Daniel 4 - Common English Bible (CEB)

Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony

4 [a] King Nebuchadnezzar’s message to all the peoples, nations, and languages inhabiting the entire earth: “I wish you much peace. 2 I’m delighted to share the signs and miracles that the Most High God has worked in my life.

3 His signs are superb!
His miracles so powerful!
His kingdom is everlasting.
His rule is for all time.

4 [b] “While I, Nebuchadnezzar, was safe in my house, content in my palace, 5 I had a terrifying dream. My thoughts while I was lying in bed and the vision in my mind overwhelmed me. 6 I ordered all Babylon’s sages to come before me, so they might tell me the dream’s meaning. 7 So the dream interpreters, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners came. I told them the dream, but they couldn’t interpret it for me. 8 Daniel, who is called Belteshazzar after the name of my god, was the last to come before me. In him is the breath[c] of the holy gods! I told Daniel the dream:

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

9 “Belteshazzar, chief of the dream interpreters, I know the breath of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Tell me the meaning of the visions I had in my dream. 10 In my mind, as I lay in bed, I saw a vision:

At the center of the earth was a towering tree.
11 The tree grew in size and strength;
it was as high as the sky;
it could be seen from every corner of the earth.
12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant;
it had enough food for everyone.
Wild animals took shade under it;
birds nested in its branches.
All living things lived off that tree.

13 “In my mind, as I lay in bed, I saw another vision: A holy watcher came down from heaven. 14 He proclaimed loudly:

‘Cut down the tree and shear off its branches!
Strip its leaves and scatter its fruit!
The creatures should flee from its shelter;
the birds should take flight from its branches.
15 But leave its deepest root in the earth,
bound with iron and bronze in the field grass.
Dew from heaven is to wash it,
and it must live with the animals in the earth’s vegetation.
16 Its[d] human mind is to be changed:
it will be given the mind of an animal.
Seven periods of time will pass over it.
17 This sentence is by the watchers’ decree;
this decision is the holy ones’ word
so that all who live might know
that the Most High dominates human kingship.
The Most High gives kingship to anyone he wants
and sets over it the lowest of people.’

18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. So now Belteshazzar, tell me the meaning because all the sages in my kingdom were unable to interpret it for me. But you are able to do it because the breath of the holy gods is in you.”

Daniel interprets the visions

19 Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was shocked for a bit. What he thought about frightened him.

The king declared, “Don’t let the dream and its meaning scare you, Belteshazzar.”

Then Belteshazzar answered, “Sir, I wish the dream to be for those who hate you and its meaning to be for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw that grew in size and strength, that was as high as the sky, that could be seen from every corner of the earth, 21 with its beautiful leaves and its abundant fruit, and that had enough food for everyone, with wild animals living under it and birds nesting in its branches— 22 Your Majesty, that tree is you! You have grown large and become powerful. Your greatness is as high as the sky; your rule extends to the edge of the earth!

23 “Your Majesty, the holy watcher you saw coming down from heaven, who said, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its deepest root in the earth, bound with iron and bronze in the field grass, dew from heaven is to wash it, and it must live with the wild animals until seven periods of time pass over it’— 24 Your Majesty, this is the dream’s meaning: It is the sentence of the Most High, delivered to my master the king. 25 You will be driven away from other humans and will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle and will be washed by dew from heaven. Seven periods of time will pass over you, until you acknowledge that the Most High dominates human kingship, giving it to anyone he wants. 26 And when he said to leave the deepest root of the tree—that means your kingship will again be yours, once you acknowledge that heaven rules all. 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, please accept my advice: remove your sins by doing what is right; remove your wrongdoing by showing mercy to the poor. Then your safety will be long lasting.”

Visions come true

28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon. 30 The king declared, “Isn’t this Babylon, the magnificent city that I built as the royal house by my own mighty strength and for my own majestic glory?”

31 These words hadn’t even left the king’s mouth when a voice came from heaven: “You, King Nebuchadnezzar, are now informed: Kingship is taken away from you. 32 You will be driven away from other humans and will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High dominates human kingship, giving it to anyone he wants.”

33 Nebuchadnezzar’s sentence was immediately carried out. He was driven away from other humans and ate grass like cattle. Dew from heaven washed his body until he grew hair like eagles’ feathers and claws like a bird.

