Daniel 4
English Standard Version
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
4 [a] King Nebuchadnezzar to all (A)peoples, nations, and languages, (B)that dwell in all the earth: (C)Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the (D)signs and wonders that the (E)Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are (F)his signs,
how mighty his (G)wonders!
(H)His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
(I)and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream
4 [b] I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and (J)the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 So (K)I made a decree that (L)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 (M)the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but (N)they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named (O)Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is (P)the spirit of the holy gods[c]—and I told him the dream, saying, 9 “O Belteshazzar, (Q)chief of the magicians, because I know that (R)the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no (S)mystery is too difficult for you, tell me (T)the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. 10 (U)The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and (V)behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 (W)The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 (X)Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. (Y)The beasts of the field found shade under it, and (Z)the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
13 “I saw in (AA)the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, (AB)a watcher, (AC)a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He (AD)proclaimed aloud and said thus: (AE)‘Chop down the tree and (AF)lop off its branches, (AG)strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. (AH)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 portion 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; (AI)and let seven periods of time (AJ)pass over him. 17 The sentence is by the decree of (AK)the watchers, the decision by the word of (AL)the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High (AM)rules the kingdom of men (AN)and gives it to whom he will and (AO)sets over it the lowliest of men.’ 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O (AP)Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because (AQ)all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for (AR)the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel Interprets the Second Dream
19 Then Daniel, whose name was (AS)Belteshazzar, was (AT)dismayed for a while, and (AU)his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, (AV)may the dream be for those who hate you (AW)and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 (AX)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 (AY)whose leaves were beautiful 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 heavens lived— 22 (AZ)it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. (BA)Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, (BB)and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And because the king saw (BC)a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, (BD)‘Chop 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 portion be with the beasts of the field, till (BE)seven periods of time 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 (BF)that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made (BG)to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and (BH)seven periods of time shall pass over you, till (BI)you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded (BJ)to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed 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 (BK)practicing righteousness, (BL)and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, (BM)that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation
28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, (BN)“Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by (BO)my mighty power as a royal residence and for (BP)the glory of my majesty?” 31 (BQ)While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 (BR)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 periods of time shall pass over you, (BS)until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. (BT)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 Restored
34 (BU)At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and (BV)my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored (BW)him who lives forever,
(BX)for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and (BY)his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 (BZ)all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and (CA)he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
(CB)and none can stay his hand
or (CC)say to him, “What have you done?”
36 At the same time (CD)my reason returned to me, and for (CE)the glory of my kingdom, (CF)my majesty and splendor returned to me. (CG)My counselors and (CH)my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was (CI)added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, (CJ)praise and extol and honor the (CK)King of heaven, (CL)for all his works are right and his ways are just; and (CM)those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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; also verses 9, 18
Daniel 4
International Standard Version
Nebuchadnezzar’s Testimonial
from Nebuchadnezzar
the King
To the people of all nations and languages who live on earth.
Peace and prosperity to you!
2 It gives me great pleasure to tell about the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are his signs!
How powerful are his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and his dominion lasts from generation to generation.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
4 [c]I, Nebuchadnezzar, was resting in my home and prospering in my palace. 5 I had a dream that made me afraid. The thoughts that went through my mind while in bed and the visions in my head terrified me. 6 So I gave an order to bring in all of the advisors[d] of Babylon so they would tell me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Then the diviners, enchanters,[e] Chaldeans, and astrologers[f] came in, and I told them the dream. But they could not reveal its interpretation to me. 8 Eventually, Daniel appeared before me. (He is called Belteshazzar, in accordance with the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is within him.) I told him my dream:
9 “Belteshazzar, chief of the diviners, since I know that the spirit of the holy gods is within you, and no mystery too difficult for you, explain to me the vision of my dream that I saw, along with its interpretation. 10 This is what I saw in the visions of my head while I was in bed: I was looking and—listen carefully!—I saw a tree in the middle of the earth, the height of which was very great. 11 The tree grew large, became strong, and its top reached the sky. It could be seen to the ends of the earth. 12 Its foliage was beautiful, its fruit bountiful, and its food sufficient for everyone. The animals of the field found shade under it, the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and every creature was fed from it.
