2. The Most High God has done miracles and wonderful things for me. I am happy to tell you about these things.
3. The things he has done are great.His miracles are mighty.His kingdom continues forever.His rule will continue for all time.
4. I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at my palace. I was happy and successful.
5. I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying on my bed, I saw pictures and visions in my mind. Those things made me very afraid.
6. So I gave an order. All the wise men of Babylon were to be brought to me. I wanted them to tell me what my dream meant.
7. The fortune-tellers, magicians and wise men came. I told them about the dream. But those men could not tell me what it meant.
8. Finally, Daniel came to me. (I called him Belteshazzar to honor my god. The spirit of the holy gods is in him.) I told my dream to Daniel.
9. I said, “Belteshazzar, you are the most important of all the fortune-tellers. I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you. I know there is no secret that is too hard for you to understand. This was what I dreamed. Tell me what it means.
10. These are the visions I saw while I was lying in my bed: I looked, and there in front of me was a tree. It was standing in the middle of the earth. The tree was very tall.
11. The tree grew large and strong. The top of the tree touched the sky. It could be seen from anywhere on earth.
12. The leaves of the tree were beautiful. It had plenty of good fruit on it. On the tree was food for everyone. The wild animals found shelter under the tree. And the birds lived in its branches. Every animal ate from it.
13. “I was looking at those things in the vision while lying on my bed. And then I saw a holy angel coming down from heaven.
14. He spoke very loudly. He said, ‘Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches. Strip off its leaves. Scatter its fruit around. Let the animals that are under the tree run away. Let the birds that were in its branches fly away.
15. But let the stump and its roots stay in the ground. Put a band of iron and bronze around it. Let it stay in the field with the grass around it.“‘Let the man become wet with dew. Let him live among the animals and plants of the earth.
16. Let him not think like a man any longer. Let him have the mind of an animal for seven years.
17. “‘Messengers gave this command. The holy ones declared the sentence. This is so all the people may know that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of men. God gives those kingdoms to anyone he wants. And he chooses people to rule them who are not proud.’