The Vision Fulfilled

28 “All this ahappened to Nebuchadnezzar the king.

29 “aTwelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.

30 “The king 1reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the agreat, which I myself have built as a royal 2residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’

31 “While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice 1came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: 2sovereignty has been removed from you,

32 and ayou will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and bseven 1periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the cMost High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’

33 “Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was adriven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

34 “But at the end of 1that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my 2reason returned to me, and I blessed the aMost High and praised and honored bHim who lives forever;

For His dominion is an ceverlasting dominion,

And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

35 “aAll the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,

But bHe does according to His will in the host of heaven

And among the inhabitants of earth;

And cno one can 1ward off His hand

Or say to Him, ‘dWhat have You done?’

36 “At that time my 1areason returned to me. And my majesty and bsplendor were 2restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my 3sovereignty, and surpassing cgreatness was added to me.