Daniel 4:20–26

²⁰The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, ²¹with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds^p—²²Your Majesty, you are that tree!^q You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.^r

²³“Your Majesty saw a holy one,^s a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’^t

²⁴“This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree^u the Most High has issued against my lord the king: ²⁵You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched^v with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High^w is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.^{x 26}The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots^y means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.^z