Daniel 4:1-37

King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and language groups in the land: “I wish you perfect peace and prosperity! It is my royal pleasure to inform you of the mighty signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. “How great are his signs! How overwhelming are his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, and his dominion endures from one generation to the next.” “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was content and at peace in my house—thoroughly enjoying a life of luxury in my palace. One night, I had a terrifying dream. While I was lying on my bed, frightening visions passed through my head, and I was tormented by what I saw. So I issued a decree that all the sages of Babylon must come and explain to me what my dream meant. Magicians, enchanters, wizards, and wise men came, and I explained my dream to them, but they were unable to interpret it for me. Finally, Daniel came before me. (I had renamed him Belteshazzar, after my own god.) The spirit of the holy gods resides in him. I then told Daniel my dream: “Belteshazzar, chief of all my wise men, I know that the spirit of the holy gods resides in you and that there is no mystery that you cannot solve. So, listen to my dream and tell me what it means. “While I slept, these visions passed through my mind: I saw a huge tree in the midst of the earth. And the tree grew taller and stronger until its top reached into the heavens, and it could be seen from the far reaches of the land. Its branches and foliage were beautiful, its fruit abundant, providing enough food for all. Animals rested under its shade, and birds found shelter in its sturdy branches. All living creatures were nourished from it.” “While I was still asleep, I saw another vision: I saw a watcher, a holy one, come down from heaven. At the top of his voice, he announced: ‘Cut down the tree, lop off its branches, strip off its leaves, and scatter its fruit. Drive away the animals from beneath its shelter and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump with its roots in the ground. Encircle it with chains of iron and bronze, surrounded by the grass of the field. Night after night, let him be damp with heaven’s dew. Let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth as his appointed lot. Let him eat the grass of the field. For seven years, let his mind be altered into the mind of a beast. Such is the sentence decreed by the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, so that everyone living may learn that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men. He can give them to whomever he pleases and raises up over them the lowliest of all people.’ ” Then King Nebuchadnezzar concluded, “That was my dream. Now it is for you, Belteshazzar, to interpret its meaning, since not one of the wise men in my kingdom has been able to interpret it for me, but I know that you can, since the spirit of the holy gods resides in you.” Upon hearing this, Daniel (known as Belteshazzar) was visibly shaken for a while and troubled in his thoughts. The king noticed this and said to him, “Belteshazzar, do not be alarmed by the dream and its meaning.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation were for your enemies! The huge tree you saw, so large and tall that it reached into the heavens and could be seen from anywhere in the land, the tree with beautiful branches and foliage and abundant fruit, providing food for all and shade for the wild animals, and birds with nests in its branches: that tree, Your Majesty, is you! You are now so great and strong that it reaches into heaven, and your authority reaches over the entire land. “Now you, O king, saw a watcher—a holy messenger—come down from heaven, saying, ‘Cut the tree down and destroy it, but leave the stump and roots in the ground. Encircle it with chains of iron and bronze in the midst of the grass of the field. Let him be damp with the dew every night. Let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth as his appointed lot until seven years have passed by for him.’ So, the meaning of what you saw, Your Majesty, and the decree the Most High has decreed over you, my lord the king, is this: “You will be driven far from human society and will make your home with the wild beasts for seven years. Like cattle, you will eat grass, and you will be damp with the dew of heaven, until you have learned that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and can give them to whomever he pleases. “And the watcher’s order, ‘Leave the stump with its roots in the ground,’ means this: God will restore your kingdom to you once you come to your senses and understand that Heaven rules over all. “Your Majesty, please be willing to do what I say and accept my advice. Renounce your sins by doing what is right. Turn from your wickedness by showing mercy to the poor and unfortunate, and perhaps your prosperity will continue.” All that was predicted happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. A year later, while strolling on the roof of his royal palace in Babylon, the king began to boast: “Look at you! Is not this Babylon the great? By my brilliant wisdom, I built all this as my royal residence to display the glory of my majesty.” The words were no sooner out of his mouth than a voice spoke from out of heaven: “Here is my verdict concerning you, King Nebuchadnezzar: I have now taken your kingdom from you! You will be driven far from human society for seven years. You will make your home with the wild beasts, and you will eat grass like cattle until you have learned that I, the Most High, am sovereign over the kingdoms of men and can give them to whomever I please.” It was no sooner said than done: Nebuchadnezzar was forced to live like a wild animal and was driven far from human society and ate grass as cattle do. Night after night he was damp with the dew of heaven, his hair grew remarkably long like eagle’s feathers, and his nails became like a bird’s talons. “When the appointed time had come, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. And I blessed the Most High, praising and glorifying him who lives forever: “His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from one generation to the next. All who dwell on earth are regarded as nothing compared to him. He does whatever he pleases with the armies of heaven and with those who dwell on earth. No one can restrain his mighty hand or dare ask him, ‘What are you doing?’ At the moment I began to praise him, I was restored to my right mind. The Most High gave me back the majesty and splendor of my kingdom. My advisers and noblemen came looking for me. I was restored to my throne, and still more greatness was added to me. And now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, extol, and glorify God, the King of heaven! All his works are right and true, and all his ways are right. He knows how to humble those who strut around in pride.”