Dual Panel1“King <04430> Nebuchadnezzar <05020>, to all <03606> peoples <05972>, nations <0524>, and language groups <03961> that <01768> live <01753> in all <03606> the land <0772>: Peace <08001> and prosperity <07680>!
2I am delighted <08232> to tell <02324> you about <06925> the signs <0852> and wonders <08540> that <01768> the most high <05943> God <0426> has done <05648> for <05974> me.
3“How <04101> great <07260> are his signs <0852>! How <04101> mighty <08624> are his wonders <08540>! His kingdom <04437> will last forever <05957>, and his authority <07985> continues from <05974> one generation <01859> to the next <01859>.”
4I <0576>, Nebuchadnezzar <05020>, was <01934> relaxing <07954> in my home <01005>, living luxuriously <07487> in my palace <01965>.
5I saw <02370> a dream <02493> that frightened <01763> me badly <01763>. The things <02031> I imagined <02031> while lying on <05922> my bed <04903>– these visions <02376> of my mind <07217>– were terrifying <0927> me.
6So I <04481> issued <07761> an order <02942> for all <03606> the wise men <02445> of Babylon <0895> to be brought <05954> before <06925> me so that <01768> they could make known <03046> to me the interpretation <06591> of the dream <02493>.
7When <0116> the magicians <02749>, astrologers <0826>, wise men <03779>, and diviners <01505> entered <05954>, I <0576> recounted <0560> the dream <02493> for them <06925>. But they were unable <03809> to make known <03046> its interpretation <06591> to me.
8Later <0318> <05705> Daniel <01841> entered <05954> (whose <01768> name <08036> is Belteshazzar <01096> after the name <08036> of my god <0426>, and in whom <01768> there is a spirit <07308> of the holy <06922> gods <0426>). I recounted <0560> the dream <02493> for him as well,
9saying, “Belteshazzar <01096>, chief <07229> of the magicians <02749>, in whom <01768> I <0576> know <03046> there to be a spirit <07308> of the holy <06922> gods <0426> and whom <01768> no <03809> <03606> mystery <07328> baffles <0598>, consider my dream <02493> that <01768> I saw <02370> and set forth <0560> its interpretation <06591>!
10Here are the visions <02376> of my mind <07217> while I was on <05922> my bed <04903>. While I was watching <02370>, there was <01934> a tree <0363> in the middle <01459> of the land <0772>. It was enormously <07690> tall <07314>.
11The tree <0363> grew <07236> large and strong <08631>. Its top <07314> reached far <04291> into the sky <08065>; it could be seen <02379> from the borders <05491> of all <03606> the land <0772>.
12Its foliage <06074> was attractive <08209> and its fruit <04> plentiful <07690>; on it there was food <04203> enough for all <03606>. Under <08460> it the wild <01251> animals <02423> used to seek shade <02927>, and in its branches <06056> the birds <06853> of the sky <08065> used to nest <01753>. All <03606> creatures used to feed <02110> themselves from <04481> it <01321>.
13While I was watching <01934> <02370> in my mind’s <07217> visions <02376> on <05922> my bed <04903>, a holy <06922> sentinel <05894> came down <05182> from <04481> heaven <08065>.
14He called out <07123> loudly <02429> as <03652> follows <0560>: ‘Chop down <01414> the tree <0363> and lop off <07113> its branches <06056>! Strip off <05426> its foliage <06074> and scatter <0921> its fruit <04>! Let the animals <02423> flee <05111> from <04481> under <08479> it and the birds <06853> from <04481> its branches <06056>!
15But <01297> leave <07662> its taproot <08330> <06136> in the ground <0772>, with a band <0613> of <01768> iron <06523> and bronze <05174> around it surrounded by the grass <01883> of <01768> the field <01251>. Let it become damp <06647> with the dew <02920> of the sky <08065>, and let it live <02508> with <05974> the animals <02423> in the grass <06211> of the land <0772>.
