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1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied to you.
2 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the high God has performed towards me.
3 How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to generation.
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace:
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6 Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise [men] of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in: and I told the dream to them; but they did not make known to me the interpretation of it.
8 But in the end Daniel came in before me, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods: and to him I told the dream, [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 the interpretation of it.
10 These [were] the visions of my head in my bed; I saw a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height of it [was] great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height of it reached into the heavens, and the sight of it to the ends of all the earth:
12 Its leaves [were] beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in it [was] food for all: the beasts of the field had shade under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in its boughs, and all flesh was fed from it.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher, a holy one came down from heaven;
14 He cried aloud, and said this, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his lot [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given to him; and let seven time periods pass over him.
17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: in order that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he wishes, and sets up over it the lowest of men.
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now you, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation of it, since as all the wise [men] of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation: but you [are] able; for the spirit of the holy gods [is] in you.
19 Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was stunned for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, Belteshazzar, do not let the dream, or the interpretation of it, trouble you. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, may the dream [be] to those that hate you, and the interpretation of it to your enemies.
20 The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached into the heavens, and the sight of it to all the earth;
21 Whose leaves [were] beautiful, and the fruit abundant, and in it [was] food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22 It [is] you, O king, that has grown and become strong: for your greatness has grown, and reaches into the heavens, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.
23 And where the king saw a watcher, a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots of it in the earth, with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts of the field, till seven time periods pass over him;
24 This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
25 That they will drive you from men, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field, and they will make you to eat grass like oxen, and they will wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven time periods will pass over you, till you know that the most High rules in the kingdoms of men, and gives it to whoever he wishes.
26 And where they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; your kingdom will be guaranteed to you, after you will have known that the heavens rule.
27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; in case it prolongs your prosperity.
28 All this came upon the 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 the word [was] in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, [saying], O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken; The kingdom has departed from you.
32 And they will drive you from men, and your dwelling place [will be] with the beasts of the field: they will make you to eat grass like oxen, and seven time periods will pass over you, until you know that the most High rules in the kingdoms of men, and gives it to whoever he wishes.
33 At that time the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and ate grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs had grown like an eagles' [feathers], and his nails like birds' [claws].
34 And at the end of the time period 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 that lives for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stop his hand, or say to him, What are you doing?
36 At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and brightness returned to me; and my counselors and my lords sought me out; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, whose works [are] all truth, and his ways justice: and those that walk in pride he is able to humble.