Daniel

Stories of Daniel and his friends in exile and visions about future kingdoms and God's sovereignty.

Chapter 4

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

*King Nebuchadnezzar sends peace to everyone around the world - may you have lots of peace.

2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

*I decided to share the amazing things and miracles my great God has done for me.

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.

*How amazing are his signs! And how powerful are his wonders! His kingdom lasts forever, and his rule passes down through each generation.

4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

*I, Nebuchadnezzar, was relaxing in my home and enjoying my grand palace.

5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

*I had a scary dream, and the thoughts while lying in bed along with the images in my mind disturbed me.

6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

*So, I ordered all smart people in Babylon to come and explain my dream's meaning to me.

7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

*Then, the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and fortune tellers came in. I shared my dream with them, but they didn't explain what it meant.

8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

*But at the end, Daniel arrived before me. His name was Belteshazzar, named after my God. The spirit of holy gods is within him. I shared the dream with him.

9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

*O Belteshazzar, skilled in magic, since I believe the sacred spirits are within you and nothing puzzles you, please explain the images from my sleep and their meanings.

10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

*So, my dreams showed me a big tree in the middle of the ground, and it was very tall.

11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

*The tree grew very tall and strong, almost touching the sky, and its sight could be seen across the entire world.

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 heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

*The leaves were beautiful, and it produced lots of fruit. It provided food for everyone: animals in the field found shade under it, and birds lived in its branches. Everything ate from it.

13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

*I had a vision while lying in bed, and I saw a being from heaven coming down.

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:

*He shouted loudly and said, "Chop down the tree, remove its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruits. Let the animals escape from under it and the birds from its branches."

15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

*However, leave the tree's root stub in the ground, secured by an iron and brass band. Keep it in the green grass and water it with heavenly dew. Let it share the land with animals grazing in the grass.

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.

*Let him have a new heart, not like a person's, but like an animal's, and let it happen seven times.

17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

*This is decided by the watchers' decree and the holy ones' demand. It shows that the highest power controls human kingdoms, giving them to anyone they choose and putting in charge whoever they want, even the lowest people.

18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

*King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. He needs you, Belteshazzar, to explain it because his wise men can't. You can do it because you have the spirit of the holy gods in you.

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

*Then Daniel, also called Belteshazzar, was shocked for an hour, and his thoughts were worried. The king spoke and said, Belteshazzar, don't let the dream or its meaning upset you. Belteshazzar replied, My king, the dream is for those who don't like you, and the explanation is for your enemies.

20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

*The tree you saw growing was tall and strong, reaching up to the sky and visible from everywhere on Earth.

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 heaven had their habitation:

*Whose leaves were beautiful and had lots of fruit, providing food for everyone. Under this tree, wild animals lived, and birds found a home in its branches.

22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

*You, King, have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown, reaching up to heaven, and your rule extends to the very edge of the world.

23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

*And since the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, saying to cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its root stump in the ground with iron and brass bands, in the grass of the field. It should also be watered by heaven's dew and share its portion with the field animals until seven periods pass over it.

24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

*This means, dear king, that this is the decision from the highest authority, which has been made for my king.

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 heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

*They will force you to leave people and live with animals. You'll eat like cows and be wet from heaven's dew. This will happen seven times so you know that the highest power controls the world and gives it to whoever they want.

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 heavens do rule.

*And since they ordered you to abandon the remaining tree roots; your kingdom will be secure, once you understand that the sky also governs.

27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

*So, king, please accept my advice: stop your wrongdoings with fairness and show kindness to the needy. This might help bring lasting peace for you.

28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

*This all happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

*After a year, he strolled through the palace in Babylon's kingdom.

30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

*The king asked, "Isn't this Babylon, which I built with my strength, to honor my royal power?"

31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

*As King Nebuchadnezzar tried to speak the word, a voice came from the sky, saying, "King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you; you have lost your kingdom."

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 most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

*They will force you to leave people and live with wild animals. You'll have to eat like cows, and seven times something bad happens, until you understand that the highest power controls the world and gives it to whoever they want.

33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

*At that very time, what happened to Nebuchadnezzar: he was removed from people, ate grass like cows, and his body was wet with heaven's dew until his hair grew long like an eagle's feathers and his nails were like birds' claws.

34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

*At the end of those days, Nebuchadnezzar looked up at the sky, and he understood things again. He praised and thanked the great God who lives forever. This God has endless power and a kingdom that lasts from one generation to another.

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

*Every person on Earth is considered unimportant. He does whatever He wants with the stars and people on Earth. Nobody can stop Him or ask Him why He's doing it.

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 lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

*At the same time, I regained my thinking ability. My kingdom's glory, honor, and brightness returned to me. My advisors and lords came to me. I became strong in my kingdom, and even more greatness was added to me.

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

*Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and honor the King of heaven. He does only true things and acts with fairness. He can humble those who act proudly.

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