14. He called out loudly:Cut down the tree and chop off its branches;strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.Let the animals flee from under it,and the birds from its branches.
15. But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, and with a band of iron and bronze around it,in the tender grass of the field.Let him be drenched with dew from the skyand share the plants of the earth with the animals.
16. Let his mind be changed from that of a man,and let him be given the mind of an animalfor seven periods of time.
17. This word is by decree of the observers;the matter is a command from the holy ones.This is so the living will knowthat the Most High is rulerover the kingdom of men.He gives it to anyone He wantsand sets the lowliest of men over it.
18. This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can make the interpretation known to me. But you can, because you have the spirit of the holy gods.”
19. Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was stunned for a moment, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.”Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!
20. The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth,
21. whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant — and on it was food for all, under it the wild animals lived, and in its branches the birds of the air lived —
22. that tree is you, the king. For you have become great and strong: your greatness has grown and even reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.
23. “The king saw an observer, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground and with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with dew from the sky, and share food with the wild animals for seven periods of time.’
24. This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the sentence of the Most High that has been passed against my lord the king:
25. You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals. You will feed on grass like cattle and be drenched with dew from the sky for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men, and He gives it to anyone He wants.
26. As for the command to leave the tree’s stump with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
27. Therefore, may my advice seem good to you my king. Separate yourself from your sins by doing what is right, and from your injustices by showing mercy to the needy. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”