Daniel Relates and Interprets the Dream

19 “Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was distressed ⌊for some time⌋,g and his thoughts disturbed him. The king answered and he said, ‘Belteshazzar, let the dream and its explanation not disturb you.’ Belteshazzar answered and said, ‘My lord, may the dream and its explanation be for those who hate you and for your enemies. 20 The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong and its height reached to heavenh and ⌊it was visible to the end of the whole earth⌋,i 21 and its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and so there was provision for all in it, and the animalsj of the field lived under it and in its branches nest the birds of heaven,k 22 —it is you, O king, who have grown great and you have grown strong, and so your greatness has increased and it has reached to heavenl and your sovereignty to the end of the earth. 23 And inasmuch that the king saw the watcher, a holy one coming down from heavenm and he said, “Cut down the tree and destroy it, but the stump of its root in the earth leave with a band of iron and bronze in the grass of the field, and let it be watered with the dew of heaven and let his lot be with the animals of the field ⌊until seven times have passed over him⌋.”n 24 This is the explanation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king: 25 you will be driven away ⌊from human society⌋o and ⌊you will dwell⌋p with the animalsq of the field, and you will be caused to graze grass like the oxen ⌊yourself⌋,r and you will be watered with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time will pass over you until that you have acknowledged that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind, and ⌊to whom he wills⌋s he gives it. 26 ⌊And in that⌋t they said to leave alone the stump of the tree’s root, so your kingdom will be restored for you ⌊when⌋u you acknowledge that heaven is sovereign. 27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you and your sin removev with righteousness and your iniquity with having mercy on the oppressed, ⌊in case there might be a prolongation of your prosperity⌋.’ ”w

God Judges the King for His Hubris

28 ⌊All this happened⌋x to Nebuchadnezzar the king. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of ⌊the royal palace⌋y of Babylon. 30 And the king answered and said, “Is this not the great Babylon which I have built as a royal palace by the strength of my own power, and for the glory of my own majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the mouth of the king, a voice from heaven came, saying, ‘To you, King Nebuchadnezzar, it is declared that the kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you will be driven away from ⌊human society⌋z and your dwelling will be with the animalsa of the field and they will cause you to graze the grass like oxen, and seven times will pass over you, until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind and that he gives it to whom he wills.’ 33 ⌊Immediately⌋b the word was fulfilled ⌊concerning⌋c Nebuchadnezzar, and he was expelled from ⌊human society⌋d and he ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven until his hair was like the hair of an eagle and his nails grew like a bird’s claws.