Daniel 4

1Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.

1King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to all the people, nations, and speakers of every language who live in all the earth: May you have great peace.

2It hath seemed good unto me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wrought toward me.

2I am happy to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

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.

3How great are his signs! How powerful are his miracles! His kingdom lasts forever, and his rule continues from one generation to the next.

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

4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living at ease in my home and was successful in my palace.

5I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

5I had a dream that made me afraid; as I lay in bed, the images and visions in my mind terrified me.

6Therefore 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.

6So I ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be brought before me to tell me what the dream meant.

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.

7When the magicians, healers, fortune-tellers, and astrologers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not explain it to me.

8But 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 I told the dream before him, saying,

8Finally, Daniel came in to see me. He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him. I told him the dream, saying,

9O 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.

9'Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Tell me what my dream means and explain the visions I saw.'

10Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and, behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and the height thereof was great.

10These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked and saw a tree in the middle of the earth, and it was extremely tall.

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

11The tree grew large and strong until its top reached the sky, and it could be seen from the ends of the earth.

12The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed from it.

12Its leaves were beautiful and it had plenty of fruit, providing food for everyone. Wild animals found shade under it, birds lived in its branches, and every living creature was fed by it.

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

13As I was lying in bed, I saw in my visions a watcher, a holy messenger, coming down from heaven.

14He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.

14He shouted loudly, 'Cut down the tree and chop off its branches! Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches!'

15Nevertheless leave the stump of its 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:

15'But leave the stump and its roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be soaked with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth.'

16let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

16'Let his human mind be changed, and let him be given the mind of an animal, until seven periods of time pass by.'

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.

17'This sentence is announced by the watchers and the holy ones so that everyone living may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses and puts even the humblest of people in charge.'

18This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, 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.

18This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, because none of the wise men in my kingdom can explain it. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.

19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken dumb for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered 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.

19Then Daniel, who is also called Belteshazzar, was stunned and silent for a while as his thoughts troubled him. The king said, 'Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning upset you.' Belteshazzar replied, 'My lord, I wish this dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to those who hate you.'

20The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

20The tree you saw, which grew large and strong until its top reached the sky and was visible to the whole earth,

21whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the birds of the heavens had their habitation:

21which had beautiful leaves and plenty of fruit for everyone, and where animals lived underneath and birds nested in the branches—

22it 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.

22that tree is you, O king! You have grown great and strong; your greatness reaches to the sky and your power extends to the ends of the earth.

23And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless 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;

23The king saw a watcher, a holy messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump and its roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass. Let him be soaked with the dew of heaven and live like the wild animals until seven periods of time pass by.'

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

24This is the meaning, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king:

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.

25You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox and be soaked with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass by until you realize that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.

26And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

26The command to leave the stump of the tree roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you once you acknowledge that Heaven rules.

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

27Therefore, O king, please accept my advice: Stop sinning and do what is right. Put an end to your wicked ways by being kind to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.

28All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

28All of this actually happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

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

29Twelve months later, the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon.

30The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?

30He said, 'Look at this great Babylon! I have built this royal residence by my own mighty power and for the glory of my majesty.'

31While 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:

31While the words were still on his lips, a voice came from heaven: 'King Nebuchadnezzar, this is for you: Your royal power has been taken from you.'

32and thou shalt be driven from men; and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made 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.

32'You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox. Seven periods of time will pass by until you realize that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.'

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.

33Right then, the prophecy was fulfilled. Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from people and ate grass like an ox. His body was soaked with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like eagle feathers and his nails like the claws of a bird.

34And 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 honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation;

34At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven, and my sanity returned. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom lasts 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?

35All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the people of the earth. No one can stop him or ask him, 'What are you doing?'

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.

36At that same moment, my sanity returned to me. My honor and splendor were restored for the glory of my kingdom. My advisors and nobles sought me out, I was put back on my throne, and I became even greater than before.

37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And he is able to humble those who walk in pride.