
33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven away from humans. So he ate grass as bulls do, and his body was wet with the dew from the sky until his hair grew long like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
34 At the end of the set time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me. So I blessed the Most High, and I praised and glorified the one who lives forever, because his dominion is an eternal dominion, and his kingdom lasts forever and ever. 35 All of the inhabitants of the earth are considered to be nothing, and he does as he wishes with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. So there is no one who can hold back the hand of the Most High and say to him, “What have you done?” 36 At that time my reason[d] returned to me, and my splendor and glory returned to me for the honor of my kingdom. So my advisors and nobles looked for me. I was reinstated over my kingdom, and I became even more majestic than I was before. 37 Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of Heaven, because all his works are true, and his ways are just. All those who walk in arrogance he is able to humble.
Notas al pie
- Daniel 4:1 English 4:1-3 corresponds to 3:31-33 in Hebrew. English 4:4-18 corresponds to 4:1-15 in Hebrew.
- Daniel 4:10 Or land
- Daniel 4:13 That is, an angel
- Daniel 4:36 Or sanity
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.”
Read full chapterNotas al pie
- 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”
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.
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