Daniel 4 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

The King Acknowledges God

1 [fn]Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020 the king ^H4430 to all ^H3606 the peoples ^H5972, nations ^H524, and populations of all [fn]languages ^H3961 who live ^H1753 in all ^H3606 the earth ^H772: “May your [fn]peace ^H8001 be great ^H7680!

2 I am pleased ^H8232 to declare ^H2324 the signs ^H852 and miracles ^H8540 that the Most ^H5943 High ^H5943 God ^H426 has done ^H5648 for me.

3 “How ^H4101 great ^H7229 are His signs ^H852

And how ^H4101 mighty ^H8624 are His miracles ^H8540!

His kingdom ^H4437 is an everlasting ^H5957 kingdom ^H4437,

And His dominion ^H7985 is from generation ^H1859 to generation ^H1859.

The Vision of a Great Tree

4 “[fn]I, Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020, was at ease ^H7954 in my house ^H1005 and happy ^H7487 in my palace ^H1965.

5 I saw ^H2370 a dream ^H2493 and it startled ^H1763 me; and these appearances ^H2031 as I lay on my bed ^H4903 and the visions ^H2376 [fn]in my mind ^H7217 kept ^H927 alarming ^H927 me. 6 So I gave ^H7761 orders ^H2942 to bring ^H5954 into my presence ^H6925 all ^H3606 the wise ^H2445 men ^H2445 of Babylon ^H895, so ^H1768 that ^H1768 they might make ^H3046 known ^H3046 to me the interpretation ^H6591 of the dream ^H2493. 7 Then ^H116 the soothsayer ^H2749 priests ^H2749, the sorcerers ^H826, the [fn]Chaldeans ^H3779, and the diviners ^H1505 came ^H5954 in ^H5954 and I related ^H560 the dream ^H2493 [fn]to them, but they could not make ^H3046 its interpretation ^H6591 known ^H3046 to me. 8 But finally ^H5705 H318 Daniel ^H1841 came ^H5954 in ^H5954 before ^H6925 me, whose ^H1768 name ^H8036 is Belteshazzar ^H1096 according to the name ^H8036 of my god ^H426, and in whom ^H1768 is [fn]a spirit ^H7308 of the holy ^H6922 gods ^H426; and I related ^H560 the dream ^H2493 [fn]to him, saying, 9 ‘Belteshazzar ^H1096, chief ^H7229 of the soothsayer ^H2749 priests ^H2749, since ^H1768 I know ^H3046 that a spirit ^H7308 of the holy ^H6922 gods ^H426 is in you and no ^H3606 H3809 secret ^H7328 baffles ^H598 you, tell ^H560 me the visions ^H2376 of my dream ^H2493 which ^H1768 I have seen ^H2370, along with its interpretation ^H6591.

10 ‘Now these were the visions ^H2376 [fn]in my mind ^H7217 as I lay on my bed ^H4903: I was looking ^H2370, and behold ^H431, there was a tree ^H363 in the middle ^H1459 of the [fn]earth ^H772 and its height ^H7314 was great ^H7690.

11 ‘The tree ^H363 grew ^H7236 large ^H7236 and became ^H8631 strong ^H8631

And its height ^H7314 reached ^H4291 to the sky ^H8065,

And it was visible ^H2379 to the end ^H5491 of the whole ^H3606 earth ^H772.

12 ‘Its foliage ^H6074 was beautiful ^H8209 and its fruit ^H4 abundant ^H7690,

And in it was food ^H4203 for all ^H3606.

The animals ^H2423 of the field ^H1251 [fn]found ^H2927 shade ^H2927 under ^H8460 it,

And the birds ^H6853 of the sky ^H8065 lived ^H1753 in its branches ^H6056,

And all ^H3606 [fn]living ^H1321 creatures ^H1321 fed ^H2110 from it.

13 ‘I was looking ^H2370 in the visions ^H2376 [fn]in my mind ^H7217 as I lay on my bed ^H4903, and behold ^H431, an angelic ^H5894 watcher ^H5894, a holy ^H6922 one ^H6922, descended ^H5182 from heaven ^H8065.

14 ‘He shouted ^H7123 out and spoke ^H560 as ^H3652 follows ^H3652:

“Chop ^H1414 down ^H1414 the tree ^H363 and cut ^H7113 off ^H7113 its branches ^H6056,

Shake ^H5426 off ^H5426 its foliage ^H6074 and scatter ^H921 its fruit ^H4;

Let the animals ^H2423 flee ^H5111 from under ^H8460 it

And the birds ^H6853 from its branches ^H6056.

15 “Yet ^H1297 leave ^H7662 the stump ^H6136 [fn]with its roots ^H8330 in the ground ^H772,

But with a band ^H613 of iron ^H6523 and bronze ^H5174 around it

In the new ^H1883 grass ^H1883 of the field ^H1251;

And let him be drenched ^H6647 with the dew ^H2920 of heaven ^H8065,

And let [fn]him share ^H2508 with the animals ^H2423 in the grass ^H6212 of the earth ^H772.

