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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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 4:1 Daniel 4:1–4:37 in the English Bible is 3:31–4:34 in the Hebrew Bible
  2. Daniel 4:3 Literally “a kingdom of eternity”
  3. Daniel 4:6 Literally “put/placed”
  4. Daniel 4:7 Or “soothsayer-priests”
  5. Daniel 4:7 Or “enchanters”
  6. Daniel 4:7 Literally “Chaldeans”
  7. Daniel 4:7 Or “interpretation”
  8. Daniel 4:8 Literally “until another”
  9. Daniel 4:8 Literally “who name his”
  10. Daniel 4:8 Literally “like”
  11. Daniel 4:8 Literally “and who the spirit of gods holy in him”
  12. Daniel 4:8 Literally “and the dream before him I told”
  13. Daniel 4:9 Or “soothsayer-priests”
  14. Daniel 4:9 Or “a spirit”
  15. Daniel 4:9 Literally “every mystery is not difficult”
  16. Daniel 4:9 Or “interpretation”
  17. Daniel 4:10 Literally “seeing”
  18. Daniel 4:11 Or “the sky”
  19. Daniel 4:11 Literally “and its appearance was to the end of the whole earth”
  20. Daniel 4:12 Aramaic “animal”
  21. Daniel 4:12 Or “the sky”
  22. Daniel 4:13 Or “angelic being”
  23. Daniel 4:14 Literally “in strength”
  24. Daniel 4:15 Literally “and with”
  25. Daniel 4:15 Or “with”
  26. Daniel 4:15 Or “him,” that is, the king
  27. Daniel 4:15 Aramaic “animal”
  28. Daniel 4:16 Or “the human”
  29. Daniel 4:17 Literally “until matter that”
  30. Daniel 4:17 Literally “to whom that”
  31. Daniel 4:18 Or “And”
  32. Daniel 4:18 Literally “all of because that”
  33. Daniel 4:19 Literally “for one hour”
  34. Daniel 4:20 Or “the sky”
  35. Daniel 4:20 Literally “its appearance to the all the earth”
  36. Daniel 4:21 Aramaic “animal”
  37. Daniel 4:21 Or “the sky”
  38. Daniel 4:22 Or “the sky”
  39. Daniel 4:23 Or “the sky”
  40. Daniel 4:23 Literally “until that seven times they pass over him”
  41. Daniel 4:25 Literally “from the humankind”
  42. Daniel 4:25 Literally “your dwelling will be”
  43. Daniel 4:25 Aramaic “animal”
  44. Daniel 4:25 Literally “with respect to you”
  45. Daniel 4:25 Literally “that he wills”
  46. Daniel 4:26 Literally “And for”
  47. Daniel 4:26 Literally “from that”
  48. Daniel 4:27 Or “replace”
  49. Daniel 4:27 Literally “if will be prolongation for your prosperity”
  50. Daniel 4:28 Literally “It came upon”
  51. Daniel 4:29 Literally “the place of the kingdom”
  52. Daniel 4:32 Literally “the humankind”
  53. Daniel 4:32 Aramaic “animal”
  54. Daniel 4:33 Literally “In that hour”
  55. Daniel 4:33 Literally “over”
  56. Daniel 4:33 Literally “the humankind”
  57. Daniel 4:34 Literally “the day”
  58. Daniel 4:34 Literally “the one living forever”
  59. Daniel 4:35 Literally “as”
  60. Daniel 4:35 Literally “or asks to him”
  61. Daniel 4:36 Literally “In it the time”
  62. Daniel 4:36 Or “nobles”
  63. Daniel 4:37 Or “true”
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Daniel 4
Common English Bible

Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony

4 [a] King Nebuchadnezzar’s message to all the peoples, nations, and languages inhabiting the entire earth: “I wish you much peace. 2 I’m delighted to share the signs and miracles that the Most High God has worked in my life.

3 His signs are superb!
    His miracles so powerful!
His kingdom is everlasting.
    His rule is for all time.

4 [b] “While I, Nebuchadnezzar, was safe in my house, content in my palace, 5 I had a terrifying dream. My thoughts while I was lying in bed and the vision in my mind overwhelmed me. 6 I ordered all Babylon’s sages to come before me, so they might tell me the dream’s meaning. 7 So the dream interpreters, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners came. I told them the dream, but they couldn’t interpret it for me. 8 Daniel, who is called Belteshazzar after the name of my god, was the last to come before me. In him is the breath[c] of the holy gods! I told Daniel the dream:

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

9 “Belteshazzar, chief of the dream interpreters, I know the breath of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Tell me the meaning of the visions I had in my dream. 10 In my mind, as I lay in bed, I saw a vision:

At the center of the earth was a towering tree.
11     The tree grew in size and strength;
        it was as high as the sky;
        it could be seen from every corner of the earth.
12         Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant;
        it had enough food for everyone.
    Wild animals took shade under it;
        birds nested in its branches.
    All living things lived off that tree.

