1 King Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020" sent this letter to the|strong="H5020" many nations and|strong="H1005" language groups living around the|strong="H5020" world.
2 I am very happy to|strong="H5922" tell you|strong="H5922" about|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" miracles and|strong="H1763" wonderful things that|strong="H2370" the|strong="H5922" Most High God did for|strong="H5922" me|strong="H1763".
3 God has|strong="H1768" done amazing miracles!
4 I|strong="H0576", Nebuchadnezzar, was at my palace. I|strong="H0576" was happy and|strong="H0116" successful.
5 I|strong="H1768" had|strong="H1768" a|strong="H5705" dream|strong="H2493" that|strong="H1768" made me|strong="H6925" afraid. I|strong="H1768" was|strong="H1841" lying on|strong="H5705" my|strong="H1768" bed, and|strong="H1841" I|strong="H1768" saw pictures and|strong="H1841" visions in|strong="H5954" my|strong="H1768" mind. These things made me|strong="H6925" very afraid.
6 So|strong="H1768" I|strong="H0576" gave|strong="H0560" an|strong="H2370" order that|strong="H1768" all|strong="H3606" the|strong="H3606" wise men of|strong="H0426" Babylon be|strong="H0426" brought to|strong="H0560" me to|strong="H0560" tell|strong="H0560" me what|strong="H1768" my|strong="H1768" dream|strong="H2493" meant.
7 When the|strong="H5922" men of|strong="H5922" magic and|strong="H0772" the|strong="H5922" Chaldeans came, I told them about|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" dream, but they could not tell me what it|strong="H5922" meant.
8 Finally, Daniel came|strong="H4291" to|strong="H4291" me. (I gave Daniel the|strong="H3606" name, Belteshazzar, to|strong="H4291" honor my god. The|strong="H3606" spirit of the|strong="H3606" holy gods is in him.) I told him about my dream.
9 I|strong="H4481" said, “Belteshazzar, you are the|strong="H3606" most important of|strong="H4481" all|strong="H3606" the|strong="H3606" men of|strong="H4481" magic. I|strong="H4481" know that the|strong="H3606" spirit of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H3606" holy gods is in|strong="H1753" you. I|strong="H4481" know there is no secret that is too hard for|strong="H4203" you to|strong="H4481" understand. This was|strong="H3606" what I|strong="H4481" dreamed. Tell me what it|strong="H8460" means.
10 These are the|strong="H5922" visions|strong="H2376" I|strong="H4481" saw|strong="H2370" while I|strong="H4481" was|strong="H1934" lying in|strong="H5922" my bed|strong="H4903": I|strong="H4481" looked, and|strong="H8065" there in|strong="H5922" front of|strong="H4481" me was|strong="H1934" a|strong="H2370" tree standing in|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" middle of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H5922" earth. The|strong="H5922" tree was|strong="H1934" very tall.
11 The|strong="H0560" tree|strong="H0363" grew large and|strong="H3652" strong. The|strong="H0560" top of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H0560" tree|strong="H0363" touched the|strong="H0560" sky. It|strong="H6853" could be seen from|strong="H4481" anywhere on earth.
12 The|strong="H1768" leaves of|strong="H2920" the|strong="H1768" tree were|strong="H1768" beautiful. It had|strong="H1768" much good fruit on it. And|strong="H6523" on the|strong="H1768" tree was|strong="H2423" plenty of|strong="H2920" food for|strong="H1768" everyone. The|strong="H1768" wild|strong="H1251" animals|strong="H2423" found shelter under the|strong="H1768" tree, and|strong="H6523" the|strong="H1768" birds lived in|strong="H1768" its branches. Every animal ate from|strong="H1768" the|strong="H1768" tree.
13 “I|strong="H4481" was|strong="H3825" looking at those things in|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" vision while lying on|strong="H5922" my bed. And|strong="H0606" then I|strong="H4481" saw a holy angel coming down from|strong="H4481" heaven.
