 1 King Nebuchadnezzar said to all people, nations, and languages that live in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. 2 It seemed good before me to declare the signs and wonders that the most high God has done with me. 3 How great are His signs. How mighty are His wonders. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and His rule is from generation to generation. 4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house and flourishing in my palace. 5 Then I saw a dream and it terrified me and the thoughts in my bed and the visions in my head troubled me. 6 So I made a decree to bring all the wise men of Babylon before me so that they might make known to me the meaning of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers came and I told the dream to them. But they could not make the interpretation known to me. 8 But at last Daniel came before me. His name was Belteshazzar according to the name of my god and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. I told the dream to him, saying, 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation. 10 As to the visions of my head on my bed: I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and was strong and its height reached to the heavens. The sight of it reached to the end of all the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit plentiful and in it was food for all. The animals of the field sought shade under it and the birds of the heavens lived in its boughs. All flesh was fed by it. 13 I saw in the visions of my head on my bed. Behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from Heaven. 14 He cried aloud and said this, Cut down the tree and cut off its branches. Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals get away from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven and let its portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his heart be changed from man's and let the heart of an animal be given to him. 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, so that the living may know that the most high rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He will and sets up over it the lowest of men. 18 I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen this dream. Now you, O Belteshazzar, declare its meaning. Because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make the meaning known to me. But you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you. 19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stunned for one hour. His thoughts troubled him. The king spoke and said, Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning trouble you. Belteshazzar said, my lord, the dream is to those who hate you, and its meaning to your foes. 20 The tree that you saw, which became great and strong, whose height reached to the heaven, and the sight of it to all the earth, 21 whose leaves were fair and its fruit plentiful and in it was food for all, under which the animals of the field lived and on whose branches the birds of the heavens had their home, 22 this is you, O king. For you have become great and strong. Your greatness has grown and reached to the heaven, and your rule to the end of the earth. 23 As the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from Heaven, and saying, Cut the tree down and destroy it. Yet leave the stump of the roots of it in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field. And let it be wet with the dew of heaven and let his portion be with the animals of the field until seven times pass over him. 24 This is the meaning, O king. This is the decree of the most high that has come on my lord the king. 25 They will drive you from men and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. They will make you eat grass like oxen. They will wet you with the dew of Heaven. Seven times will pass over you until you know that the most high rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He will. 26 Since they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots, your kingdom will be sure to you after you have known that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be pleasing to you. Break off your sins by righteousness and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, so that there will be duration to your prosperity. 28 All this came on King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30 The king spoke and said, Is this not great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty? 31 While that word was in the king's mouth, a voice fell from Heaven saying, O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken. The kingdom has departed from you. 32 They will drive you from men and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. They will make you eat grass like oxen and seven times will pass over you until you know that the most high rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He will. 33 The same hour the thing was fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar. And he was driven from men, and ate grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the heavens, until his hair had grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. 34 At the end of days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes to Heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most high, and I praised and honored Him who lives forever, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His rule is from generation to generation. 35 All the people of the earth are counted as nothing. And He does according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the people of the earth. And none can strike His hand, or say to Him, What are you doing? 36 At that time, my reason returned to me. And the glory of my kingdom, my honor and brightness returned to me. And my advisers and my lords came for me, and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth and His ways judgment. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble.
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