is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
[23] And whereas the
king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and
destroy it; yet leave 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, till seven times pass over him;
[24] This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the
decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
[25] That they shall drive thee from men,
and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen,
and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know
that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
[26] And whereas
they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that
thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
[27] Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable
unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it
may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
[28] All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
[29] At the end
of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
[30] The king spake, and said, Is
not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for
the honour of my majesty?
[31] While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven,
saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
[32] And they
shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee
to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth
in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
[33] The same hour was the thing fulfilled
upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet
with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
[34]
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding
returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever,
whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
[35] And
all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of
heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What
doest thou?
[36] At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine
honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was
established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
[37] Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise
and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those
that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Dan.5
[1] Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
[2]
Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his
father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes,
his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
[3] Then they brought the golden vessels that were
taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his
wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
[4] They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of
silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
[5] In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand,
and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw
the part of the hand that wrote.
[6] Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled
him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.
[7] The king
cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and
said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation
thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third
ruler in the kingdom.
[8] Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor
make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
[9] Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and
his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
[10] Now the queen, by reason of the
words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king,
live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:
[11] There is a man in
thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding