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Daniel 4
New Catholic Bible
Daniel 4
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 4[a]
1 [b]I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in contentment at home and enjoying the luxury of my palaces. 2 However, as I lay in my bed, I had a dream that frightened me, and the visions that I experienced in my mind were a source of torment.
3 Therefore, I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon were to be brought before me and offer me their interpretation of the dream. 4 When the magicians, the soothsayers, the Chaldeans, and the diviners arrived, I related to them the content of the dream, but they were unable to explain its meaning.
5 Finally Daniel, whom I had renamed Belteshazzar, after the name of my god and in whom resides the Spirit of the holy God, came into my presence, and I related to him my dream. 6 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the Spirit of the holy God resides in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you to resolve. Listen to the dream that I experienced, and tell me its interpretation.
7 “These were the visions that came to me as I lay in my bed:
“I beheld a tree at the center of the earth,
and its height was great.
8 The tree became ever taller and stronger
until its top reached the heavens,
and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
9 Its foliage was beautiful,
and its fruit was abundant,
providing fruit for all.
The wild beasts found shade under it,
the birds of the air rested in its branches,
and from it all living creatures were nourished.
10 “In the vision I saw as I lay in my bed, I next beheld a holy sentinel coming down from heaven. 11 He shouted loudly:
“ ‘Hew down the tree and lop off its branches;
strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit.
12 However, leave the stump and its roots in the ground,
bound with iron and bronze
in the grass of the field.
Let him be bathed by the dew of heaven,
and let his lot be to eat, among wild beasts,
the grass of the earth.
13 Let his mind be changed from that of a human,
and let the mind of a beast be given to him,
until seven years pass over him.
14 ‘Such is the sentence decreed by the sentinel,
the verdict announced by the holy ones,
so that all who live may learn
that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mortals.
He confers it on whomever he wishes
and appoints over it the lowliest of men.’
15 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now I am depending upon you, Belteshazzar, to interpret its meaning, although none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret its meaning, you can do so because the Spirit of the holy God resides in you.”
16 Daniel Interprets the Dream.[c] Then Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was greatly upset and confused. The king said, “Belteshazzar, do not allow the dream and its meaning to terrify you.” Belteshazzar replied, “My lord, may the dream be meant for those who hurt you, and its interpretation for your enemies. 17 The tree that you saw, which grew great and strong, with its top reaching the sky so that it could be seen throughout the entire earth, 18 a tree with beautiful foliage and abundant fruit, providing food for all and affording shade for the wild beasts, with the birds of heaven dwelling in its branches— 19 that tree is you, O king. You have grown great and strong. Your power has increased and now reaches the sky; your sovereignty extends to the ends of the earth.
20 “In regard to the king’s vision of a holy sentinel descending from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump and its roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; let him be bathed by the dew of heaven, and let his lot be with the wild beasts until seven years pass over him,’ 21 this is the interpretation, O king. It is a decree that the Most High has issued upon my lord the king:
22 “You will be banished from human society,
and you will dwell among the wild animals.
You will be forced to eat grass like oxen,
and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven.
Seven years will pass over you
until you have learned
that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men
and gives it to whomever he wishes.
23 “As for the command to leave untouched the stump and the roots of the tree, this means that your kingdom will once again be subject to your rule once you come to acknowledge the sovereignty of Heaven.[d] 24 May the king be willing to take my advice. Atone for your sins with deeds of righteousness, and for your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed. If you do so, you will enjoy a long and peaceful life.”[e]
25 The Dream Is Fulfilled. All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 26 At the end of twelve months, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace, 27 the king said, “How magnificent Babylon is! Was it not built as a royal residence by my mighty strength and for my majestic glory?”[f]
28 These words were not completely out of his mouth when a voice came from heaven:
“To you, King Nebuchadnezzar, it is decreed:
your kingdom has been taken from you.
29 You shall be banished from human society
as you are forced to dwell with wild beasts
and feed on grass as the oxen do.
Seven years shall pass over you
until you have learned
that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men
and gives it to whomever he wishes.”
30 This sentence was immediately fulfilled. Nebuchadnezzar was cast out from human society, and he ate grass as oxen do. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails became like a bird’s talons.
31 When the period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven and my power of reasoning was restored to me.
I blessed the Most High,
and I praised and glorified him
who lives forever.
32 All who dwell on earth count for nothing;
he does as he pleases with the powers of heaven[g]
and the inhabitants on earth.
