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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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Daniel 4
4
Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
1Nebuchadnezzar the king,
#Ezra 4:17; Dan. 3:4; 6:25To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
2I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders #Dan. 3:26that the Most High God has worked for me.
3#2 Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:35–37; Dan. 6:27; 7:13, 14; (Luke 1:31–33)How great are His signs,
And how mighty His wonders!
His kingdom is #(Dan. 2:44; 4:34; 6:26)an everlasting kingdom,
And His dominion is from generation to generation.
4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. 5I saw a dream which made me afraid, #Dan. 2:28, 29and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head #Dan. 2:1troubled me. 6Therefore I issued 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#Dan. 2:2Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation. 8But at last Daniel came before me #Dan. 1:7(his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; #Is. 63:11; Dan. 2:11; 4:18; 5:11, 14in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying: 9“Belteshazzar, #Dan. 2:48; 5:11chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
10“These were the visions of my head while on my bed:
I was looking, and behold,
#Ezek. 31:3; Dan. 4:20A tree in the midst of the earth,
And its height was great.
11The tree grew and became strong;
Its height reached to the heavens,
And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.
12Its leaves were lovely,
Its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
#Jer. 27:6; Ezek. 17:23; 31:6; Lam. 4:20The beasts of the field found shade under it,
The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches,
And all flesh was fed from it.
13“I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was #(Dan. 4:17, 23)a watcher, #Deut. 33:2; Ps. 89:7; Dan. 8:13; Zech. 14:5; Jude 14a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14He cried aloud and said thus:
#Ezek. 31:10–14; Dan. 4:23; (Matt. 3:10; 7:19; Luke 13:7–9)‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
#Ezek. 31:12, 13; Dan. 4:12Let the beasts get out from under it,
And the birds from its branches.
15Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth,
Bound with a band of iron and bronze,
In the tender grass of the field.
Let it be wet with the dew of heaven,
And let him graze with the beasts
On the grass of the earth.
16Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
Let him be given the heart of a beast,
And let seven #Dan. 11:13; 12:7times pass over him.
17‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order #Ps. 9:16; 83:18that the living may know
#Dan. 2:21; 4:25, 32; 5:21That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
#Jer. 27:5–7; Ezek. 29:18–20; Dan. 2:37; 5:18Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the #1 Sam. 2:8; Dan. 11:21lowest of men.’
18“This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, #Gen. 41:8, 15; Dan. 5:8, 15since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, #Dan. 4:8, 9; 5:11, 14for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”
Daniel Explains the Second Dream
19Then Daniel, #Dan. 4:8whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts #Jer. 4:19; Dan. 7:15, 28; 8:27troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may #2 Sam. 18:32; Jer. 29:7; Dan. 4:24; 10:16the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!
20#Dan. 4:10–12“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, 21whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home— 22#Dan. 2:37, 38it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, #Jer. 27:6–8and your dominion to the end of the earth.
23#Dan. 4:13–15“And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, #Dan. 5:21and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’; 24this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 25They shall #Dan. 4:32; 5:21drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you #Ps. 106:20eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, #Ps. 83:18; Dan. 4:2, 17, 32till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and #Jer. 27:5gives it to whomever He chooses.
26“And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that #Matt. 21:25; Luke 15:18Heaven rules. 27Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; #(Prov. 28:13); Is. 55:7; Ezek. 18:21, 22; (Rom. 2:9–11; 1 Pet. 4:8)break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. #(Ps. 41:1–3); Is. 58:6, 7, 10Perhaps there may be #1 Kin. 21:29a lengthening of your prosperity.”
Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation
28All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 30The king #Prov. 16:18; Is. 13:19; Dan. 5:20spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
31#Dan. 5:5; Luke 12:20While the word was still in the king’s mouth, #Dan. 4:24a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32And #(Dan. 4:25)they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like 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 whomever He chooses.”
33That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
34And #Dan. 4:26at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him #Ps. 102:24–27; Dan. 6:26; 12:7; (Rev. 4:10)who lives forever:
For His dominion is #(Ps. 10:16); Dan. 2:44; 7:14; Mic. 4:7; (Luke 1:33)an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
35#Ps. 39:5; Is. 40:15, 17All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
#Ps. 115:3; 135:6; Dan. 6:27He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
#Job 34:29; Is. 43:13No one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him, #Job 9:12; Is. 45:9; Jer. 18:6; Rom. 9:20; (1 Cor. 2:16)“What have You done?”
36At the same time my reason returned to me, #Dan. 4:26and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was #2 Chr. 20:20restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was #Job 42:12; (Prov. 22:4; Matt. 6:33)added to me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, #Dan. 2:46, 47; 3:28, 29praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, #Deut. 32:4; (Ps. 33:4); Is. 5:16; (Rev. 15:3)all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. #Ex. 18:11; Job 40:11, 12; Dan. 5:20And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.