Daniel 4

1 King Nebuchadnezzar [the ruler of Babylon], To the people [nations and languages] of every nation [people-group] and language [tongue] who dwell [reside, live] in all the earth [the whole world]: May your prosperity [peace, well-being] be multiplied [increased, flourished]. word study 2 I am pleased [thought it good, it has seemed good unto me] to declare [show, make clear] the signs [wonders, miracles] and wonders [miraculous events, supernatural occurrences] that the Most High God [the Supreme God, God Most High] has performed [worked, wrought, done] for me [toward me, with me]. word study 3 How great [incredibly amazing] are His signs [miracles, wonders], how mighty [full of power] His wonders [amazing things]! His kingdom [rule, dominion] is an eternal [everlasting, age-during] kingdom; His dominion [rule, authority] endures [will last, continues] from generation [age, time] to generation. word study 4 I, Nebuchadnezzar [the king of Babylon], was at ease [at rest, living comfortably] in my house [palace, royal residence] and flourishing [living luxuriantly, prospering] in my palace [royal dwelling, seat of power]. word study 5 I had a dream [which made me afraid, a vision that terrified me], and it frightened me [filled me with fear and anxiety]; while in my bed [lying down, in a state of rest], the images [thoughts, conceptions] and visions [pictures in my mind, revelations] in my mind [my head, my thoughts] alarmed me [troubled me, made me anxious]. word study 6 So I issued a decree [to bring forth, summon] that all [every single one, the entirety] the wise men [magicians, astrologers, having secret knowledge] of Babylon be brought before me [to appear, stand] to interpret [to explain, make known] the dream [vision, sight] for me [to reveal, disclose its meaning]. word study 7 When the magicians [wonder-workers], enchanters [users of secret arts], astrologers [those who study the stars], and diviners [soothsayers, readers of signs] came in, I told them the dream [vision, sight], and they could not interpret [make known, explain] it for me. word study 8 But at last [finally, after a long time], into my presence came Daniel [having the spirit of the holy gods, in whom is a divine presence] (whose name is Belteshazzar [in honor of my deity] after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit [divine nature, essence] of the holy gods [heavenly beings, divine messengers]). And I told him the dream [vision, revelation]: word study 9 “O Belteshazzar, chief [master, leader] of the magicians, I know that the spirit [divine presence, holy influence] of the holy gods [divine beings, heavenly powers] is in you and that no mystery [secret, hidden truth] baffles [troubles, perplexes] you. So explain [reveal, interpret] to me the visions [dreams, prophetic sights] I saw in my dream, and their interpretation [meaning, explanation]. word study 10 In these visions [sights, appearances] of my mind [thoughts, imagination] as I was lying in bed [on my couch, resting], I saw [gazed, perceived] this come to pass: There was a tree [a large, towering tree] in the midst [center, middle] of the land [earth, ground], and its height [loftiness, greatness] was great [extensive, remarkable]. word study 11 The tree grew large [tall and strong, reaching high into the sky] and strong [with great power and vigor]; its top [the highest point, the pinnacle] reached the sky [heaven, the celestial realm], and it was visible [clearly seen, a wonder to behold] to the ends [the farthest reaches, the extremities] of the earth [the whole world, all creation]. word study 12 Its leaves were beautiful [fair, attractive], its fruit was abundant [much, plentiful], and upon it was food [sustenance, nourishment] for all [every creature, all living things]. Under it the beasts [wild animals, creatures] of the field found shelter [shadow, rest], in its branches the birds [fowls, winged creatures] of the air nested [dwelt, made their home], and from it every creature [all flesh, every living thing] was fed [nourished, satisfied]. word study 13 As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions [dreams, revelations] of my mind [heart, inner self] a watcher [holy one, divine being], a holy one [set apart, sacred], coming down [descending, from above] from heaven [the sky, the spiritual realm]. word study 14 He called out in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree [hew it down completely] and chop off its branches [cut off its limbs]; strip off its leaves [shake off its foliage] and scatter its fruit [disperse its produce]. Let the beasts [wild animals, creatures] flee from under it, and the birds [fowls, winged creatures] from its branches [limbs, boughs]. word study 15 But leave the stump [with its roots intact, remaining] with its roots in the ground, and a band [a strong and durable] of iron and bronze around it, in the tender [young, lush] grass of the field. Let him be drenched [completely