4Daniel 4

Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream

1King Nebuchadnezzar sent the following message to the people of all nations, races, and languages in the world: “Greetings!Select Daniel 4:1

2Listen to my account of the wonders and miracles which the Supreme God has shown me.Select Daniel 4:2

3“How great are the wonders God shows us! How powerful are the miracles he performs! God is king forever; he will rule for all time.Select Daniel 4:3

4“I was living comfortably in my palace, enjoying great prosperity.Select Daniel 4:4

5But I had a frightening dream and saw terrifying visions while I was asleep.Select Daniel 4:5

6I ordered all the royal advisers in Babylon to be brought to me so that they could tell me what the dream meant.Select Daniel 4:6

7Then all the fortunetellers, magicians, wizards, and astrologers were brought in, and I told them my dream, but they could not explain it to me.Select Daniel 4:7

8Then Daniel came in. (He is also called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god.) The spirit of the holy gods is in him, so I told him what I had dreamed. I said to him:Select Daniel 4:8

9Belteshazzar, chief of the fortunetellers, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that you understand all mysteries. This is my dream. Tell me what it means.Select Daniel 4:9

10“While I was asleep, I had a vision of a huge tree in the middle of the earth.Select Daniel 4:10

11It grew bigger and bigger until it reached the sky and could be seen by everyone in the world.Select Daniel 4:11

12Its leaves were beautiful, and it was loaded down with fruit—enough for the whole world to eat. Wild animals rested in its shade, birds built nests in its branches, and every kind of living being ate its fruit.Select Daniel 4:12

13“While I was thinking about the vision, I saw coming down from heaven an angel, alert and watchful.Select Daniel 4:13

14He proclaimed in a loud voice, ‘Cut the tree down and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Drive the animals from under it and the birds out of its branches.Select Daniel 4:14

15But leave the stump in the ground with a band of iron and bronze around it. Leave it there in the field with the grass. “‘Now let the dew fall on this man, and let him live with the animals and the plants.Select Daniel 4:15

16For seven years he will not have a human mind, but the mind of an animal.Select Daniel 4:16

17This is the decision of the alert and watchful angels. So then, let all people everywhere know that the Supreme God has power over human kingdoms and that he can give them to anyone he chooses—even to those who are least important.’Select Daniel 4:17

18“This is the dream I had,” said King Nebuchadnezzar. “Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means. None of my royal advisers could tell me, but you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”Select Daniel 4:18

Daniel Explains the Dream

19At this, Daniel, who is also called Belteshazzar, was so alarmed that he could not say anything. The king said to him, “Belteshazzar, don't let the dream and its message alarm you.” Belteshazzar replied, “Your Majesty, I wish that the dream and its explanation applied to your enemies and not to you.Select Daniel 4:19

20The tree, so tall that it reached the sky, could be seen by everyone in the world.Select Daniel 4:20

21Its leaves were beautiful, and it had enough fruit on it to feed the whole world. Wild animals rested under it, and birds made their nests in its branches.Select Daniel 4:21

22“Your Majesty, you are the tree, tall and strong. You have grown so great that you reach the sky, and your power extends over the whole world.Select Daniel 4:22

23While Your Majesty was watching, an angel came down from heaven and said, ‘Cut the tree down and destroy it, but leave the stump in the ground. Wrap a band of iron and bronze around it, and leave it there in the field with the grass. Let the dew fall on this man, and let him live there with the animals for seven years.’Select Daniel 4:23

24“This, then, is what it means, Your Majesty, and this is what the Supreme God has declared will happen to you.Select Daniel 4:24

25You will be driven away from human society and will live with wild animals. For seven years you will eat grass like an ox and sleep in the open air, where the dew will fall on you. Then you will admit that the Supreme God controls all human kingdoms and that he can give them to anyone he chooses.Select Daniel 4:25

26The angel ordered the stump to be left in the ground. This means that you will become king again when you acknowledge that God rules all the world.Select Daniel 4:26

27So then, Your Majesty, follow my advice. Stop sinning, do what is right, and be merciful to the poor. Then you will continue to be prosperous.”Select Daniel 4:27

28All this did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar.Select Daniel 4:28

29Only twelve months later, while he was walking around on the roof of his royal palace in Babylon,Select Daniel 4:29

30he said, “Look how great Babylon is! I built it as my capital city to display my power and might, my glory and majesty.”Select Daniel 4:30

31Before the words were out of his mouth, a voice spoke from heaven, “King Nebuchadnezzar, listen to what I say! Your royal power is now taken away from you.Select Daniel 4:31

32You will be driven away from human society, live with wild animals, and eat grass like an ox for seven years. Then you will acknowledge that the Supreme God has power over human kingdoms and that he can give them to anyone he chooses.”Select Daniel 4:32

33The words came true immediately. Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of human society and ate grass like an ox. The dew fell on his body, and his hair grew as long as eagle feathers and his nails as long as bird claws.Select Daniel 4:33

Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

34“When the seven years had passed,” said the king, “I looked up at the sky, and my sanity returned. I praised the Supreme God and gave honor and glory to the one who lives forever. “He will rule forever, and his kingdom will last for all time.Select Daniel 4:34

35He looks on the people of the earth as nothing; angels in heaven and people on earth are under his control. No one can oppose his will or question what he does.Select Daniel 4:35

36“When my sanity returned, my honor, my majesty, and the glory of my kingdom were given back to me. My officials and my noblemen welcomed me, and I was given back my royal power with even greater honor than before.Select Daniel 4:36

37“And now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, honor, and glorify the King of Heaven. Everything he does is right and just, and he can humble anyone who acts proudly.”Select Daniel 4:37