Daniel 4 · דניאל

I Nevukhadneżżar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace:

I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Bavel before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

Then came in the magicians, the conjurers, the Kasdians and the astrologers, and I told the dream before them; but they could not make known to me its interpretation.

But at the last Daniyyel came in before me, whose name was Belteshażżar, 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,

O Belteshażżar chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret is too difficult for thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its meaning.

Thus were the visions of my head as I lay on my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.

The tree grew, and was strong, and its top reached to the sky, and it was visible to the end of all the earth:

its leaves were fair, and its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shade under it, and the birds of the sky dwelt in its boughs, and all flesh was fed from it.

I saw in the visions of my head as I lay upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven;

he cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches:

but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, in a band of iron and brass, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given to him; and let seven seasons pass over him.

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones: to the intent 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 basest of men.

This dream I, king Nevukhadneżżar, have seen. Now thou, O Belteshażżar, declare its interpretation, seeing that all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

Then Daniyyel, whose name was Belteshażżar, was appalled for one hour, and his thoughts terrified him. The king spoke, and said, Belteshażżar, let not the dream, or its interpretation terrify thee. Belteshażżar answered and said, My lord, the dream be for those who hate thee, and its interpretation for thy enemies.

The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose top reached to the sky, and which was visible to all the earth;

the leaves of which were fair, and the fruit of which abundant, and on it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon the branches of which the birds of the sky had their habitation:

it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reaches to heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of its roots in the earth, in a band of iron and brass, amid 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 seven seasons pass over him;

this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

That thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass like oxen, and thou shalt be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven seasons shall pass over thee, in order that thou mayest know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he pleases.

And whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall be sure for thee, after thou shalt come to know that the heavens do rule.

Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, and break off thy sins by charity, and thy iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; that there may be an extension of thy tranquillity.

All this came upon the king Nevukhadneżżar.

At the end of twelve months he was walking in the palace of the kingdom of Bavel.

The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Bavel, that I have built by the might of my power as a royal residence, and for the honour of my majesty?

While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nevukhadneżżar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

And thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: thou shalt be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven seasons shall pass over thee, in order that thou mayest know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.

The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nevukhadneżżar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

And at the end of the days I Nevukhadneżżar lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honoured him who lives for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed 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?

At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendour returned to me; and my counsellors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.

Now I Nevukhadneżżar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways justice: and he is able to abase those who walk in pride.