1: Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and
languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
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2: I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high
God hath wrought toward me. |
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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. |
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4: I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in
my palace: |
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5: I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my
bed and the visions of my head troubled me. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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, |
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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. |
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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. |
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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: |
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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. |
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13: I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a
watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; |
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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: |
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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: |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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;
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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: |
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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. |
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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; |
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24: This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of
the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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28: All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. |
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29: At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the
kingdom of Babylon. |
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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? |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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: |
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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? |
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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
counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my
kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. |
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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. |