16 “Let his [fn]mind ^H3825 change ^H8133 from that of a human ^H606

And let an animal’s ^H2423 [fn]mind ^H3825 be given ^H3052 to him,

And let seven ^H7655 [fn]periods of time ^H5732 pass ^H2499 over ^H5922 him.

17 “This sentence ^H6600 is by the decree ^H1510 of the angelic ^H5894 watchers ^H5894,

And the decision ^H7595 is a command ^H3983 of the holy ^H6922 ones ^H6922,

In order ^H5705 H1701 that the living ^H2417 may know ^H3046

That the Most ^H5943 High ^H5943 is ruler ^H7990 over the realm ^H4437 of mankind ^H606,

And He grants ^H5415 it to whomever ^H1768 H4479 He wishes ^H6634

And sets ^H6966 over ^H5922 it the lowliest ^H8215 of people ^H606.”

18 This ^H1836 is the dream ^H2493 that I, King ^H4430 Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020, have seen ^H2370. Now you, Belteshazzar ^H1096, tell ^H560 me its interpretation ^H6591, since ^H6903 H1768 none ^H3606 H3809 of the wise ^H2445 men ^H2445 of my kingdom ^H4437 is able ^H3202 to make ^H3046 known ^H3046 to me the interpretation ^H6591; but you are able ^H3546, because ^H1768 a spirit ^H7308 of the holy ^H6922 gods ^H426 is in you.’

Daniel Interprets the Vision

19 “Then ^H116 Daniel ^H1841, whose ^H1768 name ^H8036 is Belteshazzar ^H1096, was appalled ^H8075 for a while ^H8160 as his thoughts ^H7476 alarmed ^H927 him. The king ^H4430 responded ^H6032 and said ^H560, ‘Belteshazzar ^H1096, do not let the dream ^H2493 or its interpretation ^H6591 alarm ^H927 you.’ Belteshazzar ^H1096 replied ^H6032, ‘My lord ^H4756, if only the dream ^H2493 applied to those who hate ^H8131 you, and its interpretation ^H6591 to your adversaries ^H6146!

20 The tree ^H363 that you saw ^H2370, which ^H1768 became ^H7236 large ^H7236 and grew ^H8631 strong ^H8631, whose height ^H7314 reached ^H4291 to the sky ^H8065 and was visible ^H2379 to all ^H3606 the earth ^H772, 21 and whose foliage ^H6074 was beautiful ^H8209 and its fruit ^H4 abundant ^H7690, and in which was food ^H4203 for all ^H3606, under ^H8460 which the animals ^H2423 of the field ^H1251 lived ^H1753 and in whose branches ^H6056 the birds ^H6853 of the sky ^H8065 settled ^H7932— 22 it is you, O king ^H4430; for you have become ^H7236 great ^H7236 and grown ^H8631 strong ^H8631, and your [fn]majesty ^H7238 has become ^H7236 great ^H7236 and reached ^H4291 to the sky ^H8065, and your dominion ^H7985 to the end ^H5491 of the earth ^H772. 23 And in that the king ^H4430 saw ^H2370 an angelic ^H5894 watcher ^H5894, a holy ^H6922 one ^H6922, descending ^H5182 from heaven ^H8065 and saying ^H560, “Chop ^H1414 down ^H1414 the tree ^H363 and destroy ^H2255 it; yet ^H1297 leave ^H7662 the stump ^H6136 [fn]with its roots ^H8330 in the ground ^H772, but with a band ^H613 of iron ^H6523 and bronze ^H5174 around it in the new ^H1883 grass ^H1883 of the field ^H1251, let him be drenched ^H6647 with the dew ^H2920 of heaven ^H8065, and let [fn]him share ^H2508 with the animals ^H2423 of the field ^H1251 until ^H5705 H1768 seven ^H7655 [fn]periods of time ^H5732 pass ^H2499 over ^H5922 him,” 24 this ^H1836 is the interpretation ^H6591, O king ^H4430, and this ^H1932 is the decree ^H1510 of the Most ^H5943 High ^H5943, which ^H1768 has come ^H4291 upon my lord ^H4756 the king ^H4430: 25 that you be driven ^H2957 away ^H2957 from mankind ^H606 and your dwelling ^H4070 place ^H4070 be with the animals ^H2423 of the field ^H1251, and you be given ^H2939 grass ^H6212 to ^H2939 eat ^H2939 like cattle ^H8450 and be drenched ^H6647 with the dew ^H2920 of heaven ^H8065; and seven ^H7655 [fn]periods of time ^H5732 will pass ^H2499 over ^H5922 you, until ^H5705 H1768 you recognize ^H3046 that the Most ^H5943 High ^H5943 is ruler ^H7990 over the realm ^H4437 of mankind ^H606 and bestows ^H5415 it on whomever ^H4479 H1768 He wishes ^H6634. 26 And in that it was commanded ^H560 to leave ^H7662 the stump ^H6136 [fn]with the roots ^H8330 of the tree ^H363, your kingdom ^H4437 will [fn]remain ^H7011 as yours after ^H4481 H1768 you recognize ^H3046 that it is Heaven ^H8065 that rules ^H7990. 27 Therefore ^H3861, O king ^H4430, may my advice ^H4431 be pleasing ^H8232 to you: wipe ^H6562 away ^H6562 your sin ^H2408 by doing righteousness ^H6665, and your wrongdoings ^H5758 by showing ^H2604 mercy ^H2604 to the poor ^H6033, in ^H2006 case ^H2006 there may be a prolonging ^H754 of your prosperity ^H7963.’

