19 Daniel (also known as Belteshatstsar) was appalled for a while at the meaning of the dream, and worried how to present it. The king saw this and said, Belteshatstsar, don’t hold back on being honest about the dream its interpretation.”

“My master,” he answered, “If only the dream was for those who hate you, and its interpretation was for your enemies. 20 You saw that tree that grew and became strong, and whose top reached the sky and was visible all over the world, 21 with its beautiful leaves and plentiful fruit. It provided food for everyone, and the animals from the countryside lived under it, and the birds lived in its branches. 22 That was you, your majesty. You’ve grown and become strong—your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 Then the king saw a holy sentinel coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the countryside, and let him be wet with the dew, and let him live with the animals of the fields until seven periods of time pass over him.’

24 “Your majesty, this is the interpretation: It’s actually the decree of what the supreme God has declared will happen to you, my master the king. 25 You will be driven away from society and you’ll live with the animals in the countryside. You’ll be forced to eat grass like a bull, and you’ll sleep on the ground and be wet with dew in the morning for seven years until you acknowledge that the highest one is ruler over humankind and learn that he gives kingdoms to whoever he wants. 26 But just as it was commanded to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, so too your kingdom will be restored to you from the time you recognise that heaven rules over earth. 27 Therefore, your majesty, please consider my advice: stop sinning and do what is right, and stop disobeying God by starting to show mercy to the oppressed, so that perhaps your prosperity might be prolonged.”

28 But all of that did happen to King Nevukadnetstsar. 29 Twelve months later, he was walking on the upper terrace of the royal palace in Babylon 30 when he looked across and said, “Isn’t that the great Babylon, which I’ve built as a royal residence by the strength of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”

31 He’d only just finished saying that when he heard a voice in the sky, “It’s now decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar: you’ve just lost your kingdom. 32 You’ll be driven away from other people, and you’ll live will be with the animals out in the countryside where you’ll have to eat grass like a cow. Seven years will pass before you acknowledge that the highest one is ruler over mankind and he gives kingdoms to whoever he wants.”

33 Immediately what had been said in advance happened to Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from society. He ate grass like a cow, and his body was wet with dew each morning after sleeping on the ground. Eventually his hair had grown long like eagles’ feathers, and his nails were long like birds’ claws.