Daniel Relates and Interprets the Dream

19 “Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was distressed for some time,[fn] and his thoughts disturbed him. The king answered and he said, ‘Belteshazzar, let the dream and its explanation not disturb you.’ Belteshazzar answered and said, ‘My lord,may the dream and its explanation be for those who hate you and for your enemies. 20 The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong and its height reached to heaven[fn] andit was visible to the end of the whole earth,[fn] 21 and its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and so there was provision for all in it, and the animals[fn] of the field lived under it and in its branches nestthe birds of heaven,[fn] 22 —it is you, O king, who have grown great and you have grown strong, and so your greatness has increased and it has reached to heaven[fn] and your sovereignty to the end of the earth. 23 And inasmuch that the king saw the watcher, a holy one coming down from heaven[fn] and he said, “Cut down the tree and destroy it, but the stump of its root in the earth leave with a band of iron and bronze in the grass of the field, and let it be watered with the dew of heaven andlet his lot be with the animals of the field until seven times have passed over him.”[fn] 24 This is the explanation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king: 25 you will be driven away from human society[fn] andyou will dwell[fn] with the animals[fn] of the field, and you will be caused to graze grass like the oxenyourself,[fn] and you will be watered with the dew of heaven, and sevenperiods of time will pass over you until that you have acknowledged that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind, and to whom he wills[fn] he gives it. 26 And in that[fn] they said to leave alone the stump of the tree’s root, so your kingdomwill be restored for you when[fn] you acknowledge that heavenis sovereign. 27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you and your sin remove[fn] with righteousness and your iniquity with having mercy onthe oppressed, in case there might be a prolongation of your prosperity.’ ”[fn]