Daniel 4:17

4:17 This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels;

this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones,

so that ¹  those who are alive may understand

that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms, ² 

and he bestows them on whomever he wishes.

He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’

Daniel 4:19

Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

4:19 Then Daniel (whose name is also Belteshazzar) was upset for a brief time; ³  his thoughts were alarming him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream and its interpretation alarm you.” But Belteshazzar replied, “Sir, ⁴  if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries!

Daniel 4:23

4:23 As for the king seeing a holy sentinel coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its taproot in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, surrounded by the grass of the field. Let it become damp with the dew of the sky, and let it live with the wild animals, until seven periods of time go by for him’ –

Daniel 4:25

4:25 You will be driven ⁵  from human society, ⁶  and you will live ⁷  with the wild animals. You will be fed ⁸  grass like oxen, ⁹  and you will become damp with the dew of the sky. Seven periods of time will pass by for you, before ¹⁰  you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.

Daniel 4:32-34

4:32 You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before ¹¹  you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.”

4:33 Now in that very moment ¹²  this pronouncement about ¹³  Nebuchadnezzar came true. ¹⁴  He was driven from human society, he ate grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until his hair became long like an eagle’s feathers, and his nails like a bird’s claws. ¹⁵ 

4:34 But at the end of the appointed time ¹⁶  I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up ¹⁷  toward heaven, and my sanity returned to me.

I extolled the Most High,

and I praised and glorified the one who lives forever.

For his authority is an everlasting authority,

and his kingdom extends from one generation to the next.

[4:17]  ¹ tc The present translation follows an underlying reading of עַל־דִּבְרַת (’al-divrat, “so that”) rather than MT עַד־דִּבְרַת (’ad-divrat, “until”).

[4:17]  ² tn Aram “the kingdom of man”; NASB “the realm of mankind”; NCV “every kingdom on earth.”

[4:19]  ³ tn Aram “about one hour.” The expression refers idiomatically to a brief period of time of undetermined length.

[4:19]  ⁴ tn Aram “my lord.”

[4:25]  ⁵ tn The Aramaic indefinite active plural is used here like the English passive. So also in v. 28, 29,32.

[4:25]  ⁶ tn Aram “from mankind.” So also in v. 32.

[4:25]  ⁷ tn Aram “your dwelling will be.” So also in v. 32.

[4:25]  ⁸ tn Or perhaps “be made to eat.”

[4:25]  ⁹ sn Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity has features that are associated with the mental disorder known as boanthropy, in which the person so afflicted imagines himself to be an ox or a similar animal and behaves accordingly.

[4:25]  ¹⁰ tn Aram “until.”

[4:32]  ¹¹ tn Aram “until.”

[4:33]  ¹² tn Aram “hour.”

[4:33]  ¹³ tn Or “on.”

[4:33]  ¹⁴ tn Aram “was fulfilled.”

[4:33]  ¹⁵ tn The words “feathers” and “claws” are not present in the Aramaic text, but have been added in the translation for clarity.

[4:34]  ¹⁶ tn Aram “days.”

[4:34]  ¹⁷ tn Aram “lifted up my eyes.”