Revised Version 1895

Daniel 4

1NebuchadnezzarH5020the king, unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; peace be multiplied unto you.

2It hath seemed good untomeH1763to shew the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wroughttowardעַֽל־'al-H5922meH1763.

3How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

4I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace.

5I saw adreamH2493whichH1768mademeקָֽדָמַ֨יka.da.MaiH6925afraid; the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubledmeקָֽדָמ֥וֹהִיka.da.Mo.hiH6925.

6ThereforemadeH3046I a decree to bring inallH3606the wise men of Babylon before me, that they mightmakeH3046knownH3046unto me theinterpretationH6591of thedreamH2493.

7Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

8But at the last Danielcameיִמְטֵ֣אyim.Te'H4291in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him, saying,

9O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians,becauseוּמִנֵּ֖הּu.mi.NehH4481I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

10Thus were thevisionsH2376of myheadH7217upon mybedH4903: IsawH2370, andbeholdH431a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

11ThetreeH363grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth.

12The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: thebeastsH2423of thefieldH1251had shadow under it, and the fowls of theheavenH8065dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

13I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven.

14He cried aloud, and said thus, 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.

15Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth,evenH1768with 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 in the grass of the earth:

16let his heart be changed from man’s and let a beast’s heart begivenH560unto him; and let seventimesחֲדָ֔הcha.DahH2298pass over him.

17The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men.

18This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen: and thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, forasmuch asallH3606the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

19Then Daniel,whoseH1768name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. ThekingH4430answered and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adversaries.

20ThetreeH363that thou sawest,whichH1768grew, and was strong,whoseH1768height reached unto theheavenH8065, and the sight thereof to all theearthH772;

21whoseH1768leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; underwhichH1768the beasts of the field dwelt, and uponwhoseH1768branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

22it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth untoheavenH8065, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

23And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down fromheavenH8065, andsayingH560, Hew down thetreeH363, and destroy it; neverthelessleaveH7662the stump of therootsH8330thereof in the earth,evenH1768with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew ofheavenH8065, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

24this is the interpretation, OkingH4430, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord thekingH4430:

25that 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 as oxen, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee; till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

26And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thykingdomH4437shall be sure unto thee,afterלִקְצָ֥תlik.TzatH7118that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

27Wherefore, OkingH4430, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

28All thiscameנְפַ֑לne.FalH5308upon thekingH4430NebuchadnezzarH5020.

29At the end of twelve months he was walking in theroyalH4437palace of Babylon.

30The king spake and said, Is not thisgreatרְבָ֖הre.VahH7236Babylon,whichH1768I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?

31While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice fromheavenH8065, saying, O kingNebuchadnezzarH5020, to thee it is spoken: thekingdomH4437is departed from thee.

32and thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt bemadeH5648to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: 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.

34And at the end of the days INebuchadnezzarH5020liftedוּמְרוֹמֵ֤םu.me.ro.MemH7313up mine eyes untoheavenH8065, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and IpraisedH7624and honoured him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation:

35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, 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 lords sought unto 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 heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Commentaries on Daniel 4

Revised Version 1895 — 1895 — Public Domain