Nebuchadnezzar

1King Nebuchadnezzar made a tall statue out of gold. It was sixty cubits high and six cubits wide. He set it up on the flat land of Dura, in Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

NoteA cubit was about as long as a grown-up's arm from elbow to fingers. That is about eighteen inches. So this gold statue was taller than a house. Babylon was a big, strong country far from the land of the Jews.

2Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather all his leaders. He called rulers, governors, judges, money keepers, advisers, lawmen, and every other leader. They were to come to the special day when the statue was shown to everyone.

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

NoteA dedication was a special day for something brand new. Everyone came together to see it and cheer for it. A governor was a leader who ran one part of the land for the king.

3So all those leaders came to that special day for the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood in front of it.

Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

4Then a herald, a man who shouted the king's messages, called out loudly. He said, "People from every nation, who speak every language, here is your order."

Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

NoteA herald was the king's shouting man. There were no loudspeakers or phones back then. He yelled the king's words so a big crowd could hear.

5"When you hear the horns, flutes, harps, and all kinds of music, you must bow down. You must bow to the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up."

That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:

NoteThe old King James lists a "sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer." Those are old names for horns and instruments with strings. To worship something means to bow down and treat it like God.

6"Anyone who does not bow down and worship will be thrown into the burning furnace right away."

And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

NoteA furnace was a huge oven built of brick. Workers burned hot fires inside to bake bricks or melt metal.

7So when all the people heard the horns, flutes, harps, and all the music, they bowed. People from every nation and language bowed down to the gold statue the king had set up.

Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

8Just then some wise men of Babylon came forward. They told on the Jews and wanted them to get in trouble.

Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

NoteThe Jews were God's people from the land of Israel. Soldiers from Babylon had taken many of them far from home. The old King James calls these accusers "Chaldeans." They were wise men of Babylon who studied the stars and dreams.

9They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, may you live forever!"

They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

Note"O king, live for ever" was just a polite greeting. People said it to a king, the way we say hello.

10"O king, you made a rule. When people hear the horns, flutes, harps, and all the music, they must bow down to the gold statue."

Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:

11"And anyone who does not bow down and worship must be thrown into the burning furnace."

And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

12"But some Jews you put in charge of Babylon have paid no attention to you, O king. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego do not serve your gods. They do not bow to the gold statue you set up."

There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

NoteShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three young Jewish men. The king of Babylon had given them these new Babylonian names.

13Nebuchadnezzar was very angry. He ordered his men to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So they were brought to the king.

Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is this true? Do you really refuse to serve my gods and bow to my gold statue?"

Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

15"When you hear the horns, flutes, harps, and all the music, get ready to bow to my statue. If you do, that is fine. If you will not bow, you will be thrown into the burning furnace right away. What god could save you from me then?"

Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king. "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you about this."

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

NoteThe old King James says "we are not careful to answer thee." Long ago "careful" meant full of worry. They meant they did not need to argue about it.

17"If we are thrown in, the God we serve can save us from the burning furnace. And he will take us out of your hand, O king."

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18"But even if he does not, you should know this, O king. We will not serve your gods. We will not bow to your gold statue."

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

19Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of rage. His face turned hard toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered his men to make the furnace seven times hotter than usual.

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

NoteThe old King James says "the form of his visage was changed." A visage is a face. Seven times hotter was a way of saying as hot as it could get. Nobody really measured it.

20He told the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up the three men. Then they were to throw them into the burning furnace.

And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

21So the men were tied up. They still wore their robes, pants, head coverings, and other clothes. Then they were thrown into the burning furnace.

Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

NoteThe old King James says "hosen," an old word for pants. Their "hats" were long cloths wrapped around the head.

22The king's order was in a hurry, and the furnace was very hot. The flames killed the soldiers who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego up to it.

Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

NoteThe furnace had an opening near the top. The soldiers had to carry the men up to it.

23And the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the burning furnace. They were still tied up tight.

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was amazed. He jumped up and asked his advisers, "Didn't we throw three tied-up men into the fire?" They answered, "Yes, O king, we did."

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

NoteThe old King James says the king was "astonied." That is an old spelling of astonished. It means very surprised.

25He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire. They are not tied up, and they are not hurt. The fourth one looks like a son of the gods."

He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

NoteThe old King James says the fourth man looked "like the Son of God." In the king's own language, he meant the man looked like a god or an angel.

26Then Nebuchadnezzar came close to the door of the burning furnace. He called, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out!" So the three men came out of the fire.

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

NoteMost High means highest of all. It was a way of saying the greatest God there is.

