Daniel 4:4-18

Daniel 4:4-18

[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.