14 He|strong="H1768" spoke very loud and|strong="H0606" said, ‘Cut down the|strong="H5922" tree, and|strong="H0606" cut off its|strong="H3046" branches. Strip off its|strong="H3046" leaves. Scatter its|strong="H3046" fruit around|strong="H5922". The|strong="H5922" animals that|strong="H1768" are|strong="H1768" under the|strong="H5922" tree will|strong="H1768" run away. The|strong="H5922" birds that|strong="H1768" are|strong="H1768" in|strong="H4437" its|strong="H3046" branches will|strong="H1768" fly away.
15 But|strong="H1768" let the|strong="H3606" stump and|strong="H4430" roots stay in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" ground. Put a|strong="H2370" band of|strong="H0426" iron and|strong="H4430" bronze around it|strong="H0607". The|strong="H3606" stump and|strong="H4430" roots will|strong="H1768" stay in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" field with|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" grass all|strong="H3606" around it|strong="H0607". It|strong="H0607" will|strong="H1768" live among the|strong="H3606" wild animals and|strong="H4430" plants in|strong="H0426" the|strong="H3606" fields. It|strong="H0607" will|strong="H1768" become wet with|strong="H0426" dew.
16 He|strong="H1768" will|strong="H1768" not think like a|strong="H2298" man any longer. He|strong="H1768" will|strong="H1768" have|strong="H4430" the|strong="H0116" mind of|strong="H4430" an animal. Seven seasons will|strong="H1768" pass while|strong="H8160" he|strong="H1768" is|strong="H1768" like this.’
17 “Holy angels announced this punishment so|strong="H1768" that|strong="H1768" all|strong="H3606" the|strong="H3606" people on earth|strong="H0772" may know that|strong="H1768" God Most High rules over human kingdoms. God gives those|strong="H1768" kingdoms to|strong="H4291" whoever he|strong="H1768" wants, and|strong="H7236" he|strong="H1768" chooses humble people to|strong="H4291" rule them.
18 “That is what I, King Nebuchadnezzar, dreamed. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it|strong="H8460" means. None of|strong="H1753" the|strong="H3606" wise men in|strong="H1753" my kingdom can tell me what that dream means. But Belteshazzar, you can interpret the|strong="H3606" dream because the|strong="H3606" spirit of|strong="H1753" the|strong="H3606" holy gods is in|strong="H1753" you.”
19 Then|strong="H4430" Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) became|strong="H8631" very quiet for|strong="H1768" a while. What|strong="H1768" he|strong="H1768" was|strong="H4430" thinking bothered him. So|strong="H1768" the|strong="H1768" king|strong="H4430" said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the|strong="H1768" dream or|strong="H4430" its meaning make you|strong="H0607" afraid.”
22 King, you|strong="H1768" are|strong="H1768" that|strong="H1768" tree! You|strong="H1768" have|strong="H1934" become great and|strong="H0606" powerful. You|strong="H1768" are|strong="H1768" like|strong="H2939" the|strong="H5922" tall tree that|strong="H1768" touched the|strong="H5922" sky|strong="H8065"—your|strong="H5922" power reaches to|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" far parts of|strong="H4481" the|strong="H5922" earth.
23 “King, you|strong="H1768" saw a holy angel coming down from|strong="H4481" heaven|strong="H8065". He|strong="H1768" said|strong="H0560", ‘Cut the|strong="H1768" tree|strong="H0363" down and|strong="H8065" destroy it. Put a band of|strong="H4481" iron and|strong="H8065" bronze around the|strong="H1768" stump and|strong="H8065" leave|strong="H7662" the|strong="H1768" stump and|strong="H8065" its|strong="H3046" roots|strong="H8330" in|strong="H4437" the|strong="H1768" ground. Leave|strong="H7662" it in|strong="H4437" the|strong="H1768" grass in|strong="H4437" the|strong="H1768" field. It will|strong="H1768" become wet with dew. He|strong="H1768" will|strong="H1768" live like a wild animal. Seven seasons will|strong="H1768" pass while he|strong="H1768" is|strong="H1768" like this.’
