Daniel 4

The King Acknowledges God

11NebuchadnezzarH5020 the kingH4430 to allH3606 the peoplesH5972, nationsH524, and populations of all 2languagesH3961 who liveH1753 in allH3606 the earthH772: “May your 34peaceH8001 be greatH7680! 2I am pleasedH8232 to declareH2331 the signsH852 and miraclesH8540 that the 5MostH5943 HighH5943 GodH426 has doneH5648 for me.3HowH4101 greatH7229 are His 6signsH852 And howH4101 mightyH8624 are His miraclesH8540! His 7kingdomH4437 is an everlastingH5957 kingdomH4437, And His dominionH7985 is from generationH1859 to generationH1859.

The Vision of a Great Tree

4“8I, NebuchadnezzarH5020, was at easeH7954 in my houseH1005 and 9happyH7487 in my palaceH1965. 5I sawH2370 a 10dreamH2493 and it startledH1763 me; and these appearancesH2031 as I lay on my bedH4903 and the 11visionsH2376 12in my mindH7217 keptH927 alarmingH927 me. 6So I gaveH7761 ordersH2942 to 13bringH5954 into my presenceH6925 allH3606 the wiseH2445 menH2445 of BabylonH895, soH1768 thatH1768 they might makeH3046 knownH3046 to me the interpretationH6591 of the dreamH2493. 7ThenH116 the 14soothsayerH2749 priestsH2749, the sorcerersH826, the 15ChaldeansH3779, and the divinersH1505 cameH5954 inH5954 and I relatedH560 the dreamH2493 16to them, but they could not makeH3046 its 17interpretationH6591 knownH3046 to me. 8But finallyH5705H318 DanielH1841 cameH5954 inH5954 beforeH6925 me, whoseH1768 nameH8036 is 18BelteshazzarH1096 according to the nameH8036 of my godH426, and in whomH1768 is 1920a spiritH7308 of the holyH6922 godsH426; and I relatedH560 the dreamH2493 21to him, saying, 9‘BelteshazzarH1096, 22chiefH7229 of the soothsayerH2749 priestsH2749, sinceH1768 I knowH3046 that 23a spiritH7308 of the holyH6922 godsH426 is in you and 24noH3606H3809 secretH7328 bafflesH598 you, 25tellH560 me the visionsH2376 of my dreamH2493 whichH1768 I have seenH2370, along with its interpretationH6591.

10‘Now these were the 26visionsH2376 27in my mindH7217 as I lay on my bedH4903: I was lookingH2370, and beholdH431, there was a 28treeH363 in the middleH1459 of the 29earthH772 and its heightH7314 was greatH7690.11The treeH363 grewH7236 largeH7236 and becameH8631 strongH8631 And its heightH7314 30reachedH4291 to the skyH8065, And it was visibleH2379 to the endH5491 of the wholeH3606 earthH772.12Its foliageH6074 was 31beautifulH8209 and its fruitH4 abundantH7690, And in it was foodH4203 for allH3606. The 32animalsH2423 of the fieldH1251 33foundH2927 34shadeH2927 underH8460 it, And the 35birdsH6853 of the skyH8065 livedH1753 in its branchesH6056, And allH3606 36livingH1321 creaturesH1321 fedH2110 from it.

