Darby Bible

Daniel 4

1NebuchadnezzarH5020theking unto allthepeoples, nations,andlanguages, that dwellinalltheearth: Peacebemultiplied unto you.

2Ithath seemed good untometodeclarethesignsandwondersthattheMost High God hath wroughttowardme.

3How greatarehissigns!andhow mightyarehiswonders!Hiskingdomisan everlasting kingdom,andhisdominionisfromgenerationtogeneration.

4INebuchadnezzar was at restinmy house,andflourishinginmy palace.

5IsawadreamH2493whichmademeafraid,andthethoughts uponmybedandthevisionsofmyhead troubledme.

6AndImadeH3046adecreetobringinallthewise menofBabylon before me,thattheymightmakeH3046knownH3046unto metheinterpretationH6591ofthedreamH2493.

7Then cameinthescribes,themagicians,theChaldeans,andtheastrologers;andI toldthedream before them; but they did not make known unto metheinterpretationofit.

8But atthelast Danielcamein before me, whose name is Belteshazzar, accordingtothename of my god,andin whom isthespirit oftheholy gods;andbefore him I toldthedream:

9O Belteshazzar, masterofthescribes,becauseIknow thatthespiritoftheholy gods isinthee,andno secret is too hardforthee, tell methevisionsofmy dream whichIhave seen,andtheinterpretationofit.

10ThuswerethevisionsH2376ofmyheadH7217upon mybedH4903:IsawH2370,andbeholdatreeinthemidstoftheearth,anditsheightwasgreat.

11ThetreeH363grew,andwasstrong,anditsheight reached untotheheavens,andthesight thereoftotheendofalltheearth.

12Its leaveswerebeautiful,andits fruit abundant,andinitwasfoodforall:thebeastsH2423ofthefieldH1251found shade under it,andthebirdsoftheheavensH8065dweltinits branches,andall fleshwasfedfromit.

13Isawinthevisionsofmy head upon my bed,andbehold, a watcheranda holy one came downfromtheheavens;

14hecried aloud,andsaid thus: Hew downthetree,andcut offitsbranches, shake offitsleaves,andscatteritsfruit; letthebeasts get awayfromunderit,andthebirdsfromitsbranches.

15Nevertheless leavethestumpofitsrootsintheearth,evenwithabandofironandbrass,inthetender grassofthefield;andletitbebathedwiththedewofheaven,andlethisportionbewiththebeastsinthegrassoftheearth.

16Lethisheartbechangedfromman's,andletabeast's heartbegivenunto him;andlet seventimespass over him.

17This sentenceisbythedecreeofthewatchers,andthedecision bythewordoftheholy ones:thattheliving may knowthattheMost High ruleth overthekingdomofmen,andgiveth ittowhomsoeverhewill,andsetteth up over itthebasestofmen.

18This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen;andthou, Belteshazzar, telltheinterpretation, forasmuch asallthewise menofmy kingdom are not abletomake known unto metheinterpretation; but thou art able,forthespiritoftheholy gods isinthee.

19ThenDaniel,whosenameisBelteshazzar,wasastoniedforone hour,andhisthoughts troubled him.ThekingH4430spokeandsaid, Belteshazzar, let notthedream, nor its interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answeredandsaid,Mylord,thedream betothemthathate thee,andits interpretationtothine enemies!

20ThetreeH363thatthou sawest,whichgrewandwasstrong,whoseheight reached untotheheavensH8065,andthesightofittoalltheearthH772;

21whoseleaveswerebeautiful,anditsfruit abundant,andinitwasfoodforall; underwhichthebeastsofthefield dwelt,andinwhosebranchesthebirdsoftheheavenshadtheir habitation:

22itisthou, O king,whoart grownandbecome strong;forthy greatnessisgrown,andreacheth untotheheavensH8065,andthy dominiontotheendoftheearth.

23Andwhereastheking saw a watcheranda holy one coming downfromtheheavensH8065,andsayingH560, HewthetreeH363down,anddestroy it; neverthelessleaveH7662thestumpofitsrootsH8330intheearth,evenwith a bandofironandbrass,inthetender grassofthefield;andlet it be bathed withthedewofheavenH8065,andlethisportion be withthebeastsofthefield, till seven times pass overhim:

24this istheinterpretation, OkingH4430,anditisthedecreeoftheMost High, which cometh upon my lordthekingH4430:

25They shall drive thee from men,andthy dwelling shall bewiththebeastsofthefield,andthey shall make theetoeat grass as oxen,andthou shalt be bathedwiththedewofheaven;andseven times shall passoverthee, till thou knowthattheMost High rulethoverthekingdomofmen,andgivethittowhomsoeverhewill.

26Andwhereasitwascommandedtoleavethestumpoftherootsofthetree; thykingdomH4437shall remain unto thee,afterthatthou shalt knowthattheheavens do rule.

27Therefore, OkingH4430, letmycounsel be acceptable unto thee,andbreak off thy sins by righteousness,andthine iniquities by shewing mercytothepoor; if it may bealengtheningofthy tranquillity.

28AllthiscameuponkingH4430NebuchadnezzarH5020.

29Attheendoftwelve monthshewaswalking upontheroyalpalaceofBabylon:

30theking spokeandsaid,IsnotthisgreatH7236Babylon,thatIhave builtforthehouseofthekingdombythemightofmypowerandforthegloryofmymajesty?

31Whilethewordwasintheking's mouth,therefell a voicefromtheheavensH8065: KingNebuchadnezzarH5020,totheeitisspoken:ThekingdomH4437isdepartedfromthee;

32andtheyshall drive theefrommen,andthy dwelling shall bewiththebeastsofthefield;theyshallmaketheetoeat grassasoxen,andseven times shall pass over thee, until thou knowthattheMost High ruleth overthekingdomofmen,andgiveth ittowhomsoeverhewill.

33Thesame hourwastheword fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar;andhewasdriven from men,andate grassasoxen;andhisbodywasbathedwiththedewofheaven, tillhishair grew like eagles' [feathers],andhisnails like birds' [claws].

34AndattheendofthedaysINebuchadnezzarH5020liftedוּמְרוֹמֵ֤םu.me.ro.MemH7313up mine eyes untotheheavensH8065,andmine understanding returned unto me,andIblessedtheMost High,andIpraisedandhonoured himthatlivethforever,whosedominionisan everlasting dominion,andhiskingdomisfromgenerationtogeneration.

35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of the heavens, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

36At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my nobles sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me.

37Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of the heavens, all whose works are truth, and his paths judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Commentaries on Daniel 4

Darby Bible — 1889 — Public Domain