rsv Daniel:4:4-27 SEEK
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I ,
Nebuchadnez '
zar ,
was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace .
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I had a dream which made me afraid ;
as I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me .
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Therefore I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me ,
that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream .
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Then the magicians ,
the enchanters ,
the Chalde '
ans ,
and the astrologers came in ;
and I told them the dream ,
but they could not make known to me its interpretation .
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At last Daniel came in before me--he who was named Belteshaz '
zar after the name of my god ,
and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods--and I told him the dream ,
saying ,
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O Belteshaz '
zar ,
chief of the magicians ,
because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is difficult for you ,
here is the dream which I saw ;
tell me its interpretation .
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The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these :
I saw ,
and behold ,
a tree in the midst of the earth ;
and its height was great .
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The tree grew and became strong ,
and its top reached to heaven ,
and it was visible to the end of the whole earth .
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Its leaves were fair and its fruit abundant ,
and in it was food for all .
The beasts of the field found shade under it ,
and the birds of the air dwelt in its branches ,
and all flesh was fed from it .
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I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed ,
and behold ,
a watcher ,
a holy one ,
came down from heaven .
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He cried aloud and said thus , `
Hew down the tree and cut off its branches ,
strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit ;
let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches .
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But leave the stump of its roots in the earth ,
bound with a band of iron and bronze ,
amid the tender grass of the field .
Let him be wet with the dew of heaven ;
let his lot be with the beasts in the grass of the earth ;
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let his mind be changed from a man '
s ,
and let a beast '
s mind be given to him ;
and let seven times pass over him .
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The sentence is by the decree of the watchers ,
the decision by the word of the holy ones ,
to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men ,
and gives it to whom he will ,
and sets over it the lowliest of men .'
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This dream I ,
King Nebuchadnez '
zar ,
saw .
And you ,
O Belteshaz '
zar ,
declare the interpretation ,
because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation ,
but you are able ,
for the spirit of the holy gods is in you ."
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Then Daniel ,
whose name was Belteshaz '
zar ,
was dismayed for a moment ,
and his thoughts alarmed him .
The king said , "
Belteshaz '
zar ,
let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you ."
Belteshaz '
zar answered , "
My lord ,
may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies !
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The tree you saw ,
which grew and became strong ,
so that its top reached to heaven ,
and it was visible to the end of the whole earth ;
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whose leaves were fair and its fruit abundant ,
and in which was food for all ;
under which beasts of the field found shade ,
and in whose branches the birds of the air dwelt --
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it is you ,
O king ,
who have grown and become strong .
Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven ,
and your dominion to the ends of the earth .
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And whereas the king saw a watcher ,
a holy one ,
coming down from heaven and saying , `
Hew down the tree and destroy it ,
but leave the stump of its roots in the earth ,
bound with a band of iron and bronze ,
in the tender grass of the field ;
and let him be wet with the dew of heaven ;
and let his lot be with the beasts of the field ,
till seven times pass over him ';
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this is the interpretation ,
O king :
It is a decree of the Most High ,
which has come upon my lord the king ,
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that you shall be driven from among men ,
and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field ;
you shall be made to eat grass like an ox ,
and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven ,
and seven times shall pass over you ,
till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men ,
and gives it to whom he will .
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And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree ,
your kingdom shall be sure for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules .
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Therefore ,
O king ,
let my counsel be acceptable to you ;
break off your sins by practicing righteousness ,
and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed ,
that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your tranquillity ."