Daniel 4

Daniel Chapter 4

1Nebuchadnezzar acknowledgeth God's eternal dominion: 4he relateth a dream which the magicians could not interpret: 8Daniel hearing the dream, 19interpreteth it. 28The dream fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar's loss of dignity and reason for a time; which being restored to him, he glorifieth God.
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, 1unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; 2Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 aI thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
3 1How great are his signs! and how mighty are his 2wonders! his kingdom is an 3everlasting kingdom, and his 4dominion is from generation to generation.
4 ¶ I Nebuchadnezzar was 1at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
5 I saw a dream 1which made me afraid, and 2the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6 1Therefore made I a decree 2to bring in all 3the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Then 1came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
8 ¶ But at the last 1Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of 2my god, and 3in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
9 O Belteshazzar, 1master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret 2troubleth thee, 3tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; aI saw, and behold 1a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof 1reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: 1the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an 1holy one came down from heaven;
14 He cried aaloud, and said thus, 1Hew down the tree, and cut off 2his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15 1Nevertheless leave the stump of his 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:
16 Let his heart 1be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and 2let seven times pass over him.
17 This matter is 1by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the 2holy ones: to the intent 3that 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 4the basest of men.
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom 1are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but 2thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
19 ¶ Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, 1was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, 2let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, 3My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
20 1The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22 1It 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.
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one 1coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet 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;
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is 1the decree of the most High, which is come 2upon my lord the king:
25 That they shall 1drive thee from men, 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 shall pass over thee, 2till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; 1thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27 1Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, 2and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; 3if it may be aa lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 1All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked ain the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 1The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the 2house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While 1the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, 2to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And 1they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, 2until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The 1same hour was the thing fulfilled upon 2Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and 3his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
34 And 1at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar 2lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and 3I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that 4liveth for ever, whose dominion is 5an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And 1all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and 2he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: 3and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the 1glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and 2my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and 3I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty 4was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar 1praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, 2all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and 3those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Daniel 4