4:1 Nevukadnetzar ha king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the eretz: "Shalom aleichem l'machbir"(Peace be multiplied unto you).
4:2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that EL-Elyon hath wrought toward me.
4:3 How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to generation.
4:4 I Nevukadnetzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the chazot (visions) of my head troubled me.
4:6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise [men] of Bavel (בּבל) before me, that they might make known unto me the pesher (interpretation, explanation) of the dream.
4:7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Kasdim (Chaldeans), and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the pesher thereof.
4:8 But at the last Daniyel (דניאל) came in before me, whose name [was] Belt'shatzar (בּלטשׁאצAramaic), according to the name of my elah, and in whom [is] the spirit of the set apart elahim (אלהין): and before him I told the dream, [saying],
4:9 O Belt'shatzar (בּלטשׁאצAramaic), master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the set apart elahim (אלהין) [is] in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the chazot (visions) of my dream that I have seen, and the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof.
4:10 Thus [were] the chazot (visions) of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the eretz, and the height thereof [was] great.
4:11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto shamayim, and the sight thereof to the end of all the eretz:
4:12 The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the shamayim dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
4:13 I saw in the chazot (visions) of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an set apart one came down from shamayim;
4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
4:15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the eretz, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of shamayim, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the eretz:
4:16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
4:17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the set apart ones: to the intent that the living may know that the EL-Elyon (Most High) ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
4:18 This dream I king Nevukadnetzar have seen. Now thou, O Belt'shatzar (בּלטשׁאצAramaic), declare the pesher (interpretation, explanation) thereof, forasmuch as all the wise [men] of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the pesher: but thou [art] able; for the spirit of the set apart elahim (אלהין) [is] in thee.
4:19 Then Daniyel (דניאל), whose name [was] Belt'shatzar (בּלטשׁאצAramaic), was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belt'shatzar , let not the dream, or the pesher thereof, trouble thee. Belt'shatzar answered and said, My master, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the pesher thereof to thine enemies.
4:20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the shamayim, and the sight thereof to all the eretz;
4:21 Whose leaves [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the shamayim had their habitation:
4:22 It [is] thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto shamayim, and thy dominion to the end of the eretz.
4:23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an set apart one coming down from shamayim, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the eretz, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of shamayim, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
4:24 This [is] the pesher (interpretation, explanation), O king, and this [is] the decree of the EL-Elyon (Most High), which is come upon my master the king:
4:25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of shamayim, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the EL-Elyon (Most High) ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
4:26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the shamayims do rule.
4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by tzedakah, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
4:28 All this came upon the king Nevukadnetzar.
4:29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Bavel (בּבל).
4:30 The king spake, and said:
Is not this great Bavel (בּבל), that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
4:31 While the word [was] in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from shamayim, [saying]:
O king Nevukadnetzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
4:32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the EL-Elyon (Most High) ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.
4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nevukadnetzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of shamayim, till his hairs were grown like eagles' [feathers], and his nails like birds' [claws].
4:34 And at the end of the days I Nevukadnetzar lifted up mine eyes unto shamayim, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the EL-Elyon (Most High), and I praised and honoured Him that liveth forever, for His dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom [is] from generation to generation:
4:35 And all the inhabitants of the eretz [are] reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of shamayim, and [among] the inhabitants of the eretz: and none can stay His yad (hand), or say unto Him:
"What doest thou? "
4:36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my masters sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
4:37 Now I Nevukadnetzar praise and extol and honour the king of shamayim, all whose works [are] truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.