Daniel 4
1. Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all people,
nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied
to you. 2. I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the most
high God has done with 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 to 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 you, and no secret
troubles you, 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 to heaven, and the sight of it the end of all the
earth: 12. The leaves of it were fair, and there was much fruit, and in
it was food, for all: the animals of the field had shadow under it, and
the birds of the heaven dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed
from 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 this, Cut down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his
leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the animals get away from under it,
and the birds off 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 animals in the grass of the earth: 16. Let his
heart be changed from man's, and let a animals 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 rules in the kingdom of men,
and gives it to who ever he will, and sets up over it the lowliest of
men. 18. This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now you, 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 you art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in
you. 19. Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for
one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said,
Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation of it, trouble
you. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that
hate you, and the interpretation of it to your enemies. 20. The tree
that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the
heaven, and the sight of it to all the earth; 21. Whose leaves were
fair, and the fruit of it much, and in it was food for all; under which
the animals of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the birds of the
heaven had their habitation: 22. It is you, O king, that are grown and
become strong: for your greatness is grown, and reaches to heaven, and
your dominion to the end of the earth. 23. And where as the king saw a
watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, cut the tree
down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the 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 animals 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 you from
men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field, and they
shall make you eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet you with the dew
of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the
most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he
will. 26. And where as they commanded to leave the stump of the tree
roots; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have
known that the heavens do rule. 27. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be
acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your
iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of
your tranquility. 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 spoke, 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 honor of my majesty? 31. While the word was in the king's mouth,
there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it
is spoken; The kingdom is departed from you. 32. And they shall drive
you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field:
they shall make you eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over
you, until you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and
gives it to whom ever 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 to heaven, and
my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most High, and I
praised and honored him that lives 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
does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the
inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say to him,
What are you doing? 36. At the same time my reason returned to me; and
for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and brightness returned to me; and
my counselors and my lords sought me; and I was established in my
kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37. Now I Nebuchadnezzar
praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are
truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to
abase.
|