Daniel 4-6

New International Version

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

4 ^[a]King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the nations and peoples of every language,^(A) who live in all the earth:

May you prosper greatly!^(B)

²It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs^(C) and wonders that the Most High God^(D) has performed for me.

³How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!^(E)
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures^(F) from generation to generation.

⁴I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented^(G) and prosperous. ⁵I had a dream^(H) that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed,^(I) the images and visions that passed through my mind^(J) terrified me.^(K) ⁶So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret^(L) the dream for me. ⁷When the magicians,^(M) enchanters, astrologers^[b] and diviners^(N) came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.^(O) ⁸Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar,^(P) after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods^(Q) is in him.)

⁹I said, “Belteshazzar, chief^(R) of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods^(S) is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. ¹⁰These are the visions I saw while lying in bed:^(T) I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous.^(U) ¹¹The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.^(V) ¹²Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches;^(W) from it every creature was fed.

¹³“In the visions I saw while lying in bed,^(X) I looked, and there before me was a holy one,^(Y) a messenger,^[c] coming down from heaven. ¹⁴He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree^(Z) and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.^(AA) ¹⁵But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.

“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. ¹⁶Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times^[d] pass by for him.^(AB)

¹⁷“‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High^(AC) is sovereign^(AD) over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest^(AE) of people.’

¹⁸“This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me.^(AF) But you can,^(AG) because the spirit of the holy gods^(AH) is in you.”^(AI)

Daniel Interprets the Dream

¹⁹Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified^(AJ) him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”^(AK)

Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! ²⁰The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, ²¹with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds^(AL)— ²²Your Majesty, you are that tree!^(AM) You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.^(AN)

²³“Your Majesty saw a holy one,^(AO) a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’^(AP)

²⁴“This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree^(AQ) the Most High has issued against my lord the king: ²⁵You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched^(AR) with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High^(AS) is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.^(AT) ²⁶The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots^(AU) means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.^(AV) ²⁷Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.^(AW) It may be that then your prosperity^(AX) will continue.^(AY)”

The Dream Is Fulfilled

²⁸All this happened^(AZ) to King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, ³⁰he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory^(BA) of my majesty?”^(BB)

³¹Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.^(BC) ³²You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”^(BD)

³³Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched^(BE) with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.^(BF)

³⁴At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity^(BG) was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.^(BH)

His dominion is an eternal dominion;
    his kingdom^(BI) endures from generation to generation.^(BJ)
³⁵All the peoples of the earth
    are regarded as nothing.^(BK)
He does as he pleases^(BL)
    with the powers of heaven
    and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back^(BM) his hand^(BN)
    or say to him: “What have you done?”^(BO)

³⁶At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom.^(BP) My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. ³⁷Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt^(BQ) and glorify^(BR) the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.^(BS) And those who walk in pride^(BT) he is able to humble.^(BU)

The Writing on the Wall

5 King Belshazzar^(BV) gave a great banquet^(BW) for a thousand of his nobles^(BX) and drank wine with them. ²While Belshazzar was drinking^(BY) his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets^(BZ) that Nebuchadnezzar his father^[e] had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines^(CA) might drink from them.^(CB) ³So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. ⁴As they drank the wine, they praised the gods^(CC) of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.^(CD)

⁵Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. ⁶His face turned pale^(CE) and he was so frightened^(CF) that his legs became weak^(CG) and his knees were knocking.^(CH)

⁷The king summoned the enchanters,^(CI) astrologers^[f]^(CJ) and diviners.^(CK) Then he said to these wise^(CL) men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck,^(CM) and he will be made the third^(CN) highest ruler in the kingdom.”^(CO)

⁸Then all the king’s wise men^(CP) came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.^(CQ) ⁹So King Belshazzar became even more terrified^(CR) and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.

