Daniel 4:17-27

17 Arborem, quam vidisti sublimem, atque robustam, cuius altitudo pertingit ad caelum, et aspectus illius in omnem terram:
18 et rami eius pulcherrimi, et fructus eius nimius, et esca omnium in ea, subter eam habitantes bestiae agri, et in ramis eius commorantes aves caeli:
19 Tu es rex, qui magnificatus es, et invaluisti: et magnitudo tua crevit, et pervenit usque ad caelum, et potestas tua in terminos universae terrae.
20 Quod autem vidit rex vigilem, et sanctum descendere de caelo, et dicere: Succidite arborem, et dissipate illam, attamen germen radicum eius in terra dimittite, et vinciatur ferro et aere in herbis foris, et rore caeli conspergatur, et cum feris sit pabulum eius, donec septem tempora mutentur super eum:
21 Haec est interpretatio sententiae Altissimi, quae pervenit super dominum meum regem:
22 Eiicient te ab hominibus, et cum bestiis ferisque erit habitatio tua, et foenum ut bos comedes, et rore caeli infunderis: septem quoque tempora mutabuntur super te, donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus super regnum hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, det illud.
23 Quod autem praecepit ut relinqueretur germen radicum eius, id est arboris: regnum tuum tibi manebit postquam cognoveris potestatem esse caelestem.
24 Quam ob rem rex consilium meum placeat tibi, et peccata tua eleemosynis redime, et iniquitates tuas misericordiis pauperum: forsitan ignoscet delictis tuis.
25 Omnia haec venerunt super Nabuchodonosor regem.
26 Post finem mensium duodecim, in aula Babylonis deambulabat.
27 Responditque rex, et ait: Nonne haec est Babylon magna, quam ego aedificavi in domum regni, in robore fortitudinis meae, et in gloria decoris mei?

Daniel 4:17-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 4

This chapter was written by Nebuchadnezzar himself; and was either taken out of his archives, or given by him to Daniel, who under divine inspiration inserted it into this work of his; and a very useful instruction it contains, showing the sovereignty of God over the greatest kings and potentates of the earth, and this acknowledged by one of the proudest monarchs that ever lived upon it. It begins with a preface, saluting all nations, and declaring the greatness and power of God, Da 4:1-3 then follows the narrative of a dream the king dreamed, which troubled him; upon which he called for his wise men to interpret it, but in vain; at length he told it to Daniel, Da 4:4-9: the dream itself; which being told, astonished Daniel, the king being so much interested in it, Da 4:10-19, the interpretation of it, with Daniel's advice upon it, is in Da 4:20-27 the fulfilment of it, time and occasion thereof, Da 4:28-33. Nebuchadnezzar's restoration to his reason and kingdom, for which he praises God, Da 4:34-37.

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.