27All the leaders and the king's advisers crowded around them and looked. The fire had not hurt their bodies at all. Not one hair was burned. Their clothes were fine, and they did not even smell like smoke.

And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

NoteThe old King James says not a hair was "singed." Singed means burned just a little at the tips.

28Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and saved his servants who trusted him. They disobeyed my order and were willing to die. They would not serve or bow to any god but their own God."

Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

NoteAn angel is a messenger God sends to help or to speak for him.

29"So I make this rule. If anyone from any nation or language says anything bad against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that person will be cut in pieces. Their house will be knocked down into a pile of trash. No other god can save people the way this God does."

Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

NoteThe old King James says their houses would be made a "dunghill." That was a pile of trash and animal waste. It meant the house would be wrecked completely.

30Then the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego better jobs in Babylon.

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

NotePromoted means the king gave them bigger and more important jobs.

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.

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

NoteNebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon, a strong country long ago. This chapter is a letter he sent out to everyone. "Peace be multiplied unto you" was a warm way to say hello.

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

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

Note"The high God" means the God who is higher than every other god. Signs and wonders are amazing things that show God's power.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

NoteLong ago, people believed some dreams carried important messages. That is why a scary dream worried a king so much.

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.

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.

NoteThe wise men were the king's helpers. Their job was to explain dreams and strange signs to him.

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.

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.

NoteMagicians said spells. Astrologers watched the stars to guess what would happen. The Chaldeans and soothsayers also tried to explain hidden things. All of them worked for the king.

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:

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,

NoteKings often gave new names to people they took from other lands. Daniel came from Judah, and Babylon named him Belteshazzar. The king prayed to many gods, so he says "gods" here.

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.

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.

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.

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.

NoteDreams like this one use pictures. The tree in the dream stands for something real.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

NoteA watcher is an angel. Angels are messengers who come from God in heaven.

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.

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:

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 of heaven. Let him live out in the grass with the animals.

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:

NoteDew is tiny drops of water. It forms on the grass during the night. Brass here means bronze, a hard metal much like copper.

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

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.

Note"Seven times" most likely means seven years. The book does not say for sure.

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 even puts the lowest person in charge of it.'

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.

Note"The basest of men" means a person nobody thinks is important. God can still make that person a king.

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."

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

NoteThe King James says Daniel was "astonied." That old word means he was too shocked to speak. Calling the king "my lord" was a polite way to talk to him.

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

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

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.

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:

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.

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.

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 of heaven. Let him live out in the grass with the animals, until seven times pass over him.'

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;

NoteDew is tiny drops of water. It forms on the grass during the night.

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

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

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 of heaven will make you wet. Seven times will pass over you. This will last until you know the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people. He gives a kingdom to anyone he wants.

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.

NoteAn ox is a big farm animal, a lot like a cow. Oxen eat grass out in the fields all day. Dew is tiny drops of water. It forms on the grass during the night.

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.

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.

NoteHere "the heavens do rule" is a polite way of saying God rules. People sometimes said it that way instead of saying God's name.

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."

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.

NoteSins and iniquities are the wrong things a person does. Daniel is asking the king to stop and change.

28All of this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

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

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

NoteRoofs back then were flat, like a floor. People walked around and sat up there.

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."

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?

NoteBabylon was a huge city with tall, thick walls. This king had built much of it himself.

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.

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.

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. This will last until you know the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people. He gives a kingdom to anyone he wants."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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?"

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?

Note"The army of heaven" can mean the angels. It can also mean all the stars in the sky.

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.

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.

NoteCounsellors were men who gave the king advice. Lords were the important leaders who helped him rule.

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.

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.

Note"His ways judgment" means everything God does is fair. To "abase" someone means to bring that person down low.

18O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom. God gave him greatness, glory, and honor.

O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:

NoteMost High God means the God who is above everything and everyone. It was how Daniel spoke about the God of his people.

19Because God made him so great, people of every nation and language shook with fear before him. He killed anyone he wanted to kill. He let anyone live that he wanted to live. He lifted some people up and pushed others down.

And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

20But his heart grew proud, and his mind became hard with pride. So he was taken off his royal throne. His glory was taken away from him.

But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

21He was driven away from other people. His mind became like the mind of an animal. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox. His body was wet with the dew of heaven. This went on until he knew that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of people. God gives a kingdom to anyone he chooses.

And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

NoteThis tells about something that happened to Nebuchadnezzar earlier in this book. He lost his mind and lived outdoors like an animal. Dew is the water that settles on the grass at night.