Daniel 4

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

1I am King Nebuchadnezzar. I am writing to people everywhere. I am writing to every nation and every language. I hope you have much peace.

2I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

2I am glad to tell you what the Most High God did. He did great signs and wonders for me.

3How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

3How great his signs are! How mighty his wonders are! He is King forever. He rules on and on, in every time.

4I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was resting at home. Everything was going well for me in my palace.

5I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

5Then I had a dream that scared me. The pictures I saw in bed worried me.

6Therefore 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.

6So I gave an order. All the wise men of Babylon were to come to me. I wanted them to tell me what my dream meant.

7Then 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.

7In came the magicians and the men who studied the stars. Other men came who tried to explain hidden things. I told them my dream. Not one of them could tell me what it meant.

8But 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,

8At last Daniel came in to me. My people call him Belteshazzar, after the name of my god. I said the spirit of the holy gods is in him. I told him my dream. I said:

9O 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.

9"Belteshazzar, you are the leader of my magicians. I know the spirit of the holy gods is in you. No secret is too hard for you. Tell me what I saw in my dream. Tell me what it means.

10Thus 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.

10This is what I saw while I lay in my bed. A tree stood in the middle of the land. It was very, very tall.

11The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

11The tree grew big and strong. Its top reached the sky. People could see it from far away, everywhere on earth.

12The 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.

12Its leaves were pretty. It had lots of fruit. There was food on it for everyone. Wild animals rested in its shade. Birds built nests in its branches. Every living thing ate from it.

13I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

13As I lay in my bed I saw more. A watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.

14He 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:

14He called out in a loud voice. He said, 'Chop down the tree. Cut off its branches. Shake off its leaves. Throw its fruit around. Make the animals run out from under it. Make the birds leave its branches.

15Nevertheless 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:

15But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Put a band of iron and bronze around it. Leave it in the soft grass of the field. Let him get wet with the dew at night. Let him live out in the grass with the animals.

NoteThe KJV says "brass," but the metal here is bronze, which is a mix of copper and tin.

16Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

16Let his mind stop being a man's mind. Give him the mind of an animal instead. Let seven times pass over him.

NoteThe text says "seven times" but never says how long one "time" is.

17This 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.

17The watchers have decided this. The holy ones have given this word. It is so that living people will learn one thing. The Most High God rules over the kingdoms of people. He gives a kingdom to anyone he wants. He can even put the lowest person in charge of it.'

18This 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.

18That is the dream I saw, King Nebuchadnezzar. Now tell me what it means, Belteshazzar. None of my wise men can tell me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

19Then 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.

19Then Daniel, who is also called Belteshazzar, sat still and upset for a while. His own thoughts frightened him. The king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream upset you. Do not let its meaning upset you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, I wish this dream were about the people who hate you. I wish it were about your enemies.

NoteThe KJV says Daniel was "astonied for one hour." That means he was stunned for a while, not exactly sixty minutes.

20The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

20You saw a tree that grew big and strong. Its top reached the sky. People everywhere on earth could see it.

21Whose 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:

21Its leaves were pretty and it had lots of fruit. There was food on it for everyone. Wild animals lived under it. Birds made their homes in its branches.

22It 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.

22King, that tree is you! You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has grown as high as the sky. You rule far away, to the ends of the earth.

23And 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;

23King, you saw a watcher, a holy one, come down from heaven. He said, 'Chop the tree down and ruin it. But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Put a band of iron and bronze around it. Leave it in the soft grass of the field. Let him get wet with the dew at night. Let him live out in the grass with the animals, until seven times pass over him.'

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

24Here is what it means, king. This is what the Most High God has decided about you, my lord.

25That 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.

25You will be sent away from other people. You will live outside with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox. The dew will make you wet at night. Seven times will pass over you. Then you will know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people. He gives a kingdom to anyone he wants.

26And 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.

26The order said to leave the stump and its roots. That means your kingdom will be given back to you. It will happen once you know that Heaven rules.

27Wherefore, 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.

27So please take my advice, king. Stop doing wrong and start doing what is right. Turn from your sins by being kind to poor people. Then maybe your good times will last longer."

28All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

28All of this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

29At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

29Twelve months later, he was walking on the roof of his royal palace in Babylon.

30The 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?

30The king said, "Look at great Babylon! I built it with my own great power. It is my royal home. It shows how grand I am."

31While 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.

31He was still speaking when a voice came from heaven. It said, "King Nebuchadnezzar, this word is for you. Your kingdom has been taken away from you.

32And 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.

32You will be sent away from other people. You will live outside with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox. Seven times will pass over you. Then you will know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people. He gives a kingdom to anyone he wants."

33The 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.

33Right then it all came true for Nebuchadnezzar. He was sent away from other people. He ate grass like an ox. The dew made his body wet. His hair grew long like eagle feathers. His nails grew long like bird claws.

34And 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:

34When those days were over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My clear thinking came back to me. I thanked the Most High God. I praised and honored the One who lives forever. He rules forever. He is King on and on, in every time.

35And 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?

35Next to him, all the people on earth count as nothing. He does what he wants with the army of heaven. He does what he wants among the people on earth. No one can stop his hand. No one can ask him, "What have you done?"

36At 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.

36At that same time my clear thinking came back. My honor and my shining greatness came back too, and my kingdom was grand again. My helpers and my important men came looking for me. I was made king again. I was given even greater honor than before.

37Now 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.

37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise the King of heaven. I lift him up and honor him. Everything he does is true. Everything he does is fair. He is able to bring down people who are proud.