20 (A)“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, 21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home— 22 (B)it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, (C)and your dominion to the end of the earth.

23 (D)“And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, (E)and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven [a]times pass over him’; 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 25 They shall (F)drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you (G)eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven [b]times shall pass over you, (H)till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and (I)gives it to whomever He chooses.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 4:23 Possibly years
  2. Daniel 4:25 Possibly years

20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds(A) 22 Your Majesty, you are that tree!(B) You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.(C)

23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one,(D) a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’(E)

24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree(F) the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched(G) with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High(H) is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.(I)

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