1. King Nebuchadnezzar sent the following letter to the people of all nations and races on the earth:Greetings to all of you!
2. I am glad to tell aboutthe wonderful miraclesGod Most Highhas done for me.
3. His miracles are mightyand marvellous.He will rule for ever,and his kingdomwill never end.
4. I was enjoying a time of peace and prosperity,
5. when suddenly I had some horrifying dreams and visions.
6. Then I commanded every wise man in Babylonia to appear in my court, so they could explain the meaning of my dream.
7. After they arrived, I told them my dream, but they were not able to say what it meant.
8. Finally, a young man named Daniel came in, and I told him the dream. The holy gods had given him special powers, and I had renamed him Belteshazzar after my own god.
9. I said, “Belteshazzar, not only are you the wisest of all advisers and counsellors, but the holy gods have given you special powers to solve the most difficult mysteries. So listen to what I dreamed and tell me what it means:
10. “In my sleep I sawa very tall treein the centre of the world.
11. It grew stronger and higher,until it reached to heavenand could be seenfrom anywhere on earth.