Daniel:4

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* Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples , the nations , and the tongues that dwell in all the earth : Your peace be multiplied . * It seemed good before me to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done with me . * How great are His signs ! And how mighty are His wonders ! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom , and His rule is from generation to generation . * I , Nebuchadnezzar , was at ease in my house , and flourishing in my palace . * I saw a dream , and it terrified me , and the thoughts on my bed and visions of my head troubled me . * So I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me , that they might make known to me the meaning of the dream . * Then the horoscopists , the conjurers , the Chaldeans , and the fortunetellers came in . And I told the dream before them , but they did not make its meaning known to me . * But at last came in before me , whose name was Belteshazzar , according to the name of my god , and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods . And I told the dream before him , saying , * O Belteshazzar , master of the horoscopists , because I now that the spirit of the holy gods is in you , and no secret troubles you , tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen , and its meaning . * As to the visions of my head on my bed , I was looking , and . behold , a tree was in the middle of the earth . And its height was great . * The tree became great and strong , and its height reached to the sky , and its appearance to the end of all the earth . * Its leaves were beautiful , and its fruit plentiful , and food for all was in it . The animals of the field sought shade under it , and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches , and all flesh was fed from it . * I was looking in the visions of my head on my bed . And , behold , a watcher , even a holy one , came down from the heaven * He cried with might and said this : Cut down the tree and cut off its branches . Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit . Let the animals flee from under it , and the birds leave its branches . * But leave the stump of its roots in the earth , even with a fetter of iron and bronze , in the grass of the field . And let it be wet with the dew of the heavens , and his portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth . * Let his heart be changed from man 's , and let the heart of an animal be given to him . And let seven times pass over him . * This matter is by the decree of the watchers , and the command by the word of the holy ones , so that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He will . And He sets up over it the lowest of men . * I , Nebuchadnezzar , have seen this dream . Now you , O Belteshazzar , declare its meaning , since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to reveal the meaning to me . But you are able , for the spirit of the holy gods is in you . * Then Daniel , whose name was Belteshazzar , was stunned for one hour , and his thoughts troubled him . The king spoke and said , O Belteshazzar , do not let the dream or its meaning trouble you . Belteshazzar answered and said , My lord , the dream is to those who hate you , and its meaning is to your foes . * The tree that you saw , which became great and strong , whose height reached to the heaven and its appearance to all the earth , * and its leaves being beautiful , and its fruit plentiful , and food for all being in it , under which the animals of the field lived , and in its branches the birds of the sky had their home : * It was you , O king , for you have become great and strong . For your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens , and your rule is to the end of the earth . * And as the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the heavens , and saying , Cut the tree down , and destroy it . Yet leave the stump of its roots in the earth , even with a band of iron and bronze , in the grass of the field . And let him be wet with the dew of the heavens , and his portion be with the animals of the field , until seven times pass over him . * This is the meaning , O king , and this the decree of the Most High , which has come on my lord the king : * And you shall be driven from men , and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field . And you shall be fed with grass like oxen . And you shall be wet with dew of the heavens ; and seven times shall pass over you until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of men , and He gives it to whomever He desires . * And in that they that commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots , Your kingdom shall be enduring to you after you have realized that Heaven rules . * So , O king , let my advice be pleasing to you : Even break off your sins by righteousness , and your iniquities by pitying the poor , whether there will be duration to your prosperity . * All this came on the king , Nebuchadnezzar . * At the end of twelve months , he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon . * The king spoke and said , is this not great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom , by the might of my power , and for the honor of my majesty ? * The word was still in the king 's voice when a voice fell from the heaven , saying , O king Nebuchadnezzar , to you it is declared : The kingdom has been taken from you ! * And you shall be driven from men , and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field . You shall be fed with the grass like oxen , and seven times shall pass over you until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of men , and that He gives it to whomever He desires . * The same hour the thing was fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar . And he was driven from men , and he ate the grass like oxen , and his body was wet with the dew of the heavens , until his hair had grown like eagles ' feathers , and his nails like birds ' claws . * And at the end of the days , I , Nebuchadnezzar , lifted up my eyes to the heaven , and my understanding returned to me , and I blessed the Most High . And I praised and honored Him who lives forever , whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom , and His rule from generation to generation . * And all the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing . And He does according to His will among the army of Heaven , and among the inhabitants of the earth . And no one is able to strike His hand or say to Him , What are You doing ? * At that time my reason returned to me , and the glory of my kingdom , my majesty , and my brightness returned to me . And my advisers and my nobles sought to me . And I was reestablished in my kingdom , and excellent greatness was added to me . * Now I , Nebuchadnezzar , praise and exalt and honor the King of Heaven , for all His works are truth , and His ways are justice . And He is able to humble those who walk in pride .

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