22. “Your Majesty, you are the tree, tall and strong. You have grown so great that you reach the sky, and your power extends over the whole world.
23. While Your Majesty was watching, an angel came down from heaven and said, ‘Cut the tree down and destroy it, but leave the stump in the ground. Wrap a band of iron and bronze round it, and leave it there in the field with the grass. Let the dew fall on this man, and let him live there with the animals for seven years.’
24. “This, then, is what it means, Your Majesty, and this is what the Supreme God has declared will happen to you.
25. You will be driven away from human society and will live with wild animals. For seven years you will eat grass like an ox, and sleep in the open air, where the dew will fall on you. Then you will admit that the Supreme God controls all human kingdoms, and that he can give them to anyone he chooses.
26. The angel ordered the stump to be left in the ground. This means that you will become king again when you acknowledge that God rules all the world.
27. So then, Your Majesty, follow my advice. Stop sinning, do what is right, and be merciful to the poor. Then you will continue to be prosperous.”
28. All this did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29. Only twelve months later, while he was walking about on the roof of his royal palace in Babylon,
30. he said, “Look how great Babylon is! I built it as my capital city to display my power and might, my glory and majesty.”
31. Before the words were out of his mouth, a voice spoke from heaven, “King Nebuchadnezzar, listen to what I say! Your royal power is now taken away from you.
32. You will be driven away from human society, live with wild animals, and eat grass like an ox for seven years. Then you will acknowledge that the Supreme God has power over human kingdoms and that he can give them to anyone he chooses.”
33. The words came true immediately. Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of human society and ate grass like an ox. The dew fell on his body, and his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers and his nails as long as birds' claws.
34. “When the seven years had passed,” said the king, “I looked up at the sky, and my sanity returned. I praised the Supreme God and gave honour and glory to the one who lives for ever.“He will rule for ever,and his kingdom will last for all time.
35. He looks on the people of the earth as nothing;angels in heaven and people on earthare under his control.No one can oppose his willor question what he does.
36. “When my sanity returned, my honour, my majesty, and the glory of my kingdom were given back to me. My officials and my noblemen welcomed me, and I was given back my royal power, with even greater honour than before.