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| [1]THEN Nebuchadnezzar the king wrote to all peoples, nations and languages that dwelt in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. |
[1]I Nebuchad-nezzar being at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace, |
| [2]I thought it good to publish the signs and wonders that the High God has wrought toward me. |
[2]Saw a dream, which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed, and the visions of mine head troubled me. |
| [3]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 |
[3]Therefore made I a decree, that they should bring all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might declare unto me the interpretation of the dream. |
| [4]I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house and at ease in my palace; |
[4]So came the enchanters, the astrologians, the Chaldeans and the soothsayers, to whom I told the dream, but they could not show me the interpretation thereof, |
| [5]I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the visions of my head troubled me. |
[5]Till at the last Daniel came before me, (whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, which hath the spirit of the holy gods in him) and before him I told the dream, saying, |
| [6]Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. |
[6]O Belteshazzar, chief of the enchanters, 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. |
| [7]Then came in before me the magicians, the astrologers, the soothsayers, and the Chaldeans; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me the interpretation thereof; |
[7]Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed. And behold, I saw a tree in the midst of the earth and the height thereof was great: |
| [8]Until Daniel came before me, whose name is 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, |
[8]A great tree and strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the ends of all the earth. |
| [9]O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and no mystery is hidden from you, this is the vision of my dream that I have seen; tell me the interpretation thereof. |
[9]The boughs thereof were fair and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: it made a shadow under it for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh fed of it. |
| [10]These were the visions which I saw in my bed: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. |
[10]I saw in the visions of mine head upon my bed, and behold, a watchman and an holy one came down from heaven, |
| [11]The tree grew high, and was strong, and its height reached to heaven and the view thereof to the end of all the earth. |
[11]And cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and break off his branches: shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit, that the beasts may flee from under it, and the fowls from his branches. |
| [12]Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant; and in it was food for all; the beasts of the field dwelt under it, and the fowls of the air rested in its boughs, and all flesh was fed from it. |
[12]Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, and with a band of iron and brass bind it among the grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts among the grass of the field. |
| [13]I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a holy angel came down from heaven, |
[13]Let his heart be changed from man's nature, and let a beast's heart be given unto him, and let seven times be passed over him. |
| [14]And cried aloud and spoke thus: Hew down the tree and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit; let the beasts get away from under it and the fowls of the air from its branches; |
[14]The sentence is according to the decree of the watchmen, and according to the word of the holy ones: the demand was answered, to the intent that living men may know, that the Most High hath power over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and appointeth over it the most abject among men. |
| [15]Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth; but it shall be bound with a band of iron and brass in the green grass of the field; and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his dwelling be with the beasts of the field in the grass of the earth; |
[15]This is the dream, that I king Nebuchad-nezzar have seen: therefore thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof: for all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to show me the interpretation: but thou art able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee. |
| [16]Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given to him; and let seven seasons change over him. |
[16]Then Daniel (whose name was Belteshazzar) held his peace by the space of one hour, and his thoughts troubled him, and the king spake and said, Belteshazzar, let neither the dream, nor 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. |
| [17]This decree is by the command of the angel at the request of the Holy One to the intent that the living may know that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever he will, and appoints over it the lowest of men. |
[17]The tree that thou sawest, which was great and mighty, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof through all the world, |
| [18]This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation thereof, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you, Daniel, are able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in you |
[18]Whose leaves were fair and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all, under the which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven did sit, |
| [19]Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was confused for an hour and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation thereof trouble you. Daniel answered and said, My lord, may the dream be to those who hate you and the interpretation thereof to your enemies. |
[19]It is thou, O king, that art great and mighty: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the ends of the earth. |
| [20]The tree which you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to the heaven and the view thereof, to all the earth; |
[20]Where as the king saw a watchman, and an holy one, that came down from heaven, and said, Hew down the tree and destroy it, yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, and with a band of iron and brass bind it among the 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, |
| [21]Whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all flesh; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the air rested, and from it fed all flesh; |
[21]This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king, |
| [22]It is you, O king; for you have grown and become strong; you have grown high and reach to the heavens, and your dominion is to the end of the earth. |
[22]That 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 the 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 beareth rule over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. |
| [23]And whereas the king saw a holy angel coming down from heaven, crying aloud and saying, Hew clown the tree and destroy it; but leave the stump and the roots thereof in the earth and let it be bound with a band of iron and brass in the green grass of the field; and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his dwelling be with the beasts of the field in the grass of the earth; and let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given to him till seven seasons change over him. |
[23]Where as they said, that one should leave the stump of the tree roots, thy kingdom shall remain unto thee: after that, thou shalt know, that the heavens have the rule. |
| [24]This is the interpretation, O king: The decree of the Most High has come against my lord the king; |
[24]Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by mercy toward the poor: lo, let there be an healing of thine error. |
| [25]They shall drive you away from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven seasons shall change over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever he will. |
[25]All these things shall come upon the king Nebuchad-nezzar. |
| [26]And whereas he commanded to spare the stump and the tree roots, your kingdom shall be sure to you after you have learned that authority is from heaven. |
[26]At the end of twelve months, he walked in the royal palace of Babylon. |
| [27]Wherefore, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and get rid of your sins by means of almsgiving, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the weak, till your transgressions are removed from you |
[27]And 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 honor of my majesty? |
| [28]All of these things came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. |
[28]While the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came down from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchad-nezzar, to thee be it spoken, Thy kingdom is departed from thee, |
| [29]At the end of twelve months King Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of his royal palace which is in Babylon. |
[29]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 the oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou knowest, that the Most High beareth rule over the kingdom of men, and giveth it unto whomsoever he will. |
| [30]And he spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the seat of my kingdom and for my great dominion and my majesty? |
[30]The very same hour was this thing fulfilled upon Nebuchad-nezzar, and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as the oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown as eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. |
| [31]While the word was in the king's mouth, there came a voice from heaven, saying, O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken; for your kingdom is departed from you. |
[31]And at the end of these days I Nebuchad-nezzar lift up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding was restored unto me, and I gave thanks unto the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. |
| [32]And they shall drive you from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; they shall make you to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven; and seven seasons shall change over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever he will, and he appoints the lowest of men over it. |
[32]And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and according to his will he worketh in the army of heaven, and in the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, nor say unto him, What doest thou? |
| [33]The same hour the word was fulfilled upon King Nebuchadnezzar; and he was driven from among men, and did eat grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair grew like eagles' feathers and his nails like bird's claws |
[33]At the same time was mine understanding restored unto me, and I returned to the honor of my kingdom: my glory and my beauty was restored unto me, and my counselors and my princes sought unto me, and I was established in my kingdom, and my glory was augmented toward me. |
| [34]And when the days were fulfilled, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my sense was restored to me, and I blessed the Most High and I praised and glorified him who lives for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion and whose kingdom is from generation to generation; |
[34]Now therefore I Nebuchad-nezzar praise and extol and magnify the King of heaven, whose works are all truth, and his ways judgment, and those that walk in pride, he is able to abase. |
| [35]And all the inhabitants of the earth are reckoned as nothing in his presence; and he does as he pleases with the hosts of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can resist his hand or say to him, What doest thou? |
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| [36]At the same time my sense returned to me, and my princes and my generals sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. |
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| [37]Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are true and his ways just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble |
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