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1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1"King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and language groups that live in all the land: Peace and prosperity! |
2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2I am delighted to tell you about the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me. |
3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3"How great are his signs! How mighty are his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, and his authority continues from one generation to the next." |
4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was relaxing in my home, living luxuriously in my palace. |
5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5I saw a dream that frightened me badly. The things I imagined while lying on my bed--these visions of my mind--were terrifying me. |
6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6So I issued an order for all the wise men of Babylon to be brought before me so that they could make known to me the interpretation of the dream. |
7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7When the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners entered, I recounted the dream for them. But they were unable to make known its interpretation to me. |
8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8Later Daniel entered (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom there is a spirit of the holy gods). I recounted the dream for him as well, |
9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9saying, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, in whom I know there to be a spirit of the holy gods and whom no mystery baffles, consider my dream that I saw and set forth its interpretation! |
10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Here are the visions of my mind while I was on my bed. While I was watching, there was a tree in the middle of the land. It was enormously tall. |
11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached far into the sky; it could be seen from the borders of all the land. |
12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for all. Under it the wild animals used to seek shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest. All creatures used to feed themselves from it. |
13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13While I was watching in my mind's visions on my bed, a holy sentinel came down from heaven. |
14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14He called out loudly as follows: 'Chop down the tree and lop off its branches! Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit! Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches! |
15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15But leave its taproot in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it surrounded by the grass of the field. Let it become damp with the dew of the sky, and let it live with the animals in the grass of the land. |
16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Let his mind be altered from that of a human being, and let an animal's mind be given to him, and let seven periods of time go by for him. |
17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels; this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones, so that those who are alive may understand that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms, and he bestows them on whomever he wishes. He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.' |
18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18"This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, for none of the wise men in my kingdom are able to make known to me the interpretation. But you can do so, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you." |
19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19Then Daniel (whose name is also Belteshazzar) was upset for a brief time; his thoughts were alarming him. The king said, "Belteshazzar, don't let the dream and its interpretation alarm you." But Belteshazzar replied, "Sir, if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries! |
20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20The tree that you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky, and which could be seen in all the land, |
21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21whose foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful, and from which there was food available for all, under whose branches wild animals used to live, and in whose branches birds of the sky used to nest-- |
22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22it is you, O king! For you have become great and strong. Your greatness is such that it reaches to heaven, and your authority to the ends of the earth. |
23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23As for the king seeing a holy sentinel coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its taproot in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, surrounded by the grass of the field. Let it become damp with the dew of the sky, and let it live with the wild animals, until seven periods of time go by for him'-- |
24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24this is the interpretation, O king! It is the decision of the Most High that this has happened to my lord the king. |
25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and you will become damp with the dew of the sky. Seven periods of time will pass by for you, before you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes. |
26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven rules. |
27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged." |
28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28Now all of this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. |
29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29After twelve months, he happened to be walking around on the battlements of the royal palace of Babylon. |
30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30The king uttered these words: "Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence by my own mighty strength and for my majestic honor?" |
31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31While these words were still on the king's lips, a voice came down from heaven: "It is hereby announced to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingdom has been removed from you! |
32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes." |
33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33Now in that very moment this pronouncement about Nebuchadnezzar came true. He was driven from human society, he ate grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until his hair became long like an eagle's feathers, and his nails like a bird's claws. |
34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34But at the end of the appointed time I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven, and my sanity returned to me. I extolled the Most High, and I praised and glorified the one who lives forever. For his authority is an everlasting authority, and his kingdom extends from one generation to the next. |
35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 35All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he wishes with the army of heaven and with those who inhabit the earth. No one slaps his hand and says to him, 'What have you done?' |
36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36At that time my sanity returned to me. I was restored to the honor of my kingdom, and my splendor returned to me. My ministers and my nobles were seeking me out, and I was reinstated over my kingdom. I became even greater than before. |
37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all his deeds are right and his ways are just. He is able to bring down those who live in pride. |
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