13 “In my mind, as I lay in bed, I saw another vision: A holy watcher came down from heaven. 14 He proclaimed loudly:

‘Cut down the tree and shear off its branches!
    Strip its leaves and scatter its fruit!
The creatures should flee from its shelter;
    the birds should take flight from its branches.
15 But leave its deepest root in the earth,
    bound with iron and bronze in the field grass.
Dew from heaven is to wash it,
    and it must live with the animals in the earth’s vegetation.
16 Its[d] human mind is to be changed:
    it will be given the mind of an animal.
    Seven periods of time will pass over it.
17 This sentence is by the watchers’ decree;
    this decision is the holy ones’ word
        so that all who live might know
        that the Most High dominates human kingship.
The Most High gives kingship to anyone he wants
    and sets over it the lowest of people.’

18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. So now Belteshazzar, tell me the meaning because all the sages in my kingdom were unable to interpret it for me. But you are able to do it because the breath of the holy gods is in you.”

Daniel interprets the visions

19 Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was shocked for a bit. What he thought about frightened him.

The king declared, “Don’t let the dream and its meaning scare you, Belteshazzar.”

Then Belteshazzar answered, “Sir, I wish the dream to be for those who hate you and its meaning to be for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw that grew in size and strength, that was as high as the sky, that could be seen from every corner of the earth, 21 with its beautiful leaves and its abundant fruit, and that had enough food for everyone, with wild animals living under it and birds nesting in its branches— 22 Your Majesty, that tree is you! You have grown large and become powerful. Your greatness is as high as the sky; your rule extends to the edge of the earth!

23 “Your Majesty, the holy watcher you saw coming down from heaven, who said, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its deepest root in the earth, bound with iron and bronze in the field grass, dew from heaven is to wash it, and it must live with the wild animals until seven periods of time pass over it’— 24 Your Majesty, this is the dream’s meaning: It is the sentence of the Most High, delivered to my master the king. 25 You will be driven away from other humans and will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle and will be washed by dew from heaven. Seven periods of time will pass over you, until you acknowledge that the Most High dominates human kingship, giving it to anyone he wants. 26 And when he said to leave the deepest root of the tree—that means your kingship will again be yours, once you acknowledge that heaven rules all. 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, please accept my advice: remove your sins by doing what is right; remove your wrongdoing by showing mercy to the poor. Then your safety will be long lasting.”

Visions come true

28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon. 30 The king declared, “Isn’t this Babylon, the magnificent city that I built as the royal house by my own mighty strength and for my own majestic glory?”

31 These words hadn’t even left the king’s mouth when a voice came from heaven: “You, King Nebuchadnezzar, are now informed: Kingship is taken away from you. 32 You will be driven away from other humans and will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High dominates human kingship, giving it to anyone he wants.”

33 Nebuchadnezzar’s sentence was immediately carried out. He was driven away from other humans and ate grass like cattle. Dew from heaven washed his body until he grew hair like eagles’ feathers and claws like a bird.

Nebuchadnezzar is restored

34 “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven. My reason returned to me, and I praised the Most High. I worshipped and glorified the one who lives forever because his rule is everlasting; his kingdom is for all time. 35 All of earth’s inhabitants are nothing in comparison. The Most High does whatever he wants with heaven’s forces and with earth’s inhabitants. No one can contain his power or say to him, ‘What do you think you are doing?’ 36 So at that moment my reason returned to me. My honor and splendor came back to me for the glory of my kingdom. My associates and my princes wanted to be with me again. Not only was I reinstated over my kingdom, I received more power than ever before.

37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, worship, magnify, and glorify the king of heaven. All his works are truth, all his paths are justice, and he is able to humble all who walk in pride.”

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 4:1 3:31 in Aram
  2. Daniel 4:4 4:1 in Aram
  3. Daniel 4:8 Or spirit; also in 4:9, 18
  4. Daniel 4:16 Throughout 4:15-16 and later in this chap, it and its could also be translated he and his.
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