14. and shouted:‘Chop down the treeand cut off its branches;strip off its leavesand scatter its fruit.Make the animals leave its shadeand send the birds flyingfrom its branches.
15. But leave its stump and rootsin the ground,surrounded by grassand held by chainsof iron and bronze.‘Make sure that this rulerlives like the animalsout in the open fields,unprotected from the dew.
16. Give him the mindof a wild animalfor seven long years.
17. This punishment is givenat the commandof the holy angels.It will show to all who livethat God Most Highcontrols all kingdomsand chooses for their rulerspersons of humble birth.’
18. “Daniel, that was the dream that none of the wise men in my kingdom were able to understand. But I am sure that you will understand what it means, because the holy gods have given you some special powers.”
19. For a while, Daniel was terribly confused and worried by what he was thinking. But I said, “Don't be bothered either by the dream or by what it means.”Daniel replied:Your Majesty, I wish the dream had been against your enemies.
20. You saw a tree that grew so big and strong that it reached up to heaven and could be seen from anywhere on earth.
21. Its leaves were beautiful, and it produced enough fruit for all living creatures; animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches.
22. Your Majesty, that tree is you. Your glorious reputation has reached heaven, and your kingdom covers the earth.
23. Then you saw a holy angel come down from heaven and say, “Chop down the tree and destroy it! But leave its stump and roots in the ground, fastened there by a chain of iron and bronze. Let it stay for seven years out in the field with the wild animals, unprotected from the dew.”
24. Your Majesty, God Most High has sent you this message, and it means
25. that you will be forced to live with the wild animals, far away from humans. You will eat grass like a wild animal and live outdoors for seven years, until you learn that God Most High controls all earthly kingdoms and chooses their rulers.
26. But he gave orders not to disturb the stump and roots. This is to show that you will be king once again, after you learn that the God who rules from heaven is in control.
27. Your Majesty, please be willing to do what I say. Turn from your sins and start living right; have mercy on those who are ill-treated. Then all will go well with you for a long time.
28-30. About twelve months later, I was walking on the flat roof of my royal palace and admiring the beautiful city of Babylon, when these things started happening to me. I was saying to myself, “Just look at this wonderful capital city that I have built by my own power and for my own glory!”
31. But before I could finish speaking, a voice from heaven interrupted:King Nebuchadnezzar, this kingdom is no longer yours.
32. You will be forced to live with the wild animals, away from people. For seven years you will eat grass, as though you were an ox, until you learn that God Most High is in control of all earthly kingdoms and that he is the one who chooses their rulers.