10 “These were the visions of my head while on my bed:

I was looking, and behold,
(A)A tree in the midst of the earth,
And its height was great.
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.
12 Its leaves were lovely,
Its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
(B)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.

13 “I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was (C)a watcher, (D)a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He cried [a]aloud and said thus:

(E)‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
(F)Let the beasts get out from under it,
And the birds from its branches.
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.
16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
Let him be given the heart of a beast,
And let seven (G)times[b] pass over him.

17 ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order (H)that the living may know
(I)That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
(J)Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the (K)lowest of men.’

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 4:14 Lit. with strength
  2. Daniel 4:16 Possibly years

20 (A)“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, 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— 22 (B)it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, (C)and your dominion to the end of the earth.

23 (D)“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, (E)and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven [a]times pass over him’; 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 25 They shall (F)drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you (G)eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven [b]times shall pass over you, (H)till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and (I)gives it to whomever He chooses.

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 (J)Heaven[c] rules.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 4:23 Possibly years
  2. Daniel 4:25 Possibly years
  3. Daniel 4:26 God

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