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1. King Nebuchadnezzar sent this letter to all the people of every nation and language who live in all the world: "May you have much peace!
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1. Nebuchadnezzar H5020 the king H4430 , unto all H3606 people H5972 , nations H524 , and languages H3961 , that H1768 dwell H1753 in all H3606 the earth H772 ; Peace H8001 be multiplied H7680 unto you.
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2. I am pleased to tell you about the wonderful things which the Most High God has done for me.
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2. I thought it good H8232 H6925 to show H2324 the signs H852 and wonders H8540 that H1768 the high H5943 God H426 hath wrought H5648 toward H5974 me.
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3. How great are the special things He shows us! How powerful are His wonderful works! His nation lasts forever, and His rule is for all people for all time.
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3. How H4101 great H7260 are his signs H852 ! and how H4101 mighty H8624 are his wonders H8540 ! his kingdom H4437 is an everlasting H5957 kingdom H4437 , and his dominion H7985 is from H5974 generation H1859 to generation H1859 .
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4. "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house. Everything was going well for me there.
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4. I H576 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 was H1934 at rest H7954 in mine house H1005 , and flourishing H7487 in my palace H1965 :
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5. But I had a dream that made me afraid. As I lay on my bed the pictures that passed through my mind filled me with fear.
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5. I saw H2370 a dream H2493 which made me afraid H1763 , and the thoughts H2031 upon H5922 my bed H4903 and the visions H2376 of my head H7217 troubled H927 me.
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6. So I called for all the wise men of Babylon to come and tell me the meaning of my dream.
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6. Therefore made H4481 H7761 I a decree H2942 to bring in H5924 all H3606 the wise H2445 men of Babylon H895 before H6925 me, that H1768 they might make known H3046 unto me the interpretation H6591 of the dream H2493 .
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7. Then the wonder-workers, those who learn from stars, and those who use their secret ways, came in. I told them about the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant.
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7. Then H116 came in H5954 the magicians H2749 , the astrologers H826 , the Chaldeans H3779 , and the soothsayers H1505 : and I H576 told H560 the dream H2493 before H6925 them ; but they did not H3809 make known H3046 unto me the interpretation H6591 thereof.
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8. At last Daniel came to me, who was given the name Belteshazzar after the name of my god. A spirit of the holy gods is in him, and I told him about my dream. I said,
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8. But at H5705 the last H318 Daniel H1841 came in H5954 before H6925 me, whose H1768 name H8036 was Belteshazzar H1096 , according to the name H8036 of my god H426 , and in whom H1768 is the spirit H7308 of the holy H6922 gods H426 : and before H6925 him I told H560 the dream H2493 , saying ,
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9. 'O Belteshazzar, head of the wonder-workers, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no secret is hidden from you. So tell me what dream I had, and what it means.
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9. O Belteshazzar H1096 , master H7229 of the magicians H2749 , because H1768 I H576 know H3046 that H1768 the spirit H7308 of the holy H6922 gods H426 is in thee , and no H3809 H3606 secret H7328 troubleth H598 thee, tell H560 me the visions H2376 of my dream H2493 that H1768 I have seen H2370 , and the interpretation H6591 thereof.
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10. This is what I saw in my mind as I lay on my bed: I saw a tree in the center of the land. It was very tall.
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10. Thus were the visions H2376 of mine head H7217 in H5922 my bed H4903 ; I saw H1934 H2370 , and behold H431 a tree H363 in the midst H1459 of the earth H772 , and the height H7314 thereof was great H7690 .
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11. The tree grew and became strong. Its top went up to the sky, and it could be seen to the end of the whole earth.
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11. The tree H363 grew H7236 , and was strong H8631 , and the height H7314 thereof reached H4291 unto heaven H8065 , and the sight H2379 thereof to the end H5491 of all H3606 the earth H772 :
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12. Its leaves were beautiful and it had much fruit. It had enough food for everyone. The wild animals of the field rested in its shadow. The birds of the air lived in its branches. And every living thing was fed from it.
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12. The leaves H6074 thereof were fair H8209 , and the fruit H4 thereof much H7690 , and in it was meat H4203 for all H3606 : the beasts H2423 of the field H1251 had shadow H2927 under H8460 it , and the fowls H6853 of the heaven H8065 dwelt H1753 in the boughs H6056 thereof , and all H3606 flesh H1321 was fed H2110 of H4481 it.
