Daniel 4

All 37 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

Read Daniel 4 in the Bible reader, with audio →

1. 1King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and languages living across the whole earth: May your peace be multiplied.
2. 2I decided it was good to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me.
3. 3How great are his signs! How powerful are his wonders! His kingdom lasts forever, and his dominion continues from generation to generation.
4. 4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house and flourishing in my palace.
5. 5Then I had a dream that terrified me. The thoughts that came to me in bed and the visions in my mind troubled me.
6. 6So I issued a decree summoning all the wise men of Babylon to appear before me and interpret the dream.
7. 7The magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers all came. I described the dream to them, but none of them could tell me what it meant.
8. 8Finally, Daniel came before me — the one called Belteshazzar, named after my god — a man in whom the spirit of the holy gods dwells. I told him the dream:
9. 9"Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Here are the visions I saw in my dream — tell me what they mean."
10. 10"These were the visions that came to me as I lay in bed: I looked, and there stood a tree at the center of the earth, and it was enormously tall.
11. 11The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached up to heaven, and it could be seen from the ends of the earth.
12. 12Its leaves were beautiful, and it was full of fruit, providing food for all. Wild animals rested in its shade, birds nested in its branches, and every living creature was fed from it.
13. 13"As I continued watching these visions from my bed, I saw a watcher — a holy one — come down from heaven.
14. 14He called out in a loud voice: 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches! Strip its leaves and scatter its fruit! Drive the animals out from under it and the birds from its branches.
15. 15But leave the stump and its roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze, out in the open grass. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live among the animals, feeding on the grass of the earth.
16. 16Let his heart be changed from a human heart, and let an animal's heart be given to him. Let seven times pass over him.
17. 17'This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, so that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he wills, even setting up the lowliest of men.'
18. 18"That is the dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means. None of the wise men in my kingdom could interpret it, but you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
19. 19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies.”
20. 20The tree you saw — the one that grew large and strong, whose top reached to heaven and was visible across the whole earth,
21. 21with its beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, with wild animals sheltering beneath it and birds living in its branches —
22. 22that tree is you, O king. You have grown great and powerful. Your greatness reaches to heaven, and your rule extends to the ends of the earth.
23. 23"Then you saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump and roots in the ground, bound with iron and bronze, out in the open grass. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven and live among the wild animals until 7 periods of time pass over him.'
24. 24"Here is the interpretation, O king. This is the decree of the Most High that has been issued against my lord the king:
25. 25You will be driven away from people, and you will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he chooses.
26. 26The command to leave the stump and roots of the tree means this: your kingdom will be restored to you once you recognize that heaven rules.
27. 27Therefore, O king, please accept my advice: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; it may lead to a lengthening of your tranquility.
28. 28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29. 29Twelve months later, he was walking in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30. 30The king spoke and said, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by my mighty power, and for the honor of my majesty?"
31. 31The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you: your kingdom has been taken from you.
32. 32You will be driven away from human society, and your home will be with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle, and seven times will pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to anyone he chooses.
33. 33The same hour, the thing was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: he was driven away from people and ate grass like oxen. His body was wet with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.
34. 34At the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me. I blessed the Most High and praised and honored him who lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and whose kingdom is from generation to generation.
35. 35All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. He acts according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can stop his hand or ask him, 'What are you doing?'
36. 36At that same moment, my sanity returned, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor were restored to me. My advisors and nobles sought me out, and I was reestablished in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.
37. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, whose works are truth and whose ways are judgment. He is able to humble those who walk in pride.