soaked, saturated] with the dew [moisture, gentle rain] of heaven and graze [eat, feed] with the beasts [wild animals, creatures] on the grass [herb, vegetation] of the earth. word study 16 Let his mind [heart, inner being] be changed from that of a man [human nature, rational thinking], and let him be given the mind [heart, beastly instincts] of a beast [animal, irrational nature] till seven times [periods, seasons] pass him by [over him, regarding him]. word study 17 This decision [by divine decree, a heavenly verdict] is the decree of the watchers [holy angels, divine messengers], the verdict declared by the holy ones [set apart ones, saints], so that the living [all people, every mortal] will know that the Most High [the Supreme God, ruler of all] rules over the kingdom of mankind [human governments, earthly realms] and gives it to whom He wishes [to anyone, at His discretion], setting over it the lowliest [the humblest, the most insignificant] of men [human beings, mortal leaders].’ word study 18 This is the dream [vision, revelation] that I, King Nebuchadnezzar [ruler of the Babylonian empire], saw [perceived, understood]. Now, Belteshazzar [Daniel, a prophet of God], tell me the interpretation [explanation, meaning], because none of the wise men [scholars, advisors] of my kingdom can interpret [explain, reveal] it for me. But you are able [capable, empowered], because the spirit [divine presence, essence] of the holy gods [heavenly beings, divine powers] is in you [guiding, directing].” word study 19 For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar [a name given to him by the king, meaning ‘may Bel protect him’], was perplexed [stricken dumb, astonished], and his thoughts [reflections, meditations] alarmed him. So the king [monarch, ruler] said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream [vision, revelation] or its interpretation [explanation, meaning] alarm you [trouble or disturb you].” “My lord [master, sovereign],” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you [your enemies, opponents], and its interpretation to your enemies [adversaries, those who oppose you]! word study 20 The tree you saw [perceived, gazed upon] that grew [increased, flourished] large [extensive, vast] and strong [robust, vigorous], whose top [highest point, summit] reached [stretched, extended] the sky [heaven, the atmosphere] and was visible [clearly seen, perceived] to all [every part, the entirety] the earth [the world, the land], word study 21 whose foliage [leaves, greenery] was beautiful [fair, attractive] and whose fruit [produce, abundance] was abundant [plentiful, much], providing food [nourishment, sustenance] for all, under which [beneath, in the shade of] the beasts [wild animals, creatures] of the field [open land, wilderness] lived, and in whose branches [limbs, boughs] the birds [fowl, winged creatures] of the air [heaven, sky] nested— word study 22 you, O king [Your Majesty, sovereign ruler], are that tree! For you have become great [powerful, mighty] and strong [firm, steadfast]; your greatness [sovereignty, dominion] has grown [increased, expanded] to reach [extend, stretch] the sky [heaven, the heavens], and your dominion [kingdom, rule] extends [reaches, stretches] to the ends [farthest limits, boundaries] of the earth [the land, the world]. word study 23 And you, O king, saw a watcher [a divine messenger], a holy one [set apart, consecrated], coming down from heaven [the sky, the spiritual realm] and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump [the remaining root, the foundation] with its roots [the source, the foundation] in the ground, and a band of iron and bronze [strong, unbreakable bonds] around it, in the tender grass [the lush, green vegetation] of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven [the refreshing, life-giving moisture], and graze with the beasts of the field [live among the wild animals, in a state of humility] till seven times [a complete, perfect period] pass him by.’ word study 24 This is the interpretation [the meaning, the explanation], O king [ruler, monarch], and this is the decree [judgment, sentence] that the Most High [the Supreme God, Almighty] has issued [declared, ordained] against my lord [master, sovereign] the king [ruler, monarch]: word study 25 You will be driven away [from human society, out from among men] from mankind, and your dwelling [place of residence, habitation] will be with the beasts [wild animals, creatures] of the field. You will feed [eat, be made to eat] on grass [herb, vegetation] like an ox [as oxen do, like cattle] and be drenched [wet, soaked] with the dew [moisture, wetness] of heaven, and seven times [periods, seasons] shall pass you by, until you acknowledge [know, recognize] that the Most High [Supreme God, ruler of all] rules [has dominion, is sovereign] over the kingdom [domain, realm] of mankind and gives [appoints, bestows] it to whom He wishes [desires, pleases]. word study 26 As for