16Let his mind <03825> be altered <08133> from <04481> that of a human being <0606>, and let an animal’s <02423> mind <03825> be given <03052> to him, and let seven periods <07655> of time <05732> go by <02499> for <05922> him.
17This announcement <06600> is by the decree <01510> of the sentinels <05894>; this decision <07595> is by the pronouncement <03983> of the holy <06922> ones, so that <01701> <05705> those who <01768> are alive <02417> may understand <03046> that <01768> the Most High <05943> has authority <07990> over human <0606> kingdoms <04437>, and he bestows <05415> them on whomever <01768> <04479> he wishes <06634>. He establishes <06966> over <05921> them even the lowliest <08215> of human beings <0606>.’
18“This <01836> is the dream <02493> that I <0576>, King <04430> Nebuchadnezzar <05020>, saw <02370>. Now you <0607>, Belteshazzar <01096>, declare <0560> its interpretation <06591>, for none <06903> <03606> of <01768> the wise men <02445> in my kingdom <04437> are able <03202> to make known <03046> to me the interpretation <06591>. But you <0607> can do <03546> so, for <01768> a spirit <07308> of the holy <06922> gods <0426> is in you.”
19Then <0116> Daniel <01841> (whose <01768> name <08036> is also Belteshazzar <01096>) was upset <08075> for a brief <02298> time <08160>; his thoughts <07476> were alarming <0927> him. The king <04430> said <0560> <06032>, “Belteshazzar <01096>, don’t <0409> let the dream <02493> and its interpretation <06591> alarm <0927> you.” But Belteshazzar <01096> replied <06032>, “Sir <04756>, if only the dream <02493> were for <0560> your enemies <08131> and its interpretation <06591> applied to your adversaries <06146>!
20The tree <0363> that <01768> you saw <02370> that <01768> grew <07236> large and strong <08631>, whose top <07314> reached <04291> to the sky <08065>, and which could be seen <02379> in all <03606> the land <0772>,
21whose foliage <06074> was attractive <08209> and its fruit <04> plentiful <07690>, and from which there was food <04203> available for all <03606>, under <08460> whose branches wild <01251> animals <02423> used to live <01753>, and in whose branches <06056> birds <06853> of the sky <08065> used to nest <07932>–
22it <0607> is you <0607>, O king <04430>! For <01768> you have become great <07236> and strong <08631>. Your greatness <07238> is such that <07236> it reaches <04291> to heaven <08065>, and your authority <07985> to the ends <05491> of the earth <0772>.
23As for <01768> the king <04430> seeing <02370> a holy <06922> sentinel <05894> coming down <05182> from <04481> heaven <08065> and saying <0560>, ‘Chop down <01414> the tree <0363> and destroy <02255> it, but <01297> leave <07662> its taproot <08330> <06136> in the ground <0772>, with a band <0613> of <01768> iron <06523> and bronze <05174> around it, surrounded by the grass <01883> of <01768> the field <01251>. Let it become damp <06647> with the dew <02920> of the sky <08065>, and let it live with <05974> the wild <01251> animals <02423>, until <05705> seven <07655> periods <02508> of time <05732> go by <02499> for <05922> him’–
24this <01836> is the interpretation <06591>, O king <04430>! It is the decision <01510> of the Most High <05943> that <01768> this has <01932> happened <04291> to <05922> my lord <04756> the king <04430>.
25You will be driven <02957> from <04481> human society <0606>, and you will <01934> live <04070> with <05974> the wild <01251> animals <02423>. You will be fed <02939> grass <06211> like oxen <08450>, and you will become damp <06647> with the dew <02920> of the sky <08065>. Seven periods <07655> of time <05732> will pass <02499> by for <05921> you, before <05705> you understand <03046> that <01768> the Most High <05943> is ruler <07990> over human <0606> kingdoms <04437> and gives <05415> them to whomever <01768> <04479> he wishes <06634>.