13‘I was lookingH2370 in the 37visionsH2376 38in my mindH7217 as I lay on my bedH4903, and beholdH431, 39an angelicH5894 watcherH5894, a 40holyH6922 oneH6922, descendedH5182 from heavenH8065.14He shoutedH7123 out and spokeH560 asH3652 followsH3652: “41ChopH1414 downH1414 the treeH363 and cutH7113 offH7113 its branchesH6056, ShakeH5426 offH5426 its foliageH6074 and scatterH921 its fruitH4; Let the 42animalsH2423 fleeH5111 from underH8460 it And the birdsH6853 from its branchesH6056.15YetH1297 43leaveH7662 the stumpH6136 44with its rootsH8330 in the groundH772, But with a bandH613 of ironH6523 and bronzeH5174 around it In the newH1883 grassH1883 of the fieldH1251; And let him be drenchedH6647 with the dewH2920 of heavenH8065, And let 45him shareH2508 with the animalsH2423 in the grassH6212 of the earthH772.16Let his 46mindH3825 changeH8133 from that of a humanH606 And let an animal’sH2423 47mindH3825 be givenH3052 to him, And let 48sevenH7655 49periods of timeH5732 passH2499 overH5922 him.17This sentenceH6600 is by the decreeH1510 of the angelicH5894 watchersH5894, And the decisionH7595 is a commandH3983 of the holyH6922 onesH6922, In orderH5705H1701 that the livingH2417 may 50knowH3046 That the MostH5943 HighH5943 is rulerH7990 over the realmH4437 of mankindH606, And 51He grantsH5415 it to whomeverH1768H4479 He wishesH6634 And setsH6966 overH5922 it the 52lowliestH8215 of peopleH606.” 18ThisH1836 is the dreamH2493 that I, KingH4430 NebuchadnezzarH5020, have seenH2370. Now you, BelteshazzarH1096, tellH560 me its interpretationH6591, sinceH6903H1768 noneH3606H3809 of the 53wiseH2445 menH2445 of my kingdomH4437 is ableH3202 to makeH3046 knownH3046 to me the interpretationH6591; but you are ableH3546, becauseH1768 a 54spiritH7308 of the holyH6922 godsH426 is in you.’

Daniel Interprets the Vision

19“ThenH116 DanielH1841, whoseH1768 nameH8036 is BelteshazzarH1096, was appalledH8075 for a whileH8160 as his 55thoughtsH7476 alarmedH927 him. The kingH4430 respondedH6032 and saidH560, ‘BelteshazzarH1096, do not 56let the dreamH2493 or its interpretationH6591 alarmH927 you.’ BelteshazzarH1096 repliedH6032, ‘57My lordH4756, if only the dreamH2493 applied to those who hateH8131 you, and its interpretationH6591 to 58your adversariesH6146! 20The 59treeH363 that you sawH2370, whichH1768 becameH7236 largeH7236 and grewH8631 strongH8631, whose heightH7314 reachedH4291 to the skyH8065 and was visibleH2379 to allH3606 the earthH772, 21and whose foliageH6074 was beautifulH8209 and its fruitH4 abundantH7690, and in which was foodH4203 for allH3606, underH8460 which the animalsH2423 of the fieldH1251 livedH1753 and in whose branchesH6056 the birdsH6853 of the skyH8065 settledH7932-- 22it is 60you, O kingH4430; for you have becomeH7236 greatH7236 and grownH8631 strongH8631, and your 61majestyH7238 has becomeH7236 greatH7236 and reachedH4291 to the skyH8065, and your 62dominionH7985 to the endH5491 of the earthH772. 23And in that the kingH4430 sawH2370 an angelicH5894 watcherH5894, a holyH6922 oneH6922, descendingH5182 from heavenH8065 and sayingH560, “63ChopH1414 downH1414 the treeH363 and destroyH2255 it; yetH1297 leaveH7662 the stumpH6136 64with its rootsH8330 in the groundH772, but with a bandH613 of ironH6523 and bronzeH5174 around it in the newH1883 grassH1883 of the fieldH1251, let him be drenchedH6647 with the dewH2920 of heavenH8065, and let 65him shareH2508 with the animalsH2423 of the fieldH1251 untilH5705H1768 66sevenH7655 67periods of timeH5732 passH2499 overH5922 him,” 24thisH1836 is the interpretationH6591, O kingH4430, and thisH1932 is the decreeH1510 of the MostH5943 HighH5943, whichH1768 has 68comeH4291 upon my lordH4756 the kingH4430: 25that you be 69drivenH2957 awayH2957 from mankindH606 and your dwellingH4070 placeH4070 be with the animalsH2423 of the fieldH1251, and you be givenH2939 grassH6212 toH2939 eatH2939 like cattleH8450 and be drenchedH6647 with the dewH2920 of heavenH8065; and sevenH7655 70periods of timeH5732 will passH2499 overH5922 you, untilH5705H1768 you recognizeH3046 that the 71MostH5943 HighH5943 is rulerH7990 over the realmH4437 of mankindH606 and 72bestowsH5415 it on whomeverH4479H1768 He wishesH6634. 26And in that it was commandedH560 to 73leaveH7662 the stumpH6136 74with the rootsH8330 of the treeH363, your kingdomH4437 will 75remainH7011 as yours afterH4481H1768 you recognizeH3046 that it is 76HeavenH8065 that rulesH7990. 27ThereforeH3861, O kingH4430, may my 77adviceH4431 be pleasingH8232 to you: 78wipeH6562 awayH6562 your sinH2408 by doing righteousnessH6665, and your wrongdoingsH5758 by 79showingH2604 mercyH2604 to the poorH6040, inH2006 caseH2006 there may be a 80prolongingH754 of your prosperityH7963.’

