Nebuchadnezzar the king
, unto all
people
, nations
, and languages
, that dwell
in all
the earth
; Peace
be multiplied
unto you.
I thought it good
to shew
the signs
and wonders
that the high
God
hath wrought
toward
me.
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
.
I Nebuchadnezzar
was
at rest
in mine 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 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
.
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.
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 ,
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.
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
.
The tree grew
, and was strong
, and the height
thereof reached
unto heaven
, and the sight
thereof to the end
of all
the earth
:
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
.
I saw in the visions
of my head
upon
my bed
, and, behold
, a watcher
and an holy one
came down
from
heaven
;
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
:
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
:
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.
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
.
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.
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
.
The tree that thou sawest
, which grew
, and was strong
, whose height
reached
unto the heaven
, and the sight
thereof to all
the earth
;
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
:
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
.
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;
This is the interpretation
, O king
, and this
is the decree
of the most High
, which is come
upon
my lord
the king
:
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
.
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
.
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
.
All this came
upon
the king
Nebuchadnezzar
.
At the end of twelve
months
he walked
in
the palace
of the kingdom
of Babylon
.
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
?
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.
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
.
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 .
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
:
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?
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.
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
.