Daniel 4
4
1 Nevukhadnetzar the king, unto all people, nations and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Shalom aleichem l'machbir (Peace be multiplied unto you).
2 I thought it good to show the otot (signs) and mofetim (wonders) that El Elyon hath wrought toward me.
3 How great are His otot (signs)! And how mighty are His mofetim (wonders)! His kingdom is a malchut olam (everlasting kingdom), and His dominion is from dor v'dor (generation to generation).
4 I, Nevukhadnetzar, was at rest in mine bais, and prospering in my heikhal (palace).
5 I saw a chalom (dream) which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the chazonot (visions) of my head troubled me.
6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the chachamim of Babylon before me, that they might give me da'as of the pesher (interpretation, explanation) of the chalom (dream).
7 Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Kasdim (Chaldeans), and the soothsayers; and I told the chalom (dream) before them; but they did not make known unto me the pesher thereof.
8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Beltshatzar, according to hashem of my G-d, and in whom is the Ruach Elohin Kadishin (Ruach Elohim HaKadosh); and before him I told the chalom (dream), saying,
9 O Beltshatzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Ruach Elohin Kadishin (Ruach Elohim HaKadosh) is in thee, and no raz (secret, mystery) troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my chalom (dream) that I have seen, and the pesher thereof.
10 Thus were the chazonot of mine head in my bed; I was looking, and hinei, an etz (tree) in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 The etz grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto Shomayim, and visibility thereof extended to the end of kol ha'aretz;
12 The leaves thereof were lovely, and the p'ri thereof abundant, and in it was food for all; the beasts of the field found shade under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and kol basar was fed of it.
13 I saw in the chazonot of my head upon my bed, and, hinei, an ir (watcher, messenger), a malach hakodesh, came down from Shomayim.
14 He cried with strength, and said thus, Chop down the tree, and cut off his branches, strip off his leaves, and scatter his p'ri; 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 bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him partake with the beasts in the grass of ha'aretz;
16 Let his lev (heart) be changed from manʼs, and let a beastʼs lev be given unto him; and let seven times (seasons, years) pass over him.
17 This matter is by the decree of the irin (watchers), and the demand by the word of the Kedoshim (holy ones), to the intent that the living may have da'as that Elyon (Most High) ruleth in the malchut haAdam, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
18 This chalom (dream) I, king Nevukhadnetzar, have seen. Now thou, O Beltshatzar, declare the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof, forasmuch as all the chachamim of my malchut are not able to make known unto me the pesher (interpretation, explanation); but thou art able; for the Ruach Elohin Kadishin (Ruach Elohim HaKadosh) is in thee.
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Beltshatzar, was perplexed for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, Beltshatzar, let not the chalom (dream), or the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof, trouble thee. Beltshatzar answered and said, Mari (my master), if only the chalom (dream) concerned them that hate thee, and the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof thine enemies.
20 The etz that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto Shomayim, and the visibility thereof extended to kol ha'aretz;
21 Whose leaves were lovely, and the p'ri thereof abundant, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of heaven had their habitation;
22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto Shomayim, and thy dominion to the end of ha'aretz.
23 And whereas the king saw an ir (watcher), a malach hakodesh, come down from Shomayim, and saying, Chop the etz down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him partake with the beasts of the field, till seven times (seasons, years) pass over him.
24 This is the pesher (interpretation, explanation), O king, and this is the decree of Elyon (Most High), which is come upon mari (my master) the king;
25 That they shall drive thee from anashim, 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 (seasons, years) shall pass over thee, till thou have da'as that Elyon (Most High) ruleth in the malchut haAdam, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the etz with its roots, thy malchut shall be assured unto thee, after that thou shalt have da'as that Shomayim (G-d) does rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by tzedek (righteousness), and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a prolonging of thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nevukhadnetzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked about the heikhal of the malchut of Babylon.
30 The melech spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?
31 While the word was in the kingʼs mouth, there fell a voice from Shomayim, saying, O king Nevukhadnetzar, to thee it is spoken: The malchut has been taken from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from anashim, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times (seasons, years) shall pass over thee, until thou have da'as that Elyon ruleth in the malchut haAdam, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nevukhadnetzar, and he was driven from anashim, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair had grown like eaglesʼ feathers, and his nails like birdsʼ claws.
34 And at the end of the time, I, Nevukhadnetzar, lifted up mine eyes unto Shomayim, and mine da'as returned unto me, and I said Baruch El Elyon, and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever, Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His Malchut is from dor v'dor;
35 And all the inhabitants of ha'aretz are considered as nothing, and He doeth according to His will in the Tzivos HaShomayim, and among the inhabitants of ha'aretz; and none can restrain His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?
36 At the same time my da'as returned unto me; and for the kavod of my malchut, mine honor and splendor returned unto me; and my counselors and my nobles sought unto me; and I was established in my malchut, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nevukhadnetzar praise and extol and honor the Melech HaShomayim, all Whose works are emes, and His ways mishpat; and those that walk in ga'avah (pride) He is able to abase.
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Daniel 4: TOJB2011
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THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BIBLE
FOURTH EDITION © Artists For Israel Intl Inc., 2002-2011, 2021.