¹⁰The queen,^[g] hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!”^(CS) she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! ¹¹There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods^(CT) in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom^(CU) like that of the gods.^(CV) Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.^(CW) ¹²He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar,^(CX) was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles^(CY) and solve difficult problems.^(CZ) Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.^(DA)”

¹³So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?^(DB) ¹⁴I have heard that the spirit of the gods^(DC) is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.^(DD) ¹⁵The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it.^(DE) ¹⁶Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems.^(DF) If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck,^(DG) and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”^(DH)

¹⁷Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.^(DI) Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

¹⁸“Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar^(DJ) sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.^(DK) ¹⁹Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death;^(DL) those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.^(DM) ²⁰But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride,^(DN) he was deposed from his royal throne^(DO) and stripped^(DP) of his glory.^(DQ) ²¹He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign^(DR) over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.^(DS)

²²“But you, Belshazzar, his son,^[h] have not humbled^(DT) yourself, though you knew all this. ²³Instead, you have set yourself up against^(DU) the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives^(DV) and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand.^(DW) But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life^(DX) and all your ways.^(DY) ²⁴Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

²⁵“This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

²⁶“Here is what these words mean:

Mene^[i]: God has numbered the days^(DZ) of your reign and brought it to an end.^(EA)

²⁷Tekel^[j]: You have been weighed on the scales^(EB) and found wanting.^(EC)

²⁸Peres^[k]: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes^(ED) and Persians.”^(EE)

²⁹Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck,^(EF) and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.^(EG)

³⁰That very night Belshazzar,^(EH) king^(EI) of the Babylonians,^[l] was slain,^(EJ) ³¹and Darius^(EK) the Mede^(EL) took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.^[m]

Daniel in the Den of Lions

6 ^[n]It pleased Darius^(EM) to appoint 120 satraps^(EN) to rule throughout the kingdom, ²with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.^(EO) The satraps were made accountable^(EP) to them so that the king might not suffer loss. ³Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.^(EQ) ⁴At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges^(ER) against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. ⁵Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”^(ES)

⁶So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!^(ET) ⁷The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors^(EU) have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.^(EV) ⁸Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(EW) ⁹So King Darius put the decree in writing.

¹⁰Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward^(EX) Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees^(EY) and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.^(EZ) ¹¹Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.^(FA) ¹²So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”^(FB)

¹³Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah,^(FC) pays no attention^(FD) to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed;^(FE) he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

¹⁵Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”^(FF)

¹⁶So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.^(FG) The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue^(FH) you!”

¹⁷A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed^(FI) it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating^(FJ) and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.^(FK)

¹⁹At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”^(FL)

²¹Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!^(FM) ²²My God sent his angel,^(FN) and he shut the mouths of the lions.^(FO) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.^(FP) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

²³The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound^(FQ) was found on him, because he had trusted^(FR) in his God.

²⁴At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den,^(FS) along with their wives and children.^(FT) And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.^(FU)

²⁵Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language^(FV) in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!^(FW)

²⁶“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence^(FX) the God of Daniel.^(FY)

“For he is the living God^(FZ)
    and he endures forever;^(GA)
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.^(GB)
²⁷He rescues and he saves;^(GC)
    he performs signs and wonders^(GD)
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”^(GE)

²⁸So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus^[o]^(GF) the Persian.^(GG)

Footnotes

Daniel 4:1 In Aramaic texts 4:1-3 is numbered 3:31-33, and 4:4-37 is numbered 4:1-34.
Daniel 4:7 Or Chaldeans
Daniel 4:13 Or watchman; also in verses 17 and 23
Daniel 4:16 Or years; also in verses 23, 25 and 32
Daniel 5:2 Or ancestor; or predecessor; also in verses 11, 13 and 18
Daniel 5:7 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 11
Daniel 5:10 Or queen mother
Daniel 5:22 Or descendant; or successor
Daniel 5:26 Mene can mean numbered or mina (a unit of money).
Daniel 5:27 Tekel can mean weighed or shekel.
Daniel 5:28 Peres (the singular of Parsin) can mean divided or Persia or a half mina or a half shekel.
Daniel 5:30 Or Chaldeans
Daniel 5:31 In Aramaic texts this verse (5:31) is numbered 6:1.
Daniel 6:1 In Aramaic texts 6:1-28 is numbered 6:2-29.
Daniel 6:28 Or Darius, that is, the reign of Cyrus