13 “Then I saw in the visions of my head while I was in bed—and take careful notice!—I saw a holy observer descend from heaven. 14 He called out aloud:
‘Cut down the tree and cut off its branches. Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit. Let the animals get out from under it, and let the birds leave[g] its branches. 15 Nevertheless, leave the stump and its roots in the ground, but bind it with iron and bronze in the field grass. Let him be drenched with dew from the sky, and let him graze with the animals in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of an animal until seven seasons of time pass by for him. 17 This order is announced by the observers, and the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over human kingdoms and grants them to whomever he desires, and he places the least important of men over them.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Belteshazzar, tell me its meaning, since none of the advisors[h] in my kingdom can tell me its interpretation. But you are able to do so[i] because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel’s Interpretation
19 Then Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was greatly troubled for a while and was terrified by his thoughts. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or its meaning terrify you.”
Belteshazzar responded, “Your majesty, if only[j] the dream were about your enemies and its meaning about those who oppose you! 20 The tree that you saw, which grew large and strong until its top reached the sky and became visible to the whole earth 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit—enough food for everyone—and under which wild animals of the field found shelter and the birds of the air had nests in its branches— 22 it’s you, your majesty! You’ve become great and strong, your greatness has grown to the heavens, and your dominion reaches to the distant parts of the earth.
23 “Your majesty saw a holy observer descending from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump in the ground, along with its roots, bound with iron and bronze in the field grass. Let him be soaked with the dew of the sky and live with the wild animals of the field until seven seasons pass over him.’
24 “This is the meaning, your majesty, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against his majesty, the king: 25 You’ll be driven from people, and you’ll live among wild animals of the field. You’ll eat grass like cattle and be soaked with the dew of the sky while seven years pass you by[k]—until you realize that the Most High is sovereign over human kingdoms and grants them to whomever he desires. 26 Just as it was ordered to leave the stump of the tree in the ground[l] along with its roots, so your kingdom will be restored to you when you realize that Heaven rules over everything.[m] 27 Therefore, your majesty, may my advice be acceptable to you: Stop your sinning, do what’s right, and put a stop to your wickedness by showing kindness to the oppressed. Perhaps your tranquility will continue.”
The Dream Comes True
28 All of this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 About a year later,[n] as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he[o] commented to himself,[p] “Isn’t Babylon great? I’ve built a royal palace in it by my own might and power, for the sake[q] of my majesty.”
31 As these words were being spoken by the king, a voice came out of heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, this is declared to you:
‘The kingdom has been taken[r] from you! 32 You’re to be driven away from people. You’re to live with the wild animals of the field. You are to be made to eat grass like cattle, and seven years will pass you by[s] until you realize that the Most High is sovereign over human kingdoms and grants them to whomever he desires.’”
33 The decree was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar immediately. He was driven away from people to eat grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
The King’s Sanity Returns
34 “When that period of time was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven and my sanity returned to me. I blessed the Most High, praising and honoring the one who lives forever:
For his sovereignty is eternal,
and his kingdom continues from generation to generation.
35 All who live on the earth
are nothing compared to him.
He does what he wishes
with the heavenly armies
and with those who live on earth.
No one can hold back his power
or say to him, ‘What did you do?’
36 At that moment I recovered my sanity, and my honor and majesty returned to me, for the sake[t] of my kingdom. My advisors and officials sought me out, my throne was restored, and even more greatness than I had before was added to me. 37 In conclusion, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and give glory to the King of heaven:
For everything he does is true,
his ways are just,
and he is able to humble those who walk in pride.”
Footnotes
- Daniel 4:1 This v. is 3:31 in MT, and so through v. 3.
- Daniel 4:1 The Aram. lacks An Official Statement
- Daniel 4:4 This v. is 4:1 in MT, and so throughout the chapter.
- Daniel 4:6 Lit. the wise men
- Daniel 4:7 Or occult practitioners
- Daniel 4:7 Or those who gaze at entrails
- Daniel 4:14 The Aram. lacks leave
- Daniel 4:18 Lit. the wise men
- Daniel 4:18 The Aram. lacks to do so
- Daniel 4:19 The Aram. lacks if only
- Daniel 4:25 Lit. seven seasons pass over you
- Daniel 4:26 The Aram. lacks in the ground
- Daniel 4:26 The Aram. lacks everything
- Daniel 4:29 Lit. At the end of 12 months
- Daniel 4:30 Lit. the king
- Daniel 4:30 Lit. commented and said
- Daniel 4:30 Lit. glory
- Daniel 4:31 Or has departed
- Daniel 4:32 Lit. seven seasons will pass over you
- Daniel 4:36 Lit. glory
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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