Daniel 4:1-19 ▼

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages who are dwelling in all the earth: Your? peace be multiplied!

2 The signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me, it seemed proper for me to show.

3 His signs, how great, and His wonders, how mighty! His kingdom is a kingdom for the age, and His dominion is from generation to generation!

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

5 I saw a dream, and it frightened me, and the thoughts upon my bed and visions of my head alarmed me.

6 And from me a decree was set forth to bring in before me all the wise men of Babylon, that the interpretation of the dream they should make known to me.

7 Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the astrologers, and the diviners; and I told the dream before them, and its interpretation they could not make known to me.

8 And at last came before me Daniel—of whom his name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and for whom the Spirit of the holy gods is in him—and I told the dream before him:

9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the holy gods is in you, and a secret is not constraining for you, may you tell to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.

10 And the visions of my head upon my bed: I was looking, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.

11 The tree grew large and became strong, and its height reached to the heavens, and the sight of it to the ends of all the earth.

12 Its leaves were lovely, and its fruit abundant, and food for all was in it; under it the beasts of the field found shade, and in its branches the birds of the heavens dwelt, and from it all flesh was fed.

13 I was looking at the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one from heaven, was coming down.

14 He called out with strength, and thus said: ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches. Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.

15 Nevertheless, leave the stump and its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and his portion with the beasts in the grass of the earth.

16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man, and let the heart of a beast be given to him, and let seven times pass over him.

17 By decree of the watchers is the sentence, and by word of the holy ones is the decision, in order that those living may know that the Most High is ruling over the kingdom of men; and to whom He wishes, He gives it, and the lowest of men He sets over it.’

18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, Belteshazzar, must declare its interpretation, inasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation. And you are able, for the Spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

19 Then Daniel, of whom his name is Belteshazzar, was dismayed for one moment, and his thoughts disturbed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, the dream and its interpretation, do not let it trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, the dream, be for those hating you, and its interpretation for your enemies!”