16
Let his heart be changedfromman's, and let a beast'sheart be given unto him; and let seventimespassover him.
17
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones:to the intent that the living may know that the most Highruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will , and setteth upover it the basest of men.
18
ThisdreamIkingNebuchadnezzar have seen . Now thou, O Belteshazzar,declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch asall the wise men of my kingdom are notable to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able ; for the spirit of the holygods is in thee.
19
ThenDaniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for onehour, and his thoughtstroubled him. The kingspake , and said , Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzaranswered and said , My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
20
The tree that thou sawest , which grew , and was strong , whose heightreached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21
Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all;under which the beasts of the fielddwelt , and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation :
22
It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong : for thy greatness is grown , and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
23
And whereas the kingsaw a watcher and an holy one coming downfromheaven, and saying , Hew the treedown, and destroy it; yetleave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field,tillseventimespassover him;
24
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is comeupon my lord the king:
25
That they shall drive thee frommen, and thy dwelling shall bewith the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eatgrass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seventimes shall passover thee, till thou know that the most Highruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will .
26
And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the treeroots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.