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Daniel 4 :: New King James Version (NKJV)

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Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
The King’s Second Dream Explained
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:1 - Nebuchadnezzar the king,
To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:2 - I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:3 - How great are His signs,
And how mighty His wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And His dominion is from generation to generation.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:4 - I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:5 - I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:6 - Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:7 - Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:8 - But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:9 - “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:10 - “These were the visions of my head while on my bed:

I was looking, and behold,
A tree in the midst of the earth,
And its height was great.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:11 - The tree grew and became strong;
Its height reached to the heavens,
And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:12 - Its leaves were lovely,
Its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
The beasts of the field found shade under it,
The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches,
And all flesh was fed from it.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:13 - “I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:14 - He cried aloud and said thus:

‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
Let the beasts get out from under it,
And the birds from its branches.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:15 - Nevertheless leave the 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,
And let him graze with the beasts
On the grass of the earth.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:16 - Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
Let him be given the heart of a beast,
And let seven times[fn] pass over him.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:17 - ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the lowest of men.’
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:18 - “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”
Daniel Explains the Second Dream
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:19 - Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:20 - 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,
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:21 - 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—
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:22 - it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:23 - 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, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’;
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:24 - this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:25 - They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:26 - And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:27 - Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:28 - All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:29 - At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:30 - The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:31 - While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:32 - And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:33 - That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:34 - And at the end of the time[fn] I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:35 - All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
No one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him, “What have You done?”
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:36 - At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.
Unchecked Copy BoxDan 4:37 - Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
NKJV Footnotes
Possibly seven years, and so in verses 23, 25, and 32
Literally days
NKJV

New King James Version, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

The text of the New King James Version (NKJV) appearing on or deriving from this or any other web page is for personal use only. Any other use of the NKJV must be in conformity with the Quotation Policy for the New King James Version. For more information about the New King James Version, the Quotation Policy, and for inquiries about permission to use the New King James Version, go to Thomas Nelson, Inc..

For more information on this translation, see the NKJV Preface.

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