Daniel 4 דניאל ד׳

I, Nevuchadnezzar, was at peace in my house and flourishing in my palace.

I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

Therefore, I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Bavel before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

Then came in the magicians, the conjurers, the Kasdians, and the astrologers, and I told the dream before them; but they could not make known to me its interpretation.

Until, at last, Daniel was brought in before me, whose name was Belshazzar, 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:

O Belshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret is hidden from thee, tell me the vision of my dream that I have seen, and its meaning.

Thus were the visions of my head as I lay on my bed: I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.

The tree grew and was strong, and its top reached to the sky, and it was visible to the end of all the earth.

Its boughs were fair and its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. The beasts of the field had shade under it, and the birds of the sky dwelt in its boughs, and all flesh was fed from it.

I saw in the visions of my head as I lay upon my bed, and behold, one who is awake [(i.e., an angel, who is eternally awake)] came down from heaven.

He cried aloud and said thus: Hew down the tree and cut off its boughs, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its boughs.

But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, in a band of iron and brass, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be steeped in the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.

Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given to him, and let seven years pass over him [(in this decree)].

This matter is by the decree of the angels, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, so that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets up over it the basest of men.

This dream, I, King Nevuchadnezzar, have seen. Now, thou, O Belshazzar, declare its interpretation, seeing that all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but thou art able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

Then Daniel, whose name was Belshazzar, was silent for one hour, and his thoughts [i.e., fear of revealing the interpretation] confounded him. The king spoke and said: Belshazzar, let not the dream and its interpretation confound thee. Belshazzar answered and said: My lord, the dream be for those who hate thee, and its interpretation for they enemies.

The tree that thou sawest, which grew and was strong, whose top reached to the sky, and which was visible to all the earth,

the boughs of which were fair, and the fruit of which, abundant, and on it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon the boughs of which the birds of the sky had their habitation,

It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown and reaches to heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

And whereas the king saw a waker and a holy one coming down from heaven and saying: Hew down the tree and destroy it; yet leave the stump of its roots in the earth, in a band of iron and brass, amid the tender grass of the field; and let it be steeped in the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the beasts of the field, until seven years pass over it,

This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king.

That thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass like oxen, and thou shalt be steeped in the dew of heaven, and seven years shall pass over thee [(retribution for his destruction of the Temple, which took seven years to build)],in order that thou mayest know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He pleases.

And whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall be sure for thee [i.e., it shall return to you], after thou shalt come to know that the heavens do rule.

Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, and break off [(from your neck)] thy sins by charity, and thy iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, that there may be an extension of thy tranquility [(and the evil not hasten to come)].

All of this [(interpretation)] came upon the king Nevuchadnezzar.

At the end of twelve months, he was walking in the palace of the kingdom of Bavel.

The king spoke and said: Is not this great Bavel, that I have built by the might of my power as a royal residence, and for the honor of my majesty?

While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying: O King Nevuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee.

And thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven years shall pass over thee, so that thou mayest know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will.

The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nevuchadnezzar. And he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was steeped in the dew of heaven, until his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

At the end of the days [i.e., the seven years], I, Nevuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored Him who lives for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation.

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as naught and He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. And none can stay His hand or say to Him: What doest thou?

At that time, my reason returned to me, and I returned to the glory of my kingdom. And my majesty and splendor returned to me; and my counselors and lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom. And still more greatness was added to me.

Now I, Nevuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways justice; and He is able to abase those who walk in pride.