No one can stay his hand
or say to him, “What are you doing?”
33 At that very moment my power of reason returned to me, and my glory and splendor were restored to me. My counselors and my lords sought my counsel. I was reestablished in my kingdom, and my power was greatly increased.
34 Therefore, now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
praise and exalt and glorify
the King of heaven.
For all of his works are right,
and all of his ways are just.
Also, he is able to humble
all those who follow the path of pride.
Footnotes
- Daniel 4:1 There do exist, in fact, some documents about a king who withdrew for some years to an oasis and who consulted a Jewish seer. This would be Nabonidus, who reigned a half-century after Nebuchadnezzar (556–539 B.C.). Everyone knows of the immense pride of Nebuchadnezzar, who turned his city into one of the wonders of the world. In our story, the author has drawn on recollections and information that were not accurate, while reserving the right to attribute everything to the person with whom he is concerned, Nebuchadnezzar.
- Daniel 4:1 The king is tormented by the way in which a tree, the symbol par excellence of life and immortality (see Gen 3:9), is treated in his dream. In the Bible, a tree serves also to describe the destiny of a person, of a sovereign (Pss 1:3; 37:35; Ezek 31). By reserving to Daniel the responsibility for interpreting the king’s nightmare, the author shows the superiority of Jewish wisdom in explaining the difficult mysteries of human existence.
- Daniel 4:16 This is a kind of prophecy that announces the lot reserved for Nebuchadnezzar: this most prestigious and most acclaimed of kings will undergo a trial before being converted unless he changes his present ways.
- Daniel 4:23 God is called Heaven in order not to profane God’s name by uttering it; to him alone, dominion belongs.
- Daniel 4:24 A classic locus for the doctrine of the efficacy of good works.
- Daniel 4:27 The words of the king are similar to those found in royal inscriptions of the Mesopotamian kings.
- Daniel 4:32 The powers of heaven are the heavenly creatures.
Daniel 4
New International Version
Daniel 4
New International Version
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree
4 [a]King Nebuchadnezzar,
To the nations and peoples of every language,(A) who live in all the earth:
May you prosper greatly!(B)
2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs(C) and wonders that the Most High God(D) has performed for me.
3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!(E)
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures(F) from generation to generation.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented(G) and prosperous. 5 I had a dream(H) that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed,(I) the images and visions that passed through my mind(J) terrified me.(K) 6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret(L) the dream for me. 7 When the magicians,(M) enchanters, astrologers[b] and diviners(N) came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.(O) 8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar,(P) after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods(Q) is in him.)
9 I said, “Belteshazzar, chief(R) of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods(S) is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed:(T) I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous.(U) 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.(V) 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches;(W) from it every creature was fed.
13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed,(X) I looked, and there before me was a holy one,(Y) a messenger,[c] coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree(Z) and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.(AA) 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.
“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times[d] pass by for him.(AB)
17 “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High(AC) is sovereign(AD) over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest(AE) of people.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me.(AF) But you can,(AG) because the spirit of the holy gods(AH) is in you.”(AI)
Daniel Interprets the Dream
19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified(AJ) him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”(AK)
Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 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(AL)— 22 Your Majesty, you are that tree!(AM) 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.(AN)
23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one,(AO) 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.’(AP)
24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree(AQ) 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(AR) with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High(AS) is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.(AT) 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots(AU) means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.(AV) 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.(AW) It may be that then your prosperity(AX) will continue.(AY)”
The Dream Is Fulfilled
28 All this happened(AZ) to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory(BA) of my majesty?”(BB)
31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.(BC) 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”(BD)
33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched(BE) with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.(BF)
34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity(BG) was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.(BH)
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom(BI) endures from generation to generation.(BJ)
35 All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.(BK)
He does as he pleases(BL)
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back(BM) his hand(BN)
or say to him: “What have you done?”(BO)
36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom.(BP) My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt(BQ) and glorify(BR) the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.(BS) And those who walk in pride(BT) he is able to humble.(BU)
Footnotes
- Daniel 4:1 In Aramaic texts 4:1-3 is numbered 3:31-33, and 4:4-37 is numbered 4:1-34.
- Daniel 4:7 Or Chaldeans
- Daniel 4:13 Or watchman; also in verses 17 and 23
- Daniel 4:16 Or years; also in verses 23, 25 and 32
New International Version (NIV) 
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