Daniel:4:4-27

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* I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house , and flourishing in my palace : * I saw a dream which made me afraid , and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me . * Therefore made I 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 . * 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 . * But at the last Daniel 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 before him I told the dream , saying , * 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 . * 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 . * The tree grew , and was strong , and the height thereof reached unto heaven , and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth : * 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 . * I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed , and , behold , a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven ; * 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 : * 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 : * 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 . * 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 over it the basest of men . * This dream I 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 . * 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 . * The tree that thou sawest , which grew , and was strong , whose height reached unto the heaven , and the sight thereof to all the earth ; * 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 : * 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 . * And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven , and saying , Hew 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 him ; * This is the interpretation , O king , and this is the decree of the most High , which is come upon my lord the king : * 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 over thee , till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men , and giveth it to whomsoever he will . * 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 . * Wherefore , O king , let my counsel be acceptable unto thee , 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 .

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