1King Nebuchadnezzar, to all the peoples, nations, and language groups who live throughout the whole earth: May you have abundant peace.
2It has pleased me to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
3How great are his signs! How mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his rule continues from generation to generation.
4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was enjoying peace in my home and success in my palace.
5I had a dream that scared me, and the thoughts in my head as I lay in bed, and the visions I saw, disturbed me.
6So I issued a command for all the wise men of Babylon to be brought before me so they could explain the dream’s meaning.
7Then the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and fortune-tellers came in. I told them the dream, but they couldn't explain its meaning to me.
8Finally, Daniel came before me. His other name was Belteshazzar, named after my god, and he has the spirit of the holy gods in him. I told him the dream, saying,
9"Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no secret is too difficult for you. Tell me the visions I saw in my dream and what they mean."
10"This is what I saw in my dream while I was in bed: I looked, and there was a tree in the middle of the earth, and it was very tall."
11"The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached to the sky, and it could be seen from everywhere on earth."
12"Its leaves were beautiful, and it had a lot of fruit, enough food for everyone. The wild animals found shade under it, the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and every living creature was fed by it."
13"In the visions I saw in my head while I was in bed, I looked, and a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven."
14"He called out loudly and said, 'Cut down the tree and chop off its branches! Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Let the animals run from under it and the birds fly from its branches!'"
15"'But leave the stump of its roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze, among the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let it live with the animals in the grass of the earth.'"
16"'Let his human understanding be removed and let him be given the mind of an animal. Let seven periods of time pass over him.'"
17"'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the command is by the word of the holy ones, so that all living people may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of men. He gives them to anyone he wants and can set the humblest of men over them.'"
18"King Nebuchadnezzar, I saw this dream. Now, Belteshazzar, explain its meaning, because none of the wise men in my kingdom could tell me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
19Then Daniel, whose other name was Belteshazzar, was silent for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king said, "Belteshazzar, don't let the dream or its meaning trouble you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, may this dream be for those who hate you, and its meaning for your enemies!
20The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky, and could be seen from all over the earth;
21whose leaves were beautiful, with much fruit, and enough food for everyone; under which the wild animals lived, and in whose branches the birds of the sky made their home—
22that tree is you, O king, for you have grown great and strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to the sky, and your rule extends to the ends of the earth.
23And as for the king seeing a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze, among the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven; and let his life be with the wild animals until seven periods of time pass over him;'—
24This is the meaning, O king, and it is the decision from the Most High that has come upon you, my lord the king:
25You will be driven away from people and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew from the sky. Seven periods of time will pass over you until you learn that the Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.
26The command to leave the stump of the tree’s roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you once you learn that heaven rules.
27Therefore, O king, please accept my advice: Stop doing sinful things by doing what is right, and stop your wickedness by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps then your peace and prosperity will continue.
28All of this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29Twelve months later, he was walking on the roof of his royal palace in Babylon.
30The king said, "Isn't this the great Babylon that I built as a royal residence by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"
31While the king was still speaking, a voice came from heaven, saying, "King Nebuchadnezzar, this is what is decreed for you: Your kingdom has been taken from you.
32You will be driven away from people and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle. Seven periods of time will pass over you until you learn that the Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes."
33This happened immediately to Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew from the sky until his hair grew like eagles' feathers and his fingernails like birds' claws.
34At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. I blessed the Most High and praised and honored him who lives forever. His rule is eternal, and his kingdom lasts from one generation to the next.
35All the people of the earth are considered as nothing. He does what he wants with the powers of heaven and with the people of the earth. No one can stop him or question what he does.
36At that same time, my sanity returned to me. My honor and royal splendor were restored for the glory of my kingdom. My advisors and nobles sought me out, and I was re-established in my kingdom, with even greater greatness added to me.
37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and honor and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and his ways are just. He is able to humble those who walk in pride.