20 Whereas the King saw a watchman, and an holy one that came down from heaven, and said, Hew down the tree, and destroy it, yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, and with a band of iron and brass bind it among the 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, [a]till seven times pass over him.

21 This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king,

22 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as the [b]oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven: and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know, that [c]the most High beareth rule over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 4:20 Whereby he meaneth a long space, as seven years. Some interpret seven months, and others seven weeks, but it seemeth he means of years.
  2. Daniel 4:22 Not that his shape or form was changed into a beast, but that he was either stricken mad, and so avoided man’s company, or was cast out for his tyranny, and so wandered among the beasts, and ate herbs and grass.
  3. Daniel 4:22 Daniel showeth the cause why God thus punished him.

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