Nebuchadnezzar is restored

34 “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven. My reason returned to me, and I praised the Most High. I worshipped and glorified the one who lives forever because his rule is everlasting; his kingdom is for all time. 35 All of earth’s inhabitants are nothing in comparison. The Most High does whatever he wants with heaven’s forces and with earth’s inhabitants. No one can contain his power or say to him, ‘What do you think you are doing?’ 36 So at that moment my reason returned to me. My honor and splendor came back to me for the glory of my kingdom. My associates and my princes wanted to be with me again. Not only was I reinstated over my kingdom, I received more power than ever before.

37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, worship, magnify, and glorify the king of heaven. All his works are truth, all his paths are justice, and he is able to humble all who walk in pride.”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 4:1 3:31 in Aram
  2. Daniel 4:4 4:1 in Aram
  3. Daniel 4:8 Or spirit; also in 4:9, 18
  4. Daniel 4:16 Throughout 4:15-16 and later in this chap, it and its could also be translated he and his.

You Might Also Like:

Daniel 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 `Nebuchadnezzar the king to all peoples, nations, and languages, who are dwelling in all the earth: Your peace be great! 2 The signs and wonders that God Most High hath done with me, it is good before me to shew. 3 His signs how great! and His wonders how mighty! His kingdom [is] a kingdom age-dur...
Read More

Daniel 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 Nebuchadnezzar, the king, writeth thus to all peoples, [folks,] and languages, that dwell in all earth, peace be multiplied to you. (King Nebuchadnezzar writeth this to all the peoples, and nations, of every language, who live on all the earth, peace be multiplied to you.) 2 (The) High God made at...
Read More

Daniel 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 Nebuchadnezzar the king,to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth:Peace be multiplied to you. 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me. 3 How great are his signs! How mighty are his wonders!His kingdom is an e...
Read More

Daniel 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

4 One day King Nebuchadnezzar sent out a herald with a message for all the peoples, nations, and languages of the earth.Message: May peace and prosperity be yours! 2 I am pleased to be able to tell you about all the signs and miracles the Most High God has done for me. 3 How great are His signs; ho...
Read More

Daniel 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Dream: “Chop Down the Tree!”4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. 2 I had a dream that frightened me. While on my bed the images and visions in my mind[a] terrified me. 3 So I issued a decree to bring all the wise men of Babylon before me so that they could mak...
Read More

Daniel 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream4 [a] [b]King Nebuchadnez′zar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has wrought toward me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty hi...
Read More

Daniel 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream4 [a] King Nebuchadnez′zar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has wrought toward me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his w...
Read More

Daniel 4 - Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

4 Nevuchadnetzar the king, unto all people, nations and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Shalom aleichem l’machbir (Peace be multiplied unto you). 2 (3:32) I thought it good to show the otot (signs) and mofetim (wonders) that El Elyon hath wrought toward me. 3 (3:33) How great are His otot (s...
Read More

Daniel 4 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream4 [a] King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages that live throughout the earth: May you have abundant prosperity! 2 The signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me I am pleased to recount. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders...
Read More

Daniel 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream4 [a] King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages that live throughout the earth: May you have abundant prosperity! 2 The signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me I am pleased to recount. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders...
Read More

Daniel 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream4 [a]King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages that live throughout the earth: May you have abundant prosperity!(A)2 The signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me I am pleased to recount.(B)3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonde...
Read More

Daniel 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream about a Tree4 [a]King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world:“Peace and prosperity to you! 2 “I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me. 3 How great ar...
Read More

Daniel 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream4 King Nebuchadnezzar sent this letter to all the people of every nation and language who live in all the world: “May you have much peace! 2 I am pleased to tell you about the wonderful things which the Most High God has done for me. 3 How great are the special things ...
Read More

Daniel 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream4 Nebuchadnezzar the king, (A)To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. 2 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders (B)that the Most High God has worked for me. 3 (C)How great are His signs,And how mighty His...
Read More

Daniel 4 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a tree4 [a]King Nebuchadnezzar,To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:May you prosper greatly! 2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. 3 How great are his signs, how...
Read More

Daniel 4 - New International Version (NIV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree4 [a]King Nebuchadnezzar,To the nations and peoples of every language,(A) who live in all the earth:May you prosper greatly!(B) 2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs(C) and wonders that the Most High God(D) has performed for me. 3 How great are hi...
Read More

Daniel 4 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Nebuchadnezzar Dreams About a Tree4 I, King Nebuchadnezzar, am writing this letter.I am sending it to people who live all over the world. I’m sending it to people of every nation no matter what language they speak.May you have great success! 2 I am pleased to tell you what has happened. The Most Hig...
Read More