26They said <0560> to leave <07662> the taproot <08330> <06136> of <01768> the tree <0363>, for your kingdom <04437> will be restored <07011> to <04481> you when <01768> you come to understand <03046> that <01768> heaven <08065> rules <07990>.
27Therefore <03861>, O king <04430>, may my advice <04431> be pleasing <08232> to you. Break away <06562> from <05921> your sins <02408> by doing what is right <06665>, and from your iniquities <05758> by showing mercy <02604> to the poor <06033>. Perhaps <02006> your prosperity <07963> will be <01934> prolonged <0754>.”
28Now all <03606> of this happened <04291> to <05922> King <04430> Nebuchadnezzar <05020>.
29After <07118> twelve <06236> <08648> months <03393>, he happened to be <01934> walking around <01981> on the battlements <05922> of the royal <04437> palace <01965> of <01768> Babylon <0895>.
30The king <04430> uttered <06032> these words <0560>: “Is <01932> this <01668> not <03809> the great <07229> Babylon <0895> that <01768> I <0576> have built <01124> for a royal <04437> residence <01005> by my own mighty <08632> strength <02632> and for my majestic <01923> honor <03367>?”
31While <05751> these words <04406> were still on the king’s <04430> lips <06433>, a voice <07032> came down <05308> from <04481> heaven <08065>: “It is hereby announced <0560> to you, King <04430> Nebuchadnezzar <05020>, that your kingdom <04437> has been removed <05709> from <04481> you!
32You will be driven <02957> from <04481> human society <0606>, and you will live <04070> with <05974> the wild <01251> animals <02423>. You will be fed <02939> grass <06211> like oxen <08450>, and seven periods <07655> of time <05732> will pass <02499> by for <05921> you before <05705> you understand <03046> that <01768> the Most High <05943> is ruler <07990> over human <0606> kingdoms <04437> and gives <05415> them to whomever <01768> <04479> he wishes <06634>.”
33Now in that very moment <08160> this pronouncement <04406> about <05922> Nebuchadnezzar <05020> came true <05487>. He was driven <02957> from <04481> human society <0606>, he ate <0399> grass <06211> like oxen <08450>, and his body <01655> became damp <06647> with the dew <02920> of the sky <08065>, until <05705> his hair <08177> became long like <07236> an eagle’s <05403> feathers, and his nails <02953> like a bird’s <06853> claws.
34But at the end <07118> of the appointed time <03118> I <0576>, Nebuchadnezzar <05020>, looked up <05191> toward heaven <08065>, and my sanity <04486> returned <08421> to <05922> me. I extolled <01289> the Most High <05943>, and I praised <07624> and glorified <01922> the one who <01768> lives <02417> forever <05957>. For his authority <07985> is an everlasting <05957> authority <07985>, and his kingdom <04437> extends from <05974> one generation <01859> to the next <01859>.
35All <03606> the inhabitants <01753> of the earth <0772> are regarded <02804> as nothing <03809>. He does <05648> as he wishes <06634> with the army <02429> of heaven <08065> and with those who <01768> inhabit <01753> the earth <0772>. No one <03809> slaps <04223> his hand <03028> and says <0560> to him, ‘What <04101> have you done <05648>?’
36At that time <02166> my sanity <04486> returned <08421> to me <05922>. I was restored to the honor <03367> of my kingdom <04437>, and my splendor <01923> returned <08421> to me <05922>. My ministers <01907> and my nobles <07261> were seeking <01156> me out <05922>, and I was reinstated <08627> over my kingdom <04437>. I became even greater <03493> <07238> than before <03255>.
37Now <03705> I <0576>, Nebuchadnezzar <05020>, praise <07624> and exalt <07313> and glorify <01922> the King <04430> of <01768> heaven <08065>, for all <03606> his deeds <04567> are right <07187> and his ways <0735> are just <01780>. He is able <03202> to bring down <08214> those who <01768> live <01981> in pride <01467>.