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13. 'In the dreams I had as I lay on my bed, I looked and saw an angel who kept watch. He was a holy one who came down from heaven.
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13. I saw H1934 H2370 in the visions H2376 of my head H7217 upon H5922 my bed H4903 , and, behold H431 , a watcher H5894 and a holy one H6922 came down H5182 from H4481 heaven H8065 ;
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14. He said in a loud voice, "Cut down the tree and cut off its branches. Tear off its leaves and throw away its fruit. Let the animals run from under it and the birds fly from its branches.
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14. He cried H7123 aloud H2429 , and said H560 thus H3652 , Hew down H1414 the tree H363 , and cut off H7113 his branches H6056 , shake off H5426 his leaves H6074 , and scatter H921 his fruit H4 : let the beasts H2423 get away H5111 from H4481 under H8479 it , and the fowls H6853 from H4481 his branches H6056 :
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15. Yet leave the base of the tree with its roots in the ground, and tie a chain of iron and brass around it. Leave it there in the new grass of the field. Let him be wet with the water from heaven on the grass in the early morning. Let him share with the wild animals in the grass of the earth.
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15. Nevertheless H1297 leave H7662 the stump H6136 of his roots H8330 in the earth H772 , even with a band H613 of H1768 iron H6523 and brass H5174 , in the tender grass H1883 of H1768 the field H1251 ; and let it be wet H6647 with the dew H2920 of heaven H8065 , and let his portion H2508 be with H5974 the beasts H2423 in the grass H6211 of the earth H772 :
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16. Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and for seven years let him have the mind of an animal.
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16. Let his heart H3825 be changed H8133 from H4481 man H606 's , and let a beast H2423 's heart H3825 be given H3052 unto him ; and let seven H7655 times H5732 pass H2499 over H5922 him.
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17. This penalty is by the law of the angels who keep watch. This is what the holy ones have decided, so that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the nation of all people. He gives it to whomever He wants, and lets the least important of men rule over it."
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17. This matter H6600 is by the decree H1510 of the watchers H5894 , and the demand H7595 by the word H3983 of the holy ones H6922 : to H5705 the intent H1701 that H1768 the living H2417 may know H3046 that H1768 the most High H5943 ruleth H7990 in the kingdom H4437 of men H606 , and giveth H5415 it to whomsoever H4479 H1768 he will H6634 , and setteth up H6966 over H5922 it the basest H8215 of men H606 .
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18. This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means. None of the wise men in my nation can tell me what it means, but you can. For the spirit of the holy gods is in you.'
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18. This H1836 dream H2493 I H576 king H4430 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 have seen H2370 . Now thou H607 , O Belteshazzar H1096 , declare H560 the interpretation H6591 thereof , forasmuch as H3606 H6903 H1768 all H3606 the wise H2445 men of my kingdom H4437 are not able H3202 H3809 to make known H3046 unto me the interpretation H6591 : but thou H607 art able H3546 ; for H1768 the spirit H7308 of the holy H6922 gods H426 is in thee.
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19. "Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was afraid for a while. His thoughts filled him with fear. The king said, 'Belteshazzar, do not be afraid of the dream or its meaning.' Belteshazzar answered, 'My lord, if only the dream and its meaning had to do with those who hate you and fight against you!
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19. Then H116 Daniel H1841 , whose H1768 name H8036 was Belteshazzar H1096 , was astonished H8075 for one H2298 hour H8160 , and his thoughts H7476 troubled H927 him . The king H4430 spoke H6032 , and said H560 , Belteshazzar H1096 , let not H409 the dream H2493 , or the interpretation H6591 thereof, trouble H927 thee. Belteshazzar H1096 answered H6032 and said H560 , My lord H4756 , the dream H2493 be to them that hate H8131 thee , and the interpretation H6591 thereof to thine enemies H6146 .
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20. You saw the tree which grew large and strong, whose top went up to the sky and could be seen over all the earth.
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20. The tree H363 that H1768 thou sawest H2370 , which H1768 grew H7236 , and was strong H8631 , whose height H7314 reached H4291 unto the heaven H8065 , and the sight H2379 thereof to all H3606 the earth H772 ;
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21. Its leaves were beautiful and it had much fruit, enough food for all. Wild animals of the field rested under it, and birds of the air lived in its branches.
