17 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts and give your rewards to someone else;g however, I will read the inscription for the king and make the interpretation known to him. 18 Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty,h greatness, glory, and majesty to your predecessor Nebuchadnezzar.i 19 Because of the greatness he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languagesj were terrified and fearful of him. He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted. 20 But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant,k he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him.l 21 He was driven away from people,m his mind was like an animal’s, he lived with the wild donkeys,n he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over human kingdoms and sets anyone he wants over them.o

22 “But you his successor, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart,p even though you knew all this.