8 Then ⌊at last⌋h Daniel came before me ⌊whose name was⌋i Belteshazzar, ⌊according to⌋j the name of my god, and ⌊in whom was the spirit of the holy gods⌋,k ⌊and I related the dream to him⌋.l

9 “ ‘O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians,m I myself know that the spiritn of the holy gods is in you, and ⌊no mystery is too difficult⌋o for you. Now tell me the visions of my dream that I saw, and its explanation.p 10 Now these were the visions of my head as I was lying on my bed: I was ⌊gazing⌋q and, look, a tree was in the midst of the earth, and its height was exalted.

11 The tree grew and it became strong,

and its height reached to heaven,r

and ⌊it was visible to the end of the whole earth⌋.s

12 Its foliage was beautiful,

and its fruit abundant,

and in it was provision for all.

Under it the animalst of the field sought shade,

and in its branches the birds of heavenu nested,

and from it all the living beings were fed.

13 “ ‘I was looking in the vision of my head as I lay on my bed, and look, a watcher,v and a holy one, came down from heaven.

14 He cried ⌊aloud⌋w and so he said:

“Cut down the tree and chop off its branches;

shake off its foliage and scatter its fruit.

Let the animals flee from under it,

and the birds from its branches.

15 But the stump of its roots

leave in the earth,

⌊along with⌋x a band of iron and bronze;

leave it in the grass of the field.

And iny the dew of heaven

let itz be watered,

and with the animalsa

let his lot be in the grass of the earth.

16 Let his mind be changed from that of a human,b

and let the mind of an animal be given to him,

and let seven times pass over him.

17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers,

and the decision by the command of the holy ones,

⌊in order that⌋c the living will know

that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind,

and ⌊to whomever⌋d he wills he gives it,

and he even sets the humblest of men over it.”

18 “ ‘This is the dream that I, Nebuchadnezzar the king, saw. Nowe you, Belteshazzar, declare its explanation, ⌊for⌋f all of the wise men of my kingdom were not able to make the explanation known to me, but you are able because the spirit of holy gods is in you.’

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