The Vision Fulfilled

28“AllH3606 of this 81happenedH4291 to NebuchadnezzarH5020 the kingH4430. 2982TwelveH8648H6236 monthsH3393 laterH7118 he was walkingH1981 on the roof of the royalH4437 palaceH1965 of BabylonH895. 30The kingH4430 beganH6032 speakingH6032 and was sayingH560, ‘Is thisH1668 not BabylonH895 the 83greatH7229, whichH1768 I myselfH576 have builtH1124 as a royalH4437 84residenceH1005 by the mightH8632 of my powerH2632 and for the honorH3367 of my majestyH1923?’ 31While the wordH4406 was stillH5751 in the king’sH4430 mouthH6433, a voiceH7032 85cameH5308 from heavenH8065, saying, ‘KingH4430 NebuchadnezzarH5020, to you it is declaredH560: 86sovereigntyH4437 has beenH5709 removedH5709 from you, 32and 87you will be drivenH2957 awayH2957 from mankindH606, and your dwellingH4070 placeH4070 will be with the animalsH2423 of the fieldH1251. You will be givenH2939 grassH6212 toH2939 eatH2939 like cattleH8450, and 88sevenH7655 89periods of timeH5732 will passH2499 overH5922 you untilH5705H1768 you recognizeH3046 that the 90MostH5943 HighH5943 is rulerH7990 over the realmH4437 of mankindH606 and bestowsH5415 it on whomeverH4479H1768 He wishesH6634.’ 33ImmediatelyH8160 the wordH4406 concerningH5922 NebuchadnezzarH5020 was fulfilledH5487; and he was 91drivenH2957 awayH2957 from mankindH606 and began eatingH399 grassH6212 like cattleH8450, and his bodyH1655 was drenchedH6647 with the dewH2920 of heavenH8065 untilH5705H1768 his hairH8177 had grownH7236 like eagles’H5403 feathers and his nailsH2953 like birds’H6853 claws.

34“But at the endH7118 of 92that periodH3118, I, NebuchadnezzarH5020, raisedH5191 my eyesH5870 toward heavenH8065 and my 93reasonH4486 returnedH8421 to me, and I blessedH1289 the 94MostH5943 HighH5943 and praisedH7624 and honoredH1922 95Him whoH2417 livesH2417 foreverH5957; For His dominionH7985 is an 96everlastingH5957 dominionH7985, And His kingdomH4437 endures from generationH1859 to generationH1859.3597AllH3606 the inhabitantsH1753 of the earthH772 are of noH3809 accountH2804, But 98He doesH5648 accordingH4481 to His willH6634 among the armyH2429 of heavenH8065 And among the inhabitantsH1753 of earthH772; And 99noH3809 one can 100fendH4223 offH4223 His handH3028 Or sayH560 to Him, ‘101WhatH4101 have You doneH5648?’ 36At that timeH2166 my 102103reasonH4486 returnedH8421 to me. And my majestyH1923 and 104splendorH2122 were 105restoredH8421 to me for the honorH3367 of my kingdomH4437, and my stateH1907 counselorsH1907 and my noblesH7261 began seekingH1156 me outH1156; so I was reestablishedH8627 in my 106sovereigntyH4437, and surpassingH3493 107greatnessH7238 was addedH3255 to me. 37NowH3705 I, NebuchadnezzarH5020, praiseH7624, exaltH7313, and honorH1922 the KingH4430 of 108heavenH8065, for 109allH3606 His worksH4567 are 110trueH7187 and His waysH735 111justH1780; and He is ableH3202 to humbleH8214 those whoH1768 112walkH1981 in prideH1467.”