4:1I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace: I saw a dream, which terrified me: and my thoughts on my couch, and the visions of my head, troubled me. 4:3And by me a decree was put forth that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought into my sight, and that they should make known to me the solution of the dream. 4:4Then the soothsayers, magi, Chaldeans, and diviners were coming in, and I related the dream in their sight: and they did not make known its solution to me, until there came into my sight a colleague, Daniel, whose name is Baltassar according to the name of my god, who has the spirit of the holy gods in himself: and I told the dream before him.
4:6"Baltassar, chief of the soothsayers, since I know that you have the spirit of the holy gods in you, and no secret is impossible for you: the visions of my dreams which I saw, and their solution, relate. 4:7The vision of my head on my bed: I was looking, and behold, a tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was exceeding great. 4:8A great tree, and strong, and its tallness touching heaven: its view was right up to the ends of the whole earth. 4:9Its leaves were most beautiful, and its fruit abundant: and food for all was in it. 4:9Under it dwelt animals and beasts, and in its branches dwelt the birds of heaven: and from it all flesh was feeding.
4:10I was looking in the vision of my head upon my couch, and behold, a watcher, and a holy one, came down from heaven. 4:11He cried out mightily, and spoke thus: 'Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches: shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts flee which are under it, and the birds from its branches. 4:12Nevertheless leave the stock of its roots in the earth, and let it be bound with a band of iron and of bronze among the grasses which are outside, and let it be wetted with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the wild beasts in the grass of the earth.
4:13Let his heart be changed from a human one, and let the heart of a wild beast be given to him: and let seven times be changed over him. 4:14By the sentence of the watchers it has been decreed, and it is the word and the request of the holy ones: until the living know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and to whomever he wishes, he will give it, and the lowliest man he will set over it.' 4:15This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw: you therefore, Baltassar, relate the interpretation quickly, because all the wise men of my kingdom cannot declare the solution to me: but you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
4:16Then Daniel, whose name was Baltassar, began silently within himself to ponder for about one hour: and his thoughts were troubling him. 4:16But the king, answering, said: "Baltassar, let not the dream and its interpretation trouble you." 4:16Baltassar answered, and said: "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies. 4:17The tree which you saw, lofty and strong, whose height reaches to heaven, and its view into all the earth; 4:18and its branches most beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and food for all in it, the beasts of the field dwelling under it, and the birds of heaven staying in its branches: it is you, king, who have been made great, and have grown strong: and your greatness has grown, and has reached right up to heaven, and your power to the ends of the whole earth.
4:20But as for the king seeing a watcher, and a holy one, coming down from heaven, and saying: 'Cut down the tree, and scatter it, but yet leave the stock of its roots in the earth, and let it be bound with iron and bronze among the grasses outside, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heaven, and let its fodder be with the wild beasts, until seven times are changed over him': this is the interpretation of the sentence of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: they will cast you out from men, and with the beasts and wild animals will be your dwelling, and hay like an ox you will eat, and with the dew of heaven you will be soaked: seven times also will be changed over you, until you know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he wishes.
4:23But as for his ordering that the stock of its roots, that is, of the tree, be left: your kingdom will remain for you after you have recognised that power is heavenly. 4:24For which reason, king, let my counsel please you, and redeem your sins with alms, and your iniquities with mercies to the poor: perhaps he will pardon your offences." 4:25All these things came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 4:26After the end of twelve months, he was walking about in the palace of Babylon. 4:27And the king answered, and said: "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built as the house of the kingdom, in the might of my strength, and in the glory of my splendour?"
4:28And while the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice rushed down from heaven: "To you it is said, King Nebuchadnezzar: your kingdom will pass away from you, and they will cast you out from men, and with the beasts and wild animals will be your dwelling: hay like an ox you will eat, and seven times will be changed over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he wishes." 4:30In the same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar, and he was cast out from men, and ate hay like an ox, and his body was soaked with the dew of heaven, until his hairs grew into the likeness of eagles', and his nails like birds'.
4:31So after the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my sense was given back to me: and I blessed the Most High, and him who lives for ever I praised and glorified: because his power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom from generation to generation. 4:32And all the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing before him: for according to his will he acts, as much among the powers of heaven as among the inhabitants of the earth: and there is no one who may resist his hand, and say to him: 'Why have you done it?' 4:33At that very time my sense returned to me, and I came to the honour of my kingdom, and its splendour: and my form returned to me, and my nobles and my magistrates sought me out, and I was restored in my kingdom: and a greater magnificence was added to me.
4:34Now therefore I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, and magnify, and glorify the King of heaven: because all his works are true, and his ways judgements, and those walking in pride he is able to humble.