Nebuchadnezzar
the king, unto all people, nations, and
languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be
multiplied unto you.
02 I thought it good to shew the signs and
wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
03 How great are his signs! and how mighty are
his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to
generation.
04 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house,
and flourishing in my palace:
05 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the
thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head
troubled me.
06 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the
wise men of Babylon before me, that they might
make known unto me the interpretation of the
dream.
07 Then came 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.
08 But at the last Daniel came in before me,
whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the
name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the
holy gods: and before him I told the dream,
saying,
09 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians,
because I know that the spirit of the holy gods
is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell 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;
I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the
earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height
thereof reached 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: the
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 holy one came down
from heaven;
14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the
tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his
leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get
away from under it, and the fowls from his
branches:
15 Nevertheless 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 be changed from man's, and let a
beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven
times pass over him.
17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers,
and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to
the intent that 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 the
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 are not able to make known unto
me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the
spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was
astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled
him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let
not the dream, or the interpretation thereof,
trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My
lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and
the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was
strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and
the sight thereof to all the earth;
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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 It 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 coming 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 the decree of the most High, which is come
upon my lord the king:
25 That they shall drive 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, till 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; thy kingdom shall be sure unto
thee, after that thou shalt have known that the
heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be
acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by
righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing
mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of
thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the
palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great
Babylon, that I have built for the house of the
kingdom by the might of my power, and for the
honour of my majesty?
31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there
fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king
Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom
is departed from thee.
32 And they 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, until thou know
that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men,
and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon
Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and
did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with
the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like
eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds'
claws.
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar
lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine
understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the
most High, and I praised and honoured him that
liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting
dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to
generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are
reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his
will in the army of heaven, and among the
inhabitants of the earth: and 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 glory of my kingdom, mine honour and
brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors
and my lords sought unto me; and I was
established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty
was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and
honour the King of heaven, all whose works are
truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk
in pride he is able to abase.
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