Daniel 4

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

King Nebuchadnezzar sends his heartfelt greetings to everyone, everywhere on earth. May peace and harmony flourish in your lives.

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

I felt compelled to share the miraculous deeds and wonders that the Almighty God has performed for 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.

His signs are truly awe-inspiring! His wonders, incredibly powerful! His reign is eternal, and his rule spans across all generations.

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

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at peace in my home, thriving in my grand palace.

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

A terrifying dream haunted me, leaving my mind restless and my heart filled with fear, even as I lay in my bed.

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.

So, I ordered all the wise men of Babylon to come to me, hoping they could explain my 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.

The magicians, astrologers, and fortune tellers came in. I shared my dream with them, but they couldn't explain its meaning to me.

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,

Finally, Daniel, also known as Belteshazzar, came to me. He was named after my God and possessed a divine spirit. I shared my dream with him, expressing,

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.

Belteshazzar, you're the greatest among magicians. I believe you're blessed with divine wisdom and no mystery is too complex for you. Please, help me understand the dream I had and what it means.

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.

In my dreams, I saw a towering tree standing alone in the center of the world.

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 tree flourished, standing tall and mighty, its top touching the heavens, its presence felt across the ends of 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.

The tree was beautiful, bearing abundant fruit, providing food for everyone. It offered shade to the wild animals and a home for the birds. It nourished all living creatures.

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

In my dreams, I witnessed a divine guardian descending from the heavens.

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:

With a loud, desperate cry, he commanded, "Chop down the tree, sever its branches, shake its leaves, and scatter its fruits. Let the animals flee from its shade and the birds abandon its 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:

Even though his roots are cut down to a stump, let it remain in the earth, bound by iron and brass. Let it be nourished by the dew from heaven and let it share its life with the creatures in the grassy fields.

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.

May his human heart transform, replaced by the heart of a beast; let him endure this for a cycle of seven.

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 is a divine decision, made by those who watch over us, and commanded by the sacred ones. Its purpose is to show everyone that the highest power governs mankind's kingdom, granting it to anyone he chooses, even to the most humble among us.

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.

I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had a dream that puzzles me. Belteshazzar, I need your help to understand it. None of my kingdom's wise men could explain it, but I believe you can. I sense a divine wisdom within you.

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.

Daniel, also known as Belteshazzar, was stunned and deeply troubled for an hour. The king noticed and reassured him, "Belteshazzar, don't let the dream or its meaning worry you." Belteshazzar responded, "My lord, may this dream and its interpretation be a concern only to those who wish you harm."

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

The tree you saw, growing tall and strong, reaching the sky and visible to the entire world.

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:

Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, providing food for everyone. It was a home for wild animals and a resting place for birds.

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.

You, O King, have grown mighty and powerful. Your greatness is so vast, it touches the heavens and your rule extends to the farthest corners 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;

The king saw a divine messenger descend from the heavens, commanding, "Cut down the tree, but leave its stump rooted in the earth, bound by iron and brass. Let it rest in the soft grass, drenched by heaven's dew, and share its fate with the wild beasts, until seven seasons have passed."

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

Dear king, here's the meaning of the divine decree that has come upon you, as per the Almighty's will.

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.

You'll be cast out from society, living among wild animals. You'll eat grass like cattle, drenched in the morning dew. Seven cycles will pass, teaching you that God is the ultimate ruler, giving power to whom He chooses.

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.

As for the order to leave the tree's stump and roots, your kingdom will be given back to you once you have come to know that the heavens are in control.

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.

Dear King, please heed my advice. Abandon your wrongdoings by choosing the path of righteousness, and make amends for your sins by showing kindness to the less fortunate. This may bring you lasting peace.

All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

All of this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

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

After a year, he strolled through the majestic palace 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?

The king, filled with pride, asked, "Isn't this magnificent Babylon, which I've built as my kingdom's capital, a testament to my strength and a tribute to my glory?"

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.

As the king was still speaking, a divine voice echoed from the heavens, "King Nebuchadnezzar, listen! Your reign is over."

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.

You'll be cast out from society, living among wild animals. You'll be forced to eat grass like cattle, and seven seasons will pass. This will continue until you realize that the Highest Power controls human kingdoms and bestows them upon whoever He chooses.

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.

In that very moment, Nebuchadnezzar's fate was sealed. He was cast out from society, forced to graze like cattle. His body shivered, drenched in the heavenly dew, as his hair grew wild like an eagle's feathers and his nails hardened into bird-like 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:

After a long time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to the heavens and my clarity of mind was restored. I felt a deep gratitude and reverence for the eternal one, who reigns forever. His rule is unending, and his kingdom spans across all generations.

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?

Everyone on earth is insignificant compared to Him. He acts as He pleases, both in heaven and on earth. No one can stop Him or question His actions.

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.

In that moment, clarity flooded back to me. For the sake of my kingdom's glory, my honor and radiance were restored. My advisors and nobles sought my guidance once more. I was firmly rooted in my kingdom, and an extraordinary dignity was bestowed upon 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.

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, humbly honor and glorify the King of heaven. His actions are rooted in truth, and His decisions are just. He has the power to humble those who are filled with arrogance.