NEVUKADNE'TSTSAR the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the Most High Eloah has wrought toward me.
How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
I Nevukadne'tstsar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace:
I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babel before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Kasdiym, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
But at the last Daniy'el came in before me, whose name was Ba`altesha'tstsar, according to the name of my eloah, and in whom is the holy Ruach Eloah: and before him I told the dream, saying,
O Ba`altesha'tstsar, master of the magicians, because I know that the holy Ruach Eloah is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
Thus were the visions of my head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heavens dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a Watcher and a holy one came down from heaven;
He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven periods of time pass over him.
This matter is by the decree of the Watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that El Elyon rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men.
This dream I king Nevukadne'tstsar have seen. Now you, O Ba`altesha'tstsar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but you are able; for the holy Ruach Eloah is in you.
Then Daniy'el, whose name was Ba`altesha'tstsar, was astonished for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, Ba`altesha'tstsar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble you. Ba`altesha'tstsar answered and said, My adoniy, the dream be to them that hate you, and the interpretation thereof to your enemies.
The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heavens, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heavens had their habitation:
It is you, O king, that are grown and become strong: for your greatness is grown, and reaches unto heaven, and your dominion to the end of the earth.
And whereas the king saw a Watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender 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, till seven periods of time pass over him;
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of El Elyon, which is come upon my adoniy the king:
That they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that El Elyon rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will.
And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; your kingdom shall be sure unto you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of your tranquillity.
All this came upon the king Nevukadne'tstsar.
At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babel.
The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babel, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?
While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O King Nevukadne'tstsar, to you it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from you.
And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make you to eat grass as oxen, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that El Elyon rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will.
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nevukadne'tstsar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
And at the end of the days I Nevukadne'tstsar lifted up my eyes unto heaven, and my understanding returned unto me, and I blessed El Elyon, and I praised and honored him that lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What do you?
At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my princes sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
Now I Nevukadne'tstsar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.