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21. Whose leaves H6074 were fair H8209 , and the fruit H4 thereof much H7690 , and in it was meat H4203 for all H3606 ; under H8460 which the beasts H2423 of the field H1251 dwelt H1753 , and upon whose branches H6056 the fowls H6853 of the heaven H8065 had their habitation H7932 :
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22. This tree is you, O king! For you have become great and strong. Your power has become great and has gone up to the sky, and your rule has gone to the end of the earth.
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22. It H1932 is thou H607 , O king H4430 , that H1768 art grown H7236 and become strong H8631 : for thy greatness H7238 is grown H7236 , and reacheth H4291 unto heaven H8065 , and thy dominion H7985 to the end H5491 of the earth H772 .
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23. The king saw an angel who kept watch, a holy one coming down from heaven and saying, "Cut down the tree and destroy it. Yet leave its base with its roots in the ground. Put a chain of iron and brass around it and leave it in the new grass of the field. And let him be wet with the water from heaven on the grass in the early morning. Let him share with the wild animals of the field for seven years."
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23. And whereas H1768 the king H4430 saw H2370 a watcher H5894 and a holy one H6922 coming down H5182 from H4481 heaven H8065 , and saying H560 , Hew the tree down H1414 H363 , and destroy H2255 it; yet H1297 leave H7662 the stump H6136 of the roots H8330 thereof in the earth H772 , even with a band H613 of H1768 iron H6523 and brass H5174 , in the tender grass H1883 of H1768 the field H1251 ; and let it be wet H6647 with the dew H2920 of heaven H8065 , and let his portion H2508 be with H5974 the beasts H2423 of the field H1251 , till H5705 H1768 seven H7655 times H5732 pass H2499 over H5922 him;
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24. This is what it means, O king. This is what the Most High said would happen to my lord the king:
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24. This H1836 is the interpretation H6591 , O king H4430 , and this H1932 is the decree H1510 of the most High H5943 , which H1768 is come H4291 upon H5922 my lord H4756 the king H4430 :
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25. You will be driven away from all people and will live with the wild animals of the field. You will eat grass like cattle and become wet with the water from heaven. Seven years will pass until you understand that the Most High is ruler over the nations of men, and gives them to whomever He wants.
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25. That they shall drive H2957 thee from H4481 men H606 , and thy dwelling H4070 shall be H1934 with H5974 the beasts H2423 of the field H1251 , and they shall make thee to eat H2939 grass H6211 as oxen H8450 , and they shall wet H6647 thee with the dew H4481 H2920 of heaven H8065 , and seven H7655 times H5732 shall pass H2499 over H5922 thee, till H5705 H1768 thou know H3046 that H1768 the most High H5943 ruleth H7990 in the kingdom H4437 of men H606 , and giveth H5415 it to whomsoever H4479 H1768 he will H6634 .
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26. It was said that the base of the tree and its roots must be left. This means that your nation will be returned to you after you understand that it is Heaven that rules.
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26. And whereas H1768 they commanded H560 to leave H7662 the stump H6136 of H1768 the tree H363 roots H8330 ; thy kingdom H4437 shall be sure H7011 unto thee , after that H4481 H1768 thou shalt have known H3046 that H1768 the heavens H8065 do rule H7990 .
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27. So, O king, may my words be pleasing to you. Turn away from your sins by doing what is right and good. Turn away from your wrong-doing by being kind to the poor. Then it may be that things will keep going well for you.'
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27. Wherefore H3861 , O king H4430 , let my counsel H4431 be acceptable H8232 unto H5922 thee , and break H6562 off thy sins H2408 by righteousness H6665 , and thine iniquities H5758 by showing mercy H2604 to the poor H6033 ; if H2006 it may be H1934 a lengthening H754 of thy tranquillity H7963 .
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28. "All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
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28. All this H3606 came H4291 upon H5922 the king H4430 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 .
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29. Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of his beautiful house in Babylon.
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29. At the end H7118 of twelve H8648 H6236 months H3393 he walked H1934 H1981 in H5922 the palace H1965 of the kingdom H4437 of H1768 Babylon H895 .
