Daniel 4:1-34

Daniel 4:1-34

[1] Nebuchadnezzar  the king,  unto all  people,  nations,  and languages,  that dwell  in all  the earth;  Peace  be multiplied  unto you. [2] I thought  it good  to shew  the signs  and wonders  that the high  God  hath wrought  toward  me. [3] How  great  are his signs!  and how  mighty  are his wonders!  his kingdom  is an everlasting  kingdom,  and his dominion  is from  generation  [4] Nebuchadnezzar  was  at rest  in mine house,  and flourishing  in my palace:  [5] I saw  a dream  which made me afraid,  and the thoughts  upon  my bed  and the visions  of my head  troubled  [6] made  a decree  to bring  in all  the wise  men of Babylon  before  me, that they might make known  unto me the interpretation  of the dream.  [7] Then  came  in the magicians,  the astrologers,  the Chaldeans,  and the soothsayers:  and I  told  the dream  before  them; but they did not  make known  unto me the interpretation  thereof. [8] But at  the last  Daniel  before me,  whose name  was Belteshazzar,  according to the name  of my god,  and in whom is the spirit  of the holy  gods:  and before  him I told  the dream,  saying, [9] O Belteshazzar,  master  of the magicians,  because I  know  that the spirit  of the holy  gods  is in thee, and no  secret  troubleth  thee, tell  me the visions  of my dream  that I have seen,  and the interpretation  thereof. [10] Thus were the visions  of mine head  in  my bed;  I saw,  and behold  a tree  in the midst  of the earth,  and the height  thereof was great.  [11] The tree  grew,  and was strong,  and the height  thereof reached  unto heaven,  and the sight  thereof to the end  of all  the earth:  [12] The leaves  thereof were fair,  and the fruit  thereof much,  and in it was meat  for all:  the beasts  of the field  had shadow  under  it, and the fowls  of the heaven  dwelt  in the boughs  thereof, and all  flesh  was fed  of it.  [13] I saw  in the visions  of my head  upon  my bed,  and, behold,  a watcher  and an holy one  came down  from  heaven;  [14] He cried  aloud,  and said  thus,  Hew down  the tree,  and cut off  his branches,  shake off  his leaves,  and scatter  his fruit:  let the beasts  get away  from  under it,  and the fowls  from  his branches:  [15] Nevertheless  leave  the stump  of his roots  in the earth,  even with a band  of iron  and brass,  in the tender grass  of the field;  and let it be wet  with the dew  of heaven,  and let his portion  be with  the beasts  in the grass  of the earth:  [16] Let his heart  be changed  from  man's,  and let a beast's  heart  be given  unto him; and let seven  times  pass  over  him. [17] This matter  is by the decree  of the watchers,  and the demand  by the word  of the holy ones:  to  the intent  that the living  may know  that the most High  ruleth  in the kingdom  of men,  and giveth  it to whomsoever  he will,  and setteth up  it the basest  of men.  [18] This  dream  king  Nebuchadnezzar  have seen.  Now thou,  O Belteshazzar,  declare  the interpretation  thereof, forasmuch as  all  the wise  men of my kingdom  are not  able  to make known  unto me the interpretation:  but thou  art able;  for the spirit  of the holy  gods  is in thee. [19] Then  Daniel,  whose name  was Belteshazzar,  was astonied  for one  hour,  and his thoughts  troubled  him. The king  spake,  and said,  Belteshazzar,  let not  the dream,  or the interpretation  thereof, trouble  thee. Belteshazzar  answered  and said,  My lord,  the dream  be to them that hate  thee, and the interpretation  thereof to thine enemies.  [20] The tree  that thou sawest,  which grew,  and was strong,  whose height  reached  unto the heaven,  and the sight  thereof to all  the earth;  [21] Whose leaves  were fair,  and the fruit  thereof much,  and in it was meat  for all;  under  which the beasts  of the field  dwelt,  and upon whose branches  the fowls  of the heaven  had their habitation:  [22] It is thou,  O king,  that art grown  and become strong:  for thy greatness  is grown,  and reacheth  unto heaven,  and thy dominion  to the end  of the earth.  [23] And whereas the king  saw  a watcher  and an holy one  coming down  from  heaven,  and saying,  the tree  down,  and destroy  it; yet  leave  the stump  of the roots  thereof in the earth,  even with a band  of iron  and brass,  in the tender grass  of the field;  and let it be wet  with the dew  of heaven,  and let his portion  be with  the beasts  of the field,  till  seven  times  pass  over  [24] This  is the interpretation,  O king,  and this  is the decree  of the most High,  which is come  upon  my lord  the king:  [25] That they shall drive  thee from  men,  and thy dwelling  shall be  with  the beasts  of the field,  and they shall make thee to eat  grass  as oxen,  and they shall wet  thee with the dew  of heaven,  and seven  times  shall pass  thee, till  thou know  ruleth  in the kingdom  of men,  and giveth  it to whomsoever  he will.  [26] And whereas they commanded  to leave  the stump  of the tree  roots;  thy kingdom  shall be sure  unto thee, after  that thou shalt have known  that the heavens  do rule.  [27] Wherefore,  O king,  let my counsel  be acceptable  and break off  thy sins  by righteousness,  and thine iniquities  by shewing mercy  to the poor;  if  it may be  a lengthening  of thy tranquillity.  [28] All  this came  upon  the king  Nebuchadnezzar.  [29] At the end  of twelve  months  he walked  in  the palace  of the kingdom  of Babylon.  [30] The king  spake,  and said,  Is not  this  great  Babylon,  that I  have built  for the house  of the kingdom  by the might  of my power,  and for the honour  of my majesty?  [31] While  the word  was in the king's  mouth,  there fell  a voice  from  heaven,  saying, O king  Nebuchadnezzar,  to thee it is spoken;  The kingdom  is departed  from  thee. [32] And they shall drive  thee from  men,  and thy dwelling  shall be with  the beasts  of the field:  they shall make thee to eat  grass  as oxen,  and seven  times  shall pass  thee, until  thou know  ruleth  in the kingdom  of men,  and giveth  it to whomsoever  he will.  [33] The same hour  was the thing  fulfilled  upon  Nebuchadnezzar:  and he was driven  from  men,  and did eat  grass  as oxen,  and his body  was wet  with the dew  of heaven,  till  his hairs  were grown  like eagles'  feathers, and his nails  like birds'  [34] And at the end  of the days  Nebuchadnezzar  lifted up  mine eyes  unto heaven,  and mine understanding  returned  unto me,  and I blessed  the most High,  and I praised  and honoured  him that liveth  for ever,  whose dominion  is an everlasting  dominion,  and his kingdom  is from  generation 

What is the context of Daniel 4:1-34?