24 “King|strong="H4430", this is the|strong="H5922" meaning of|strong="H4430" the|strong="H5922" dream. God Most High has|strong="H4430" commanded these things to|strong="H5922" happen to|strong="H5922" my lord the|strong="H5922" king|strong="H4430":
25 King|strong="H4430" Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020", you|strong="H5922" will|strong="H4430" be forced to|strong="H5922" go away from people. You|strong="H5922" will|strong="H4430" live among|strong="H5922" the|strong="H3606" wild animals. You|strong="H5922" will|strong="H4430" eat grass like cattle, and|strong="H4430" you|strong="H5922" will|strong="H4430" become wet with|strong="H5922" dew. Seven seasons will|strong="H4430" pass, and|strong="H4430" then|strong="H4430" you|strong="H5922" will|strong="H4430" learn this lesson. You|strong="H5922" will|strong="H4430" learn God Most High rules over|strong="H5922" human kingdoms and|strong="H4430" gives them to|strong="H5922" whoever he|strong="H5020" wants.
26 “The|strong="H5922" command to|strong="H5922" leave the|strong="H5922" stump of|strong="H4437" the|strong="H5922" tree and|strong="H4437" its roots in|strong="H5922" the|strong="H5922" ground means this: Your|strong="H5922" kingdom|strong="H4437" will|strong="H1768" be|strong="H1934" given back to|strong="H5922" you|strong="H1768". This will|strong="H1768" happen when|strong="H1768" you|strong="H1768" learn that|strong="H1768" Most High God rules your|strong="H5922" kingdom|strong="H4437".
27 So|strong="H1768", King|strong="H4430", please accept my|strong="H1768" advice. Stop sinning and|strong="H6032" do what|strong="H1768" is|strong="H1768" right. Stop doing bad things and|strong="H6032" be kind to|strong="H0560" poor people. Then|strong="H4430" you|strong="H1768" might continue to|strong="H0560" be successful.”
28 All these things|strong="H4406" happened to|strong="H0560" King|strong="H4430" Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020".
31 The|strong="H5922" words were|strong="H1768" still in|strong="H5922" his|strong="H5922" mouth when|strong="H1768" a voice came from|strong="H1768" heaven|strong="H8065". The|strong="H5922" voice said, “King Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020", these things will|strong="H1768" happen to|strong="H5922" you|strong="H1768": Your|strong="H5020" power as|strong="H1768" king has|strong="H1768" been taken away from|strong="H1768" you|strong="H1768".
32 You|strong="H1768" will|strong="H4101" be forced to|strong="H0560" go away from|strong="H1768" people. You|strong="H1768" will|strong="H4101" live|strong="H1753" with|strong="H5648" the|strong="H3606" wild animals and|strong="H8065" eat grass like an|strong="H5648" ox. Seven seasons will|strong="H4101" pass before you|strong="H1768" learn your lesson. Then|strong="H1768" you|strong="H1768" will|strong="H4101" learn that|strong="H1768" God Most High rules over human kingdoms and|strong="H8065" gives them|strong="H0560" to|strong="H0560" whoever he|strong="H1768" wants.”
33 These things happened immediately. Nebuchadnezzar was|strong="H7238" forced to|strong="H5922" go away from people. He began|strong="H7261" eating grass like an ox. He became wet from dew. His|strong="H5922" hair grew long like the|strong="H5922" feathers of|strong="H4437" an eagle, and|strong="H4437" his|strong="H5922" nails grew long like the|strong="H5922" claws of|strong="H4437" a|strong="H1156" bird.
34 Then|strong="H4430" at the|strong="H3606" end of|strong="H4430" that|strong="H1768" time, I|strong="H0576", Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5020", looked up toward heaven|strong="H8065", and|strong="H4430" I|strong="H0576" was|strong="H4430" in|strong="H5020" my|strong="H1768" right mind again. Then|strong="H4430" I|strong="H0576" gave praise|strong="H7624" to|strong="H3202" God Most High. I|strong="H0576" gave honor|strong="H1922" and|strong="H4430" glory to|strong="H3202" him who|strong="H1768" lives forever.
35 People on earth
36 At that time God gave me my right mind again, and he gave back my great honor and power as king. My advisors and the royal people began to ask my advice again. I became the king again—even greater and more powerful than before.
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, give praise, honor, and glory to the King of Heaven. Everything he does is right. He is always fair, and he is able to make proud people humble!