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1. King Nebuchadnezzar sent this letter to the people, nations, and those who speak every language in all the world: I wish you peace and great wealth!
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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. The Most High God has done miracles and wonderful things for me that I am happy to tell you about.
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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. His wonderful acts are great, and his miracles are mighty. His kingdom goes on forever, and his rule continues from now on.
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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 happy and successful at my palace,
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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 was lying on my bed, I saw pictures and visions in my mind that alarmed me.
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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 ordered all the wise men of Babylon to come to me and tell me what my dream meant.
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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. The fortune-tellers, magicians, and wise men came, and 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. Finally, Daniel came to me. (I called him Belteshazzar to honor my god, because the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) I told my dream to him.
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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. I said, "Belteshazzar, you are the most important of all the fortune-tellers. I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, so there is no secret that is too hard for you to understand. This was what I dreamed; tell me 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. These are the visions I saw while I was lying in my bed: I looked, and there in front of me was a tree standing in the middle of the earth. And 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 large and strong. The top of the tree touched the sky and could be seen from anywhere on 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. The leaves of the tree were beautiful. It had plenty of good fruit on it, enough food for everyone. The wild animals found shelter under the tree, and the birds lived in its branches. Every animal ate 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. "As I was looking at those things in the vision while lying on my bed, I saw an observer, a holy angel coming 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 spoke very loudly and said, 'Cut down the tree and cut off its branches. Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals under the tree run away, and let the birds in its branches fly away.
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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. But leave the stump and its roots in the ground with a band of iron and bronze around it; let it stay in the field with the grass around it. "'Let the man become wet with dew, and let him live among the animals and plants 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 him not think like a human any longer, but let him have the mind of an animal for seven years.
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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. "'The observers gave this command; the holy ones declared the sentence. This is so all people may know that the Most High God rules over every kingdom on earth. God gives those kingdoms to anyone he wants, and he chooses people to rule them who are not proud.'
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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. "That is what I, King Nebuchadnezzar, dreamed. Now Belteshazzar, tell me what the dream means. None of the wise men in my kingdom can explain it to me, but you can, because 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, who was called Belteshazzar, was very quiet for a while, because his understanding of the dream frightened him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning make you afraid." Then Belteshazzar answered, "My master, I wish the dream were about your enemies, and I wish its meaning were for those who are 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 a tree in your dream that grew large and strong. Its top touched the sky, and it could be seen from all over 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 plenty of fruit for everyone to eat. It was a home for the wild animals, and its branches were nesting places for the birds.
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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. O king, you are that tree! You have become great and powerful, like the tall tree that touched the sky. Your power reaches to the far parts 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. "O king, you saw an observer, a holy angel, coming down from heaven who said, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it. But leave the stump and its roots in the ground with a band of iron and bronze around it; leave it in the field with the grass. Let him become wet with dew and live like a wild animal 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 the meaning of the dream, O king. The Most High God has commanded these things to happen to my master 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 forced away from people to live among the wild animals. People will feed you grass like an ox, and dew from the sky will make you wet. Seven years will pass, and then you will learn this lesson: The Most High God is ruler over every kingdom on earth, and he gives those kingdoms to anyone he chooses.
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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. "Since the stump of the tree and its roots were left in the ground, your kingdom will be given back to you when you learn that one in heaven rules your kingdom.
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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, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Stop doing wicked things and be kind to the poor. Then you might continue to be successful."
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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 these things 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 as he was walking on the roofn of his palace 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. he said, "I have built this great Babylon as my royal home. I built it by my power to show my glory and my majesty."
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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. The words were still in his mouth when a voice from heaven said, "King Nebuchadnezzar, these things will happen to you: Your royal power has been taken away 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 forced away from people. You will live with the wild animals and will be fed grass like an ox. Seven years will pass before you learn this lesson: The Most High God rules over every kingdom on earth and gives those kingdoms to anyone he chooses."
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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. Immediately the words came true. Nebuchadnezzar was forced to go away from people, and he began eating grass like an ox. He became wet from dew. His hair grew long like the feathers of an eagle, and his nails grew like the claws of a bird.
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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. At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven, and I could think normally again! Then I gave praise to the Most High God; I gave honor and glory to him who lives forever. God's rule is forever, and his kingdom continues 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. People on earth are not truly important. God does what he wants with the powers of heaven and the people on earth. No one can stop his powerful hand or question what he does.
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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 I could think normally again, and God gave back my great honor and power and returned the glory to my kingdom. The people who advised me and the royal family came to me for help again. I became king again and was even greater and more powerful than before.
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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, give praise and honor and glory to the King of heaven. Everything he does is right and fair, and he is able to make proud people humble.
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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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