Daniel 4:1-18

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.”