Daniel 4:25-35

English Standard Version

²⁵^(A)that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made ^(B)to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and ^(C)seven periods of time shall pass over you, till ^(D)you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. ²⁶And as it was commanded ^(E)to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. ²⁷Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by ^(F)practicing righteousness, ^(G)and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, ^(H)that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation

²⁸All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, ³⁰and the king answered and said, ^(I)“Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by ^(J)my mighty power as a royal residence and for ^(K)the glory of my majesty?” ³¹^(L)While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, ³²^(M)and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, ^(N)until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” ³³Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. ^(O)He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.

Nebuchadnezzar Restored

³⁴^(P)At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and ^(Q)my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored ^(R)him who lives forever,

^(S)for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
    and ^(T)his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
³⁵^(U)all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
    and ^(V)he does according to his will among the host of heaven
    and among the inhabitants of the earth;
^(W)and none can stay his hand
    or ^(X)say to him, “What have you done?”