1 Nebuchadnezzar the king , unto all people , nations , and languages , that dwell in all the earth ; Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
3 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 .
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house , and flourishing in my palace :
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid , and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6 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 .
7 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.
8 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,
9 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 ;
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 .