Daniel 4
4
Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony
1 # 4.1 3:31 in Aram King Nebuchadnezzar’s message to all the peoples, nations, and languages inhabiting the entire earth: “I wish you much peace. 2I’m delighted to share the signs and miracles that the Most High God has worked in my life.
3His signs are superb!
His miracles so powerful!
His kingdom is everlasting.
His rule is for all time.
4 # 4.4 4:1 in Aram “While I, Nebuchadnezzar, was safe in my house, content in my palace, 5I had a terrifying dream. My thoughts while I was lying in bed and the vision in my mind overwhelmed me. 6I ordered all Babylon’s sages to come before me, so they might tell me the dream’s meaning. 7So the dream interpreters, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners came. I told them the dream, but they couldn’t interpret it for me. 8Daniel, who is called Belteshazzar after the name of my god, was the last to come before me. In him is the breath#4.8 Or spirit; also in 4:9, 18 of the holy gods! I told Daniel the dream:
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream
9“Belteshazzar, chief of the dream interpreters, I know the breath of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Tell me the meaning of the visions I had in my dream. 10In my mind, as I lay in bed, I saw a vision:
At the center of the earth was a towering tree.
11The tree grew in size and strength;
it was as high as the sky;
it could be seen from every corner of the earth.
12Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant;
it had enough food for everyone.
Wild animals took shade under it;
birds nested in its branches.
All living things lived off that tree.
13“In my mind, as I lay in bed, I saw another vision: A holy watcher came down from heaven. 14He proclaimed loudly:
‘Cut down the tree and shear off its branches!
Strip its leaves and scatter its fruit!
The creatures should flee from its shelter;
the birds should take flight from its branches.
15But leave its deepest root in the earth,
bound with iron and bronze in the field grass.
Dew from heaven is to wash it,
and it must live with the animals in the earth’s vegetation.
16Its#4.16 Throughout 4:15-16 and later in this chap, it and its could also be translated he and his. human mind is to be changed:
it will be given the mind of an animal.
Seven periods of time will pass over it.
17This sentence is by the watchers’ decree;
this decision is the holy ones’ word
so that all who live might know
that the Most High dominates human kingship.
The Most High gives kingship to anyone he wants
and sets over it the lowest of people.’
18“This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. So now Belteshazzar, tell me the meaning because all the sages in my kingdom were unable to interpret it for me. But you are able to do it because the breath of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel interprets the visions
19Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was shocked for a bit. What he thought about frightened him.
The king declared, “Don’t let the dream and its meaning scare you, Belteshazzar.”
Then Belteshazzar answered, “Sir, I wish the dream to be for those who hate you and its meaning to be for your enemies! 20The tree you saw that grew in size and strength, that was as high as the sky, that could be seen from every corner of the earth, 21with its beautiful leaves and its abundant fruit, and that had enough food for everyone, with wild animals living under it and birds nesting in its branches— 22Your Majesty, that tree is you! You have grown large and become powerful. Your greatness is as high as the sky; your rule extends to the edge of the earth!
23“Your Majesty, the holy watcher you saw coming down from heaven, who said, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its deepest root in the earth, bound with iron and bronze in the field grass, dew from heaven is to wash it, and it must live with the wild animals until seven periods of time pass over it’— 24Your Majesty, this is the dream’s meaning: It is the sentence of the Most High, delivered to my master the king. 25You will be driven away from other humans and will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle and will be washed by dew from heaven. Seven periods of time will pass over you, until you acknowledge that the Most High dominates human kingship, giving it to anyone he wants. 26And when he said to leave the deepest root of the tree—that means your kingship will again be yours, once you acknowledge that heaven rules all. 27Therefore, Your Majesty, please accept my advice: remove your sins by doing what is right; remove your wrongdoing by showing mercy to the poor. Then your safety will be long lasting.”
Visions come true
28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve months later, he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon. 30The king declared, “Isn’t this Babylon, the magnificent city that I built as the royal house by my own mighty strength and for my own majestic glory?”
31These words hadn’t even left the king’s mouth when a voice came from heaven: “You, King Nebuchadnezzar, are now informed: Kingship is taken away from you. 32You will be driven away from other humans and will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High dominates human kingship, giving it to anyone he wants.”
33Nebuchadnezzar’s sentence was immediately carried out. He was driven away from other humans and ate grass like cattle. Dew from heaven washed his body until he grew hair like eagles’ feathers and claws like a bird.
Nebuchadnezzar is restored
34“At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven. My reason returned to me, and I praised the Most High. I worshipped and glorified the one who lives forever because his rule is everlasting; his kingdom is for all time. 35All of earth’s inhabitants are nothing in comparison. The Most High does whatever he wants with heaven’s forces and with earth’s inhabitants. No one can contain his power or say to him, ‘What do you think you are doing?’ 36So at that moment my reason returned to me. My honor and splendor came back to me for the glory of my kingdom. My associates and my princes wanted to be with me again. Not only was I reinstated over my kingdom, I received more power than ever before.
37“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, worship, magnify, and glorify the king of heaven. All his works are truth, all his paths are justice, and he is able to humble all who walk in pride.”
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