The Vision Fulfilled

28 “All ^H3606 of this happened ^H4291 to Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020 the king ^H4430.

29 Twelve ^H8648 H6236 months ^H3393 later ^H7118 he was walking ^H1981 on the roof of the royal ^H4437 palace ^H1965 of Babylon ^H895. 30 The king ^H4430 began ^H6032 speaking ^H6032 and was saying ^H560, ‘Is this ^H1668 not Babylon ^H895 the great ^H7229, which ^H1768 I myself ^H576 have built ^H1124 as a royal ^H4437 [fn]residence ^H1005 by the might ^H8632 of my power ^H2632 and for the honor ^H3367 of my majesty ^H1923?’ 31 While the word ^H4406 was still ^H5751 in the king’s ^H4430 mouth ^H6433, a voice ^H7032 [fn]came ^H5308 from heaven ^H8065, saying, ‘King ^H4430 Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020, to you it is declared ^H560: [fn]sovereignty ^H4437 has been ^H5709 removed ^H5709 from you, 32 and you will be driven ^H2957 away ^H2957 from mankind ^H606, and your dwelling ^H4070 place ^H4070 will be with the animals ^H2423 of the field ^H1251. You will be given ^H2939 grass ^H6212 to ^H2939 eat ^H2939 like cattle ^H8450, and seven ^H7655 [fn]periods of time ^H5732 will pass ^H2499 over ^H5922 you until ^H5705 H1768 you recognize ^H3046 that the Most ^H5943 High ^H5943 is ruler ^H7990 over the realm ^H4437 of mankind ^H606 and bestows ^H5415 it on whomever ^H4479 H1768 He wishes ^H6634.’ 33 Immediately ^H8160 the word ^H4406 concerning ^H5922 Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020 was fulfilled ^H5487; and he was driven ^H2957 away ^H2957 from mankind ^H606 and began eating ^H399 grass ^H6212 like cattle ^H8450, and his body ^H1655 was drenched ^H6647 with the dew ^H2920 of heaven ^H8065 until ^H5705 H1768 his hair ^H8177 had grown ^H7236 like eagles’ ^H5403 feathers and his nails ^H2953 like birds’ ^H6853 claws.

34 “But at the end ^H7118 of [fn]that period ^H3118, I, Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020, raised ^H5191 my eyes ^H5870 toward heaven ^H8065 and my [fn]reason ^H4486 returned ^H8421 to me, and I blessed ^H1289 the Most ^H5943 High ^H5943 and praised ^H7624 and honored ^H1922 Him who ^H2417 lives ^H2417 forever ^H5957;

For His dominion ^H7985 is an everlasting ^H5957 dominion ^H7985,

And His kingdom ^H4437 endures from generation ^H1859 to generation ^H1859.

35 “All ^H3606 the inhabitants ^H1753 of the earth ^H772 are of no ^H3809 account ^H2804,

But He does ^H5648 according ^H4481 to His will ^H6634 among the army ^H2429 of heaven ^H8065

And among the inhabitants ^H1753 of earth ^H772;

And no ^H3809 one can [fn]fend ^H4223 off ^H4223 His hand ^H3028

Or say ^H560 to Him, ‘What ^H4101 have You done ^H5648?’

36 At that time ^H2166 my [fn]reason ^H4486 returned ^H8421 to me. And my majesty ^H1923 and splendor ^H2122 were [fn]restored ^H8421 to me for the honor ^H3367 of my kingdom ^H4437, and my state ^H1907 counselors ^H1907 and my nobles ^H7261 began seeking ^H1156 me out ^H1156; so I was reestablished ^H8627 in my [fn]sovereignty ^H4437, and surpassing ^H3493 greatness ^H7238 was added ^H3255 to me. 37 Now ^H3705 I, Nebuchadnezzar ^H5020, praise ^H7624, exalt ^H7313, and honor ^H1922 the King ^H4430 of heaven ^H8065, for all ^H3606 His works ^H4567 are [fn]true ^H7187 and His ways ^H735 [fn]just ^H1780; and He is able ^H3202 to humble ^H8214 those who ^H1768 walk ^H1981 in pride ^H1467.”