3. His miracles are mightyand marvellous.He will rule for ever,and his kingdomwill never end.
4. I was enjoying a time of peace and prosperity,
5. when suddenly I had some horrifying dreams and visions.
6. Then I commanded every wise man in Babylonia to appear in my court, so they could explain the meaning of my dream.
7. After they arrived, I told them my dream, but they were not able to say what it meant.
8. Finally, a young man named Daniel came in, and I told him the dream. The holy gods had given him special powers, and I had renamed him Belteshazzar after my own god.
9. I said, “Belteshazzar, not only are you the wisest of all advisers and counsellors, but the holy gods have given you special powers to solve the most difficult mysteries. So listen to what I dreamed and tell me what it means:
28-30. About twelve months later, I was walking on the flat roof of my royal palace and admiring the beautiful city of Babylon, when these things started happening to me. I was saying to myself, “Just look at this wonderful capital city that I have built by my own power and for my own glory!”
31. But before I could finish speaking, a voice from heaven interrupted:King Nebuchadnezzar, this kingdom is no longer yours.
32. You will be forced to live with the wild animals, away from people. For seven years you will eat grass, as though you were an ox, until you learn that God Most High is in control of all earthly kingdoms and that he is the one who chooses their rulers.
33. This was no sooner said than done—I was forced to live like a wild animal; I ate grass and was unprotected from the dew. As time went by, my hair grew longer than eagle feathers, and my fingernails looked like the claws of a bird.
34. Finally, I prayed to God in heaven, and my mind was healed. Then I said:“I praise and honourGod Most High.He lives for ever,and his kingdomwill never end.
35. To him the nationsare far less than nothing;God controls the stars in the skyand everyone on this earth.When God does something,we cannot change itor even ask why.”
36. At that time my mind was healed, and once again I became the ruler of my glorious kingdom. My advisers and officials returned to me, and I had greater power than ever before.
37. That's why I say:“Praise and honour the Kingwho rules from heaven!Everything he doesis honest and fair,and he can shatter the powerof those who are proud.”