1 ¶ King Nebuchadnezzar, to all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied to you.

2 I am pleased to tell you about the signs and wonders that the high God has done for me.

3 How great are his miracles! 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 ease in my house, and prospering in my palace:

5 When I had a dream that frightened me, and the images and visions in my head as I lay upon my bed troubled me.

6 So I ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be brought before me, that they might tell me what the dream meant.

7 Then the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in: and I told them the dream; but they could not tell me what it meant.

8 But at last Daniel came before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and in whom is the Spirit of the holy God: and I told him the dream, saying,

9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of the dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.

10 The visions in my head as I lay upon my bed were these; I saw a tree in the midst of the earth, and it was of great height.

11 The tree grew, and was strong, and its height reached to heaven, and it could be seen to the most distant part of the earth:

12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, the birds of heaven lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

13 As I was lying on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my head, an observer, a holy one come down from heaven;

14 He cried aloud, and said this, Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts get out from under it, and the birds out of its branches:

15 Nevertheless leave the stump with its roots in the ground. Let him be bound with a chain of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field:

16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of an animal; and let him remain like that for seven seasons.

17 The observers have decreed this, and the holy ones have announced it: to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives dominion to whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.

18 This is the dream that I king Nebuchadnezzar saw. Now you, O Belteshazzar, tell me its interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to explain it to me: but you are able; for the Spirit of the holy God is in you.

19 ¶ Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stunned for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, Belteshazzar, do not let the dream, or its interpretation, trouble you. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream favors those who hate you, and its interpretation will please your enemies.

20 The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to heaven, and the sight of it to all the earth;

21 Whose leaves were beautiful, and fruit abundant, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field lived, and upon whose branches the birds of heaven had their nests:

22 It is you, O king, who have grown and become strong: for your greatness has grown, and reached to heaven, and your dominion to the distant parts the earth.

23 And as the king saw an observer and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Cut the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground. Let him be bound with a chain of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven seasons pass over him;

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

25 That they will drive you from men, and you will live with the beasts of the field, and they will make you eat grass like oxen, and they will wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven seasons will pass over you, till you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives dominion to whomever he will.

26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the tree with its roots; your kingdom will be returned to you, after you have learned that the God of heaven rules.

27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break with your sins by doing right, and your injustice by showing mercy to the poor; and perhaps your prosperity may be extended.

28 ¶ All this happened to king Nebuchadnezzar.

29 Twelve months later he was walking in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 And the king said, Is not this the great Babylon, and the royal palace that I have built by my own power, to display the glory of my majesty?

31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken; The kingdom is taken from you.

32 And they will drive you from men, and you will live with the beasts of the field: they will make you eat grass like oxen, and seven seasons will pass over you, until you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives dominion to whomever he will.

33 At that moment the prophesy concerning Nebuchadnezzar came to pass: and he was driven from men, and ate grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

34 ¶ And at the end of that time I Nebuchadnezzar 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, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing: and he does whatever he wants with the army of heaven, and the inhabitants of the earth: and no one can stop him, or say to him, What are you doing?

36 At the same time my reason returned to me; and my majesty and splendor returned to me, for the glory of my kingdom; and my counselors and my lords sought me; and I was again put in charge in my kingdom, and even more greatness came to me.

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise, extol, and honor the King of heaven, because all that he does is right, and his ways just: and he is able to humble those who walk in pride.