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30. And he said, 'Is not this the great Babylon which I have built as a beautiful place for the king? I have built it by my great strength and for the greatness of my power.'
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30. The king H4430 spoke H6032 , and said H560 , Is not H3809 this H1668 great H7229 Babylon H895 , that H1768 I H576 have built H1124 for the house H1005 of the kingdom H4437 by the might H8632 of my power H2632 , and for the honor H3367 of my majesty H1923 ?
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31. Before the king was finished speaking, a voice came from heaven, saying, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is said: Your power over the nation has been taken from you.
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31. While H5751 the word H4406 was in the king H4430 's mouth H6433 , there fell H5308 a voice H7032 from H4481 heaven H8065 , saying , O king H4430 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 , to thee it is spoken H560 ; The kingdom H4437 is departed H5709 from H4481 thee.
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32. You will be driven away from all people and will live with the wild animals of the field. You will eat grass like cattle. And seven years will pass until you understand that the Most High is ruler over the nations of men, and gives them to whomever He wants.'
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32. And they shall drive H2957 thee from H4481 men H606 , and thy dwelling H4070 shall be with H5974 the beasts H2423 of the field H1251 : they shall make thee to eat H2939 grass H6211 as oxen H8450 , and seven H7655 times H5732 shall pass H2499 over H5922 thee, until H5705 H1768 thou know H3046 that H1768 the most High H5943 ruleth H7990 in the kingdom H4437 of men H606 , and giveth H5415 it to whomsoever H4479 H1768 he will H6634 .
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33. At once these words about Nebuchadnezzar came true. He was driven away from all people and began eating grass like cattle. His body became wet with the water from heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers and his nails like those of birds.
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33. The same hour H8160 was the thing H4406 fulfilled H5487 upon H5922 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 : and he was driven H2957 from H4481 men H606 , and did eat H399 grass H6211 as oxen H8450 , and his body H1655 was wet H6647 with the dew H4481 H2920 of heaven H8065 , till H5705 H1768 his hairs H8177 were grown H7236 like eagles H5403 ' feathers , and his nails H2953 like birds H6853 ' claws .
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34. "But at the end of that time I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven and my understanding returned to me. And I gave thanks to the Most High and praised and honored Him Who lives forever. For His nation lasts forever, and His rule is for all people for all time.
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34. And at the end H7118 of the days H3118 I H576 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 lifted up H5191 mine eyes H5870 unto heaven H8065 , and mine understanding H4486 returned H8421 unto H5922 me , and I blessed H1289 the most High H5943 , and I praised H7624 and honored H1922 him that liveth H2417 forever H5957 , whose H1768 dominion H7985 is an everlasting H5957 dominion H7985 , and his kingdom H4437 is from H5974 generation H1859 to generation H1859 :
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35. All the people of the earth are thought of as nothing. He does as He pleases with the angels of heaven and the people of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?'
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35. And all H3606 the inhabitants H1753 of the earth H772 are reputed H2804 as nothing H3809 : and he doeth H5648 according to his will H6634 in the army H2429 of heaven H8065 , and among the inhabitants H1753 of the earth H772 : and none H3809 can H383 stay H4223 his hand H3028 , or say H560 unto him, What H4101 doest H5648 thou?
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36. At that time my understanding returned to me. And my honor and power were returned to me for the greatness of my nation. My wise men and my leaders began looking for me, and I was made king again, with even more greatness added to me.
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36. At the same time H2166 my reason H4486 returned H8421 unto H5922 me ; and for the glory H3367 of my kingdom H4437 , mine honor H1923 and brightness H2122 returned H8421 unto H5922 me ; and my counselors H1907 and my lords H7261 sought H1156 unto me ; and I was established H8627 in H5922 my kingdom H4437 , and excellent H3493 majesty H7238 was added H3255 unto me.
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37. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and honor the King of heaven. For all His works are true and His ways are right. And He is able to bring down those who walk in pride."
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37. Now H3705 I H576 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 praise H7624 and extol H7313 and honor H1922 the King H4430 of heaven H8065 , all H3606 whose H1768 works H4567 are truth H7187 , and his ways H735 judgment H1780 : and those H1768 that walk H1981 in pride H1467 he is able H3202 to abase H8214 .
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