Nebuchadnezzar Confesses God’s Kingdom

Nebuchadnezzar the king,

to all the peoples, nations, and languages who are dwelling in all the earth:

Your⁺ peace be multiplied! The signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me, it seemed proper for me to show.

His signs, how great,

and His wonders, how mighty!

His kingdom is a kingdom for the age,

and His dominion is from generation to generation!

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Tree

4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house, and flourishing in my palace. 5I saw a dream, and it frightened me, and the thoughts upon my bed and visions of my head alarmed me. And from me a decree was set forth to bring in before me all the wise men of Babylon, that the interpretation of the dream they should make known to me. Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the astrologers,† and the diviners; and I told the dream before them, and its interpretation they could not make known to me.

And at last came before me Daniel—of whom his name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and for whom the Spirit of the holy gods is in him—and I told the dream before him: “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the holy gods is in you, and a secret is not constraining for you, may you tell to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation. 10And the visions of my head upon my bed:

I was looking, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth,

and its height was great.

11The tree grew large and became strong,

and its height reached to the heavens,

and the sight of it

to the ends of all the earth.

12Its leaves were lovely,

and its fruit abundant,

and food for all was in it;

under it the beasts of the field found shade,

and in its branches the birds of the heavens dwelt,

and from it all flesh was fed.

13I was looking at the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one† from heaven, was coming down. 14He called out with strength, and thus said:

‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches.

Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.

Let the beasts flee from under it,

and the birds from its branches.

15Nevertheless, leave the stump and its roots in the ground,

with a band of iron and bronze,

in the grass of the field;

and let it be wet with the dew of heaven,

and his portion with the beasts in the grass of the earth.

16Let his heart be changed from that of a man,

and let the heart of a beast be given to him,

and let seven times pass over him.

17By decree of the watchers is the sentence,

and by word of the holy ones is the decision,

in order that those living may know

that the Most High is ruling over the kingdom of men;

and to whom He wishes, He gives it,

and the lowest of men He sets over it.’

18This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, Belteshazzar, must declare its interpretation, inasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation. And you are able, for the Spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

19Then Daniel, of whom his name is Belteshazzar, was dismayed for one moment, and his thoughts disturbed him.

The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, the dream and its interpretation, do not let it trouble you.”

Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, the dream, be for those hating you, and its interpretation for your enemies!”

20The tree that you saw, which grew large and became strong, and whose height reached to the heavens, and in view of all the earth, 21and whose leaves were lovely, and its fruit abundant, and food for all was in it, under which dwelt the beasts of the field, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens dwelt— 22it is you, O king, who have grown great and become strong; for your greatness has grown great, and it reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

23In that the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven and saying,

‘Chop down the tree and destroy it,

but its stump and roots leave in the earth,

with a band that is of iron and bronze,

in the tender grass that is of the field;

and with the dew of heaven let it be wet,

and with the beasts of the field let his portion be,

until that seven times should pass over him!’

24This is the interpretation, O king, and the decree of the Most High it is that has come upon my lord the king:

25that they shall drive you away from men, and with the beasts of the field shall be your dwelling; and they shall make you eat grass like oxen, and from the dew of heaven they shall wet you; and seven times shall pass over you, until that you come to know that the Most High is ruling over the kingdom of men, and to whom that, He chooses He gives it.

26And as they commanded to leave the stump and its roots for the tree, your kingdom will be assured to you from when you come to know that Heaven is ruling. 27Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you; and may you break off your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, that there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

The Second Dream Fulfilled

28This all came upon Nebuchadnezzar the king. 29At the end of twelve months, he was walking about the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30The king answered and said, “Is not this the great Babylon, which I myself have built as a house for the kingdom by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty?”

31The words still in the mouth of the king, a voice from heaven fell: “To you it is spoken, Nebuchadnezzar the king: The kingdom has passed away from you! 32And they shall drive you away from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; they shall make you eat you grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until when you come to know that the Most High is ruling over the kingdom of man, and to whom that He chooses, He gives it.”

33At that moment the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven from men, and he ate grass like oxen, and with the dew of heaven his body became wet, until his hair had grown as eagles, and his nails as birds.

Nebuchadnezzar Restored

34And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to the heavens, and my understanding returned to me, and to the Most High I offered blessing, and to the One Living forever I gave praise and honor:

“For His dominion is a dominion everlasting,

and His kingdom is from generation to generation;

and all those dwelling in the earth

are regarded as nothing,

and He does according to His will

among the host of the heaven

and those dwelling in the earth;

and there is no one who can strike on His hand

or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

36At that time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me; and my counselors and nobles sought for me, and to my kingdom I was restored, and surpassing greatness was added to me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for whom all His works are true, and His ways justice, and those who walk about in pride, He is able to bring low.