Daniel - Chapter 4

1. I, Nebuchadnezzar, was tranquil in my house and flourishing in my palace.

2. I saw a dream, and it frightened me, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my mind terrified me.

3. So I issued an order to bring in before me all the wise men of Babylon, that they should let me know the meaning of the dream.

4. Then the necromancers, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the demonologists entered, and I related my dream to them, but they did not tell me its meaning.

5. Until, at last, Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, like the name of my god, entered before me, in whom is the spirit of holy angels, and I told him the dream.

6. "O Belteshazzar, head of the necromancers, since I know that the spirit of holy angels is in you, and no secret is hidden from you, [this is] the vision of my dream that I saw; now tell me its interpretation.

7. And [these are] the visions of my mind [that I had] on my bed; I was looking, and behold [there was] a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was tremendous.

8. The tree grew and became strong, and its height reached the sky, and its appearance [was seen] to the end of all the earth.

9. Its branches were beautiful and its fruit was plentiful, and on it was sustenance for all. Under it, the beasts of the field took shade, and in its branches dwelt the birds of the heavens, and all flesh was nourished from it.

10. I saw in the visions of my mind on my bed, and behold a wakeful holy one descended from the heavens.

11. Crying out loudly, and so he said, "Cut down the tree and cut off its branches, shake off its branches and scatter its fruit; the beasts shall wander away from beneath it and the birds from its branches.

12. But leave its main roots in the ground, and in fetters of iron and copper in the grass of the field, and with the dew of the heavens it shall be drenched, and with the beasts shall be its lot in the grass of the earth.

13. They will change his heart from a man's, and the heart of a beast will be given him, and seven periods will pass over him.

14. By the decree of the wakeful ones is the matter and by the word of the holy ones is the edict, in order that the living should know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of man, and to whom He wishes He gives it, and the lowest of men He sets upon it.

15. This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen, and you, Belteshazzar, tell [me] its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom cannot let me know the interpretation, but you can, because the spirit of holy angels is in you."

16. Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was bewildered for awhile, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king spoke up and said, "Belteshazzar, let the dream and its interpretation not alarm you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream be for your enemies and its interpretation for your foes.

17. The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, and whose height reached the sky, and whose appearance [was seen] by the entire earth.

18. And whose branches were beautiful, and whose fruit was plentiful, and on which was sustenance for all, under which dwelt the beasts of the field, and in whose branches dwelt the birds of the heavens.

19. That is you, O king, for you have become great and strong, and your greatness has increased and reached the heaven and your dominion [extends] to the end of the earth.

20. And what the king saw-a holy wakeful one descending from heaven, and he said, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its main roots in the ground, and [chain him] with fetters of iron and copper in the grass of the field, and with the dew of the heavens he shall be drenched, and with the beasts of the fields shall be his lot, until seven periods pass over him.'

21. This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which befalls my lord, the king.

22. And they will banish you from mankind, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they will feed you grass like the cattle, and with the dew of the heavens you shall be drenched, and seven periods shall pass over you until you know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men, and to whom He wishes He gives it.

23. And what they said to leave, the main roots of the tree, your kingdom will remain yours, as soon as you know that Heaven rules.

24. Indeed, O king, may my counsel please you, and with charity you will remove your sin and your iniquity by showing mercy to the poor; perhaps your tranquility will last."

25. All this befell King Nebuchadnezzar.

26. At the end of twelve months, he was walking upon the royal palace of Babylon.

27. The king raised his voice and said, "Is this not the great Babylon, which I built for a royal palace with the strength of my power and for the honor of my glory?"

28. The word was still in the king's mouth, [when] a voice fell from heaven, [which said] "To you they said 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, your kingdom has turned away from you.

29. From man they will banish you, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field; like cattle, they will feed you grass, and seven periods will pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of man, and to whom He wishes, He gives it."'

30. At that time, the matter was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar, and he was banished from man, he ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of the heavens, until his hair grew like [the feathers of] eagles and his nails like [the claws of] birds.

31. And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my understanding was restored to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and glorified Him Who lives to Eternity, Whose dominion is an eternal dominion, and Whose kingdom is with every generation.

32. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reckoned as nothing, and according to His will, He foes with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth, and no one can stop His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?"

33. At that time, my understanding was restored to me, and I returned to the glory of my kingdom, and my splendor was restored to me; and my leaders and my dignitaries were seeking me, and I was established upon my kingship and excessive greatness was added to me.

34. Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, Whose works are all true and Whose ways are just and Who can humble those who walk with arrogance.