the command [instruction, decree] to leave the stump [remnant, base] of the tree with its roots, your kingdom [realm, dominion] will be restored [returned, reestablished] to you as soon as you acknowledge [recognize, understand] that Heaven [the spiritual realm] rules [has authority, governs]. word study 27 Therefore, may my advice [counsel, guidance] be pleasing [acceptable, well-received] to you, O king [monarch, ruler]. Break away [turn from, renounce] from your sins [iniquities, wrongdoing] by doing what is right [just, righteous], and from your iniquities [evil deeds, wickedness] by showing mercy [compassion, kindness] to the oppressed [poor, needy]. Perhaps [it may be, possibly] there will be an extension [lengthening, increase] of your prosperity [tranquillity, well-being].” word study 28 All [everything, the entirety] this [these events, the fulfillment of the dream] happened [came to pass, occurred] to [upon, against] King [ruler, monarch] Nebuchadnezzar [the king of Babylon, a powerful ruler]. word study 29 Twelve months [a year, a complete cycle of time] later, as he was walking [strolling, taking a leisurely walk] on the roof [the flat top, the highest point] of the royal [kingly, majestic] palace [the king’s residence, the center of government] of Babylon [the city of confusion, the capital of the empire], word study 30 the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon [the great city, a center of power] the Great, which I myself have built [constructed, established] by the might [strength, authority] of my power [ability, influence] as a royal [kingly, majestic] residence [palace, dwelling place] and for the glory [honor, splendor] of my majesty [greatness, dignity]?” word study 31 While the words [still being spoken, in the king’s mouth] were still in the king’s mouth, a voice [from heaven, from above] came from heaven: “It is decreed [declared, officially stated] to you, King Nebuchadnezzar [the ruler of Babylon], that the kingdom [dominion, rule] has departed [been taken away, removed] from you. word study 32 You will be driven away [from human society, out of men’s sight] from mankind to live [to dwell, reside] with the beasts [wild animals, creatures] of the field, and you will feed [eat, be made to eat] on grass [herb, like oxen] like an ox. And seven times [periods, seasons] will pass you by, until you acknowledge [know, recognize] that the Most High [the Supreme God, ruler of all] rules [has dominion, reigns] over the kingdom [domain, realm] of mankind and gives [grants, bestows] it to whom He wishes [desires, pleases].” word study 33 At that moment [the same hour, immediately] the sentence [judgment, decree] against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled [came to pass, was completed]. He was driven away [banished, expelled] from mankind [human society, people]. He ate grass [herb, like cattle] like an ox [beast, animal], and his body [physical form, flesh] was drenched [wet, soaked] with the dew [moisture, mist] of heaven [the sky], until his hair [locks, head] grew [became long] like the feathers [plumes, wings] of an eagle [bird of prey, strong bird] and his nails [claws, talons] like the claws [nails, talons] of a bird [fowl, winged creature]. word study 34 But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar [the king of Babylon], looked up to heaven [the sky and the abode of God], and my sanity [my understanding and reason] was restored to me. Then I praised [blessed and worshiped] the Most High [the supreme God, the King of heaven], and I honored [glorified and magnified] and glorified Him who lives forever [the Eternal One, the Age-during Living One]: “For His dominion [His kingdom and rule] is an everlasting dominion [a dominion that endures from generation to generation], and His kingdom endures from generation to generation [continues forever, never ending]. word study 35 All the peoples [inhabitants, nations] of the earth are counted [reckoned, regarded] as nothing, and He does [acts, performs] as He pleases [wills, desires] with the army [host, forces] of heaven and the peoples [inhabitants, nations] of the earth. There is no one who can restrain [stop, hold back] His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done [accomplished, achieved]?’” word study 36 At the same time my sanity [reason, understanding] was restored, my honor [majesty, brightness] and splendor [great name, glory] returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers [counselors, wise men] and nobles [lords, great men] sought me out, and I was restored [established, made safe] to my throne, and surpassing greatness [excellent greatness, abundant greatness] was added to me. word study 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt [extol, honor] and glorify [honor, worship] the King of heaven, for all His works are true [truth] and all His ways are just [justice]. And He is able to humble [abase, make low] those who walk in pride. word study