1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that
dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 2 I thought it
good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward
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 mine house, and flourishing in my
palace: 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my
bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore made I a decree
to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make
known unto me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then came in the
magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I
told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the
interpretation thereof.
8 But at the last 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 before 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
thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that
I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
10 Thus were the visions
of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the
earth, and the height thereof was great. 11 The tree grew, and was
strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight
thereof to the end of all the earth: 12 The leaves thereof were fair,
and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of
the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the
boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13 I saw in the visions of
my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down
from heaven; 14 He 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: 15
Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even 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 in the
grass of the earth: 16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a
beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. 17
This matter 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 basest of men.
18 This dream I king
Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the
interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the 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.
(Nebuchadnezzar can't recognize The one God ... this is the way people of the world are. They often go by their superstitions and have many gods ... when we, who are of the God who created heaven and earth, speak, they can't recognize one God though often they claim to be the church because they attend church and worship their churches. It never occurs to them they are not even of God. They are of their church and their own will.)
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour,
and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar,
let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate
thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
20 The tree that
thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the
heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 21 Whose leaves were
fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat 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 thou, O king, that art
grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto
heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
23 And whereas the
king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying,
Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots
thereof in the earth, even 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 times pass over
him;
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of
the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 25 That they shall
drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the
field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet
thee 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. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the
stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that
thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king,
let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by
righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it
may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
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
spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the
house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my
majesty?
31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice
from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The
kingdom is departed from thee. 32 And they shall drive thee from men,
and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make
thee to 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.
33 The 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 hairs were grown
like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
34 And at the
end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and
mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I
praised and honoured HIM that liveth 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
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?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for
the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me;
and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in
my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I
Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose
works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he
is able to abase.